Jim has been practicing law for over 47 years and has been lead trial counsel for the Plaintiff in over 300 wrongful death and personal Jury trials. Jim has handled wrongful death and personal injury cases throughout Texas and New Mexico, as well as in the States of California, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, and other states. Jim has been lead counsel for victims injured or killed in cases involving construction, trucking, bus, product liability, trains, tire, fires and explosions, trench collapse, building collapse, excavators, stairs, power lines, electrocutions, closed space, chemical cases, carbon monoxide, forklifts, crashworthiness, civil rights, motor vehicle, and work-related incidents. Jim’s cases have made national news and have been the subject of numerous films and news articles, including CBS, Insider Exclusive, and other programs. Jim has been featured in many publications, including Forbes Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Enquirer, Las Cruces Sun-News, SantaFean, El Paso Inc., and El Paso Times, as well as international news and law review articles.

In 1976, at age 22, Jim was sworn in as the youngest attorney in the State of Texas at the time, receiving one of the top grades on the bar exam. Jim started practicing law when personal injury law was in its infancy, before the existence of any board certification, and shortly after, the new legal theory of “comparative negligence” was created.
After his election as the youngest person ever elected to El Paso City Council in 1977, Jim was introduced to help victims of personal injury law by his friend who broke his back falling from an ASARCO smelter smokestack.

Jim’s legal career has been paralleled by his active leadership and involvement in bettering his community of El Paso, like his grandparents and parents before him and his children and grandchildren. Jim and his family are well known throughout the Southwest region for their active involvement in civic, business, politics, and community activities.

Distinctions

  • Presidential Citation from U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Energy Efficiency, 1980
  • Biggest Jury Verdict in the History of New Mexico
  • Many 7+ figure jury verdicts
  • Verdict search top trucking verdict of the year 2015
  • Verdict search top train verdict of the year 2005
  • Presidents Award, El Paso Bar Association 2021
  • Dragon Law Top personal injury lawyer in the US
  • International Law Journal award for Mendoza Case holding US company liable for Death in Mexico
  • Honor Law School Fraternity, Order of Barons
  • Director, Admissions Committee, State of Texas District 17, 1983
  • Featured speaker at the American Association of Justice and national board of trial advocacy and academy of truck accident attorneys for trucking law cases 2017, 2018
  • Featured speaker at Texas Trial Lawyers in the 1980s
  • US News and World Report tier 1 attorney for personal injury 2014 TO PRESENT
  • Texas State Advisory Committee on Energy Efficiency, TENRAC, 1980
  • Vice Chair, Local Government Energy Policy Advisory Committee to Secretary of U.S. Department of Energy, 1979-1981
  • El Paso City Council 1977-1983
  • 1982 Candidate for U S Congress
  • American Public Works Association, 1977-1982
  • Chairman, City of El Paso Architectural/Engineering Selection Committee, 1977-1983
  • Director, City Employees Pension Board, 1977-1983
  • El Paso Estate Planning Council
  • El Paso Democrats Hall of Fame Award
  • Black Democrats Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Texas Democratic Precinct Chair many years
  • Texas Democratic Convention Delegate, many years
  • Chairman, El Paso Division, Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1979
  • Outstanding Young Man, U.S. Jaycees, 1979
  • Director, West Texas Council of Governments, 1979-1983
  • Honored Ex, Coronado High School, 1981