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Attorney Cory Itkin
Representing injured seamen is not a simple task and should not be handled by someone who is not up to the task. Attorney Cory Itkin has proven over the years that he is fully prepared to handle even the most complex of cases resting on the crux of maritime law. He is not deterred by a fight and is instead fully prepared to go above and beyond in his efforts to obtain the just compensation needed to cover damages that were suffered by his clients. This unwavering dedication to his clients has been both cultivated and displayed throughout his entire legal career.
Cory Itkin - Attorney Profile
Cory was proud to attend the University of Texas to receive his undergraduate degree. During his time spent at UT Austin, he remained involved in the school, serving as a representative on the Student Government and as an officer in the Silver Spurs - a student-run organization dedicated to caring for Bevo, the school's living, breathing longhorn mascot. When he graduated, he went on to enroll in the University of Houston Law Center. There, he was proud to graduate cum laude with several distinctions underneath his belt, such as the Order of the Barons.
After becoming licensed to practice law, Cory was hired by a litigation firm in the Houston, TX area. There, he was able to extend his understanding of the law and was proud of his ability to handle difficult litigation cases. It, however, was during one of the plantiff's cases that he found his true passion and discovered a deep love for helping victims to pursue the just compensation that they deserve.
Following this passion, Cory left the firm and went to work at Arnold and Itkin, LLP. Now, he is able to put his talents to work for the plaintiff and works to help the injured put their lives back on track once more. In his time spent as a personal injury attorney, he has been proud to be involved in several cases that resulted in substantial verdicts and settlements. This has resulted in recognitions such as:
- "Top 100 Trial Lawyers" by the American Trial Lawyers Association; and
- "Rising Star" by Thomson Reuters (2010, 2011)
Now, Cory works tirelessly to handle both commercial and personal injury cases throughout the nation. While he is proud to handle personal injury cases of all kinds, he is especially concerned with the difficult litigation that offshore personal injury claims involve. He knows that these are not simple and is fully willing to rise to the challenge. Injured seamen who seek his legal guidance can rest assured knowing that they will have an advocate on their side who will be there to fight tooth and nail for them.
Cory's Verdicts & Settlements
$2,795,620 Verdict Recovered for Injured Offshore Well Tester
Attorneys Cory Itkin and Jason Itkin from the legal team at Arnold & Itkin, LLP recently took on a case involving an offshore well tester for the Axxis Justice inland drilling barge. The plaintiff, Jude Lewis, was initially a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, however, went to work on the barge in Barataria Bay. Due to the nature of his work, he was often required to work with specialized tools. A separate barge was sent to ship these tools; after it had been docked next to the drilling rig, Axxis Drilling set up a ladder between the two vessels to transfer the supplies. Mr. Lewis was crossing the ladder to get these supplies when he fell and suffered from substantial back injuries. These injuries were so extreme that he eventually underwent a one level back surgery. It was the argument of the drilling company that they had no fault in the injury – they claimed that all of the blame rested with the plaintiff and that the claims of injury were illegitimate. There was no offer to settle; the firm took on the case and recovered a $2,795,620 verdict. The case was filed in Galveston County, TX. The Honorable Barbara Roberts was the presiding judge.
Man Injured Off the Coast Receives $2 Million Arnold & Itkin LLP represented a client who suffered a serious neck injury off the coast of Galveston, Texas. The firm was able to secure a $2 million settlement. The plaintiff sustained this injury when his captain crashed the vessel into an unlit caisson. The plaintiff was unable to return to his line of work, and the injury required surgical intervention.
Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $1,058,066.00.
BP Worker Injured in Crane Accident Receives a $1.72 Million Jury Verdict Arnold & Itkin LLP secured a $1.72 million jury verdict on behalf of a client who was seriously injured in a crane accident at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas. Attorneys Cory Itkin and Michael Pierce represented Ernesto Tamez, who was injured in the accident on January 18, 2005.
A negligent Maxim Crane Works crane operator swung a heavy oil burner into Mr. Tamez, causing serious injuries to his neck, back and shoulder when he was pinned between the burner and a nearby handrail. Maxim Crane Works initially made no settlement offer prior to the trial, arguing that the accident was Mr. Tamez's fault. The company claimed that 60-year-old Tamez could have sustained some of the injuries as a result of "wear and tear". An issue that added complexity to the case was that Mr. Tamez and his wife do not speak English and therefore had to testify with the help of a translator.
The jury ruled in favor of Mr. Tamez after the week-long trial. They found that Maxim Crane Works was 100% at fault for the accident and awarded Mr. Tamez and his wife $1.72 million. Through the four years that this case lasted, Arnold & Itkin LLP stood by Mr. Tamez and helped him get the medical attention and financial compensation he needed. The case was pending in Galveston County, Texas. The Honorable Judge David E. Garner presided.
Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $736,778.00.
Plaintiff Recovers $1.55 Million Verdict Despite Pre-Trial Offer of $5000 Settlement Attorney Cory Itkin represented client Michael LaFleur who had suffered a torn meniscus after being bumped from a commercial rig. The injury resulted in the client needed to have arthroscopic knee surgery. The commercial rig was owned by Conglobal Industries, Inc. who argued that the injury was not as severe as it was being made out to be and that it was, in fact, the plaintiff's fault for jumping in front of the big rig. The legal team from Arnold & Itkin, LLP worked together to show fault on behalf of the truck driver and were able to recover a $1,557,500 jury verdict despite the fact that before the case, there had only been a pre-trial offer of a $5000 settlement. The case was pending in Harris County, Texas before the Honorable Larry Weiman.
Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $701,548.00.
Low Speed Collision Victim Recovers $1.55 Million On May of 2008, Gilberto Villegas was worked at the APM Terminals' marine terminal in Houston, Texas as a ship repairman when a pickup truck that he was standing on collided with a yard mule. This caused back injuries that resulted in the need for surgery. It was argued by the defendant that the driver of the yard mule was not at fault since the truck was in the middle of the intersection and that due to the low speed, it was a minor collision. They also argued that the plaintiff had injuries prior to the incident. They only offered to settle for $35,000. Attorneys Jason Itkin and Cory Itkin took on the case and were able to recover a $1.55 million jury verdict. The case was pending in Harris County, TX with the Honorable Jaclanal McFarland.
Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $578,279.00.
Arnold & Itkin Attorney Wins $950,000 for Injured Seaman Attorney Cory Itkin was able to settle a Jones Act case on behalf of his client, a seaman injured in Port Arthur, Texas. The client, who was injured while working on cleaning up the BP oil spill, was able to be restored $950,000. His injuries incurred when he slipped and fell while jumping from a crew boat to a supply vessel. The client ended up needing neck surgery.
Offshore Worker Receives $940k Settlement
Arnold & Itkin, LLP maritime lawyers Cory Itkin and Jason Itkin are pleased to announce a $940,000 settlement they obtained on behalf of an offshore worker from Galveston, Texas. The case was filed in Galveston County, Texas. Arnold & Itkin's client suffered a serious neck injury when a basket transfer from a jack up rig to a supply boat went awry. The man eventually needed a three-level neck fusion to treat his injuries. The defendants argued that the accident never happened. Instead, they claimed that the worker was only suing because he was fired for failing a drug test a few days after the incident. They also alleged that the client had a long standing methamphetamine addiction and pointed to a woman who testified that the worker told her that he was going to make up a lawsuit to get some money. Arnold & Itkin stood by its client, beat back these charges, and helped the man get the compensation he deserved.
Arnold & Itkin LLP's Lawyers Stand by Client and Win $850,000 Arnold & Itkin LLP secured a favorable result and $850,000 in a complex case involving an injured seaman who was seriously injured in a slip and fall accident on a dive boat off the shore of Fourchan, Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. The seaman suffered neck injuries and a concussion when he slipped and fell on steps that did not have proper non-skid tape. His neck injury resulted in cervical fusion surgery.
The defendants in the case tried arguing that the plaintiff was not entitled to any damages because he was taking prescription drugs at the time of the incident. They also argued that the plaintiff's injuries did not occur on the boat but were the result of a car accident that occurred two weeks after the accident on the dive boat. They alleged that the plaintiff suffered these injuries when his vehicle rolled over in the accident and that he had been drinking at the time. Standing firmly by their client, attorneys Jason Itkin, Kurt Arnold and Cory Itkin successfully disproved these allegations and were able to secure a favorable result. The case was pending in Texas state court in Houston, Texas (Harris County).
Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $392,432.00.
Seaman Slips on Hydraulic Fluid from Crane – Receives $850,000 Settlement Arnold & Itkin LLP represented a League City, Texas seaman who suffered serious injury to his back when he slipped on hydraulic fluid that was leaking from a crane. Attorneys Cory Itkin and Kurt Arnold were able to secure an $850,000 settlement for the seaman, who was the mate on a jack up rig. Though the crane had been leaking fluid for days, the employer failed to fix the problem and the seaman was injured. He required back surgery as a result of his injuries and was unable to return to offshore work.
The case was pending in Texas state court in Galveston County.
Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $487,425.00.
Man Awarded $825,000 for Neck Injury on Drilling Barge Arnold & Itkin LLP secured a settlement of $825,000 for a Lufkin, Texas roustabout who sustained a serious neck injury while working on a drilling barge. The injury occurred when he was struck from behind by an improperly secured spinner hawk. The injuries were so severe as to require surgery and to render him unable to return to offshore work. The case was pending in Texas state court in Galveston County.
Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $430,639.00.
Injured Louisiana Production Operator Receives $700,000 Settlement Arnold & Itkin LLP successfully received a settlement of $700,000 for a client who was injured while working as a production operator in St. Charles Parish. The Houma, Louisiana maritime worker was near a separator vessel on a production barge when the vessel overpressurized and exploded. He was diagnosed with severe PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and was barred from returning to work in the oil and gas industry on his doctors' orders.
The defendant argued not only that the production operator was to blame for the incident but alleged that he was faking his injuries. The case settled for $700,000 three days prior to trial and was filed in Galveston County, Texas.
Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $317,735.00.
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