Results & News

11/20/23 | Darrell Barger Named 2023 Recipient of the Lifetime of Excellence in Advocacy Award by TACTAS

Dallas, TX, November 20, 2023 — Darrell Barger has been named the 2023 recipient of the Lifetime of Excellence in Advocacy Award by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists (TACTAS).

This award is voted on by the entire TACTAS membership and it recognizes an attorney who has, throughout their legal career, exemplified outstanding trial and appellate work.

With a remarkable career as a trial lawyer for nearly 50 years, Darrell’s achievements in the legal field have left an indelible mark. Darrell has tried over 500 civil cases and continues to impress clients, colleagues, and judges with his ability to produce favorable results, particularly in high-stakes cases.

As Darrell adds the Lifetime of Excellence in Advocacy Award to his distinguished list of honors and awards, we celebrate his exemplary work and contributions to the legal industry.

11/02/23 | Hartline Barger Recognized Among the 2024 Edition of Best Law Firms®

Dallas, TX, November 02, 2023 —Hartline Barger LLP has been recognized in the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms^®, ranked by Best Lawyers^®, nationally and regionally.

Firms included in the 2024 Best Law Firms^® list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. To be considered for this milestone achievement, at least one lawyer in the law firm must be recognized in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^®. Hartline Barger is proud to have 12 lawyers included in The Best Lawyers in America^®and two additional attorneys recognized among the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America^®.

Achieving a tiered ranking in Best Law Firms^® on a national and/or metropolitan scale signals a unique credibility within the industry. The transparent, collaborative research process employs qualitative and quantitative data from peer and client reviews that are supported by proprietary algorithmic technology to produce a tiered system of industry-led rankings of the top 4% of the industry. Receiving a tier designation represents an elite status, integrity, and reputation.

10/05/23 | Partner Scott Edwards Named Among The Top 50 Attorneys of Dallas

Dallas, TX, October 05, 2023 — Congratulations to Hartline Barger Partner Scott Edwards for being named among The Top 50 Attorneys of Dallas for 2023 by Attorney Intel. Candidates across the Dallas metro area are evaluated based on breadth of experience, longevity in the field, company or firm caliber, specialized expertise, and other factors. As the 9^th largest city in the country and the 2^nd largest in the state, being selected among The Top 50 Attorneys of Dallas is a significant honor.

Click here to read the article from Attorney Intel.

09/29/23 | Hartline Barger Attorneys Win a Three-Day Breach of Contract Jury Trial

Dallas, TX, September 29, 2023 — Congratulations to Hartline Barger attorneys Roy McKay, Holly Naehritz, and Brian Rawson for winning a jury trial last week in the 146th Judicial District Court of Bell County, before Judge Jack Jones.  This was a lawsuit over a breach of a restaurant purchase agreement.  Under the parties’ purchase agreement, the seller was to discount a promissory note, on which the purchaser was the obligor, by $250,000 “if the purchaser pays off the note within one year of the closing date.”  A lower discount, for “10%,” applied if the purchaser paid off the note “within year one and year two.”  The closing was on January 2, 2017, and the purchaser paid off the note on January 2, 2018.  The seller claimed that January 2, 2018 was not within the one year of closing to be entitled to the $250,000 discount.  Roy, Holly, and Brian successfully argued to the jury that January 2, 2018 was still within one year and their client was wrongfully denied the full discount.  The meaning of “within one year” as used in the business purchase agreement was the central dispute in this lawsuit.  The Hartline Barger trial team also won the second issue in the case, which was that the seller failed to properly reimburse the purchaser for gift cards used at the restaurant for the first two years after the purchase, as the contract required.  The jury awarded their client those damages, plus attorney’s fees.

08/31/23 | Hartline Barger Granted Dismissal With Prejudice in Dallas County

Dallas, TX, August 31, 2023 — Hartline Barger LLP attorneys Brian Rawson, Roy McKay, and Brandon Thomas recently filed a motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s claims with prejudice, and it was granted by a Dallas County judge today.

This lawsuit arose out of an accident that occurred at a Texas gun range. Plaintiff arrived at the gun range and was assigned to a lane. Plaintiff proceeded to her lane where she began to shoot her firearm. According to Plaintiff, while she was in her lane shooting her firearm, she was struck by a ricocheting bullet. Plaintiff filed suit against the gun range.

Because Plaintiff filed suit against a defendant gun range, her claims were governed by Chapter 128 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Pursuant to Chapter 128 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Plaintiff was required to serve an expert report for each defendant against whom a claim is asserted not later than 90 days after filing her original petition. Plaintiff failed to serve an expert report as required and therefore, Defendant filed a motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s claims with prejudice. A Dallas County judge agreed with Defendant and ultimately dismissed Plaintiff’s claims against Defendant with prejudice.

CAUSE/CASE NO: DC-23-05266

Judge: Martin Hoffman

08/28/23 | Hartline Barger Obtains Complete Defense Verdict for Major National Retailer

Dallas, TX, August 28, 2023 — Earlier this year, Hartline Barger attorneys Darrell Barger, Pryce Tucker, Anna Dodds, and paralegal Michael Barrera obtained a defense verdict after a two-week trial in San Antonio, Texas. The case involved a shooting that occurred in the parking lot of a major national retailer in which one person was killed and another injured. Plaintiffs argued the retailer should have foreseen future criminal activity on the premises and failed to provide adequate security to protect against future matters. After two weeks of testimony, the jury found that the retailer was not negligent and entered a complete defense verdict. The jury agreed that the incident was not foreseeable, and the retailer did not fail to exercise ordinary care in providing security services on the premises.

08/17/23 | Hartline Barger Partner Scott Edwards Named 2024 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area

Dallas, TX, August 17, 2023 — Hartline Barger LLP Partner Scott G. Edwards was recently recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.

Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this a significant and coveted accolade. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments.

Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.

In addition to the “Lawyer of the Year” award, Scott G. Edwards was also listed in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.^® 

Hartline Barger congratulates Scott Edwards for these significant accomplishments.

08/17/23 | 12 Hartline Barger Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® Recipients and Three Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®

Dallas, TX, August 17, 2023 — Hartline Barger LLP is pleased to announce that 12 lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Best Lawyers has earned the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

Hartline Barger LLP would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to 2024 The Best Lawyers in America list:

• Darrell L. Barger – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Insurance, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Peter C. Blomquist – Commercial Litigation
• Richard W. Crews – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Donald A. DeCandia – Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Scott G. Edwards – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• David H. Estes – Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Larry D. Grayson – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• David Green – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Brian Rawson – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Marshall G. Rosenberg – Litigation – Construction, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Michael G. Terry – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Pryce Tucker – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

Hartline Barger LLP would like to congratulate the following lawyers recognized in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America:

• Dale Fresch – Commercial Litigation
• Reid Hudgins – Litigation – Construction, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Colin Powell – Commercial Litigation

08/01/23 | Hartline Barger Prevails on an Appeal Before the Eleventh Court of Appeals

Dallas, TX, August 1, 2023 — Earlier this year, Hartline Barger LLP attorneys Brian Rawson, Roy McKay, Holly Naehritz, Dale Fresch, and Alex McLean prevailed on an appeal before the Eleventh Court of Appeals.  A third-party security guard working at a restaurant got into an altercation with a customer in the restaurant’s parking lot and shot the customer in the back.  The restaurant had a contract with a separate company to provide security services, and the security guard was an employee of that security company.  The customer sued the security guard, the security company, and a parent company above the company that operated the restaurant. Hartline Barger LLP filed a motion for summary judgment on behalf of the parent company, arguing that it was not a proper party to the case because it did not operate the subject restaurant.  The trial court granted the parent company’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed the claims against it with prejudice, and the court of appeals affirmed.

06/26/23 | Hartline Barger Scores Trial Victory in Tire Disablement Case

Dallas, TX, June 26, 2023 — Hartline Barger LLP’s New Mexico team (attorney Don DeCandia, paralegal Maria Padilla and secretary Carla Bond) together with counsel from Yoka Smith, LLP, recently secured a defense judgment for tire manufacturer Continental Tire the Americas, LLC (CTA) following a two-week bench trial in New Mexico Federal Court. The claim involved a tire disablement followed by a rollover accident in which one person died and three were injured. The plaintiffs, represented by Randi McGinn of McGinn, Montoya, Love & Curry, alleged that the tire was defectively manufactured and/or designed.  The Honorable Kea Riggs, however, rejected all of the Plaintiffs’ claims and entered a defense judgment in favor of CTA.  Judge Riggs found that the tire was not defective, that CTA was not negligent, and that actions/omissions by the driver and the company that owned the work truck caused and/or contributed to the crash.