Kala Sellers

Of Counsel

Kala Sellers's Headshot

Few young attorneys have the experience and achievements claimed by Kala Sellers. Joining Arnold & Itkin in 2014, she quickly made a name for herself by winning a seven-figure verdict in her very first year as an attorney. Since then, Kala has actively litigated cases before juries in numerous courthouses nationwide. Her tenure at the firm has been marked by significant contributions to some of the firm's most notable trial successes. Over the last several years, she has amassed multiple verdicts in the seven- and eight-figure range, demonstrating her exceptional skill and dedication to her clients' causes.

"For me, being an attorney goes beyond what happens at the courthouse. It’s about understanding your clients and giving them the answers and resolution they need."

Biography

Born and raised in Houston, Kala Sellers is a formidable trial attorney passionate about helping others. She has been with Arnold & Itkin since 2014 and won her first 7-figure verdict in her initial year with the firm. Since then, Kala has played a crucial part in achieving landmark verdicts and settlements that have changed the lives of the people Arnold & Itkin represent.

The following is but a sampling of the results Kala has accomplished in the past several years:

  • $46.5 million for injured plant workers
  • $40 million for injured Jones Act seamen
  • $35.5 million for a fatal motor vehicle accident
  • $14.5 million for an explosion survivor
  • $12.5 million for an electrocution incident
  • $8 million for injured motorists
  • $5.5 million for an injured oil rig worker
  • $4.35 million for an injured Jones Act seaman

These results are proof of the intelligence and commitment that Kala brings to every case she touches. She has spent more time in court than most attorneys ever will, and she uses this experience to reach outcomes that no one–neither her clients nor her opposition–would have thought possible.

Kala has always shown initiative, ambition, and a willingness to work harder than anyone to attain her goals. A Texas native, she relocated to North Carolina to attend Duke University, where she earned her undergraduate degree and a scholarship to Baylor Law School in Waco, Texas.

At Baylor, Kala committed herself to the art of litigation, joining the ABA Labor Law Mock Trial Team, the NCTC Mock Trial Team, and the AAJ National Mock Trial Team. She was a five-time Dean’s List student and earned her place as a semifinalist in the Baylor Top Gun Competition, a mock trial tournament involving all third-year Practice Court students.

After graduating from Baylor Law School, Kala stayed in Texas and joined a small Houston firm that focused on personal injury matters in state and federal court. She further honed her trial skills at the firm and then joined Arnold & Itkin, finding a home with a team of like-minded individuals as passionate and ambitious as she was.

Today, Kala primarily handles cases involving catastrophic incidents such as offshore accidents, commercial trucking collisions, and other serious personal injuries. As a young attorney who has already accomplished so much in her career, Kala has been recognized as a Super Lawyers® Rising Star™ multiple years in a row. She finds great fulfillment in helping people through the worst situations, fighting to build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

Kala is married and has two children. In her free time, she loves spending time with her two young boys, which can sometimes be just as challenging –and rewarding – as tackling a trial.

Kala's Case Results

  • Record-Setting $557 Million Massive Verdict Won Against Union Pacific Read More
  • $177.5 Million Settlement for Workers Burned in Industrial Incident Read More
  • $141 Million Verdict Won for 9 Survivors of Explosion Read More
  • $120 Million Settlement for Workers Injured in Refinery Explosion Read More
  • $49 Million Settlement for Worker Burned in Plant Explosion Read More
  • $40 Million Settlement Reached for Injured Jones Act Seamen Read More
  • $33 Million Settlement Secured for Victim of Plant Explosion Burns Read More
  • $33 Million Settlement Won for Plant Explosion Burn Victim Read More
  • $31 Million Settlement Obtained for Seaman Hurt in Vessel Collision Read More
  • $27.5 Million Settlement Reached for Workers Hurt in Plant Explosion Read More
  • $22 Million Settlement Achieved for Employee Burned in Plant Explosion Read More
  • $19.4 Million Settlement Reached for Plant Worker Burned in Explosion Read More
View All Results
Record-Setting $557 Million

Massive Verdict Won Against Union Pacific

Attorney Kyle Findley and our team represented a grievously injured woman who was struck by train operators working for Union Pacific.

On March 5, 2016, our client took a brief rest next to some railroad tracks after losing her friends during a night out. Minutes later, train operators spotted her unmoving body on the tracks, identifying her as a person. Despite the life-threatening consequences an impact would have, the train operators didn’t stop or even slow down the train. As a result, our client suffered life-changing harm.

After seven years of delays, Union Pacific was forced to finally meet us in court. Because our firm proved the train operators might have avoided impact with our client, the jury awarded her a historic $557 million verdict. This money will go toward ensuring she gets the medical care and financial security she needs.

$177.5 Million

Settlement for Workers Burned in Industrial Incident

Attorneys Kurt Arnold, Kyle Findley, and our team achieved a $177.5 million settlement for a group of workers who suffered severe burns in an industrial accident. The lawsuit was initiated against several companies, holding them accountable for creating the dangerous conditions that led to the catastrophic explosion. With a strategic approach, coupled with our extensive knowledge in handling explosion-related cases, our attorneys were instrumental in gathering crucial evidence and testimonies. These efforts were key in establishing the defendants' liability for the incident. The settlement, reached on the brink of trial, signifies a substantial victory for our clients and ensures their lifelong needs are met.

Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $72,574,650.42

$141 Million

Verdict Won for 9 Survivors of Explosion

Attorney Kyle Findley won a nine-figure verdict against five defendants, none of whom took responsibility for what they did to our clients. Kyle Findley and his trial team brought this case on behalf of nine plaintiffs who survived a paper mill explosion in Deridder, Louisiana.

All our clients were working at the plant during a shutdown where “hot work,” or work involving cutters, grinders, and welders, was being done. This work was conducted near storage tanks, where management knew flammable gases were emitted. Despite the risk, management ordered our clients to work near the storage tanks. The resulting explosion took three lives and grievously injured several more.

Typical plant procedure requires that hot work near potential fuel sources be done with extreme caution and minimal staff. It also requires monitoring to ensure there are no flammable gases concentrated in the air around the hot tools, which can trigger an explosion. While most competent management knows this, the defendants in this case should have been especially cautious; in 2008, the defendants oversaw a storage tank explosion that was eerily similar to this one at a paper mill in Wisconsin.

The defendants allowed litigation to stretch for seven years, and even then, only offered our clients a fraction of what they needed to survive. Even without the results of a government investigation, it was clear to the jury that the defendants didn’t learn their lesson and should have known better.

In the end, they awarded our clients more than 10 times what the defendants offered.

The verdict will take care of our clients for the rest of their lives; equally important, the verdict will also drive home the lesson these defendants should have learned over a decade ago.

$120 Million

Settlement for Workers Injured in Refinery Explosion

Attorneys Kurt Arnold, Kyle Findley, and our team achieved a landmark $120 million settlement for several workers injured in a refinery explosion. These workers suffered a range of severe injuries, encompassing both physical traumas like orthopedic and spinal damage and psychological impacts, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Our team's proactive litigation approach, underpinned by extensive expertise in explosion-related cases, was pivotal in gathering crucial evidence and witness testimony. This evidence demonstrated that the defendants had willfully created the hazardous conditions leading to the explosion. Through in-depth depositions involving the defendants and their staff, our relentless efforts culminated in securing this significant nine-figure settlement.

Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $50,462,396.95

$49 Million

Settlement for Worker Burned in Plant Explosion

Attorneys Kurt Arnold, Kyle Findley, and our team achieved a $50 million settlement for a worker who sustained severe burns and life-altering injuries due to a plant explosion. The client endured extensive burns covering almost half of his body and suffered a severe head injury, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological impacts. The lawsuit targeted multiple companies, holding them responsible for creating the dangerous conditions that led to the devastating explosion. Our attorneys leveraged their extensive experience in explosion-related cases to meticulously build the case, securing crucial evidence and witness testimonies to establish the defendants' liability. This effort culminated in an eight-figure settlement obtained on the trial's eve, ensuring our client's lifelong care.

Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $20,603,236.87

$40 Million

Settlement Reached for Injured Jones Act Seamen

Attorneys Kurt Arnold and Kyle Findley represented three Jones Act seamen who had been severely injured in a vessel collision. Their injuries were catastrophic in nature—leaving them unable to continue working and unable to care for their families. Our firm took on the case and worked tirelessly to prove that the defendant’s management failures were the direct cause of the accident. Despite this, the defendants went on to minimize our clients’ injuries. We continued to develop evidence and prepare for trial, and after several days in court, we were able to successfully reach a $40 million settlement on behalf of our clients.

Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $17,982,173.80

$33 Million

Settlement Secured for Victim of Plant Explosion Burns

Attorneys Kurt Arnold, Kyle Findley, and our team secured a $33 million settlement for a worker who endured catastrophic injuries in a plant explosion. The client faced severe third-degree burns, multiple rib fractures, orthopedic injuries, and consequent serious emotional trauma. The lawsuit targeted multiple companies, accusing them of creating unsafe conditions that led to the explosion. At Arnold & Itkin, our attorneys pursued the case with determination, drawing on their extensive experience in explosion-related cases. They meticulously gathered critical evidence and witness testimonies to establish the defendants' culpability. As the trial was about to commence, Arnold & Itkin successfully negotiated an eight-figure settlement, ensuring comprehensive lifelong support and care for the client.

Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $13,699,795.78

$33 Million

Settlement Won for Plant Explosion Burn Victim

The legal team at Arnold & Itkin, led by Attorneys Kurt Arnold and Kyle Findley, achieved a $33 million settlement for a worker profoundly affected by injuries from a plant explosion. The client suffered second- and third-degree burns over his body, along with a severe head injury due to the explosion. This lawsuit was brought against multiple companies accused of creating the hazardous conditions that led to the catastrophic event. Our attorneys, with their extensive background in handling explosion-related cases, diligently prosecuted the case. They gathered essential evidence and secured critical testimonies to prove the defendants' liability. On the verge of trial, Arnold & Itkin successfully negotiated an eight-figure settlement, ensuring that our client will receive the necessary care and support for the rest of his life.

Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $13,802,866.33

$31 Million

Settlement Obtained for Seaman Hurt in Vessel Collision

Attorneys Kurt Arnold and Kyle Findley took on the case of a Jones Act seaman who injured his head after being involved in a vessel collision. Despite the gravity of his injuries, the defendants denied all responsibility for the incident. They also tried to limit their own liability by blaming other parties involved. We refused to back down or accept their excuses—fighting to protect our clients’ rights. After just one week of trial, we were able to reach a settlement of $31 million.

Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $13,829,886.31

$27.5 Million

Settlement Reached for Workers Hurt in Plant Explosion

Attorneys Kurt Arnold, Kyle Findley, and our legal team achieved a $27.5 million settlement for workers injured and burned in a plant explosion. We filed the lawsuit against the refinery owner for establishing dangerous conditions that led to the catastrophic event. Drawing on our extensive experience in similar cases, Arnold & Itkin successfully secured an eight-figure settlement on behalf of our clients.

Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $11,400,055.10

$22 Million

Settlement Achieved for Employee Burned in Plant Explosion

Attorneys Kurt Arnold, Kyle Findley, and our team achieved a significant $22 million settlement for a worker who was grievously injured in a plant explosion. The client suffered critical burns to his face and limbs and endured substantial mental and emotional distress. The lawsuit against several companies alleged that their unsafe conditions caused the explosion. Our attorneys, leveraging their deep experience in cases involving explosions, pursued the case vigorously. They gathered compelling evidence and critical testimonies to demonstrate the defendants' liability in the incident. As the trial approached, Arnold & Itkin successfully negotiated an eight-figure settlement, ensuring justice and support for the client.

Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $9,192,692.41

$19.4 Million

Settlement Reached for Plant Worker Burned in Explosion

Attorneys Kurt Arnold, Kyle Findley, and our team achieved a substantial $19 million settlement for a worker who endured facial burns, hearing loss, and various mental and emotional injuries due to a plant explosion. This lawsuit was directed against several companies, accusing them of creating unsafe conditions that led to the explosion. Our attorneys drew upon their extensive background in handling explosion-related cases to gather pivotal evidence and secure important testimonies. This evidence was crucial in proving the defendants' culpability. As the trial was about to commence, our team successfully negotiated an eight-figure settlement, ensuring our client would receive necessary care for life.

Attorney's fees and expenses totaled $8,069,780.97

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