Valerie Sarah Lewis

Valerie is Southeast Texas born and raised and is a proud alumni of All Saints Episcopal School (c/o 2000), West Brook High School (c/o 2004), Rice University (c/o 2008), and Tulane University Law School School (c/o 2014). Before law school, she spent one year teaching English in rural France. She subsequently served two years as a Teach For America Corps Member in Northern California, where she taught seventh grade English as part of Teach For America’s mission to make excellent education equitable for all children and fought for an uncompromising belief in every child. Valerie’s advocacy skills also carry into her volunteer efforts in the Southeast Texas community, where she has served on the Boards of Directors of the Junior League of Beaumont, the Michelle M. Mehaffy Inn of Court, the Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association, and the Foundation for Southeast Texas.

Valerie’s experience as an attorney, a Teach For America Corps Member, and as a leader on various nonprofit boards has taught her that everyone’s time is valuable, words need to have the biggest impact with the fewest words possible, progress must be measurable, and innovation is important. Her innovative wins for the firm’s clients include:
•Obtaining, via a 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, dismissal of a Plaintiff’s claim for attorney’s fees in a UIM case in federal court by arguing that the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act does not provide the same relief as the Texas Declaratory Judgment Act (Yxta v. State Farm, No. 1:12-cv-475-MJT, 2022 WL 1464727 (E.D. Tex. 2022), co-counsel Collin Shellenberger);
•Obtaining, via a motion to show cause, discovery from non-party medical provider who treated a plaintiff via a letter of protection by arguing that the non-party medical provider could not claim that the discovery was unduly burdensome because the non-party medical provider had a direct financial stake in the outcome of the lawsuit by treating the plaintiff pursuant to a letter of protection (Valani v. Wingate, Cause No. D-207776, 136th Judicial District of Jefferson County, Texas, co-counsel Collin Shellenberger);
•Obtaining, via an Anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss, dismissal of a defamation, trespass, and intentional infliction of emotional distress lawsuit, as well as attorney’s fees, by arguing that the claims violated the Texas Citizens Participation Act (Castille v. Sherlock and LaBelle Properties, Cause No. B-198,318, 60th Judicial District of Jefferson County, Texas, co-counsel Karen Bennett), which was affirmed on appeal (Castille v. Port Arthur Patrolmen’s Hunting Club, No. 09-18-00395-CV, 2020 WL 1879475 (Tex. Ct. App. - Beaumont 2020), co-counsel Karen Bennett);
•Defending a favorable summary judgment ruling on appeal in a defamation lawsuit by arguing that the plaintiff was a limited purpose public figure, and therefore required to prove actual malice to prevail on his defamation claim, where the plaintiff reported to news outlets and held public neighborhood hearings on the subject matter of the allegedly defamatory statements (Dever v. Vargas, No. 09-20-00091-CV, 2022 WL 479647 (Tex. Ct. App. - Beaumont 2022), co-counsel Troy Williams and Valerie Ly); and
•Defending a favorable appellate court ruling before the Texas Supreme Court by arguing that the petitioner had no statutory or constitutional right to appeal a county’s grant of a bail bond license to another person (Shanna Glawson d/b/a Ace Bailbonds v. Polk County Bail Bond Board, et al., No. 22-0157, Texas Supreme Court, co-counsel Toby Nash).

Valerie is also a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, the largest charitably founded bar foundation in the nation. Only 1/3 of 1% of Texas attorneys are invited, based on the attorney’s administration of justice and high professional standing among their peers. Valerie has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Thompson Reuters publication, in 2023-2024.

Professional Background

•Law Clerk to Chief Judge Ron Clark of the Eastern District of Texas, 2014-2018
•Joined Germer in 2018

Recognitions and Honors

• Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Thompson Reuters publication (2023-2024)

Interests

•Half-marathons
•Snow-skiing
•Astros and Rice baseball

Civic Involvement

•The Collective
•Member, 2019 - present
•Foundation of Southeast Texas
•Board Member, 2022 - present
•Junior League of Beaumont
•Nominating and Placement, 2022-2023
•Treasurer, 2021-2022
•Treasurer Elect, 2020-2021
•Jr. Junior League Committee Member, 2019-2020
•Dancing with the Stars Business Manager, 2018-2019
•Spinnings Editor, 2017-2018
•Spinnings Co-Editor, 2016-2017
•Provisional Member, 2015-2016
•Rice Alumni Volunteers for Admission, 2009- present
•Teach For America Admissions Interviewer, 2010-2014
•Southeast Texas 40 Under 40 Honoree, 2021

Presentations

•Using Social Media to Your Advantage in Litigation, Jefferson County Bar Association CLE: Trying Auto and Big Truck Wreck Cases, March 6, 2020