Results & News

01/12/22 | Hartline Barger Partner Melissa Dorman Matthews Achieves Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Victory

January 12, 2022 – Partner Melissa Dorman Matthews secures another victory for Hartline Barger at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals after a hard-fought battle over attorney’s fees awarded for a class action settlement.

Matthews, who served as lead trial counsel for the matter, argued the case in front of the Fifth Circuit in March of 2021. Plaintiffs’ counsel requested $12,726,376.00 in fees – a lodestar calculation of $4,388,405.50 with a multiplier of 2.9.  The U.S. District Judge awarded Plaintiffs’ counsel more than $4.3 million in fees.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated this award yesterday, and has instructed the District Judge to recalculate the award and take into account the two issues Matthews and her team pointed out throughout the litigation:  1) the fees Plaintiffs’ counsel incurred on behalf of the successful claims were a fraction of the amounts incurred for pursuing all claims, many of which were unsuccessful; and 2) the actual benefit to the class, which counsel estimates to be less than .05% of the requested fee award.

Hartline Barger partner Angela Gordon and attorney Abigail Foreman assisted Matthews in the case, along with appellate counsel from Beck Redden LLP.

01/01/22 | Hartline Barger LLP Promotes Angela Gordon and Daniel Erwin to Partnership, Promotes Clayton Callen and Tyler Stuart to Equity Partners, Elects Peter Blomquist to Management Committee, and Elects Richard Crews as Managing Partner

Dallas, Texas, January 1, 2022 – Hartline Barger LLP is pleased to announce the promotion of Santa Fe attorney Angela Gordon and Houston attorney Daniel Erwin to partners, the promotion of Dallas attorneys Clayton Callen and Tyler Stuart to equity partners, the election of Dallas partner Peter Blomquist to the management committee, and the election of Corpus Christi partner Richard Crews as Managing Partner.

“The past two years have proved to be challenging in countless ways but our firm has persevered, in large part because of attorneys like Daniel, Angela, Clayton, and Tyler, who consistently demonstrate the dedication and drive required to be included in partnership, “ said Managing Partner Richard Crews. “In addition to our partner promotions, we are thrilled to welcome Houston partner, Peter Blomquist, to our management committee. His legal experience and strong character make him a great asset to our leadership team,” added Crews.

With a wide-ranging practice, Angela Gordon handles appeals, class actions, product liability litigation, insurance defense litigation, and has also defended lawsuits filed against governmental entities. Her extensive experience includes successfully obtaining dismissals in cases involving international tire manufacturers, local city governments and other clients.

Daniel Erwin focuses his practice in general civil litigation, commercial litigation and business torts, insurance law, construction defect, professional liability and products liability. He has a particular emphasis on cases involving personal injury litigation as well as transportation matters. He represents multiple Fortune 500 clients across the state and routinely handles complex, catastrophic losses.

Clayton Callen focuses his practice in the areas of civil litigation and political law. He has litigated a wide range of cases in state and federal courts across the country. This includes extensive litigation experience in cases involving complex commercial matters, products liability, constitutional law, election law, and “whistle-blower” claims under the False Claims Act, at both the trial court and appellate court levels. Additionally, Clayton serves as part of the national trial team for a Fortune 500 manufacturing company, implementing strategies for and managing litigation pending nationwide.

Tyler Stuart’s practice focuses on commercial litigation, automotive and equipment product liability, personal injury defense, contracts, warranty, fraud and deceptive trade practices. Before joining the firm in 2015, Tyler gained significant litigation experience at a notable firm in Dallas assisting in all areas of the firm’s commercial and personal injury litigation practice. During that time, Tyler served as lead associate on a case involving a dispute over natural gas rights and received a jury verdict of $38 million for the client.

Additionally, the partnership has elected Richard Crews to serve as Managing Partner of the firm’s six offices.

Richard Crews has been actively engaged in a varied and extensive trial practice for more than 40 years. His general civil litigation experience not only includes defense of personal injury claims, but also the trial of commercial and business disputes, defense of fiduciary claims, representation of automobile manufacturers, defense of designers and manufacturers of seat belts, airbags, child seats and other automotive components. He has also defended pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, doctors, hospitals, and attorneys in professional liability claims. He has tried cases involving wills and estates, oil and gas disputes, and represented banks and trust companies.

Throughout his career, Richard has been both active in his profession and recognized by his peers. As a young lawyer he was recognized as Nueces County’s “Outstanding Young Lawyer.” Having been repeatedly selected for listing in The Best Lawyers in America©, he was selected as 2018’s Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Corpus Christi. He is an Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), served two terms on that organization’s National Board of Directors and twice served as President of the Corpus Christi Chapter. He was appointed to serve on the Attorney Admissions Committee for the United States District Courts for the Southern District of Texas, serving as the committee’s chairman for six years. He has been named to Texas Super Lawyers® for more than fifteen consecutive years, is rated “AV Preeminent®” by Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected to membership in the Litigation Counsel of America. Further, he has been named to America’s Top 100 Attorneys®, South Texas Region and was selected as a Master of the Reynaldo Garza’s Chapter of American Inns of Court. He remains active in numerous and civic and professional organizations.

09/21/21 | Hartline Barger LLP Joins Diversity Lab’s Midsize Mansfield Rule Program

DALLAS, Texas, September 21, 2021— Hartline Barger LLP is pleased to announce its participation in Diversity Lab’s second iteration of the Midsize Mansfield Rule Program. The main objective of the Mansfield Rule is to boost diversity within law firms by innovating the hiring process to broaden the pool of candidates considered for hiring opportunities.

Diversity Lab is an organization dedicated to developing initiatives that boost diversity and inclusion in law. Through creative collaboration, behavioral science, and technology, Diversity Lab is able to develop ideas, measure results, and share valuable lessons learned with the legal community.

Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule Certification measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered at least 30 percent women, underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ lawyers and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions.

“Seeking Mansfield Rule certification is the next logical step in our efforts to improve and promote diversity and inclusion. This process will help us build upon the great strides we’ve made over the last several years, and will allow us to better measure our efforts and results,” said Partner Melissa Dorman Matthews.

The certification period for the Midsize version is 18 months (September 15, 2021 to March 14, 2023) to provide sufficient time for the participating firms to take action on hiring, promotion, and leadership transition activities.

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

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09/21/21 | Seven Hartline Barger attorneys have been selected to the 2021 Texas Super Lawyers list.

Seven Hartline Barger attorneys have been selected to the 2021 Texas Super Lawyers list.

Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

•  Darrell L. Barger
•  Richard W. Crews
•  Scott G. Edwards
•  David Merkley
•  Jeffrey S. Patterson
•  Marshall G. Rosenberg
•  Michael G. Terry

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

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07/06/21 | 13 Hartline Barger LLP Lawyers Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® List

Dallas, July 6, 2021 — Hartline Barger LLP is pleased to announce that 13 lawyers have been included in the 2022 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.

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 2022 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
• Scott G. Edwards – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• David H. Estes – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Larry D. Grayson – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Thomas G. Jacks – Litigation – Construction
• Melissa Dorman Matthews – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Jeffrey S. Patterson – Litigation – Intellectual Property, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Marshall G. Rosenberg – Litigation – Construction and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• J. Reid Simpson – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Michael G. Terry – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs

06/28/21 | Hartline Barger Speaks at Driving Diversity in Law & Leadership Summit

Partner Melissa Dorman Matthews and Associate Amanda A. Saputo from Hartline Barger’s Dallas office were honored to speak at the Driving Diversity in Law & Leadership Summit. Over the last four years, women, minorities, LGBTQ individuals, and individuals with disabilities represented almost 70% of our attorney hires at Hartline. This has coincided with our tremendous growth with opening three new offices since 2019, and D&I will continue to be key priorities for the firm.

04/08/21 | Hartline Barger Partner Don DeCandia Selected to 2021 Southwest Super Lawyers List

Hartline Barger Partner Don DeCandia has been selected to the 2021 Southwest Super Lawyers list. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com.

04/02/21 | Hartline Barger Managing Partner Larry Grayson Selected to America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators® for 2021

April 2, 2021 – Hartline Barger is pleased to announce the selection of Larry Grayson among America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators® for 2021. Selection to America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators® is by invitation only and is reserved to identify most exceptional Civil Defense Litigators in throughout the nation.

Candidates are carefully screened through comprehensive Qualitative Comparative Analysis based on a broad array of criteria, including the candidate’s professional experience, litigation experience, significant case results, representative high stakes matters, peer reputation, and community impact in order to rank the candidates throughout the state.

Only the top 100 qualifying defense litigators in each state will receive this honor and be selected for membership among America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators^®. With these extremely high standards for selection to America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators®, less than one-half percent (0.5%) of active attorneys in the United States will receive this honor — truly the most exclusive and elite level of litigators in the community.

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.  ##

04/01/21 | Hartline Barger LLP Begins Q1 with Partner Promotions and New Hires

DALLAS, TX – Hartline Barger LLP closes its first quarter of 2021 with the promotion of attorneys Casey Batchelor, Sarah Jones, and Lisa Massey to partners, and the addition of nine attorneys firm-wide.

The offices of Hartline Barger proudly announced the addition of Casey Batchelor, Sarah Jones, and Lisa Massey to the firm’s partnership earlier in the year.

Casey Batchelor 

Sarah Jones 

Elizabeth “Lisa” Massey

In addition to partner promotions, Hartline Barger hired nine new attorneys throughout its offices within the first quarter of the year.

Faisal Al Alam

Casey Fitch 

Jordan Freeman

Ryan Goodhue 

Brittany Gavulo

David Henderson 

Caroline Sileo Lawhorn 

Michael Smith

Fanny Turcios

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.  ##

03/23/21 | More Than 10 Hartline Barger Attorneys Selected for the 2021 Texas Rising Stars® List