Hartline Barger LLP

08/31/20 | C. Vernon Hartline, Jr. named the Best Lawyers® 2021 Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action Defense “Lawyer of the Year” in Dallas/Fort Worth

C. Vernon Hartline, Jr. Hartline Barger’s late founding partner, has been named Best Lawyers® 2021 Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action Defense “Lawyer of the Year” in Dallas/Fort Worth. This recognition is only awarded to individual lawyers with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Vernon was also included in this esteemed list in 2017 under the same practice area.

Vernon loved practicing law and being in the courtroom. It seems only fitting that after practicing law for nearly five decades, his distinguished career as a defense lawyer continues to be highlighted by such prestigious awards. He genuinely cared about the firm and its people, and he took time each day to reach out to his partners, colleagues, and staff. Congratulations to our founding partner who will be missed dearly.

08/20/20 | Twelve Hartline Barger Lawyers Selected for Inclusion in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©

The Best Lawyers in America©, the oldest lawyer-rating publication in the U.S., has selected 12 Hartline Barger LLP attorneys for inclusion in their 2021 Best Lawyers edition.

Hartline Barger congratulates its listed Best Lawyers in America:

Peter C. Blomquist: Commercial Litigation
Marshall G. Rosenberg: Litigation – Construction
Donald A. DeCandia: Commercial Litigation
Thomas G. Jacks: Litigation – Construction
Jeffrey S. Patterson: Litigation – Intellectual Property; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
C. Vernon Hartline, Jr.: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Scott G. Edwards: Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
David H. Estes: Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Darrell L. Barger: Litigation – Insurance; Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Richard W. Crews: Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Ann Hennis: Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Michael G. Terry: Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs

08/06/20 | Hartline Barger LLP Establishes the C. Vernon Hartline, Jr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Law, Benefiting Baylor Law Students, In Memoriam of Founding Partner C. Vernon Hartline, Jr.

DALLAS, TX – Hartline Barger LLP, proudly announces the establishment of the C. Vernon Hartline, Jr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Law, benefiting Baylor Law students, to honor its founding partner, C. Vernon Hartline, Jr.

C. Vernon Hartline, Jr., a long time-time Dallas lawyer, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, July 13, 2020 at the age of 75. Vernon was born November 5, 1944 in Dallas, Texas to Clyde Vernon Hartline and Betty Angel Hartline. After graduating from Plano Senior High School in 1963, he attended Baylor University and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1968. Vernon married Lynne Thompson on September 3, 1966. During his first year of law school at Baylor Law, Vernon was drafted and served in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant in Vietnam. After being injured in combat in early 1971, he was medevaced to the Air Force Military Hospital in Okinawa, Japan, where he recuperated for several months. He was discharged and came back to Texas in April of 1971, and just days after arriving home, he returned to Baylor Law to finish his law degree.

During law school he was a member of the Order of the Barristers. After Vernon was graduated from Baylor Law in 1973, he joined Gardere, Porter & DeHay, where he began his career as a trial lawyer. After a merger in 1979, Vernon and several of his colleagues formed DeHay & Blanchard. Vernon continued his career as a trial lawyer with Strasburger & Price beginning in 1984. In 1994, he and several colleagues in the firm’s product liability group decided to form their own firm, Hartline, Dacus, Dreyer, & Kern, L.L.P., to provide services to their clients more efficiently and effectively. At the prior firm they had been told, “Big ships turn slowly,” so Vernon and his colleagues vowed be nimble, able to adjust their sails to meet their clients’ needs while providing the highest quality legal services. It was that commitment that carried Vernon through to his last day with his colleagues at Hartline Barger, LLP, on July 13, 2020.

Vernon loved practicing law and being in the courtroom. His distinguished career as a product liability defense lawyer was highlighted by successes in the automotive and tire industry, which led to the firm’s representation of several major automotive and tire manufacturers on a regional and national basis. He also selflessly trained young lawyers, many of which started their careers at Hartline Barger LLP and have become his partners. He genuinely cared about the firm and its people, and he took time each day to reach out to his partners, colleagues, and staff.

Vernon served as President of the Baylor Law Alumni Association from 1993-1994, and was frequently designated a “Best Lawyer,” “Lawyer of the Year,” and “Texas Super Lawyer” during his career. He also received the Bridgestone Firestone General Counsel Award. Among Vernon’s many honors and awards are the National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnam Service Medal; the Vietnam Campaign Medal; and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

“Our firm has lost one of its original founders,” says managing partner, Larry Grayson. “Vernon Hartline’s clients will remember him as a tenacious advocate. His partners will remember him as a loyal colleague and mentor. His family and acquaintances will remember him as a caring and compassionate soul. All will remember him as a friend.”

Hartline Barger invites those wishing contribute to Vernon’s memory and legacy, to visit the Baylor Memorial Funds page and learn more about the C. Vernon Hartline, Jr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Law.

07/14/20 | Founder Vernon Hartline, Passes Away

With great sadness we report that Vernon Hartline – our partner, founder, and friend – has passed away. Since launching the firm in 1994, Vernon taught us what it meant to be hard-working, tenacious, and that family always comes first. Our Hartline Barger family will miss him dearly.

04/27/20 | Hartline Barger LLP Attorneys Successfully Resist Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s Request for a $13.1 Million Award for Fees and Costs.

On April 24, 2020, Lead Counsel Melissa Dorman Matthews, Partner Darrell Barger, and Attorneys Angela Gordon and Abby Foreman successfully resisted Plaintiffs’ counsel’s request for a $13.1 million award for fees and costs in a class action settlement for defective toilet tanks. Federal Judge Amos Mazzant rejected Scott Carpenter and Rebecca Bell-Stanton’s request for a 2.9 times multiplier above the lodestar calculation, awarding them only 36 percent of their requested award.

Click to view full court order.

Click to view Law360 Article

03/18/20 | Hartline Barger Coronavirus Update

While we have physically closed our doors in the wake of current events, Hartline Barger is still up and running remotely. Our attorneys and staff have the tools to connect with our clients and colleagues, including videoconferencing, phone conferencing, and WebEx. Please view the links below for a list of current court closures in the states of Texas and New Mexico. We encourage everyone to stay safe, practice healthy habits, and stay positive! We’re here when you need us, especially in times of crisis.

Texas Court Closures

New Mexico Court Closures

03/09/20 | Hartline Barger Attorneys Win Defense Verdict in a Dram Shop Trial for a Dallas Restaurant/Bar

DALLAS, Texas, March 6, 2020 – Hartline Barger LLP today announced a jury trial victory after attorneys Darrell Barger, Brian Rawson, and Stephanie Roark successfully defended their client in a three-week Dram Shop liability trial in Dallas County Court of Law No. 1, before Judge D’Metria Benson.

The case involved an automobile-pedestrian accident that resulted in the death of a 26-year-old man in 2015. Earlier in the night, that man was watching sporting events on TV with friends at a Bombshells Restaurant and Bar, where he consumed at least 10 alcoholic beverages over a four hour period. Towards the end of his visit, the man became aggressive with another table of patrons and slammed his hands down on a table. Within 10 seconds, a Bombshells security guard escorted the man outside, took his car keys, and called him a cab. The security guard told the cab driver to take the intoxicated individual home, but unexpectedly, the man was dropped off at a gas station a mile from the restaurant. One hour later, he was hit by a car and killed while walking across a street. At the time of his death, the intoxicated individual had a blood-alcohol level of three times the legal limit.

The parents of the victim filed suit against Bombshells, alleging the restaurant/bar was negligent in continuing to serve alcohol to their son when he was obviously intoxicated and that negligence was the proximate cause of their son’s death. Plaintiffs’ counsel asked the jury to award nearly $5 million to the parents of the victim.

Defense counsel argued that their client had safeguards in place to prevent serving alcohol to someone showing signs of intoxication. The defense also emphasized that within 10 seconds of the intoxicated patron displaying signs of intoxication by slamming his hands on a table, restaurant staff reacted quickly and correctly took his car keys and arranged for a cab ride home.

After approximately two weeks of trial testimony and one week of deliberations, the Dallas County jury returned a complete defense verdict on December 20, 2019.

03/06/20 | Twelve Attorneys from Hartline Barger LLP Selected for the 2020 Texas Super Lawyers® List of Rising Stars℠

Twelve Attorneys from Hartline Barger LLP Selected for the 2020 Texas Super Lawyers® List of Rising Stars℠

DALLAS, Texas, March 6, 2020— Hartline Barger is pleased to announce a dozen of the firm’s young attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the Texas Super Lawyers® list of Rising Stars℠.

Awarded to fewer than 2.5% of lawyers statewide, the Rising Stars℠ designation recognizes attorneys who are under the age of 40, or who have been in practice for no more than 10 years. These annual selections are based on a rigorous, multiphase process, including peer nominations and review, and independent research. Twelve of the firm’s attorneys received this recognition, including two of the firm’s newest partners Roy McKay and Stephanie Roark.

Other attorneys chosen for the list again this year include Matt Brower, Dale Fresch, Andrew Petersen, Colin Powell, Jake Ramsey, Allison Reppond, Brian Sawyer, Reid Simpson, Luke Spencer, and Laura Vega.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of this group of attorneys,” said Managing Partner Larry Grayson. “It is nice to see each of them receive the recognition they deserve.”

Hartline Barger LLP is a Southwest-based law firm specializing in civil litigation and trials, with offices in Dallas, Corpus Christi, Houston, Waco, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. The firm’s attorneys pride themselves on providing uncompromising excellence to their clients in a variety of areas, including products liability, commercial litigation, class action and multidistrict litigation, intellectual property, personal-injury defense, premises liability, labor and employment, insurance coverage, healthcare, construction, and dealer/franchise litigation. For more information about Hartline Barger, visit www.hartlinebarger.com.

01/31/20 | Hartline Barger LLP Begins 2020 with Announcement of New Partners, Houston Merger, and New Mexico Expansion

DALLAS, TX – Hartline Barger LLP, a Southwest-based, nationally recognized law firm specializing in civil litigation and trials, starts 2020 with the promotion of attorneys Roy McKay, Victor Cardenas, and Jennifer Akre to partners; the promotion of Stephanie Roark and Reid Simpson to equity partners; the addition of four Houston attorneys, including partner David Merkley; and the introduction of partner Don DeCandia and two new offices in New Mexico.

Jennifer Akre has handled a wide array of insurance defense litigation including personal injury, premises liability, trucking accidents, products, and contract litigation. Prior to working at another well-respected Houston litigation firm, Jennifer managed a successful solo practice in Missouri. Jennifer has long made it a point to be active in her community, whether it be volunteering her time to local causes or proudly sponsoring charitable organizations.

Victor Cardenas joined Hartline Barger LLP after more than 8 years with a nationally recognized environmental and litigation law firm, where he was a founding member and shareholder. Victor has been instrumental in helping clients recover historic settlements in watershed environmental cases and successfully litigated high-stakes CERCLA contribution actions, railroad cases, contamination cases, and has complex commercial disputes.

Roy McKay joined the firm in 2011. His practice focuses on product liability, personal injury defense; and deceptive trade practices. Roy launched his career as a trial lawyer with a complete defense verdict in a commercial motor vehicle accident case he tried only four months after passing the Bar exam.

“The election of new partners Roy McKay from our Dallas office, and Jennifer Akre and Victor Cardenas from our Houston office, was an easy decision based on their talent and dedication,” says managing partner, Larry Grayson. “They each bring a unique level of commitment and experience to their practice. We are fortunate to have them.”

Stephanie Roark has defended multiple Fortune 500 and large publicly traded companies in both state and federal court. She has extensive trial experience, successfully defending cases including catastrophic injury and death claims against transportation companies and large hospitality companies. Stephanie has been named a ‘Texas Rising Star,’ by Thomson Reuters every year since 2014. Fewer than 3 percent of the attorneys in a state may be named to the list.

Reid Simpson joined the firm in 2010 after graduating from Baylor Law School. He has significant trial and litigation experience, having represented Fortune 50, Fortune 500 and publicly traded companies in both state and federal court. He has obtained numerous dismissals and summary judgments, and has successfully arbitrated for a variety of clients, including government contractors, medical research institutions, energy companies (midstream, upstream, and downstream), transportation companies, and professional service companies.

“Stephanie Roark from our Dallas office, and Reid Simpson from our Waco office, demonstrated the growth and maturity necessary to become equity partners at Hartline Barger,” says Larry Grayson, managing partner. “The future of the firm is in good hands.”

David Merkley is a board certified trial lawyer with a statewide practice involving the defense of catastrophic losses. He is routinely retained to oversee the containment of evidence and investigation immediately following an event, and then manage the litigation and try cases as lead counsel. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and was one of the youngest members of the ABOTA Houston Chapter elected to receive this distinction. David’s concentrated areas of practice include oilfield and refinery incidents, trucking and transportation accidents, products and premises liability claims, general maritime matters, and construction-related claims. He also assists clients in drafting and revising corporate safety manuals, training materials, employee handbooks, and other tools designed to improve a company’s overall safety record and risk avoidance.

“We’re thrilled to have David join our team,” says managing partner Larry Grayson. “He’s an accomplished trial lawyer with an impressive record of success and a stellar reputation.”

In addition to David Merkley, three more Germer attorneys, Sarah Jones, Lisa Massey and Selina Contreras, join Hartline Barger’s Houston office as of counsel and associate attorneys.

Of Counsel Sarah Jones has significant experience trying cases from inception to trial throughout the state of Texas. Sarah routinely represents clients in a wide array of litigation matters, including labor & employment, trucking & transportation, products liability, personal injury, premises liability, oil & gas, construction, warranty & DTPA, and insurance defense. Based on her extensive representation of Fortune 500 Companies, Sarah is highly sought after to provide clients with general risk assessment. In conjunction with providing clients with risk assessments, she is often hired to draft and revise corporate policies and procedures, employee handbooks, and safety protocols.

Of Counsel Elizabeth “Lisa” Massey routinely handles complex litigation for clients across a broad spectrum of legal areas, including oil & gas, trucking & transportation, residential and commercial construction, premises liability, products liability, professional liability, and personal injury. Lisa has an established track record of successfully representing her clients in state, federal and appellate courts and administrative bodies across Texas. As a native of Naples, Italy, Lisa is fluent in Italian.

Associate Selina Contreras focuses her practice on commercial litigation, trucking & transportation, personal injury defense, and premises liability. Before shifting her practice to civil litigation defense, Selina represented injured plaintiffs. This was a valuable experience which she now uses to understand opposing counsel’s approach to case strategy and negotiation.

Along with the firm’s new partner promotions and Houston additions, Hartline Barger is proud to announce its expansion into New Mexico with the addition of partner Don DeCandia and two new offices in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Don DeCandia joins Hartline Barger as he begins his 30th year of practice. He has litigated complex commercial cases and class actions and has a depth of experience in appellate work. Don believes that listening and attention to detail are key components of a successful practice. Don has handled scores of products liability cases in the vehicle context, including the defense of several tire manufacturers in tire failure litigation. Don’s extensive experience in ERISA litigation includes representation of life, health and disability insurers, HMOs, self-funded plans, plan sponsors, plan administrators, pension plans and third-party administrators.

Don’s team has a great deal of experience at both trial and appellate levels. Their practice areas include all manner of personal injury and wrongful death cases, particularly matters involving products liability, insurance defense, trucking, and premises liability. The team also handles matters related to insurance bad faith and coverage, construction law, and ERISA litigation.

“To better serve our clients we opened offices in Albuquerque, and Santa Fe, New Mexico’s largest city and its state capital, respectively,” says Santa Fe partner, Don DeCandia. “We have a team of attorneys and staff with a wealth of experience in litigation here in New Mexico, and we are excited to be a part of this firm’s future.”

Hartline Barger is a Southwest-based law firm founded in 1994, Hartline Barger LLP serves clients throughout the state and across the country, with offices in Dallas, Houston, Corpus Christi, Waco, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque. The firm is nationally recognized for its work in product liability litigation and a broad spectrum of practice areas—from personal injury defense, commercial litigation and toxic torts to warranty and deceptive trade practice litigation. For more information, visit hartlinebarger.com.

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09/13/19 | Hartline Barger LLP Brings in Four Attorneys, Including Partner David Merkley, from Houston Law Firm

HOUSTON, TX – Hartline Barger LLP, a Southwest-based, nationally recognized law firm specializing in civil litigation and trials, continues to expand its Houston office with the addition of four attorneys from another Houston law firm, including partner David Merkley.

David Merkley is a board certified trial lawyer with a statewide practice involving the defense of catastrophic losses. He is routinely retained to oversee the containment of evidence and investigation immediately following an event, and then manage the litigation and try cases as lead counsel. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and was one of the youngest members of the ABOTA Houston Chapter elected to receive this distinction. David’s concentrated areas of practice include oilfield and refinery incidents, trucking and transportation accidents, products and premises liability claims, general maritime matters, and construction-related claims. He also assists clients in drafting and revising corporate safety manuals, training materials, employee handbooks, and other tools designed to improve a company’s overall safety record and risk avoidance.

“We’re thrilled to have David join our team,” says managing partner Larry Grayson. “He’s an accomplished trial lawyer with an impressive record of success and a stellar reputation.”

In addition to David Merkley, three more Germer attorneys, Sarah Jones, Lisa Massey and Selina Contreras, join Hartline Barger’s Houston office as of counsel and associate attorneys.

Of Counsel Sarah Jones has significant experience trying cases from inception to trial throughout the state of Texas. Sarah routinely represents clients in a wide array of litigation matters, including labor & employment, trucking & transportation, products liability, personal injury, premises liability, oil & gas, construction, warranty & DTPA, and insurance defense. Based on her extensive representation of Fortune 500 Companies, Sarah is highly sought after to provide clients with general risk assessment. In conjunction with providing clients with risk assessments, she is often hired to draft and revise corporate policies and procedures, employee handbooks, and safety protocols.

Of Counsel Elizabeth “Lisa” Massey routinely handles complex litigation for clients across a broad spectrum of legal areas, including oil & gas, trucking & transportation, residential and commercial construction, premises liability, products liability, professional liability, and personal injury. Lisa has an established track record of successfully representing her clients in state, federal and appellate courts and administrative bodies across Texas. As a native of Naples, Italy, Lisa is fluent in Italian.

Associate Selina Contreras focuses her practice on commercial litigation, trucking & transportation, personal injury defense, and premises liability. Before shifting her practice to civil litigation defense, Selina represented injured plaintiffs. This was a valuable experience which she now uses to understand opposing counsel’s approach to case strategy and negotiation.

This move is another step forward for the firm’s growing Houston office, explains managing partner Larry Grayson. “The experience these four bring strengthens our Houston office and further enables us to provide value for our clients.”

Hartline Barger LLP is a Southwest-based law firm specializing in civil litigation and trials, with offices in Dallas, Houston, Corpus Christi, Waco, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. The firm’s attorneys pride themselves on providing uncompromising excellence to their clients in a variety of areas, including products liability, commercial litigation, class action and multidistrict litigation, personal injury defense, premises liability, labor and employment, healthcare, construction, and dealer/franchise litigation. For more information about Hartline Barger, visit hartlinebarger.com

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