Fort Worth, TX Trial Lawyer
Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of Texas and the National Board of Trial Advocacy
Extensive Wrongful Death, Injury, Pharmaceutical and General Tort Claims Representation
Admitted, U. S. District Court, Northern Division
Admitted, U. S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
Admitted, U. S. Supreme Court
EDUCATION
1973 B.A.
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
Major: Political Science Minor: Economics
1976 J.D.
St. Mary's University Law School
San Antonio, Texas
Degree: Juris Doctorate
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES & RECOGNITIONS
Recognized, “Best Lawyers in America”—U.S. News & World Report
Appointed, U. S. Congressional Judiciary Advisory Committee Northern District of Texas, 2013
Appointed, U. S. Congressional Judiciary Advisory Committee Northern District of Texas, 1995
St. Mary’s School of Law Distinguished Alumni, 2012
Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist, 2011 Public Justice Foundation, Washington D.C.
St. Mary’s School of Law Hall of Fame, 2013
State District Advisory Committee for District 90 on State Insurance Law Revision
Speaker to State Bar, Law School and various legal and medical groups
Recognized, Texas Monthly Magazine – Super Lawyers 2003-Present
Recognized, Fort Worth, Texas Magazine – Top Tarrant County Lawyer, 2002-Present
Recognized, 360 West Magazine – Top Attorney
Recognized Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Texas—American Trial Lawyers Association 2007-Present
Recognized, Preeminent Lawyers of America by Martindale Hubbell, 2000 to Present
Recognized, Who’s Who in American Law, 1986 to Present
Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Membership limited to trial lawyers who have won verdicts or settlements in excess of One Million Dollars or more.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Civil Courts Building Advisory Committee, Tarrant County, Texas, 2008 – Building Completion 2015
Board of Directors, Texas Trial Lawyers Association 1989-2002
Texas State Delegate, Association of Trial Lawyers of America 1999-2000
Life Membership Designee, American Association for Justice
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Invited Member, Melvin M. Belli Society
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Founder and Board of Director, Spencer B. Dent Memorial Foundation—501(c) dedicated to youth sport activities, 1995 – Present
Board of Director/Little League Coach, West Side Little League, 1993 to present
Baseball Coach, Tarrant County YMCA Baseball 2018
Former Board of Director/Coach, Ridglea Roughnecks Pee Wee Football Association
St. Mary’s School of Law, Alumni Board
Historic Preservation Council for Tarrant County, 1992
Recipient Pedestal Award, 2005 Steward Award
United States Supreme Court Historical Society
Weekly Radio Host/Legal Commentator, KRLD 1080AM Radio Dallas-Fort Worth, The Loftin and Dent Show, 1996-2004
Legal Analyst, Fox 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, 2004
Legal Analyst, CBS 11 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
RECOGNIZED IN PUBLISHED MATERIAL
Drug Injury—Liability, Analysis Second Edition—James O’Donnell; E-Ferol—Insult to Injury pgs. 309-331
Texas Justice—First Edition—Martana; Palo Pinto Courthouse pgs. 168-169
Law 360-E-Ferol Settlement $110 Million
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, KRLD Radio, Fox 4 News, WFAA 8, CBS 11 Dallas—Fort Worth; Various interviews 1983-Present
SIGNIFICANT CASE INVOLVEMENT
Pharmaceutical Cases:
Crystal Lutz v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, February 1986, 352nd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Michael Swatsell vs. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, February 1986, 352nd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Jennifer Strittmatter v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, March 1986, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Daniel Sturman v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, March 1986, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Michael D. Tatum v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, March 1988, 352nd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Alice & Joe Hernandez v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, January 1995, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Rose Doskosil v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, January 1995, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Gary and Katherine Mills v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, January 1995, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
David and Lori Nelson v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, January 1995, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Brinkley Eskew v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, January 1995, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Juan and Manuela Coronado v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, December 1997, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Manuela Coronado v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, December 1997, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Christopher Brite v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, June 2002, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Kimberley Dunn v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, June 2002, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Eddie Jackson v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, June 2002, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Bret Lovelady v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, June 2002, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Lanisha Powell v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, June 2002, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Jacque White v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, June 2002, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
In Re Fort Worth Children’s Hosp., 100 S.W.3d 582 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2003), 2-02-373,—Hospital ordered to provide the names of all infants who received the vitamin supplement E-Ferol while patients a Cooks in 1984 so parents could be informed
Martha McDonald v. American Home Products Corp., December 1998, 17th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—pharmaceutical litigation regarding Fen-Phen, permanent heart damage
Federal District Court Opinions on Class Action:
Victoria Klein and Ashley Swadley v. O’Neal, Inc., et al., June 2003, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Cause No. 7-03-CV-102-D—E-Ferol class-action lawsuit.
Victoria Klein and Ashley Swadley v. O’Neal, Inc., et al., 705 F. Supp.2d 632, 2010 WL 1435161(N.D. Tex, Apr. 9, 2010) $110 million class action settlement against the manufacturer of an intravenous vitamin E supplement called E-Ferol that was responsible for the death of 43 infants and causing brain damage to 23 in the class of 369 recipients. E-Ferol was placed on the market in November, 1983, without any FDA approval or testing and was recalled after four months. The parents of the deceased infants and the recipient themselves, who are a part of a medical monitoring class, were not aware that they had received E-Ferol since it was included in the intravenous infant formula that was given to premature infants to prevent visual imparity and blindness. The emulsifier in the product, polysorbate 80, was later discovered to have caused liver damage and the destruction of platelets which resulted in the injuries and death of E-Ferol class members.
Victoria Klein and Ashley Swadley v. Federal Insurance Co, et al., December 2016, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Cause No. CA 7-03-CV-102-D—15 Million Dollar Judgment
Aviation:
In Re Air Crash at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport on Aug. 2, 1985 (Nos. 87-1855, 87-1883), 856 F.2d 28 (5th Cir. 1988),—severe brain damage mother of two in airline crash
Robert Buckingham vs. Mitsubishi, May 1992, 348th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—airplane crash with multiple deaths
Prince v. Helicopter Consultants of Maui, Inc. d/b/a Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, July 2001, Second Circuit Court, State of Hawaii—helicopter crash causing the death of two 14-year-old girls
In Re Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., 87 S.W.3d 139 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2002), 2-02-058-CV,—helicopter crash with multiple deaths
Actions Involving Death, Significant Injuries or Statewide Judicial Importance:
Patterson v. The City of Arlington, Texas, 1983, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—death of a child due to city negligence.
Burchman v. The City of Arlington, Texas, 1983, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—severe internal injuries due to city negligence.
Shinn v. The City of Arlington, Texas, 1983, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—irrepreable brain damage due to city negligence
Coleman v. GE, Company, September 1986, 348th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—death of spouse due to defective coffee maker
Mendoza v. Ranger Ins. Co., 753 S.W. 2d 779 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1988), 2-87-210,—Plaintiff’s right to a fair and impartial trial—constitutional right
Northbrook Nat. Ins. Co. v. Brewer, 854 F.2d 742 (5th Cir. 1988), 88-2238,—Amicus Brief supporting injured workers right to state court trial
Alley v. Eagle Crest Apartments & Balcor Property Management, Inc., September 1989, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—shooting death of a college student
City of Bedford v. Schattman, 776 S.W.2d 812 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1989), 2-89-139,—child severely crushed at crosswalk by City of Bedford truck driver
Tennessen v. Resurrection Paint Co., Inc., November 1990, 48th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—significant acid burn at construction site
State Ex Rel. Curry v. Walker, 873 S.W.2d 379 (Tex. 1994), 94-0198,—gunshot to Engineer from over pass by minors, bullet logged in spine area
Matt Moore vs. North American Specialty Insurance Co., December 1998, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—insurance carrier’s refusal to provide nursing care to quadraplegic TCU Football player.
Eager v. YMCA, March 1999, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—15-year-old child drowns in pool with lifeguards on duty and inattentive
Debra Welter v. Apollo Transfer Co., et al., March 1999, 48th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—Plaintiff’s husband killed when ejected from vehicle
Ronald Beck v. State Farm Ins. and Allen Wexler, June 1999, 342nd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—crane struck by vehicle causing paralysis from chest down
Karen Love, et al. vs. The Hammerblow Corporation, March 2002, 18th District Court, Johnson County, Texas—Spouse was killed when a trailer became disengaged and collided with vehicle.
Juana Burton v. Randy J. Henderson, May 2002, 249th District Court, Johnson County, Texas—Plaintiff paralyzed in an intersection collision.
Cynthia Martin, et al. vs. National Bank of Texas at Fort Worth, December 2003, 249th District Court, Johnson County, Texas—Spouse killed in auto/pedestrian incident.
In Re Sylvia Monreal Cisneros, 021507 TXCA 11, 11-06-00290-CV, February 2007, Court of Appeals of Texas, Eleventh District, Eastland—Husband and father of 1 killed in interstate trucking collision. Mandamus action against rural county District Judge.
Marshall and Jamie Lowe v. Glenview Quick Mart, et al., August 2008, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—Sale of alcohol to minor children who ultimately died in tragic car incident.
Royce Bunkley v. Camtech Precision Manufacturing Inc., August 2009, 348th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—Metal plant worker crushed beneath steel plate. Employer grossly negligent
Monique Stallworth v. Slumberjay, May 2012, 127th District Court, Harris County, Texas—Death of driver forced to drive overweight truck on rural roads in thunderstorm. Employer grossly negligent
Keith O’Brien Stone v. Devon Energy Corporation, Devon Energy Production Company, L.P., Patterson-UTI Drilling Company, LLC, Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. and Halliburton-Company June 2012—271st Distrit Court, Wise County, Texas—Plaintiff was working on rig when a 30 lbs iron “chiksan” struck him causing serious head and shoulder injuries.
Chip Lee Chambers, Individually and on behalf of the Estate of Chip Lee Chambers, Jr. v. Christopher J. Harris, Jr., David Alan Blair, Charles Toby Allred and Cody Shane Allred, Individually and d/b/a Tru Trac Alignment, Christopher J. Harris, Sr., Tamara Allred Harris, Individually and d/b/a Harris Land & Cattle, Inc. and Farmers Texas County Mutual Insurance Company July 2012—413th District Court, Johnson County, Texas—death of a 15-year-old boy due to driver recklessness.
Donnie and Linda Graves v. Ben E. Keith, September 2012, 141st District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—Plaintiffs’ vehicle struck head-on by a truck crossing the center median on Interstate Highway 20.
Mattie Lou Kirkham v. Loyd Earl Rieve and Cardinal Coach Lines, Inc., April 2013, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—Plaintiff passenger in Casino Bus Crash.
Paula Campbell, et al v. Sabre Industries, Inc. d/b/a Sabre Tubular Structures, et al, October 2013—249th District Court, Johnson County, Texas—Husband and father crushed by crane; Gross Negligence by Employer.
John Hunter and Tracy Lanette Hunter v. Curtis Max Vaughn, Jr. and GTech Corporation a/k/a Texas Lottery, January 2014—200th District Court, Travis County, Texas—Plaintiffs’ vehicle was rear ended by a commercial vehicle; Mr. Hunter was severely injured and paralyzed.
Geraldine McGruder v. Juvenil Sandoval Ibarra and Almcoe Refrigeration Company, LLC, June 2014, 44th District Court, Dallas County, Texas—Intersectional collision with commercial vehicle; severe internal injuries.
Lori Segura, et al v. Optos, Inc., October 2015—96th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—intersection collision; spine injury.
Greg West Brown, Individually and As Administrator to the Estate of Calina Fairless v. Mission Petroleum Carriers, Inc., et al, November 2013—County Court at Law No. 3, Nueces County, Texas—Death of college age daughter; car stalled on highway shoulder and crushed by 18-wheeler.
Delois Crawford v. Buel Turner and Freda Casey, November 2015, Branson, Missouri—Death Action,
Auto/Pedestrian.
Jonathon Shaffer v. Daulton Trey Wyche Kabella, Lonnie B. Williams and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, November 2017—17th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—Plaintiff was a passenger in single vehicle crash driven by an unsafe and negligent driver. Suffered a left orbital rim fracture which required surgery and a Medpor alloplastic implant and a severely broken and near amputation of the left arm which required plates and screw surgical repair.
Carol Ward v. Theresa Calzadillas, Starpride Enterprises, LLC and Duval Semi Trailers, November 2017—352nd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—Plaintiff’s vehicle was struck as semi-trailer changed lanes and collided into Plaintiff’s vehicle. Spine injury requiring surgery.
Danielle Stewart v. DeAngelo R. Fant and SAFECO Lloyds Insurance Company, February 2018—17th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—Plaintiff was crossing downtown intersection. Struck in middle of intersection due to Defendant driver recklessness. Compound fractures of both legs with plate and screw placement surgery and repair.
Kristin Witter and Jennifer Grant, Individually and as Heirs to and on behalf of the Estate of Diane Wheelock Neff vs. James Roy Freeman, III, Expanco, Inc., Nathan Daniel Boone, The Car Source, LLC d/b/a Hide and Seek Recovery and Daniel Paul Bourke, June 2020—141st District Court, Tarrant County, Texas-Wrongful Death Action—Diane Neff was the mother of two adult daughters and a grandmother. Decedent’s vehicle was struck from behind by a driver that failed to apply his brakes at tollway speed on the George Bush Turnpike. Decedent’s vehicle was stopped due to a vehicle partially blocking a lane of travel and another driver completely and unnecessarily blocking turnpike lane causing a multi-vehicle collision.
Louis J. Rejcek, Individually and as Heir to the Estate of Nichole Baker Rejcek and as Next Friend for Minors Mia Rejcek, Daxtyn Rejcek and Drayden Rejcek and David Baker and Sophia Baker, Individually v. FCA US LLC and Jackie Webb Horne, August 2020—18th District Court, Johnson County, Texas-Wrongful Death Action—Nichole was a wife, mother of 3 minor children and a daughter. Decedent and minor children’s vehicle were struck head-on by vehicle crossing the center median on SH 174.
Lance Johns and Landon Johns, Individually and as Heirs to and on behalf of the Estate of Darin K. Johns vs. Estate of Nathan Paul Hale/Nathan Haile Machine Shop, Inc., November 2021-Wrongful Death Action—Decedent, Darin K. Johns was the band director with Andrews Highs School in Andrews, Texas and was traveling with members of the band in the school bus when it was struck head on by vehicle crossing the center median on IH-20 in Big Springs, Texas.
James and Crystal Huddleston v. Thomas Byron Hicks, December 2021—Plaintiffs’ vehicle was struck at an intersection in Parker County, Texas. Mr. Huddleston suffered fractures to his sternum, wrist, lumbar, patella, ulna styloid and ribs. Mrs. Huddleston suffered injuries to her wrist, knee, hip, lower back, ankle and foot.
