EDUCATION | ||
| Vanderbilt University Law School | J.D. 1966 | |
| Florida State University | B.A. 1963 | |
MILITARY SERVICE | ||
| U.S. Army | Russian Linguist | |
| Military Intelligence | Army Security Agency - Korea | |
WORK EXPERIENCE | ||
| The Nations Law Firm | 1971 - Present | |
| Butler, Binion, Rice, Cook & Knapp | 1966 - 1971 | |
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE | ||
| State Bar of Texas | 1966 | |
| State Bar of New York | 2009 | |
| District of Columbia Bar | 2021 | |
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS | ||
| Texas Board of Legal Specialization | Personal Injury Trial Law | |
| Texas Board of Legal Specialization | Civil Trial Law | |
| National Board of Trial Advocacy | Advocate of Civil Trial Law | |
| National Board of Trial Advocacy | Advocate of Civil Practice Advocacy | |
| National College of Advocacy | Diplomate of Trial Advocacy | |
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION | ||
| Civil/Personal Injury Litigation | Mass Torts | |
| Cancer Litigation | Chemical and Toxic Torts | |
| Traumatic Brain Injury | Pharmaceuticals/Med. Devices | |
| Catastrophic Injuries & Wrongful Death | Defective Products | |
| Criminal Defense Litigation | 300+ Pro Bono cases | |
ADMITTED TO FEDERAL PRACTICE | ||
| United States Supreme Court | 1966 | |
| United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals | 1966 | |
| United States District Court (SDTX) | 1966 | |
| United States District Court (EDTX) | 1966 | |
| United States District Court (NDTX) | 1966 | |
| United States District Court (WDTX) | 1966 | |
| United States District Court (EDNY) | 2012 | |
| United States District Court (SDNY) | 2012 | |
| United States District Court (DC) | 2015 | |
| Numerous Pro Hac Vice Admissions | ||
EXPERIENCE IN MASS TORTS | ||
| Consolidated Military Veterans’ Litigation | ||
| Case No. 1:17-cv-00915 Joshua L. Holladay, et al. v. The Islamic Republic of Iran, et al. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1602–1611 (176 Plaintiffs) Honorable Randolph D. Moss In the United States District Court, District of Columbia Leadership Committee of Consortium | ||
| Case No. 1:18-cv-01612 Estate of Robert P. Hartwick, et al. v. The Islamic Republic of Iran, et al. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1602–1611 (797 Plaintiffs) Honorable Colleen Kollar–Kotelly In the United States District Court, District of Columbia Leadership Committee of Consortium | ||
| Case No. 1:18-cv-02248 Estate of Christopher Brook Fishbeck, et al. v. The Islamic Republic of Iran, et al. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1602–1611 (1436 Plaintiffs) Honorable Christopher R. Cooper In the United States District Court, District of Columbia Leadership Committee of Consortium | ||
| Case No. 1:18-cv-02425 George Lon Williams, et al. v. The Islamic Republic of Iran, et al. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1602–1611 (53 Plaintiffs) Honorable Randolph D. Moss In the United States District Court, District of Columbia Leadership Committee of Consortium | ||
| Case No. 1:18-cv-07312 Joel Tavera, et al. v. HSBC Bank USA, et al. Anti-Terrorism Act (“ATA”), 18 U.S.C. § 2331, et seq. and the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (“JASTA”), Pub. L. 114-222, Sept. 28, 2016, 130 Stat. 852 (2148 Plaintiffs) Honorable LaShann DeArcy Hall In the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York Leadership Committee of Consortium | ||
| Case Number: 1:17-cv-08709 Timothy O’Sullivan, et al. v. Deutsche Bank AG, et al. (O’Sullivan I) Anti-Terrorism Act (“ATA”), 18 U.S.C. § 2331, et seq., and the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (“JASTA”), Pub. L. 114-222, Sept. 28, 2016, 130 Stat. 852 (156 Plaintiffs) Honorable Laura Taylor Swain In the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York Leadership Committee of Consortium | ||
| Case Number: 1:18-cv-12325 Timothy O’Sullivan, et al. v. Deutsche Bank AG, et al. (O’Sullivan II) Anti-Terrorism Act (“ATA”), 18 U.S.C. § 2331, et seq. and the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (“JASTA”), Pub. L. 114-222, Sept. 28, 2016, 130 Stat. 852 (208 Plaintiffs) Honorable Laura Taylor Swain In the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York Leadership Committee of Consortium | ||
| MDL Leadership Roles | ||
| MDL No. 1596; In re: Zyprexa Products Liability Litigation Honorable Jack B. Weinstein In the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York Lead Counsel: Bellwether Case Plaintiff Steering Committee | ||
| MDL No. 2641; In re: Bard IVC Filters Products Liability Litigation Honorable David G. Campbell In the United States District Court, District of Arizona Executive Committee Lead Counsel: Bellwether Case in Delaware Chairman: Common Benefit Committee Executive Committee Lead Settlement Negotiator | ||
| MDL No: 1742; In re: Ortho Evra Products Liability Litigation Honorable David A. Katz In the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Western Division Phase Two: Executive Committee and Co-Lead Counsel | ||
| MDL No: 1909; In re: Gadolinium Based Contrast Agents Products Liability Litigation Honorable Dan A. Polster In the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division Plaintiff Steering Committee | ||
| MDL No. 2570; In re: Cook Medical Inc. IVC Filters marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation Honorable Richard L. Young In the United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana Plaintiff Steering Committee | ||
| Lead Case No. RG16812476; Jerry Dunson, et al. v. Cordis Corp., et al. [consolidated action] Honorable Brad Seligman In the Superior Court of the State of California, Alameda County Plaintiff Steering Committee | ||
| MDL NO. 2179, SECTION J In Re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig “Deepwater Horizon” in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 20, 2010 Honorable Carl J. Barbier; Magistrate Judge Shushan In The United States District Court for The Eastern District of Louisiana Achieved largest recovery of $154,315,827.71 on behalf of 9,033 Subsistence Clients. | ||
CLASS ACTION | ||
| Civil Action No. 1:94=cv-0780; Jack H. Woodward, et al. v. Nor-Am Chemical Company. Honorable Charles R. Butler, Jr. United States District Court, District of Alabama Lead Counsel for 1,501 Opt-Outs with Bladder Cancer secondary to toxic chemical exposure. | ||
SELECT ATTORNEY LEADERSHIP ROLES | ||
| The National Trial Lawyers Association | Past President | |
| Southern Trial Lawyers Association | Past President | |
| Texas Trial Lawyers Association | Past President | |
| Melvin Belli Society | Past President | |
| Aletheia Institute | Past President | |
| The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 | Past President | |
| Association of Plaintiff Trucking Lawyers | Past President | |
| American Association for Justice (ATLA) | National Officer (5 years) | |
SELECT TRIAL LAWYER RECOGNITIONS | ||
| Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame | 2009 Inductee | |
| American Association for Justice (ATLA) | Lifetime Achievement Award | |
| The National Trial Lawyers Round Table | America’s 50 Most Influential Trial Lawyers | |
| The National Trial Lawyers Forum | Americas 25 Most Influential Law Firms | |
| American Law Society | Best Lawyers in America | |
| Litigation Counsel of America | Inducted as Fellow | |
| Texas Bar Foundation | Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award | |
| American Bar Foundation | Inducted as Fellow | |
SELECT TRIAL LAWYER AWARDS | ||
| Mass Torts Made Perfect | Clarence Darrow Award | |
| Southern Trial Lawyers Association | War Horse Award | |
| Melvin Belli Society | Mel Award | |
| American Association for Justice | Heavy Lifting Award | |
| Association of Plaintiff Trucking Lawyers | Man in the Arena Award | |
| Southern Trial Lawyers Association | Smiley Lighthouse Award | |
| American Association for Justice (ATLA) | Weideman-Wysocki Award | |
| Southern Trial Lawyers Association | Malone Great American Eagle | |
LEADERSHIP: CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION | ||
| The National Trial Lawyers Summit | Founder | |
| AAJ National College of Advocacy (ATLA) | Co-Founder | |
| AAJ Ultimate Trial Advocacy Course (ATLA) | Co-Founder | |
| Texas Trial Lawyers CLE | Founder | |
| State Bar of Texas | Gene Cavin Award for CLE | |
| State Bar of Texas CLE | Past Chair | |
| American Association for Justice (ATLA) | Advanced Studies in Trial Advocacy | |
| Southern Trial Lawyers CLE | Past Chair | |
| Law School Adjunct Professor | South Texas College of Law (1967-1992) | |
| Civil Trial Advocacy Taught Trial Related Courses | Founder | |
| Lectures: Bar Associations and Attorneys | Fifty State Bars and Trial Lawyers Assns. Six Canadian Province Bar Associations Attorneys, Solicitors and Barristers in Twelve Foreign Countries | |
BUSINESS | ||
| Co-Founder/Co-Owner | Insurance Corporation of America | |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
||
| Who's Who in America | ||
| Who's Who in American Law | ||
| Who's Who in Finance and Industry | ||
| Who's Who in the World | ||