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  • Charles Irvine Interviewed About Addicks-Barker Lawsuit

    The Houston Chronicle profiled Irvine & Conner’s proposed class action on behalf of individuals living within the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs’ maximum design pools in an article titled “Army Corps should have brought easements to make room for flood pools, lawsuit says.” In the excerpt below, Charles Irvine discusses the Corps’ failure to buy necessary…

  • Houston’s Downtown Aquarium Sued for Violations of the Endangered Species Act

    Today, on behalf of their client Cheryl Conley, Irvine & Conner and the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a federal lawsuit under the Endangered Species Act against Landry’s Downtown Aquarium, a restaurant and amusement park complex located on the edge of Downtown Houston. The lawsuit challenges the living conditions of four tigers who have been…

  • Addicks-Barker Flooding Lawsuit

    Starting on August 26-28, 2017, the federal government stored massive amounts of stormwater from Tropical Storm Harvey in Addicks and Barker Reservoirs. As a result, both reservoirs reached historically high levels and flooded many thousands of homes and businesses which were built within the reservoirs’ maximum “design pools.” Irvine & Conner has filed a class…

  • Animal Welfare Advocates Strike Back with Texas’ Anti-SLAPP Statute

    On July 26, a Harris County district judge ordered a farm animal sanctuary and its founders to pay roughly $159,000 in attorney’s fees and sanctions under Texas’ Anti-SLAPP statute for bringing a frivolous lawsuit. Two of the defendants in the defamation case were represented by Irvine & Conner attorney Kristen Schlemmer. One of the defendants,…

  • Irvine & Conner Represents Coalition of Citizens in the NEPA Process

    Today, on behalf of a coalition of local organizations focused on quality of life in Houston, Irvine & Conner presented the Houston District of the Texas Department of Transportation with a comment letter in response to the proposed highway expansion along I-45 from Beltway 8 to the heart of downtown. The project is commonly known…

  • Ranchers Win Contested Case Appeal

    Irvine & Conner is proud to represent parties in contested case hearings concerning air permits, wastewater permits, water rights permits, and groundwater permits. Contested case hearings are one method for community members to get involved in the permitting process used by facilities and developers. Recently attorneys at Irvine & Conner were able to successfully advocate…

  • Charles Irvine to Co-Host Texas Coastal Law Conference with Jim Blackburn

    On June 8 and 9, Charles Irvine of Irvine and Conner PLLC and Jim Blackburn of Blackburn and Carter will cohost the 2017 conference on Texas Coastal Law. Topics include: Climate Change: The Gorilla in the Room Coastal Fisheries and Water Quality Issues: Cases and Controversies Defending the Coast From Hurricanes: Technical and Legal Issues…

  • Charles Irvine Featured in Houston Lawyer Magazine

    Charles Irvine was featured in the May/June 2017 issue of the Houston Lawyer for his work as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center. Charles has taught a range of environmental law classes at UH since 2008; this semester he is teaching Texas Coastal & Oceans Law to second and third-year law…

  • Irvine & Conner Interviewed About Captive Tigers at the Downtown Aquarium

    KHOU11 interviewed Irvine & Conner attorney Kristen Schlemmer about the four tigers living for more than 12 years in entirely indoor enclosures at the Downtown Aquarium. Ms. Schlemmer said it is “common sense” that the four tigers deserve “access to the outdoors.” Watch the full interview here.

  • Irvine & Conner and Animal Legal Defense Fund Serve Landry’s Inc. Notice of Intent to Sue for Endangered Species Act Violations

    This week, Irvine & Conner and Animal Legal Defense Fund served Houston’s Downtown Aquarium and Landry’s Inc. with a notice of intent to sue for violations of the Endangered Species Act. The notice alleges harm and harassment to a federally listed species: four tigers, who are kept in unlawful conditions at the Aquarium. In the…

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