TEXAS CITY — An attorney who represented 22 plaintiffs in the deadly 2005 explosions at BP’s Texas City refinery is the subject of a court proceeding that could lead to contempt charges on grounds of barratry, a judge said Friday.
Judge Susan Criss, of Galveston’s 212th District Court, ordered Los Angeles attorney Danilo J. Becerra to appear in her court to produce documents related to his expenses associated with the trials. Becerra, who has not been found to have committed any wrongdoing, was a no-show, Criss said.
Barratry is a term used to describe a wide variety of serious misconduct among attorneys.
Criss heard lawsuits related to the explosion, which killed 15 and injured 180 workers at the refinery. Becerra’s clients in question settled three weeks into trial, and some of the settlements reached eight figures, Criss said.
An eight-figure number is at least $10 million.
One plaintiff, however, received only $10,000 from the case, Criss said.
Attorney Joseph M. Gourrier and his clients who received settlements appeared Friday in Criss’ court, asking Becerra to disclose his expenses related to their cases.
Attorney Daniel Anchondo, of El Paso, who is representing Becerra in Criss’ court, presented boxes of expense statements.
After looking through the records for 20 minutes, Gourrier told Criss there was no information on how the expenses were calculated and charged to each petitioner.
Criss told Anchondo that Gourrier’s clients legally are entitled to know the expenses in their cases, and she asked Anchondo how Becerra intended to resolve the matter.
“Your honor, I’ve passed on what the court has asked me to obtain,” Anchondo said.
“We’re going to keep coming here until we get answers,” Criss said.
Anchondo had no comment after court on the whereabouts of Becerra or why his client was a no-show.
Becerra took money from clients for attorney fees that he shouldn’t have taken, Gourrier claims. Gourrier further claims his clients were wrongfully billed for doctors fees.
The Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit attorneys from collecting illegal or unconscionable fees.
Criss hasn’t signed a contempt order, but she said she would if she finds Becerra committed barratry and then didn’t refund his attorney’s fees in the BP cases. Criss could also hold Becerra in contempt for failing to produce records requested by Gourrier, she said.
The decision to sign contempt orders wouldn’t be made before next week, Criss said.
Gourrier told Criss he wants to subpoena the Georgetown accountant Becerra used in the settlements.
Criss ordered Becerra to appear in her court Feb. 17.
