About Thomas
Overview
Early in Tom’s legal career, he shifted his trial practice from criminal law to the defense of civil cases, primarily in the area of products liability and toxic tort litigation. Tom currently represents clients in chemical, asbestos, and silica exposure litigation and serves on the Texas Silica MDL Defense Steering Committee.
Tom has been awarded an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating—the highest peer review rating—by Martindale-Hubbell, and has held such rating since the mid-1980s.
Tom served as Presiding Judge, Associate Judge and Associate Prosecutor of the City of West University Municipal Court for over 25 years.
Representative Matters
During Tom’s career, he has successfully represented and defended cases involving a multitude of different product manufacturers, involving a variety of injuries and wrongful death cases, including: tractor rollovers, water craft expositions, playground equipment manufacturers, electronic game manufacturers, medical equipment manufacturers, food preparation equipment manufacturers, all-terrain vehicle manufacturers and distributors, industrial equipment manufacturers such as palletizers and film stretchers.
Tom’s career has included defense of toxic tort litigation such as chemical exposure matters, asbestos and silica litigation. Tom has successfully represented and defended numerous chemical distributors, asbestos product manufacturers and distributors, and silica sand producers and distributors.
Additionally, Tom has been involved in the defense of automobile wreck cases and aviation accident cases.
Associations and Memberships
LEGAL AND MEMBERSHIPS
- State Bar of Texas
- Houston Bar Association
- Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
- Member of the Texas MDL Silica Defense Steering Committee
PROFESSIONAL
- Associate Prosecutor – City of West University Municipal Court 1977 – 1982 (Approx.)
- Associate Judge – City of West University Municipal Court 1982-1984 (Approx.)
- Presiding Judge – City of West University Municipal Court 1984-2004 (Approx.)
- Board Certified in Criminal Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1985-1995)
COMMUNITY
- Board member – Texas Navy Association, a non-profit corporation promoting and preserving the history of the Republic of Texas Navy
- Former board member – Braeburn Country Club
- Former board member and Past Commodore – Lakewood Yacht Club
- Former board member – LYC Concour Corporation, a Charity Non-profit that has donated over a $1,000,000 to charities such as Boys & Girls Harbor, M.S., Judith Robinson Ovarian Cancer Foundation
- Founding board member – Judith L. Robinson Ovarian Cancer Foundation
- Former member – United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
- Private Pilot
Education
- South Texas College of Law (Juris Doctorate)
- Associate Prosecutor – Honor Court
- Phi Delta Phi
- Texas Tech University (B.A.) – Industrial Management
Professional Honors
- AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, since the mid-1980s.
- Commendation from the Texas Supreme Court for Contributions to the education of Texas Municipal Court Judges
Court/Bar Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Presentations and Webinars
- Book review for the Houston Bar Association: Asbestos, Medical and Legal Aspects (1st Edition)
- Faculty of the Texas Municipal Courts’ Association
Lecturing and teaching Pre-trial procedure, Trial procedure and evidence to Texas Municipal Court Judges - Lecturer, University of Houston CLE
Taking Depositions in Toxic Tort Cases - Lecturer, Harris Martin Silica
Taking of a plaintiff’s deposition in a toxic tort case - Former Adjunct Professor – South Texas Junior College
Real Estate Law (for Real Estate Broker and Agent Licenses)
Business Law