PRESENTS TEXAS TOP RATED LAWYERS OF 2015 PRESENTS TEXAS TOP RATED LAWYERS OF 2015 FRANK L. BRANSON TRIAL LEGEND AND PERSONAL INJURY POWERHOUSE TINSMAN & SCIANO, INC. PAGES 2 & 21 AGGRESSIVELY HELPING THE SERIOUSLY INJURED DANIEL J.T. SCIANO PAGES 7 & 23 THE CARTWRIGHT LAW FIRM, LAW OFFICES OF FRANK L. BRANSON PAGE 4 PAGES 2 & 21 TINSMAN & SCIANO, INC. THOMAS J. HENRY, INJURY ATTORNEYS THE CARTWRIGHT LAW FIRM, THOMAS J. HENRY, INJURY ATTORNEYS PAGES 7 & 23 PAGE 19 PAGE 4 PAGE 19 A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED WITH THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS LEGAL LEADERS A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED WITH THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS LEGAL LEADERS APPEARING WITH PRESENTS TEXAS TOP RATED LAWYERS OF 2015 APPEARING WITH PRESENTS TEXAS TOP RATED LAWYERS OF 2015 THOMAS J. HENRY, INJURY ATTORNEYS THE CARTWRIGHT LAW FIRM, FOUR NO.1 VERDICTS IN THE COUNTRY IN THE PAST THREE YEARS FIGHTING FOR THE POWERLESS AGAINST THE POWERFUL LAW OFFICES OF FRANK L. BRANSON PAGE 4 PAGES 2 & 21 LAW OFFICES OF FRANK L. BRANSON PAGE 19 PAGES 2 & 21 TINSMAN & SCIANO, INC. THOMAS J. HENRY, INJURY ATTORNEYS THE CARTWRIGHT LAW FIRM, TINSMAN & SCIANO, INC. PAGES 7 & 23 PAGE 19 PAGE 4 PAGES 7 & 23 A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED WITH THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE LEGAL LEADERS APPEARING WITH A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED WITH THE TEXAS LAWYER THE AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN LEGAL LEADERS APPEARING WITH
THE LAW OFFICES OF FRANK L. BRANSON FIRM FOUNDER FRANK L. BRANSON ONCE AGAIN RECOGNIZED BY TEXAS TOP RATED LAWYERS We believe an individual can stand up to the most powerful business interests. We believe a small team of smart and committed lawyers can defeat an army of well-financed defense attorneys. We believe the justness of our clients causes makes the difference. It has been my honor for several decades to lead a team that provides the type of representation for our clients that I would hope my family would receive if we were ever in such need. That commitment has taken us to courtrooms throughout Texas and across the nation. We have gone above and beyond to hold companies responsible for tragedies caused by careless trucking companies, oil field services and production operations, commercial airplanes and railroads, as well as dangerously designed and defective automobiles. And, in recent years, we have helped businesses threatened or taken by larger companies or greedy business partners. Our hard work in these areas has not only enabled us to force wrongdoers to pay fair compensation for the injuries they caused but also has given hope to families facing devastating tragedy and uncertain futures. Notable outcomes and recent engagements: Representation of multiple Texas collegiate softball players injured when their bus was struck by an 18-wheeler on an Oklahoma highway Representation of the family of a Dallas mother of four who was killed when she was thrown from her seat on a Texas rollercoaster Representation of an elderly woman who died, and four others who were seriously injured, after a charter bus taking them to the Choctaw Casino in Durant, Okla., crashed on a Texas highway Substantial verdict for a North Dallas neurologist in a contract and fiduciary breach dispute over revenue stemming from the ownership of several medical imaging facilities Numerous large transportation verdicts and settlements, including a nationally recognized jury award for an elderly woman whose husband died in a crash caused by a grossly negligent hazardous waste company Significant settlement in a gas pipeline explosion caused when a heavy equipment operator struck an underground pipeline Significant settlement for the family of an oil field worker who died after breathing poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas from a poorly maintained production site Substantial settlement on behalf of two members of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff, who were seriously injured when the team s practice facility collapsed during a thunderstorm Settlement on behalf of former executives of a major corporate entity involving allegations of breach of contract and fraud Representation of a college student who was invited to spend the Fourth of July at a lakefront yacht club, used a water trampoline that had been left near a dock in unmarked shallow water, and suffered a broken neck and quadriplegia. ABOUT FRANK L. BRANSON AND THE LAW OFFICES OF FRANK L. BRANSON: Mr. Branson has built a team of highly respected trial lawyers, including Debbie Dudley Branson, Quentin Brogdon, Thomas Farmer, Eric Stahl, Chip Brooker and John Burkhead. This team works creatively, collaboratively and conscientiously to provide the kind of representation our clients deserve. At the core of our work is the belief that we can make a difference in the lives of our clients through hard work, experience and a proven devotion to our clients. One of 50 Elite Trial yers for Plaintiffs honored by the National Journal in 2014 Inducted to Texas yer s inaugural Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame and recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 for his many years of achievements in the courtroom Honored by Texas Super yers Top 10 lawyers in Texas annually since 2007 and among the Top 3 on multiple occasions National Journal Top 100 verdicts in the United States Honored by The Best yers in America annually since 1987 Recipient of The Mel Award presented by the Melvin M. Belli Society in recognition of his creativity and innovation in the courtroom Recipient of the American Bar Association s Pursuit of Justice Award, recognizing outstanding merit in lawyers and judges who excel in providing access to justice for all Recipient of the Teddy Roosevelt Man in the Arena award, a national honor for hard work and dedication to promote interstate trucking highway safety, given by the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking yers of America One of three Plaintiff s attorneys recognized in the Personal Injury category for Texas yer s 2012 Go-To Guide Trial yer of the Year award given by the Dallas Bar Association Recipient of the Tommy Malone Great American Eagle Award, given by the Southern Trial yers recognizing an individual who has a calling to help others Recipient of the Southern Trial yers Association War Horse award in recognition of extraordinary contributions to the cause of justice Recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the most successful trial lawyers in the country Fellow of the International Academy of Trial yers Fellow of International Society of Barristers
The cartwright LAw FiRm PROPeRTy DAmAge & LOSS, catastrophic AND PeRSONAL injury, wrongful DeATh, AuTOmOBiLe AND TRucKiNg AcciDeNTS LEGAL LEADERS Nathan Lindstrom EAch year, ThOUsAnds OF PEOPLE ARE EFFEcTEd by damage caused by severe storms, hail, hurricanes, tornados, fires, flooding and other disasters. Most people file an insurance claim for damage to their property after such events. we expect insurance companies to stand behind their policies, but far too often we see insurance carriers intentionally deny, delay and underpay legitimate claims, says daniel S. Cartwright, founder of the Cartwright law firm. cartwright has BEEn A LEAdER in BATTLinG insurance companies for 30 years. he has passion to pursue justice for individuals and commercial policyholders who have had their claim denied or undervalued in bad faith by the insurance company. when ATTEMPTinG TO GET A PROPERTy damage claim paid, most insurance companies are increasingly focused on appeasing shareholders and looking at their bottom line. Says Cartwright, People need to realize that most insurance companies are primarily concerned with making profit by collecting premiums, not paying loss claims. insurance companies have A POOR REPUTATiOn from complicating the claims process by improperly denying some or all of an insured claim. a common tactic of insurance companies is to say that the damage is pre-existing, a manufacturing defect or as a result of an excluded event under the policy. MOsT PEOPLE do not UndERsTAnd ThE complexity of the insurance claims process or their legal rights to dispute insurance settlement offers says Cartwright. our experience pursuing lawsuits against insurance companies who undervalue or deny legitimate claims for property damage, loss of business profit or personal injuries has helped us recover significant settlements for our clients. ThROUGhOUT his LEGAL career, daniel s. Cartwright has established a well-deserved reputation for his exacting preparation of cases, attention to detail and tenacious pursuit of justice on behalf of his clients. he has been nationally recognized for his extensive litigation and arbitration experience and his skillful ability for retaining the best experts, investigators, and economists to maximize his clients recoveries. OVER ThREE decades, cartwright has BEcOME recognized for his expertise at aggressively negotiating with large corporations and insurance companies to obtain fair financial compensation for clients. he has applied his vast legal skills to fight against these insurance giants who complicate the claims process for property damage, loss of business profit or personal injuries. from homeowners to business insurance claims denial, the Cartwright law firm stands ready to fight against insurance companies abuse of their insured. OUR commitment TO clients drives Us TO stay current with severe storm information and disaster reports as well as changes in insurance law, states Cartwright, once we are hired, we work with independent adjustors, engineers, construction experts, private appraisers and property loss professionals to make sure we can pursue all available coverage to maximize recovery for our client. OUR ExPERTs ARE necessary TO PREsEnT documented proof that the damage to a home or building was sustained as a result of the severe weather event. our claims can range from agent error, unreasonably denied claims, undervalued claims to insurance company bad faith. UnREAsOnABLy denied claims ARE ALL TOO common and these often-complex cases depend on a combination of legal and technical expertise to dispute the denial directly with the insurance company in order to prevail on a client s behalf. undervalued claims require using our experts to dispute the insurance company s findings through independent assessment from private adjusters, engineers and appraisers. this information is submitted to insurance companies with a settlement demand, and if they refuse to settle, litigation begins. ThE cartwright LAw FiRM ALsO has ExTEnsiVE experience in other practice areas such as personal and catastrophic injury, wrongful death, automobile and truck accidents, product liability and mass tort litigation. Cartwright has long held an a-v rating from Martindalehubbell being ranked by peers as having attained professional excellence in the legal field. this prestigious ranking also distinguishes the Cartwright law firm for possessing the highest levels of legal skill, integrity, reliability and diligence in serving clients. As A LEGAL PiOnEER, in 1988, cartwright became one of the first attorneys in the country to investigate, develop and litigate defective breast implant claims. his expertise in pharmaceutical litigation includes Vioxx, Celebrex, hormone replacement therapy, fen-phen and Bextra. Currently, Cartwright represents several hundred women against the manufacturers of transvaginal Mesh and Mirena iud for personal injuries as a result of these defective medical devices. cartwright ALsO REPREsEnTs ThOUsAnds OF residents in Galveston County for personal injuries as a result of the 2010 Benzene release from the British Petroleum refinery in texas City. MR. cartwright continues TO PLAcE ThE utmost regard on the ethical practice of law, the importance of accountability and dedication to the firm s clients and volunteerism in the community. he is currently an advisory Board Member of helping a hero.org empowering severely wounded veterans returning from service by providing specially adapted homes to reintegrate them into the community. daniel S. CarTwrigHT four oaks towers, 1300 PoSt oak BlVd., Suite 760, houston, texas 77056-1113 Ph: 713.840.0950 fax: 713.840.0046 www.dcartwrightlaw.com
ALM LEGAL GROUP Account Executives Shantelee Christie Laura Gunawan Maxwell Hirsch Ulei Kou Bridget Mcdonald Marcy Palacios George Schwimmer Sr. Content Manager Anikha Riddick Sr. Graphic designer Ashlee Redd Profiles Writer Sean Stonefield Cover photograph for The Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News by Nathan Lindstorm Business Manager Colleen Hanson Welcome to Texas Top Rated yers of 2015, a publication featuring legal talent from The Lone Star State. The attorneys featured here and in the accompanying online edition have all achieved the peer reviewed rating of AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the company that has long set the standard for lawyer ratings. The AV Preeminent rating is a significant accomplishment and demonstrates that a lawyer s peers have ranked them at the highest level of professional excellence. Our online edition of Texas Top Rated yers, accessible at at.law.com/texastoprated, includes the complete directory of all of Texas AV Peeminent rated attorneys, listed by their practice areas. In addition to insightful profiles of many Top Rated attorneys, this publication features articles covering trends in the law, and is a valuable resource for finding top legal talent and making more informed decisions. Sincerely, Scott Pierce Group publisher legalleaders@alm.com 855.808.4520 Group Publisher Scott Pierce To order reprints of Texas Top Rated yers of 2015, please contact 877.257.3382 or REPRINTS@ALM.COM Publishers do not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate. ALM Media, LLC (or either party s affiliates, employees, officers, directors or agents) does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause. This magazine includes paid attorney advertising. Consumers should contact the state bar for verification and additional information prior to securing the legal services of any attorney. 8 what s inside legal leaders index A comprehensive list of Texas Top Rated yers of 2015. 2 & 21 THE LAW OFFICES OF THe FRANK offices L. of frank BRANSON Branson FIRM FOUNDER FRANK L. BRANSON ONCE AGAIN RECOGNIZED BY TEXAS TOP RATED LAWYERS We believe an individual can stand up to the most powerful business interests. We believe a small team of smart and committed lawyers can defeat an army of well-financed defense attorneys. We believe the justness of our clients causes makes the difference. It has been my honor for several decades to lead a team that provides the type of representation for our clients that I would hope my family would receive if we were ever in such need. That commitment has taken us to courtrooms throughout Texas and across the nation. We have gone above and beyond to hold companies responsible for tragedies caused by careless trucking companies, oil field services and production operations, commercial airplanes and railroads, as well as dangerously designed and defective automobiles. And, in recent years, we have helped 4 Notable outcomes and recent engagements: Representation of multiple Texas collegiate softball players injured when their bus was struck by an 18-wheeler on an Oklahoma highway Representation of the family of a Dallas mother of four who was killed when she was thrown from her seat on the Texas Giant rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Texas Representation of an elderly woman who died, and four others who were seriously injured, after a charter bus taking them to the Choctaw Casino in Durant, Okla., crashed on a Texas highway the cartwright law firm Substantial verdict for a North Dallas neurologist in a contract and fiduciary breach dispute over revenue stemming from the ownership of several medical imaging facilities Numerous large transportation verdicts and settlements, including a nationally recognized jury award for an elderly woman whose husband died in a crash caused by a grossly negligent hazardous waste company Significant settlement in a gas pipeline explosion caused when a Tinsman & Sciano, INc. 19 Settlement on behalf of former executives of a major corporate entity involving allegations of breach of contract and fraud Representation of a college student who was invited to Thomas spend the J. Fourth Henry, of July at a lakefront yacht club, used a water trampoline that had been left near a dock in unmarked shallow water, and suffered a broken neck and quadriplegia. Injury Attorneys ABOUT FRANK L. BRANSON AND THE LAW 38 practice area index OFFICES OF FRANK L. BRANSON: Mr. Branson has built a team of highly respected trial lawyers, An index including of Debbie featured Dudley Branson, firms Quentin categorized Brogdon, Thomas by practice area. Farmer, Eric Stahl, Chip Brooker and John Burkhead. This team works creatively, collaboratively and conscientiously to provide the kind of representation our clients deserve. At the core of our work is the belief that we can make a difference in the lives of our clients through hard work, experience and a proven devotion to our clients. 7 & 23 One of 50 Elite Trial yers for Plaintiffs h National Journal in 2014 Inducted to Texas yer s inaugural Texas Ve Fame and recognized with the Lifetime Achievem 2013 for his many years of achievements in the c Honored by Texas Super yers Top 10 law annually since 2007 and among the Top 3 occasions National Journal Top 100 verdicts in the Un Honored by The Best yers in America annua Recipient of The Mel Award presented by the M Society in recognition of his creativity and inno courtroom Recipient of the American Bar Association s Pur Award, recognizing outstanding merit in lawye who excel in providing access to justice for all Recipient of the Teddy Roosevelt Man in the A national honor for hard work and dedication interstate trucking highway safety, given by the A Plaintiff Interstate Trucking yers of America One of three Plaintiff s attorneys recognized in Injury category for Texas yer s 2012 Go-To G Trial yer of the Year award given by th Association Recipient of the Tommy Malone Great American
TiNSmAN & SciANO, inc. PROFeSSiONAL, experienced LAwyeRS FOR The SeRiOuSLy injured Nathan Lindstrom legal leaders Standing From Left: Aaron Valadez, rence J. Webb, Stephen F. Lazor, Dennis O. Moore, Sharon Savage Seated From Left: Richard Tinsman, Daniel J.T. Sciano, Danielle M. Copes daniel J.T. SCiano richard TinSman STEPHEn F. lazor Founded on the principle that every client s case is the most important legal matter in his or her life, tinsman & SCiano, inc. strives to provide the highest levels of responsive client service and legal counsel. while our focus on personal injury and civil trial law has remained consistent since the firm s founding in 1970, we continue to reinvent ourselves to serve the changing needs of our community, observes director daniel J.t. Sciano. for example, we ve always been involved in product safety issues and automobile wrecks, but with the extensive drilling of the eagle ford Shale, we are now seeing a staggering rise in cases associated with injuries and fatalities occurring on those well sites and nearby county highways, not to mention an increasing number of trusts and estates issues related to the oil boom. the firm s eight dedicated attorneys bring more than 185 years of collective legal experience to prosecuting mostly complex wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases involving defective and unsafe products, trucking and other vehicular collisions, industrial accidents, aviation and railroad accidents, and serious burn injuries. tinsman & Sciano also litigates cases involving oil and gas royalty disputes, will contests, trusts and estates, contract claims, and federal tort claims. in his practice, Sciano focuses on truck/tractor collisions with passenger automobiles as well as oil field accidents, probate disputes, and product liability claims, such as kitchen stove tip-over accidents. he has been included in the Best lawyers in america by woodward/white, inc. every year since 1995. he has also been recognized as a texas Super lawyer in the area of Plaintiff/Personal injury: Product liability every year since 2003 by thomson reuters as published in texas Monthly. this included being named as one of the top 100 Super lawyers in texas for 2013 and as one of the top 50 texas Super lawyers in the Central & west texas region in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. richard tinsman, who has distinguished himself over a 57-year career as a civil trial lawyer, has concentrated a significant portion of his practice during the last five years on litigating cases involving will contests, trust disputes, breaches of fiduciary duty, and oil and gas royalty disputes. like Sciano, tinsman is Board Certified in Civil trial law and Personal injury trial law by the texas Board of legal Specialization. along with Stephen lazor, tinsman and Sciano are av Preeminent rated by Martindale-hubbell. lazor has been practicing for 39 years, and in that time he has earned the respect of both the medical and legal communities for his representation of the victims of medical negligence, industrial accidents, unsafe premises, vehicular collisions, and defective products. he was previously selected as Chairman of the Medical-legal liaison Committee of the San antonio Bar association and the Bexar County Medical Society. as a firm, we set high standards for legal excellence, and i cannot overstate the importance of our collective experience and work ethic, Sciano says. People hire us because they know we will aggressively and tirelessly represent their interest. 10107 MCalliSter freeway San antonio, tx 78216 toll free: 1.800.292.9999 Ph: 210.225.3121 fax: 210.225.6235 www.tsslawyers.com
legal Leaders by Firm INDEX OF FEATURED FIRMS Texas Top Rated yers helps take the mystery out of locating a high-quality advocate to protect you, your family, your business and all other assets. The lawyers in this comprehensive list are considered first-rate in their field and are available to help. A. William Arnold III & Associates, PC Civil Page 27 ANNE TURNER BELETIC FAMILY LAW, DIVORCE, MODIFICATIONS SUITS Page 36 Amy Peterson Bloomquist Wills, Trusts, Probate Page 36 Arnold, Knobloch & Saunders, L.L.P gordon arnold Intellectual property, Litigation Page 36 Barbara K. Runge, Attorney at Family Page 37 Bishop & Hummert, Insurance, Civil Litigation, Appeals Page 29 Blake Bailey Environmental, Consumer, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury Page 30 BOSWELL & HALLMARK, JOHN H. BOSWELL CIVIL LITIGATION, OIL & GAS, BANKING, INSURANCE, PERSONAL INJURY, PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY Page 34 BOYD & ASSOCIATES Sam Boyd Business Litigation, False Claims Act, Whistleblower Claims Page 10 BRUNEMANLAW STEVEN W. BRUNEMAN FAMILY LAW Page 36 CARLOCK & GORMLEY DAVID CARLOCK DIVORCE, FAMILY LAW Page 30 Charles A. Crocker Trusts and Estates, Taxation Page 37 CLAY DUGAS & ASSOCIATES Personal Injury Page 27 Dawson & Sodd, LLP Eminent Domain, Condemnation, Inverse Condemnation Page 29 DEANS & LYONS, LLP MICHAEL P. LYONS PRODUCTS LIABILITY, MEDICAL MALPRACTICE, WRONGFUL DEATH Page 30 Dehay & Elliston LLP Asbestos Litigation, Products Liability, Litigation Page 24 Dobrowski Firm, PLLC Civil Litigation, Employment, Family Page 25 Dunbar Harder immigration Page 35 Eggleston & Briscoe, LLP Insurance Litigation, business Litigation, commercial Transactions Page 22 Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP Steven Ladik business immigration law, entertainment immigration law, sports immigration law Page 35 Fowler Rodriguez Tim Strickland, MICHAEL W. McCOY Insurance, Maritime, Civil Litigation, Commercial Page 30, 32 Hanszen Laporte Attorneys at Litigation, Business & Commercial, Real Estate Page 31 KATRINA DANNHAUS PACKARD, KATRINA DANNHAUS PACKARD Litigation, Family, Child Protective Matters Page 37 Kennard Attorneys at law Discrimination, Labor and Employment, and Civil Rights Page 17 KESSLER COLLINS, GARY S. KESSLER SECURITIES, INSURANCE, COMMERCIAL LITIGATION Page 32 Offices of Andrea Winters, Estate planning, estate administration, business entity Planning, Tax Page 35 Offices of Frank L. Branson Litigation, Personal Injury, Products Liability, Professional Negligence Page 2, 21 LAW OFFICE OF JOHN D. MOSLEY, JOHN D. MOSLEY Civil Litigation, General Practice Page 36 Offices Of Louis M. Fouts III personal injury Page 16 LEWELLEN LAW GARRY LEWELLEN FAMILY LAW, CRIMINAL LAW, CIVIL LITIGATION Page 36 MARKLAND HANLEY, LLP DALE MARKLANDm, TARA HANLEY LITIGATION, PRODUCTS LIABILITY, MEDICAL MALPRACTICE Page 32 Meyer Orlando LLC MICHAEL A. ORLANDO Marine, Energy, Transportation and Products Liability Page 36 Miller Weisbrod LLP Les Weisbrod Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death Page 12 PATRICIA KAY DUBE, BURT BARR & ASSOCIATES, LLP GENERAL CIVIL LITIGATION AND INSURANCE MATTERS Page 33 RALPH C. RED DOG JONES, ATTORNEY AT LAW, PERSONAL INJURY, CIVIL LITIGATION, PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE Page 31 Rodriguez Firm J.R. Rodriguez Products Liability, Commercial Litigation, Business Torts Page 37 ROERIG, OLIVEIRA & FISHER, JEFFREY D. ROERIG, CRISANTA GUERRA LOZANO PERSONAL INJURY DEFENSE, BUSINESS LITIGATION, PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE Page 37 SCHUERENBERG & GRIMES, CHARLES E. SCHUERENBERG, GARY ALLMON GRIMES GENERAL PRACTICE, FAMILY LAW, CIVIL LITIGATION Page 33 SEABOLT LAW GROUP D. GRANT SEABOLT, JR. GENERAL COUNSEL SERVICES, BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Page 37 8 \ Texas top rated lawyers To See A Directory of All AV Preeminent Rated Attorneys in Texas visit at.law.com/texastoprated
legal Leaders by Firm Steckler, LLP Bruce W. Steckler commercial, securities, insurance, mass torts Page 33 Ted B. Lyon & Associates, Personal Injury, Pipeline Explosions, Construction Accidents Page 9 Tefteller, PLLC Personal Injury, Wrongful Death Page 13 TEXAS STAR ALLIANCE JOHN R. PITTS INTEGRATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS, ADMINISTRATIVE AND PUBLIC GOVERNMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW Page 11, Back Cover THE BROWN LAW FIRM LEE BROWN PERSONAL INJURY PLAINTIFF: PRODUCTS PERSONAL INJURY PLAINTIFF: GENERAL Page 36 THE CARTWRIGHT LAW FIRM Daniel S. Cartwright PROPERTY DAMAGE & LOSS, CATASTROPHIC AND PERSONAL INJURY, WRONGFUL DEATH, AUTOMOBILE AND TRUCKING ACCIDENTS Page 4 The Freeman Firm, T. ERNEST FREEMAN BUSINESS LITIGATION, CIVIL LITIGATION, PERSONAL INJURY Page 33 The Hart Firm, p.c. David G. Hart Personal Injury Page 35 THE LAW FIRM OF ALTON C. TODD PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION Page 37 THE LAW OFFICES OF DEANDRA M. GRANT, DWI DEFENSE, CRIMINAL DEFENSE Page 32 The Offices of Thomas G. Kemmy Tom Kemmy Personal Injury, Medical, Wrongful Death and Business litigation Page 36 The Webb Family Firm, PC BRIAN L. WEBB FAMILY LAW Page 34 Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury, Catastrophic Injury, Product Liability Page 19 TINSMAN & SCIANO, INC. DANIEL J.T. SCIANO Automobile Accidents, Personal Injury, and Trust and Estates Page 7, 23 PAGE PROOF FOR APPROVAL ONLY TOBOLOWSKY & BURK, IRA E. TOBOLOWSKY BUSINESS LAW, REAL ESTATE LAW, CIVIL LITIGATION Page 37 Travers & Travers Sherrie Haussner, Travers Mack Travers Family, Divorce, Mediation Page 37 Vick, Carney & Smith, LLP Mac Smith Criminal, Civil, Personal Injury Page 34 WYATT LAW FIRM, LTD. PAULA WYATT PERSONAL INJURY, EMPLOYMENT LAW, PRODUCT LIABILITY Page 34 TED B. LYON & ASSOCIATES, SAFEGUARDING CLIENTS RIGHTS FOR OVER 38 YEARS legal leaders TEd B. lyon BEn Taylor marquette wolf Bill zook hen cases involve Wlife-changing events and complex legal issues, clients need a proven legal team. We approach our cases with the intensity and skill they require and deserve. TED LYON PERSONAL INJURY, PIPELINE EXPLOSIONS, CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS, & HEAD/BRAIN INJURIES 18601 lbj FreewAY, Suite 525, mesquite, tx 75150 ph: 972.279.6571 toll Free: 877.ted.lYOn SOme OF Our noteworthy cases, verdicts And SettlementS Are listed On Our website: tedlyon.com To See A Directory of All AV Preeminent Rated Attorneys in Texas visit at.law.com/texastoprated Texas top rated lawyers / 9
need to know EMployErs cannot retaliate for whistleblowing actions you shouldn t have to fear loss of your job or retaliation from your boss and co-workers for notifying authorities of illegal activity or safety hazards at your workplace. When you disclose this type of information about your employer, an activity known as whistleblowing, federal and state laws provide you with a lot of protection against employer retaliation. the often Protects whistleblowing The government protects you from retaliation at work if you report safety violations by your employer. For example, whistleblower protection is available for reporting safety issues in the trucking, airline, and public transportation industries; the existence of asbestos in a school; unsafe cargo loaded on ships; and violations at nuclear power plants and pipeline facilities. You are also protected when reporting financial fraud committed by your employer, such as when a public corporation reports inaccurate financial results. If you are asked to testify in court or cooperate with a government investigation, the whistleblower retaliation protections still apply. your employer cannot retaliate against you Getting fired after you ve blown the whistle on your employer is probably the worst type of retaliation you can experience. However, federal law also protects you against other forms of employer retaliation. Retaliation also includes intimidating threats by your employer, reassigning you to a different position, cutting your salary or hours, no longer allowing you to work overtime, or PAGE PROOF -- FOR APPROVAL ONLY BOYD & ASSOCIATES BUSINESS LITIGATION, FALSE CLAIMS ACT, WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIMS Sam Boyd, a former Green Beret Captain and a decorated Combat Veteran of the Vietnam war, has served 37 years as a trial lawyer. a master Parachutist, halo qualified and awardee of the sacred Combat infantryman s Badge, Sam has no fear pursuing wrongdoers who owe justice to his clients. Sam is a director emeritus of the texas trial lawyers association and the dallas trial lawyers association. his firm has the highest rating of av Preeminent by Martindale-hubbell. Sam was recognized as a top rated lawyer for 2012-2015 by lexisnexis Martindale-hubbell. Sam became a member of the faculty of the aba s false Claims trial institute in 2013. he was invited and selected as a top 100 Member of the national trial lawyers, and he is a member of the Multi-Million dollar advocates forum. Sam graduated from texas tech university: 1974, Class Valedictorian with a B.a. in Mathematics (highest honors); 1977, Class Valedictorian, with his M.B.a.; 1977, with his J.d. (high honors). Sam was a Member and Managing editor of the law Review. he was selected the international law Graduate for the year 1977 by the international legal fraternity Phi delta Phi. Catherine Jobe was a law Clerk for the late Judge John r. Brown, Chief Judge of the former fifth Circuit Court of appeals. Catherine earned her B.a. (1976) from drake university, and in 1990 received her J.d. with distinction from George Mason university School of law. Catherine was a Member of the law Review. 6440 n. Central expressway, Suite 600, dallas, tx 75206 ph: 214.696.2300 www.samboydlaw.com demotion. If you experience even one of these forms of retaliation, your employer is breaking the law. multiple government agencies and courts Asserting your legal rights against a retaliatory employer requires the filing of various legal documents with federal and possibly state agencies. A complaint must be filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Depending on the type of violation you report, you may need to get it filed within 30 days of your employer s retaliation. Depending on which whistleblower law you re seeking protection under, you might be able to file a private lawsuit against your employer. the may require your employer to compensate you If OSHA (or some other agency) concludes that your employer has retaliated against you for filing a complaint, it has the authority to require that your employer reinstate you and compensate you for any lost wages. If you ultimately sue your employer in court, you can get reimbursed for hiring a lawyer and for the fees you pay to expert witnesses. AS SEEN ON 10 \ Texas top rated lawyers To See A Directory of All AV Preeminent Rated Attorneys in Texas visit at.law.com/texastoprated
TexAS STAR ALLiANce integrated PuBLic AFFAiRS, ADmiNiSTRATiVe AND PuBLic government, ADmiNiSTRATiVe LAw Nathan Lindstrom JOhn R. PiTTs is ThE FOUndER and managing principal of the texas Star alliance. he has nearly 25 years of experience working around the texas Capitol. John served as general counsel to former lt. Governor Bob Bullock and also served as chaplain to the texas Senate. he has held leadership roles in several multi-national law firms and his expertise as an attorney and lobbyist are well respected among policy makers across the country. FOR ThE LAsT TwO years, PiTTs has been named as the 6th most powerful and effective lobbyists in austin. Capitol inside. specializing in water in his legal practice as well as working extensively in that area at the texas legislature, Pitts was the lead attorney representing the City of austin in negotiations for a long-term water supply. Pitts worked closely with the then Mayor of austin (who is now State Senator Kirk watson) in what is referred to as a landmark agreement. also, Pitts assisted in the settlement of the then largest tribal water rights settlement in history representing the Gila river indian Community. Pitts worked on the settlement with more than 50 opposing attorneys representing arizona stakeholders and the federal government as well as legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President. As ThE FOUndER And MAnAGinG PRinciPAL, PiTTs has had the opportunity to develop and steward vital legislation on both state and national levels. while serving the lieutenant governor as general counsel, Pitts directed the effort to draft and pass the historic water legislation, SB 1. he has successfully represented clients including numerous fortune 500 companies, major trade associations and national nonprofits. his clients represent a cross section of legislative issues including: transportation, water, health, education (public and higher), technology, finance, tax, banking, agriculture, affordable housing, appropriations, John R. Pitts meeting with attorney State Representative Joe Deshotel, District 22, in the Texas State Capitol. pensions, criminal justice, juvenile justice, ethics, insurance, gaming, and alternative energy. TExAs star ALLiAncE was FOUndEd By JOhn R. Pitts with a vision of providing a full direct advocacy and public affairs firm for clients dealing with issues in texas, washington, d.c., or both. the firm offers across-the-board expertise as our diverse clients face a variety of issues ranging from appropriations and energy policy to education and nonprofits. the Principals are passionate about helping people and organizations deal effectively with the government and the public. with An AccOMPLishEd TEAM OF LOBByisTs, political veterans, media and public relations professionals, texas Star alliance focuses on integrating the needs of clients into a streamlines campaign. this integrated approach allows the firm to be quicker and more cost-effective as well as to obtain greater results for its clients. the texas Star alliance was ranked as the 5th most legal leaders powerful and effective lobby firm at the texas state capitol. Capitol inside. Po Box 27130, houston, tx 77227 John@texaSStarallianCe.CoM 1122 Colorado, Suite 102, austin, tx 78701 www.texasstaralliance.com JoHn r. PiTTS
need to know medical negligence and malpractice how can you protect yourself? if you are a victim of a treatment that led to short- or long-term effects on your health, you may be able to receive compensation for hospital bills, loss of income, or pain and suffering caused by the procedure. It is important to know where the blame lies in these cases so that you can protect yourself in the future. negligence vs. malpractice what s the difference? While negligence and malpractice are often used interchangeably, there are important differences between the two. Negligence is defined as conduct that fails to meet the standard of care for a patient, whereas malpractice is considered improper, illegal, or unprofessional activity or treatment. It is possible for medical negligence to fall under the category of malpractice. Treatments that are classified as negligence rather than malpractice usually involve a lack of action on the part of the physician. For example, if a patient entering the hospital is wearing a medical alert bracelet which the staff fails to notice, and that person receives improper treatment as a result of this, the hospital can be sued for negligence. In comparison, a doctor who misdiagnoses a condition and then performs surgery might be accused of malpractice if, based on the evidence, other competent doctors would not have made the same mistake. LacK of InFormed consent One kind of medical malpractice is based on a doctor s failure to adequately inform you about a proposed medical procedure or treatment. You have the right as a patient to determine what you want done to your body. If you re not given the right information and you re injured during the treatment, you may have a medical malpractice case. Consent merely means your doctor gives you information about a medical treatment and you agree to it. You may consent PAGE PROOF -- FOR APPROVAL ONLY Recognized nationally and internationally as one of the top plaintiff s medical malpractice trial lawyers in the United States, Les Weisbrod is a leader in personal injury law with a strong history of results. Cumulatively, since May 1986, Mr. Weisbrod has tried or settled over 179 medical malpractice and medical product cases that have each resulted in verdicts or settlements of $1 million or more for his clients. Mr. Weisbrod has served as President of the American Association of Justice (AAJ). AAJ (formerly known as the Association of Trial yers of America) is the world s largest trial lawyer association. Les Weisbrod has obtained more medical malpractice punitive damage jury verdicts for his clients than any other attorney in the United States. -Michael Rustad,Professor of at Suffolk University in Boston Les Weisbrod Dubbed the pit bull of the Texas medical malpractice bar A founding partner of Miller Weisbrod LLP, Les Weisbrod is uniquely qualified to handle the intricacies of cases involving medical malpractice, personal injury or wrongful death. With his tenacity and relentless pursuit of discovery, Mr. Weisbrod continually exceeds client expectations. Simply stated, Les Weisbrod has more experience, more expertise and more of what it takes to win. 11551 Forest Central Drive, Forest Central II, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75243 Ph: 214.987.0005 Fax: 214.987.2545 www.millerweisbrod.com Visit our website for details of our proven results verbally or by an act showing consent, butmost states require written consent. You need to be told about and understand many things before treatment begins, including: The name of the doctor performing the procedure and their qualifications. Your medical condition. The purpose of the proposed procedure. The risks involved. Any alternative treatments or procedures and the risks involved. The chances of the procedure s success. The expected recovery time. The approximate cost of the procedure and whether it is likely to be covered by your health insurance. Signing an informed consent form doesn t mean your doctor or the hospital can t be liable for malpractice. If the doctor exceeds the consent you gave, it may be malpractice. Proving your doctor didn t get your informed consent is not always enough to win a medical malpractice lawsuit. There must be a connection between the lack of informed consent and your injury. You must prove that, with the right information you would not have consented to the medical treatment and the medical outcome would have been different. PatIent abandonment Once a doctor-patient relationship is created, the doctor is obligated to treat the patient until the relationship ends. The doctor s duty to treat a patient includes coverage for the patient when the doctor is away or otherwise unable to attend to the patient. Abandoning a patient in need of attention without making reasonable plans for care isn t only unprofessional, but it is considered medical malpractice. AS SEEN ON 12 \ Texas top rated lawyers To See A Directory of All AV Preeminent Rated Attorneys in Texas visit at.law.com/texastoprated
Personal Injury, Wrongful Death TOdd TEFTELLER FOUNDER BOARD CERTIFIED IN CIVIL TRIAL LAW BY THE TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION JAROM TEFTELLER PARTNER MEMBER OF MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ADVOCATES FORUM AND MILLION DOLLAR ADVOCATES FORUM chris BEBEL LL.M. SECURITIES LAW, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER FORMER SEC ATTORNEY, FORMER ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY TOM MccORKLE BOARD CERTIFIED IN CRIMINAL LAW BY THE TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION clayton TEFTELLER Andy TEFTELLER 903.843.5678 403 WEST TYLER GILMER, TX 75644 WWW.TEFTELLERLAW.COM Tefteller, PLLC is an East Texas trial firm representing Texans who have been injured or killed in commercial vehicle accidents, oilfield accidents, auto accidents, or by defective products, dangerous premises and civil rights violations. In addition to the firm s robust wrongful death and catastrophic injury practice, Tefteller, PLLC aggressively represents clients who have been the victims of securities or investment fraud by unscrupulous investment brokers and large banking institutions. Todd Tefteller, the founder of the firm, comes from a small town East Texas legacy that extends back to his grandfather who was appointed by President John F. Kennedy as The United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas in 1961 and again by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. Todd says of the impression his grandfather left on him, My granddaddy taught me that a man should never forget where he came from, no matter where he ends up. This philosophy has allowed our firm to achieve an impressive level of success. Staying true to our East Texas roots and being plugged into our local communities allows us to relate better with jurors anywhere and speak with them as people, friends and neighbors not talk down to them from some legal ivory tower. The results have been seen in Tefteller s ability to go across Texas and obtain substantial settlements and verdicts in tough cases when insurance companies or big corporations and banks refuse to do the right thing. Growing up in East Texas in the (1960s) you would often hear the term tush hog tossed around by the men in the community to describe someone who never backs down when they are right and digs in and fights no matter what, said Tefteller. Our firm has applied this philosophy to our trial practice. Tefteller states that, this dig in and fight mentality explains why some of our lawyers have been featured in numerous national and international publications, radio and television programs. Tefteller attorneys have appeared, provided commentary, or been featured on Fox News, CNBC, ABC s World News Tonight, NBC s Nightly News, and CBS Nightly News, along with The New York Times, Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Dallas Morning News, Texas Tribune, Gilmer Mirror, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Longview News-Journal, The Tyler Telegraph, NPR, and Texas yer magazine, among others. legal leaders Todd TEFTEllEr Tom mccorkle
legal trends Texas 2015 From battles over immigration law and historic settlements, to the latest in Lance Armstrong s legal suits, law in The Lone Star State is heating up. Undocumented Immigrants in Legal Limbo, Texas Court Ruling Last November, President Obama signed an executive order to give legal status to as many as five million undocumented immigrants in the country. In mid-february, a Texas judge delayed the implementation of that order after 26 Republicanled states filed a federal lawsuit claiming that the President s actions are illegal and outside the bounds of the U.S. Constitution. The hearing was held in January in Brownsville, Texas with U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen presiding. While Judge Hanen did not rule on the legality of the President s actions, he did say that the lawsuit s merits warranted suspending the orders while the case goes forward. In a memorandum, Judge Hanen wrote that President Obama s executive order would cause the states to suffer irreparable harm, on account of the expense they would incur when undocumented immigrants become eligible for social services. Hanen further added that the genie would be impossible to put back into the bottle, were the order to go through. In response to the ruling, the White House issued a statement arguing that the Department of Justice and the district court in Washington, D.C., along with legal scholars and immigration experts, had already determined the order to be within the President s legal authority. It also stated that, top law enforcement officials, along with state and local leaders across the country, have emphasized that these policies will also benefit the economy and help keep communities safe. The President s orders would prevent the deportation of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the country when they were children. The orders would also protect the parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents from deportation. In an interview with ABC News, Governor Greg Abbott, one of the leaders who filed the suit, said that the President was being a dictator by issuing laws in contradiction of his power under the United States Constitution. He added that There s no article or Bill of Rights in the Constitution that says compassion allows the president to circumvent the rules of the Constitution. The Department of Justice has requested an emergency stay to delay Judge Hanen s decision, arguing that halting the executive actions poses a threat to national security. In its request, the Department of Justice said that the Department of Homeland Security would suffer irreparable harm if the stay is not granted. State Farm Settles $32 Million Suit Over High Premiums In late February, State Farm Lloyds agreed to a 352.5 million dollar settlement brought by Texas customers, ending nearly twelve years of legal battles over unlawfully high homeowner s insurance premiums. The settlement will be paid out in refunds to more than 1 million Texans who owned policies from the insurer between 2003 and 2008. The legal battle began in 2003, when the Texas Department of Insurance told State Farm that its rates were not reasonable for the risks to which they applied, and that the insurer was making an unreasonable profit. Public Insurance Counsel Deeia Beck, whose office argued the case, was pleased with the results, even though they had argued for a larger settlement. At the end of the day, it comes down to what is best for policyholders, Beck said in a statement. We could have continued the litigation for years, resulting in larger refunds, no refunds, or something in between. State Farm has continued to deny any wrongdoing throughout the process. Patty Kelly, a spokeswoman for the company, said in a statement: We believe this settlement allows us to focus on serving our customers and move forward without additional expense and distraction of continued litigation. Seat Belt Evidence Now Admissible in Court The Texas Supreme Court recently overturned a 40-year rule that made evidence of seat belt use inadmissible in determining blame for collision-related injuries in court. The 1974 precedent was instated to protect plaintiffs from all or nothing rulings, when laws requiring seat belt use didn t exist. Now, the high court has found the rule outdated. The rule may have been appropriate in its time, but today it is a vestige of a bygone legal system and an oddity in light of modern societal norms, the Supreme Court stated in its decision. The decision grew out of a recent accident case in which the court reversed a $2.3 million injury verdict. The Romero and Soto families had sued Nabors Well Services after eight family members were involved in an accident involving a Nabors Well transport truck on a West Texas highway. The family s suburban was sent off the highway and rolled multiple times. Five passengers were thrown from the car. One passenger, Aydee Romero, died. The other seven family members were injured. It was determined that only one or two people in the car were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. But that evidence was not allowed in court. In 2014, a jury ruled in favor of the family. Nabors Well s attorney, Amy Warr, appealed, arguing that the seat belt evidence should be included as normal evidence. I don t think expert jurors would need expert testimony to tell them that something that s tied down is less likely to fly out of a vehicle or that people are injured more severely when they re ejected, Warr said during the appeal in El Paso s Court of Appeals last year. The Supreme Court s decision to allow seat belt evidence in injury cases led to the reversal of the verdict against Nabors Well and will undoubtedly have an effect on future accident cases in the state. Santander Illegally Repossessed Cars from Military Members Santander Consumer USA, the Dallas, Texas-based auto loan finance company, agreed to a $9.35 million settlement over illegal car repossessions from members of the U.S. military. According to The New York Times, Santander s is the largest settlement by the U.S. government for car repossessions. The case began when army specialist Joshua Davis complained that Santander repossessed his car without a court order in the middle of the night while he was in basic training. However, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, a federal law, requires that auto lenders must secure a court order before repossessing the cars of members of the military. The law is legal trends designed to help protect service members who are often called on to upend their lives and their finances to serve the country at a moment s notice. Prosecutors estimated that over the course of five years, Santander repossessed some 760 cars from members of the military without court orders. The company was also accused of charging fees to 352 servicemembers for illegal repossessions by other lenders. Santander USA is one of the ten largest auto loan companies in the country and holds a large stake in the sub-prime auto loan market. The settlement comes at a time when the booming auto finance market is being examined by the Justice Department for predatory lending practices that target low-income borrowers. Acting U.S. Attorney John R. Parker told The New York Times that the settlement will help prevent such improper repossessions in the future. Santander spokeswoman Laurie Knight said that the company had restructured to prevent improper repossessions. She added that many of the illegal repossessions occurred on accounts Santander bought from other financial institutions. Lance Armstrong To Pay $10 Million to a Prize Insurer Lance Armstrong is required to pay $10 million to a Dallasbased promotions company after an arbitration panel ruled against the cyclist in a fraud dispute. The panel called the notorious cyclist s cover-up of his use of performance-enhancing drugs an unparalleled pageant of international perjury, fraud and conspiracy. The company, SCA Promotions, paid Armstrong and Tailwinds, Armstrong s now-defunct management company, approximately $12 million in bonuses over the course of Armstrong s career, which included seven Tour de France victories. Those victories were stripped after it became known that Armstrong had used banned drugs. In the initial arbitration hearings in 2005, SCA disputed the payment of a $5 million bonus. The company had agreed to pay Armstrong if he won the Tour de France each year from 2001 to 2004. SCA disputed the payments amid doping allegations against Armstrong, yet Armstrong insisted in the hearings that he did not use any banned substances. Despite the doping evidence that surfaced in that case, SCA decided to settle with Armstrong and paid him $7 million to cover the bonus and legal fees. Yet after a report by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency exposed Armstrong, who made a confession on the Oprah Winfrey Show, SCA sued Armstrong to get its money back. SCA president Bob Hamman told The New York Times: It is hard to describe how much harm Lance Armstrong s web of lies caused SCA, but this is a good first start toward repairing that damage. SCA is now expected to question Armstrong under oath about his ability to pay the $10 million. Armstrong s lawyer Tim Herman said, this award is unprecedented, in response to the decision. Armstrong is currently fighting several legal battles over his use of drugs in competition. One is a False Claims Act lawsuit arguing that Armstrong defrauded his former team s sponsor, the U.S. Postal Service. The U.S.P.S. is said to have paid $40 million to Armstrong and his team from 1998 to 2004. 14 \ / Texas top rated lawyers To See A Directory of All AV Preeminent Rated Attorneys in Texas visit at.law.com/texastoprated To See A Directory of All AV Preeminent Rated Attorneys in Texas visit at.law.com/texastoprated Texas top rated lawyers 15
need to know sharing PersonaL InJUry awards in A divorce practically every married couple owns property and assets. The family home, furniture, cars and cash in the bank are good examples. When it comes to divorce, all these things usually need to be divided between the spouses through a property division. Personal injury awards are no exception. You may have to share with your soon-to-be ex the damages you recovered in a personal injury suit, or you may get a share of your ex s award. It all depends on the divorce and property division laws in your state. ProPerty division basics Just like the house and cars, a personal injury award is either separate property - owned solely by the injured spouse - or it s marital or community property, where each spouse in entitled to a share in the award. When it comes to personal injury awards, courts typically use either the mechanical or analytic approach to figure out if spouses must share their awards. the mechanical approach The mechanical approach is based on the state law s definition of individual or separate property and marital property. Separate property is property owned by the spouse before marriage and any property acquired by gift or inheritance during the marriage. Marital property is property acquired during marriage. Many times, awards are treated as marital property. The idea is simple enough: Since a personal injury award is not acquired by gift or inheritance, and it doesn t fit into an exception to the general rule that property acquired during marriage is marital property, it must be marital property. the analytic approach The analytic approach focuses on what the award was intended to replace: Was it something personal to the injured spouse or something both spouses lost. As a general rule, an award is the injured spouse s separate property if the award was compensation for that spouse s personal well-being. PAGE PROOF -- FOR APPROVAL ONLY law offices of louis M. fouts iii PERSONAL INJURY For over 40 years, Lou Fouts has represented thousands of clients who have sustained serious bodily injuries, or the loss of a loved one by wrongful death. He works zealously to achieve fairness and justice in securing recoveries for his clients. His career and reputation are distinguished by excellence and compassion for his clients. Both clients and other attorneys have recognized his tenacity and determination for his clients. Lou Fouts earned his B.B.A. degree from S.M.U. and a Doctor of Jurisprudence at The University of Texas at Austin School of in 1970. While representing individuals who have been tragically injured, he personally ensures that each client is given special care, personal attention, and the highest level of responsiveness. He has been recognized and listed in Who s Who in American, Texas Top Rated yers, and Who s Who in Texas; and he has had the AV Preeminent Peer Rating, the highest rating by Martindale-Hubbell yer Ratings for 30 years. He has experience in pursuing client s rights in both State and Federal Courts, as well as Arbitration, and the mediation of cases. 6116 N. CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY, SUITE 1201, DALLAS, TX 75206 PH: 214.369.9888 FAX: 214.373.9879 FOUTSLOU@JUNO.COM community ProPerty states Practically all community property states use the analytic approach and characterize recoveries according to the injuries they are intended to compensate. So, if the couple (the community ) paid medical expenses and suffered lost wages during marriage, the recovery is community property. An award is the injured spouse s separate property when it s compensation for that spouse s personal well-being, such as pain and suffering or compensation for a lost limb. specific s For awards Some states have enacted laws on the classification of personal injury awards. For example, in New York, personal injury awards are treated as separate property. where awards come From Personal injury awards can result from personal injury lawsuits, like car accidents, and other kinds of lawsuits, such as: Interspousal personal injury lawsuits, which are personal injury lawsuits between spouses Property damage suits Wrongful death Recovery of life insurance proceeds Awards may also include money damages for more than medical expenses and pain and suffering. For example, loss of consortium, which is loss of a spouse s services and companionship, is often included in personal injury awards. The awards from these kinds of suits are generally classified by using the same mechanical or analytical approach, or by using the state s specific law for personal injury lawsuits. AS SEEN ON $$$ 16 \ Texas top rated lawyers To See A Directory of All AV Preeminent Rated Attorneys in Texas visit at.law.com/texastoprated
Helping Individuals Protect Their Rights. Helping Your Small Business Succeed. How Can We Help You? EXPERIENCED EMPLOYMENT LAW ATTORNEYS SERVING HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, AUSTIN AND THE STATE OF TEXAS Shareholders (L to R): Terrence B. Robinson, Alfonso Kennard, Jr., Lance C. Blankenship Kennard started with a simple concept: Make quality legal representation available to individuals and small businesses. The Firm is a team of lawyers that left Big to do just that. We bring that experience to you for when it matters most. We ve represented some of the largest companies in the world. Now, we represent you. RONALD DUPREE AMANDA C. HERNANDEZ BRIAN J. LEVY MICHELLE MISHOE MILLER JOSÉ E. GALVAN A.J. RODRIGUEZ TOP RATED LAWYERS ALFONSO KENNARD, JR. TERRENCE B. ROBINSON Labor and Employment ALFONSO KENNARD, JR. TERRENCE B. ROBINSON S. A. SCENE Best yers ALFONSO KENNARD, JR. ALFONSO KENNARD, JR. TERRENCE B. ROBINSON 2013-2015 ALFONSO KENNARD, JR. LANCE C. BLANKENSHIP TERRENCE B. ROBINSON MONICA NUNEZ-GARZA DANIEL S. GONZALEZ OF COUNSEL DENNIS RICHARD OF COUNSEL HOUSTON AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO EL PASO RIO GRANDE VALLEY WASHINGTON D.C. 1-855-KENNLAW www.kennardlaw.com
TOP 25 VERDICTS IN TEXAS OF 2014 # CASE DATE VENUE TYPE OF ACTION PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL AMOUNT 1 harman v. trinity industries inc. 2 MM Steel lp v. reliance Steel & aluminum Co. 3 Simpleair inc. v. Google inc. 10/20/14 united States district Court, eastern district, Marshall 3/25/14 united States district Court, Southern district, houston 3/19/14 united States district Court, eastern district, Marshall Plaintiff alleged false claims regarding guardrail component Steel mills conspired to boycott distributor of steel plate inventor-owned co. claimed patent infringement by Google 4 Salazar v. lopez 9/8/14 dallas County district Court, 95th Plaintiff claimed transvaginal mesh device was unsafe 5 wheeler v. Payson Petroleum inc. 2/5/14 dallas County district Court, 192nd defendants misappropriated funds, plaintiff alleged 6 in re estate of asche 4/16/14 dallas County Probate Court no. 2 father lacked testamentary capacity, children claimed 7 Claymore holdings llc v. Credit Suisse ag 8 Kolb v. MShC Bonner Street Plaza, l.l.c. 12/19/14 dallas County district Court, 134th Plaintiff said investment was fraudulently induced 7/14/14 Comanche County district Court, 220th rehab patient at nursing home developed severe bedsore nicholas a. Gravante, Jr. (lead), new york, ny of Boies Schiller & flexner; Josh Maness, Marshall, tx; Karen C. dyer, orlando, fl of Boies Schiller & flexner; George f. Carpinello, albany, ny of Boies, Schiller & flexner; wyatt B. durrette, Jr., richmond, Va of durrettecrump PlC; Samuel f. Baxter, Marshall, tx of McKool Smith; Jennifer leigh truelove, Marshall, tx of McKool Smith; Steven lawrence, austin, tx of the lawrence law firm; Kurt truelove, Marshall, tx of truelove law firm, PllC; t. John ward, longview, tx of ward & Smith law firm r. Paul yetter (lead), houston, tx of yetter Coleman llp; Mo taherzadeh, r. tate young, Bryce Callahan, houston, tx of yetter Coleman llp; Marc S. tabolsky, austin, tx of yetter Coleman llp Gregory S. dovel (co-lead), los angeles, Ca of dovel & luner; Jeff eichmann (co-lead), Simon Carlo franzini, Santa Monica, Ca of dovel & luner; elizabeth l. derieux, longview, tx of Capshaw derieux llp tim K. Goss (co-lead), John P. harloe, iii, dallas, tx of freese & Goss, PllC; david P. Matthews (co-lead), houston, tx of Matthews & associates; Sheila M. Bossier, Jackson, MS; richard a. Capshaw, dallas, tx of Capshaw & associates; Kevin l. edwards, dallas, tx of edwards & de la Cerda; Calle Mendenhall, Birmingham, al of freese & Goss, PllC aaron Z. tobin (lead), Kendal reed, dallas, tx of anderson tobin PllC; traci Boyle, Bruce w. Claycombe, addison, tx of Geary, Porter & donovan, Zach Johnson, richard Kevin Spencer, dallas, tx of Spencer law,; will hartnett, Jim hartnett Jr., dallas, tx of the hartnett law firm william t. reid, iv (co-lead), lisa S. tsai (co-lead), nathaniel J. Palmer, austin, tx of reid Collins & tsai llp $525,000,000 $156,000,000 $85,000,000 $73,465,000 $69,673,907 $55,000,000 $40,000,000 Charles d. Brown, Sheila tan, houston, tx of Mciver Brown law firm $31,040,261 9 new Braunfels utilities v. Gen tex Power Corp. 10 Briones v. lefleur transportation Co. of texas inc. 11 Curocom energy llc v. woolim resources development Co. ltd. 12 Crisp v. Mcdonald's Corp. 7/22/14 Comal County district Court, 207th utility claimed electricity charges were excessive 8/6/14 Jim wells County district Court, 79th Mother and daughter each underwent spinal fusion 6/23/14 harris County district Court, 165th info on production difficulties was withheld, plaintiff claimed 7/30/14 Brazos County district Court, 361st lack of security led to fatal beating at Mcdonald's: families John K. Schwartz, G. alan waldrop, austin, tx of locke lord llp $29,781,780 thomas J. henry, roger turk, Corpus Christi, tx of thomas J. henry injury attorneys alexander C. Chae (lead), Scott d. ellis, John MacVane, houston, tx of Gardere wynne Sewell llp; Stacy r. obenhaus, dallas, tx of Gardere wynne Sewell llp Christopher S. hamilton (lead), dallas, tx of Standly hamilton llp; robert l. langdon, lexington, Mo of langdon & emison $28,400,000 $27,300,000 $27,000,000 13 lbds holding Co. llc v. isol technology inc. 14 Mobile telecommunications technologies llc v. apple inc. 15 hale v. Bishop abbey homes ltd. 3/12/14 united States district Court, eastern district, tyler 11/17/14 united States district Court, eastern district, Marshall 3/31/14 rockwall County district Court, 439th 16 tow v. amegy Bank n.a. 6/11/14 united States district Court, Southern district, houston 17 texas emc Management llc v. Pike 18 Shale exploration llc v. eagle oil & Gas Co. 5/5/14 limestone County district Court, 77th Plaintiff said defendant stole its cardiac Mri technology Pager technology was at issue in apple patent trial foundation design didn't account for soil movement defendant made fraudulent transfers of funds: plaintiff defendants allegedly conspired to convey plaintiff's plant 9/11/14 harris County district Court, 152nd defense used proprietary info to get oil & gas leases: plaintiff Sanford e. warren, Jr. (lead), Joshua l. hedrick, Steven J. udick, dallas, tx of akin, Gump, Strauss, hauer & feld; James l. duncan, iii, houston, tx of akin Gump Strauss hauer & feld; Charles everingham, iv, longview, tx of akin Gump Strauss hauer & feld; lisa S. Gallerano, Galveston, tx of akin Gump Strauss hauer & feld; r. Scott rhoades, longview, tx of akin Gump Strauss hauer & feld; deron r. dacus (lead), tyler, tx of the dacus firm; daniel Scardino, austin, tx of reed & Scardino llp Van Shaw (lead), dallas, tx of law offices of Van Shaw; daniel K. hagood, dallas, tx of fitzpatrick hagood Smith & uhl, l.l.p. Michael d. duncan, houston, tx of Cage, hill & niehaus l.l.p.; Christopher d. lindstrom, houston, tx of Cooper & Scully ; r. Brent Cooper, timothy Micah dortch, dallas, tx of Cooper & Scully, ; erin e. Jones, houston, tx of Jones Morrison llp; Julie M. Koeing, Spring, tx of tow & Koeing PllC; rodney d. tow, Spring, tx of tow & Koeing PllC M. Patrick McShan, dallas, John M. Phalen, Jr., daniel J. Sheehan, Jr., dallas, tx of daniel Sheehan & associates llp Matthew r. Pearson (lead), Valerie l. Cantu, San antonio, tx of Gravely & Pearson l.l.p. $25,174,761 $23,575,000 $20,857,280 $20,001,907 $19,203,924 $18,800,000 19 eon Corp. ip holdings llc v. landis+gyr inc. 6/6/14 united States district Court, eastern district, tyler Plaintiff claimed infringement by 'smart grid' providers 20 rogers v. 3M Co. 9/5/14 dallas County Court at law no. 5 Man who was tire builder for 30 years died of mesothelioma 21 tillman v. hercules drilling Co. llc 22 Switzer v. Grupo Zocalo Managment llc 10/15/14 harris County district Court, 127th oil rigger fell ill from tainted drinking water, he claimed 4/10/14 dallas County district Court, 191st elevator mechanic fractured neck in fall through roof hatch 23 Mercieca v. rummel 5/7/14 travis County district Court, 353rd Plaintiff claimed he was ostracized and scrutinized 24 function one Consulting Group llc v. accudata Systems inc. 25 rankin v. united Parcel Service inc. 3/13/14 harris County district Court, 113th all contractors were legally classified, plaintiff argued 2/5/14 Bexar County district Court, 224th Bicyclist paralyzed in crash with ups truck daniel Scardino, austin, tx of reed & Scardino llp; deron r. dacus, tyler, tx of the dacus firm Christopher J. Panatier (lead), darren P. Mcdowell, dallas, tx of Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett PC $18,800,000 $18,600,000 Michael Pierce, houston, tx of Pierce Chapman Skrabanek Bruera, PllC $16,983,636 wayne fisher, houston, tx of fisher, Boyd, Johnson & huguenard $11,682,694 Paul t. Morin (lead), austin, tx of law offices of Paul t. Morin; roy Pollack, austin, tx Steven Mitby (lead), adam Milasincic, houston, tx of ahmad, Zavitsanos, anaipakos, alvi & Mensing K. douglas Perrin (lead), J. Mark Perrin, dallas, tx of the Perrin law firm; Pete Marketos, dallas, tx of reese Gordon Marketos llp; $11,653,064 $11,400,000 $9,361,000
legal leaders ThOmAS J. henry PeRSONAL injury, catastrophic injury, PRODucT LiABiLiTy ThOMAs J. henry has BEEn PRAcTicinG LAw FOR 27 years. his personal injury practice, founded more than 22 years ago, has become one of the largest injury firms in texas and the united States. MR. henry has TRiEd numerous cases TO JURy verdict and has successfully earned record-breaking results. in 2011, arizona attorney Magazine lauded thomas J. henry for obtaining one of the top 10 Civil Verdicts for the year. in 2012, the national law Journal recognized the firm for winning the #1 Back injury Verdict in the Country. in 2013, the firm achieved the #1 workplace injury Verdict for the year, as recognized by texas lawyer. in 2014, the firm earned the #1 neck injury and #1 Back injury Verdicts in the Country. the firm also made the national law Journal s list of top 100 Verdicts in 2012, 2013, and 2014. ThE FiRM s winning REcORd comes FROM ThE due diligence each attorney takes in handling complex cases and from the organizational structure which allows the firm s highly qualified trial lawyers to succeed. ThE FiRM s OVERALL MAnAGEMEnT is LEd By chief executive officer, Michael henry. Michael henry has been with the firm for more than 17 years. under his leadership as Ceo, the firm has developed a collegial atmosphere which promotes an environment of learning, collaboration, and winning. it is not uncommon for the firm s senior litigators to work together on trial teams to tackle the firm s most complex cases. ThE FiRM s MAJOR TRiAL division is LEd By Senior attorney roger turk, who has worked side by side with thomas J. henry for more than 20 years. roger turk has tried numerous cases to verdict, which has shaped his philosophy as a leader. when well-qualified lawyers come together, and have a collegial and collaborative environment, the results for clients can be amazing, roger turk stated. ThE ATTORnEys within ThE senior TRiAL division are highly experienced and qualified. Many of these attorneys are Board Certified or av rated and have extensive experience on both the plaintiff and defense side in handling personal injury death and catastrophic injury cases. FOUndER ThOMAs J. henry And ceo MichAEL henry continue to expand the legal team (the firm is expected to employ more than 100 attorneys in 18-24 months) and implement management strategies that encourage collaboration and promote a healthy work-life balance. i LOOK FORwARd TO An UPcOMinG FiRM RETREAT at the 5 Star Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs, where we will not only bring the senior law group together to discuss litigation strategies, but will also enjoy time with spouses and families, thomas J. henry stated. ThOMAs J. henry Adds, OUR GOAL As A FiRM is to provide the highest quality legal representation and to produce results that exceed clients expectations. over the past three years we have obtained four #1 verdicts in the country as well as numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. Going forward we continue to look for additional qualified, innovative, and aggressive attorneys to join the team. ThOMAs henry is A LiFETiME MEMBER OF ThE Multi-Million dollar advocates forum, a national trial lawyers top 100 trial lawyer and was named a top Birth injury advocate by Parenting Magazine. in 2014, he was listed as one of the 10 Best injury attorneys in the nation by newsweek.com and in 2015, he was named one of the Best attorneys in america by rue ratings. 4715 fredericksburg, Suite 507, San antonio, texas 78229 Ph: 210.656.1000 info@tjhlaw.com To See A Directory of All AV Preeminent Rated Attorneys in Texas visit at.law.com/texastoprated Texas top rated lawyers / 19
SUCCESS BEGETS SUCCESS COVER Spotlight a gas explosion leaves burning splinters and rubble where a family home once stood. a mother of four is killed after falling from a roller coaster at a texas amusement park. a trucker strikes a bus carrying a collegiate softball team on a rural oklahoma interstate. a young woman falls from a dangerously defective balcony to her death. helping families victimized by these and other headline-grabbing tragedies has kept the law offices of frank l. Branson busy this year. at a time when tort reform measures in texas and other states have made it more difficult for injured people to hold wrongdoers accountable, the Branson firm has built a law firm model that continues to attract complex and high-stakes cases. the Branson firm has succeeded by cultivating legal talent who share a core commitment to fighting for their clients in the face of armies of corporate defense lawyers. in many ways, success begets success. firms must earn the respect of opposing counsel and their clients who eventually learn which plaintiffs attorneys have a belt full of scalps and will stay the course through a trial. frank Branson certainly has their respect. in his last three jury trials, the combined pre-trial offers of the defendants were $1.3 million. those settlement offers were rejected, and the combined jury awards were a little under $40 million. earning recognition from texas lawyer/verdictsearch for two no. 1 outcomes in two vastly different practice areas is a significant milestone for our team, Mr. Branson says. For the clients of our firm, their case is quite possibly the most important and life-changing event in their lives. It s an immense privilege and responsibility to be able to help. -FrAnK l. branson it takes significant time and human resources to bring a catastrophic injury lawsuit to trial, but more than that, it takes a fundamental commitment to the client s cause, says Mr. Branson. we bring that kind of passion to our cases. we prepare our lawsuits for trial, which we believe enhances recovery, whether a case is ultimately tried or settled. the Branson team was among the pioneers in the field of demonstrative evidence and is a recognized leader in using computer-generated graphics, digital animation and video, including using stunt crews, to portray significant events in personal injury lawsuits. we ve learned that juries appreciate being able to view an accurate recreation of an accident. like most people, judges and juries seem to better relate to the facts when a case is presented both visually and verbally, Mr. Branson says. the firm s reputation developed through a series of exceptional verdicts and settlements in truck accidents, medical malpractice cases and products liability litigation. in the 1980s, the law offices of frank l. Branson represented several people who were killed or seriously injured in the crash of delta air lines flight 1141 at dallas-fort worth international airport. in the late 90s the firm won a multimillion-dollar verdict for a victim of the crash of american airlines flight 1420 in little rock, arkansas. while we re relatively small compared to the multitude of lawyers that corporate defendants throw at a case, our firm has the wherewithal to handle complex lawsuits such as airline crashes, transportation cases and construction and oilfield accidents and complex business litigation, Mr. Branson says. we ve invested in this firm so that we can tackle these catastrophic lawsuits while providing the kind of legal representation our clients deserve. other important cases that solidified the law offices of frank l. Branson s reputation include a tragic accident at the State fair of texas in which two brothers were thrown from an amusement ride, leaving one dead and the other seriously injured. after a significant amount of work with engineers, Mr. Branson was able to not only negotiate a $10 million settlement from the State fair and manufacturer, but he was also able to get safety concessions for future State fairs. Mr. Branson also helped lead the way in vehicle rollover litigation involving sport utility vehicles, including several ford explorers, equipped with defective firestone tires. in a similar lawsuit stemming from serious injuries to a collegiate soccer standout, a federal jury ruled for the first time that the Mitsubishi Montero Sport SuV was unreasonably dangerous and defective. in that case, the Greenville, S.C., jury returned a $7 million verdict. More recently, the firm received a $34 million settlement on behalf of two members of the dallas Cowboys coaching staff, who were seriously injured when the team s practice facility collapsed during a snowstorm in 2009. the trial team has secured nationally recognized verdicts and settlements against negligent trucking companies and charter bus companies. Mr. Branson and his firm were part of the legal team that negotiated an $80 million settlement after 23 elderly nursing home residents died in a bus fire while fleeing from hurricane rita. in the case involving the mother of four who was thrown from a roller coaster at a texas amusement park, the family was very pleased with the settlement and appreciated the condolences offered by the amusement park and ride manufacturer we routinely screen our cases and conservatively estimate we accept about one in 40 of the calls we receive, Mr. Branson says. By the same token, it is not uncommon for clients to have done their homework and vetted us before they pick up the phone and call. Clients who come to us are reassured that our reputation for both trying and settling major lawsuits was earned the old-fashioned way. we are honored that other lawyers regularly seek our expertise for their families and clients. for the clients of our firm, their case is quite possibly the most important and lifechanging event in their lives, Mr. Branson says. it s an immense privilege and responsibility to be able to help. To See A Directory of All AV Preeminent Rated Attorneys in Texas visit at.law.com/texastoprated Texas top rated lawyers / 21
need to know health insurance fraud raises InsUrance costs For everyone fraud involves lying about something or deceiving someone for gain. The gain is usually financial. Health insurance is a complex system that opens the door for many types of fraud. Anyone who defrauds an insurance company is subject to a wide range of penalties, from charges under federal health care statutes to embezzlement and theft. The U.S. Attorney s Office prosecutes insurance fraud crimes. who Pays For InsUrance FraUd? Insurance fraud pushes up the cost of everything you buy and use. How? Consider the following scenario. Every company providing goods or services pays for insurance as a cost of doing business. As a result of insurance fraud the insurance company must raise rates. To cover the increased cost of insurance, the company must charge you more for goods and services. Bottom line, insurance fraud makes everything more expensive for everybody. Insurance fraud is not simply a problem for insurance companies, it s a problem for all of us everybody loses and everybody pays. Insurance fraud also diverts resources from law enforcement and fire services. PatIent FraUd may seem Innocent A patient can commit insurance fraud without understanding its seriousness. For example, a person might give an insurance card to an uninsured friend or relative because that person badly needs to see a doctor, but can t afford it. Although it might seem like a kind thing to do, it s still fraud committed against the insurance company, and both the insured and the friend would be liable. Health insurance fraud also occurs when a patient uses benefits to fill forged prescriptions. InsUrers can be guilty of FraUd Most states require that insurers have licenses in order to do business, but occasionally unscrupulous insurers can slip around the licensing process. When they do, they may collect your premiums but be unable to pay your claims. This is consumer fraud. You could find yourself responsible for significant medical bills. If this happens to you, speak with an attorney to explore your options more specifically, an insurance lawyer. AS SEEN ON 22 \ Texas top rated lawyers To See A Directory of All AV Preeminent Rated Attorneys in Texas visit at.law.com/texastoprated
COVER Spotlight DANIEL J.T. SCIANO OF TINSMAN & SCIANO, INC. On representing the seriously injured and his commitment to changing unsafe commercial practices throughout his more than 33 years as a litigator, daniel J.t. Sciano has made a point of handling a wide variety of civil and personal injury matters, all with an eye toward helping the underdog. Starting out, i accepted a much lower salary to work for a firm that represented the injured victim instead of the company that caused the injury, because it was worth it to me to help clients fight back against those who had vast amounts of wealth and power, he says. Sciano, who is board certified in both civil trial law and personal injury trial law by the texas Board of legal Specialization, has since established a diverse practice that encompasses personal injury, defective products, and automobile and trucking accidents, as well as commercial disputes, trusts and estates litigation, and will contests. My philosophy is have lawsuit, will travel, he says, and because of that, the work we do really depends on the day of the week. Still, Sciano is perhaps best known for pursuing litigation on behalf of individuals who have been injured in vehicular collisions involving 18-wheelers or other commercial motor vehicles. with the recent development of the eagle ford Shale a 400-milelong, 50-mile-wide oil and gas geological formation just south of San antonio he is particularly concerned by the numerous truck wrecks resulting from the transportation of people, equipment, or products to or from drill sites. there s the opportunity here to make a real difference for both my clients and the community - daniel J.t. SciAnO ultimately, commercial vehicle transportation associated with drilling and well site service activities, coupled with the construction of a vast array of oil and gas pipelines, has put tremendous stress on local communities, which were not designed for such a high volume of large commercial vehicles. it has turned their roads into washboards. in one recent trucking case, Sciano secured a signifi cant settlement on behalf of a young woman who was catastrophically injured when the car she was travelling in struck an illegally parked truck tractor. he notes that one of the most satisfying aspects of achieving this result was that as a condition of the settlement, the trucking company had to modify its practices and provide adequate training to reduce its safety risks. My client s mother wept for 30 minutes after the case was settled, just knowing that they had changed the way the company would be training drivers, he recalls. to her, that was such an important concern, and that s why these cases are so important to me there s the opportunity here to make a real difference for both my clients and the community. Beyond drilling-related injury cases, Sciano and his firm, tinsman & Sciano, inc., are also handling an increasing number of trusts and estates issues stemming from the influx of money into the region. notably, they have worked jointly with other firms to resolve major oil and gas mineral rights disputes involving commercial trustees that were supposed to have been prudently managing trust estates. instead, Sciano observes, tremendous losses were sustained by beneficiaries of these trust estates because of conflicts of interest and the failure on the part of the trustees to follow duties of loyalty or to use due diligence in the handling of the trust estates. regardless of the types of cases he is litigating, Sciano is tenacious about persuading defendants to acknowledge their responsibility when they have caused harm. his decades of experience have yielded an impressive ability to cross-examine witnesses, and he is committed to confronting defendants with evidence that illustrates their failure to comply with industry standards or best practices. i think a big part of being a good litigator is personality and passion, Sciano says. the other day, someone asked me how i handle so many cases, and i simply said that i work hard we ve taken as many as 85 depositions in one case, and you won t do that unless you are passionate about the work you do. TINSMAN & SCIANO INC. 10107 MCalliSter freeway San antonio, tx 78216 toll free: 1.800.292.9999 Ph: 210.225.3121 fax: 210.225.6235 www.tsslawyers.com San antonio, texas Nathan Lindstrom To See A Directory of All AV Preeminent Rated Attorneys in Texas visit at.law.com/texastoprated Texas top rated lawyers / 23