Phi Delta Phi. Omicron Delta Kappa. Outstanding Committee Chairman of the Year, Houston Bar Association, 1974-1975. Outstanding Alumnus, University of Houston College of Law, 1977. Honorary Member, Distinguished Alumnus Order of the Coif, University of Houston College of Law, 1986. Recipient, Gene Cavin Award for Outstanding Contribution to Legal Education, State Bar of Texas, 1995. Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 1st through 10th Editions. Adjunct Professor, University of Houston College of Law, 1973-1981, 1988-1990. Professional Activities:Chairman, Texas Trial Lawyers Malpractice Committee, 1965-1976. Associate-in-Law, American College of Legal Medicine, 1979. Member, University of Houston College of Law, Health Law Board, 1987-1995. BOOKS: The Law of Texas Medical Malpractice,Houston Law Review, 1975; Supp. 1978; J. Sales and J. Perdue, The Law of Strict Tort Liability,Houston Law Review, 1977; Supp. 1981; The Law of Texas Medical Malpractice(2d ed.) Houston Law Review, 1985; Medical Malpractice Handbook,Houston Law Review, 1988; "Who Will Speak for the Victim," A Treatise on Plaintiff's Jury Argument,State Bar of Texas, 1989. Editor, "Who Speaks for Justice?" Texas Trial Lawyers, 1999. Book Chapters: Chapter 7, "Medical Issues Presented through Retinopathy of Prematurity: The Standard of Care Issue," Retinopathy of Prematurity,McPhearson, Hittner, Kretzler (Ed.), 1986. Author: chapter, "Opening Statement," Litigation Tort Cases, Vol. 3West and ATLA, 2003. LAW REVIEW and JOURNAL ARTICLES: "Applicability of the Guest Statute to Suits Based Upon Negligent Entrustment," Houston Law Review, Vol. 3, pp. 91-103, 1965; "Negligent Entrustment of Automobiles," Houston Law Review, Vol. 6, pp. 129-147, 1968; "Negligent Entrustment-Another String in Your Bow," 3 Texas Lawyers Forum3, p. 11, et seq., 1969; "The Texas Guest Statute-Hit it Head On," 6 Trial Lawyers Forum3, p.11, et seq. 1972; "The Use of the Economist in Court," 36 Texas Bar Journal4, 1973; "Res Ipsa Loquitur; Applicability to Malpractice Cases in Texas, 10 Texas Tech Law Review 2, p.371, 1979; "Is Your Case Worth Pursuing," 85 Case and Comment6, p.31, 1980; "An Analysis of the Physician's Professional Liability for Radiation of the Fetus," 18 Houston Law Review 4, p. 801, 1981; "Direct Corporate Liability of Hospitals," 24 South Texas Law Journal 3, p. 773, 1983; "Recovery for a Lost Chance of Survival: When the Doctor Gambles Who Puts Up the Stakes," 28 South Texas Law Journal 1, pp.37-68, 1986; "Medical Malpractice 1987: New Faces, New Facts, New Fundamentals," 18 St. Mary's Law Journal 3, 1987; "Arguing Comparative Negligence for the Plaintiff," 50 Texas Bar Journal5, pp.61-64, May 1988; "Words for the Wise-Boosting Your Linguistic Firepower, 26 Trial7, pp.74-76, 1990; "Final Arguments in Premises Cases," 26 Trial8, pp. 50-55, 1990; "Jury Bias: Ruminations on Identifying, Handling and Defusing Jury Bias," 28 The Houston Lawyer2, pp 38-45, 1990; "Defusing Jury Bias," 27 Trial 4, pp. 50-55; "A Practical Approach to Jury Bias," 54 Texas Bar Journal9, pp. 936-41, 1991; "The Plaintiff's Appeal to the Religious Conservative," Texas Lawyer,1992, pp. 14-15; "The Five-Question Rule: Cross-Examination Simplified," 29 Trial10, pp. 40-43, 1993; "Oysters and a Beer-Two Bucks," Lawyers Then and Now Symposium, 31 Trial1, pp. 22-23, 1995; "The Petard Objection," 31 Trial7, pp. 50-54, 1995; "Cutting Costs-Cutting Care: Can Texas Managed Health Care Systems and HMOs Be Liable for the Medical Malpractice of Physicians?" 17 St. Mary's Law Journal 1, pp. 23-67 (1995); "The Difference Between 'Good Enough' and 'Safe Enough'," Opening Statement Symposium, 32 Trial3, pp. 45-47, 1996; "I Had My Heroes," ATLA 50 Year Symposium," 32 Trial7, pp. 58-59, 1996; "Thank God! It Wasn't George Burns," Laughing Matters Symposium, 33 Trial7, p. 85, 1986; "Bringing Drama to the Courtroom," 33 Trial9, pp. 48-53, 1997. Co-Author: "Trial Themes: Winning Jurors' Minds and Hearts," 34 Trial4, pp. 34-42, 1998; "What Would Atticus Say?" Keys to Success Symposium, 34 Trial 7, pp. 42-43, 1998; "My Son, The Trial Lawyer," Domestic Relations: The Lawyer-Parent Symposium, 35 Trial 1, pp. 60-61, 1999; "Touched by an Angel," Cases We Remember Symposium, 36 Trial 3, pp.71-74, 2000. Co-Author: "A License to Kill: The Uninteded (?) Consequences of Milo on Kramer," 41 South Texas Law Review, 293-314, 2000; "My Mentor Remains Undefeated," Memorable Mentors Symposium, 37 Trial 12, p. 77-79, 2001; "Starting Strong," 38 Trial 7, pp. 34-36, 2002.; "Putting the Pieces Together - The Two Part Closing Argument on a Medical Malpractice case appeals to the head and heart to create a portrait of negligence," 39 Trial 5, pp. 39-47, 2003. PROFESSIONAL PAPERS and PRESENTATIONS: Between 1972 and 2001 over 400 professional scientific paper presentations were delivered on medical malpractice, product liability, trial techniques, psychology in jury selection, storytelling, direct and cross examination and other miscellaneous topics throughout the U.S. to state and local bar associations, state and local medical societies, law schools, nursing associations, various specialty medical societies, the American Bar Association, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and legal specialization certifying organizations. Member, Supreme Court Task Force on Standardized Discovery in Malpractice Cases, 1993-1994. Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 1987-1995.
Texas Bar Foundation, 1987-1995. Member: Houston Bar Association (Grievance Committee, 1971-1973; Special Committee on Professionalism, 1988-1989); State Bar of Texas (Committees: Professional Ethics, 1985; Continuing Legal Education, 1988-1989; Pattern Jury Charge III Revision, 1988-1993; Judicial Qualifications, 1988-1991; Qualifications, Tenure and Compensation of State Judiciary, 1988-1991); Texas Trial Lawyers Association (Chairman, Malpractice Committee, 1965-1976; Director, 1988-1991); American Board of Trial Advocates (President, Houston Chapter, 1984-1985); American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (Diplomat and Charter Member, 1976); American College of Trial Lawyers; International Society of Barristers; Inner Circle of Advocates; American College of Legal Medicine (Associate-in-Law, 1979); Houston Medical Legal Society (President, 1995-1996); Gulf Coast Legal Foundation (Member, Steering Committee, 1996); University of Houston College of Law (Member, Health Law Board, 1987-1995).
(Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization) (Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocacy)
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
