Former Associate's Conflict with Premises Defendant Bars Firm from Representing Plaintiffs

WACO, Texas - A Texas law firm has been disqualified from representing plaintiffs in their asbestos case against a premise owner because a former associate at the firm also once worked for an outfit that represented the defendant. In Re TXU U.S. Holdings Co., No. 10-02-220-CV (Texas App. Ct., Tenth Dist.).

The Tenth District Texas Court of Appeals reached the determination Dec. 31, finding there is an irrebuttable presumption that the former worker probably shared confidential information about defendant TXU with colleagues at Waters & Kraus, the firm representing plaintiffs in the underlying case.

Gayle Mortola-Strasser worked at Waters …