Board Certified: Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1994

Licences: Texas (82); All Texas U.S. District Courts; Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (93); and the United States Supreme Court (87)

Legal Experience:

Active trial docket focused primarily on personal injury issues, including medical malpractice, nursing home malpractice, and litigation involving school districts and employment issues, but also including commercial litigation and condemnation

I have tried cases at all levels of Texas courts and in each Federal District court in Texas , and have handled appeals to the Texas Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court. I have tried over 70 cases, with emphasis on personal injury cases, toxic tort and defense of governmental entities. I have researched and briefed numerous issues for the courts and for the U.S. Supreme Court and have argued a case before the Texas Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals in Texas . I have prepared and supervised the preparation of an article for Continuing Legal Education on defenses for governmental entities to claims in Federal court. I have also spoken concerning asbestos abatement and legal issues.

I have been an adjunct professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Texas at Tyler , teaching Media Law and Ethics .

Education:

University of Texas School of Law. JD with honors December 1981

Duke University . BA cum laude September 1977. Major in Public Policy Studies

Personal:

Married to Lynn Howard, 4 children and stepchildren aged 15-19. Active membership in First Presbyterian Church, where I have been an elder and Sunday School teacher for the past 7 years.