In 1991, Kurt Maier got a referral from another attorney for a case. A woman believed her husband had died of cancer caused by exposure to Agent Orange, the defoliation chemical often used in Vietnam that is largely believed to be a carcinogen. The client’s husband grew up on a farm that was adjacent to railroad tracks. The woman recalled that a railroad derailment in the 1960s dumped a chemical all over the farm, and her husband had been exposed to it. She thought the chemical was Agent Orange.
Kurt began looking for records that might prove her claim. The railroad management told him their records didn’t date back that far – and besides that, there was no chemical spill, they said. But Kurt found a newspaper article with an account of the spill. The railroad officials then admitted the spill happened, but refused to say that the spill was any sort of hazardous chemical. Kurt interviewed hundreds of people who lived in the area near the farm, and witness accounts indicated railroad workers poured the contents of barrels from the spill down a sinkhole on the farm.
A witness brought photos taken on the day of the spill that showed the client standing directly in the spilled chemicals – barefoot and without a shirt. Three trips to New Orleans produced a videotaped deposition from an official at the Port of New Orleans who confirmed that the material on the train was indeed Agent Orange, and headed for Vietnam, when the train derailed near the farm.
Over the course of five years, Kurt doggedly pursued witnesses, depositions, photos, news accounts and interviews to prove the claims of the case. And remember this: much of this was in the days before the Internet. His research was interview by interview, call by call. His persistence won the client the settlement she sought, and punished the railroad for its gross negligence in handling of hazardous chemicals.
For Kurt, pursuing the facts of the case was like solving a puzzle. “Every time we’d catch the railroad in a lie, it would spur me on to do more research,” Kurt says. “It was an exhausting case, in many ways, but we knew it was really important to the client, and my firm supported me. Even though there was no guarantee we’d prevail, no one ever told me to quit. They encouraged me and told me to keep after it.”
Much like that case, Kurt’s work today largely concentrates on representing injured plaintiffs. He has experience in products liability litigation involving a wide variety of matters, ranging from prescription drugs to automobile crashworthiness to industrial accidents. He also handles trucking litigation including catastrophic claims and determining whether the driver and motor carrier complied with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Kurt represents clients in claims involving brain injuries, auto accidents, burn injuries, construction accidents, premises liability, electrocutions, drownings and other causes of personal injury.
ELPO Law has proven to be a great place to practice law, Kurt says, as he found out early on in the Agent Orange case. Attorneys have the freedom to approach cases in the way that works best for them and their client. “Lawyers at ELPO are not similar,” Kurt says. “We do not approach cases the same way. We have an organization of individuals and our autonomy is honored. I think it makes us a better law firm and a better business.”
GOOGLE REVIEWS:
“I just wanted to take the time to shout out such a great staff. I was in an accident last year where I was hit head on by a drunk driver. Hurt with medical expenses, without a car, and no knowledge of the steps to take to get help and justice for what I had been put through. I am so grateful that I had family who knew of such a firm that cares for you, who puts your needs first, your health, your family, your job, whatever that may be. Kurt and Donna was such a blessing they walked me through the process, they asked first what I wanted what I needed, they advised me and kept me posted and didn’t settle until I was ready. I would highly recommend this firm for whatever you may need.” – Latasha Bunton
“Kurt Maier and Donna Carver are AMAZING! They provided me with quick responses when I reached out with questions or concerns, they were great about preparing me for any communication I had to provide to the insurance companies, and they stayed on top of things that affected me the most; ensuring all of my medical bills were covered, working with the insurance company to provide my loss wages, and my pain and suffering suit. I highly recommend using English Lucas Priest & Owsley.” – LeSasha Buckner
“I have known ELPO Law for over two decades, and I have met some great people! I can’t find words to express my gratitude enough to ELPO Law and my favorite people; Donna Carver, Kurt Maier, and J.A. Sowell! They have done so much for me and my family over the years! That always do the best for their clients and I will always greatly appreciate their support and their great work!! They are very caring, hard working team and they will do everything in their power to get the best results! Every case they have had taken on for me and my family, we were at ease that it will be handled in very professional manner. I am very much satisfied that I have met this great team of people!!! Thank you so very much for everything you all do!! I would recommend ELPO Law and their Great team of lawyers to handle any possible case you might have with a great success!!!” – Sabina Avdic
“I am so grateful for the expertise and support during my case and treatment from the ELPO team. Kurt Maier and his Case Manager Heather Renick were absolutely phenomenal and are the first firm that I recommend to anyone in need of their services. Going through the aftermath of a car accident and working with multiple insurance agencies right after the fact can be so overwhelming for anyone. It was so influential in my recovery to be able to trust Kurt and Heather for advice and for their support throughout the process.” – Sara Moody
“I visited Kurt Maier at ELPO Law on the recommendation of a friend and current client of theirs. I had been dealing with the other party’s car insurance company for months due to an automobile accident that was not my fault. I was buried in papers from my car insurance, health insurance, the other party’s car insurance, doctors, ER facilities, etc. and really had no idea what to do. The other party’s insurance company only made it more confusing, and my insurance company wasn’t willing to help me understand what to do. The day I visited ELPO Law, Mr. Maier explained that it wouldn’t be monetarily beneficial for me or for them if I hired them to take my case, but they wanted to help me. He enlisted the help of Donna Carver, and she took the time to explain the legalities of the situation and gave me step by step instructions on what to do to straighten the situation out for myself. ELPO Law provided this service to me at no charge. I will highly recommend Kurt Maier and Donna Carver at ELPO Law for my friends and family’s legal needs. Every attorney ad you see is going to TELL you they care and want to help (I know; I’ve worked for one that advertises very heavily and herds clients through like cattle). You won’t see the folks at ELPO Law on TV or billboards, but they’ll SHOW you they care by actually HELPING you, even if they have nothing to gain from it but a positive Google review. I can’t say how much I appreciate them, and will definitely use them again, should I ever need legal counsel in the future. You should, too.” – Ann Moss
“Kurt Maier is awesome. He has represented my family in several different car accidents and is always top notch.. He kept us informed of the process and overall was just great.” – Anne Embry
“Kurt, Donna were excellent. They are truly the BEST in the business. They were very professional, and most importantly, HONEST. Highly recommend.” – Tona (Zeroth1507)
“My daughter was in a bad accident in June 2019 and we were having issues with the insurance company of the party at fault and I was referred to ELPO and I couldn’t have ask for anyone better. Ms. Renick and Mr. Maier were amazing and compassionate with my daughter. I highly recommend ELPO!” – Keri Hill
“Kurt, Donna, and staff are amazing! I highly recommend.” – Talease Crowe
“My dad used these guys for a lawsuit and passed away a month prior to settling the case. After they won the case and got maximum payout, they also helped me settle my fathers estate. They took care of so much for me and made a truly painful event not so difficult for me! I would definitely recommend Kurt Maier or Nathan Vinson for any of your legal needs. Great group of men in this office.” – Danielle Gibson
