Biography

I have over of 34 years of experience as a Trial Lawyer/Litigator. I initially served as an Assistant Criminal District Attorney with the Bexar County District Attorneys’ Office for five years. As lead prosecutor and/or co-counsel I tried numerous criminal jury trials, including three capital murder trials. During my two years as a Felony Prosecutor I had only one unsuccessful jury verdict.

As a Civil Trial Lawyer, I have handled, prepared and tried a myriad of cases, primarily in the area of personal injury, labor and employment law and criminal law. In the personal injury area, I have had jury trials in such diverse cases as: automobile/trucking accidents, premises liability, defective products, medical malpractice, survivor and wrongful death cases, workers’ compensation claims, and serious injuries.

In the area of labor and employment law and wrongful termination, I have been lead counsel in lawsuits for both employees and employers/managment alleging discrimination and/or wrongful termination based on race, national origin, sex, age, disability and sexual harassment under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended in 1991; the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; and retaliatory discharge claims, including claims under section 451 of the Texas Workers Compensation Act; requests for reasonable accommodations of a disability; sexual harassment; hostile work environment; and covenants not to compete.

I have completed mediation training through Manousso Mediation and ADR Services and Training, in compliance with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures Act §154.052, Texas Civil Practice & Remedy Code Ann.  I am a member of the Association of Conflict Resolution; a candidate for membership to the Texas Association of Mediators and a candidate for credentials to the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association. 

In addition to individual clients and small businesses, I have represented and provided legal services to the following clients: San Antonio Water System; Gallagher Bassett Services Inc.; Bexar County, Texas; ITT Specialist Risk Services Inc.; Philadelphia Ins. Co.; AIG Commercial Insurance; St. Paul Fire& Marine Ins. Co.; Riddell, Inc.; Goodwill Industries; Hankook Tire Co. Ltd; Riddell Sports Inc.; All American Sports; Allied Waste/BFI Waste; Ingersoll-Rand Co.; Hunt Construction Co.; Great Wide/Transport Industries; Blue Bell Creameries; San Antonio ISD; Matagorda ISD; Walgreens and Wal-mart.

Particular strengths which contribute to my successful courtroom performance are thorough case work-up and preparation, including every aspect of discovery and motion practice; thorough legal research; in-depth knowledge of the Rules of Evidence and Rules of Civil Procedure; intuitive jury selection and over one hundred jury trials to final verdict.

I am also proficient in Spanish.

LAW SCHOOL:
Columbia University School of Law
Juris Doctorate, May 1975

GRADUATE:
Columbia University School of Social Work
Master of Social Work
Community Organization and Planning, May 1972

UNDERGRADUATE:
Baylor University
B.A., Sociology, May 1970

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
Bar Admission, State of Texas, 1975
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1983
United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, 1985
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 1982
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, 1979

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, 2008