Tag: Trial Firm

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

Hartline Barger Attorney Vernon Hartline Granted Exclusion of Expert Testimony in Products Liability Case by U.S.D.C. for the Southern District of Texas

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas recently granted a Motion to Exclude Expert Testimony filed by Vernon Hartline on behalf of Volkswagen Group of America and Ducati North America. The case is a products liability case arising out of an accident involving a 2004 Ducati Monster 620 motorcycle in Houston, Texas. Ducati NA argued that the plaintiff’s expert, Byron Bloch, was unqualified and that his opinions were unreliable and not based on a sufficient scientific foundation. The court agreed, finding that the expert’s report was “speculative, conclusory, and fails to consider or disprove alternative causes.” The court granted an exclusionary order for the expert’s entire testimony. You can read the entire Exclusion Order here.

Hartline Barger LLP Opens New Offices in Santa Fe & Albuquerque, Adds New Partner, Don DeCandia

Hartline Barger LLP, a Texas-based civil litigation and trial firm, expanded its footprint in the southwestern United States today with the opening of offices in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

The two New Mexico offices join Hartline Barger’s four existing Texas offices (Dallas, Houston, Corpus Christi and Waco), bolstering the firm’s presence and depth of services in the growing Southwest market.

We believe our expansion into New Mexico will provide substantial opportunities for our clients and for Hartline Barger,” said firm-wide managing partner, Larry Grayson.

With the addition of the two new offices, the firm is also pleased to announce the arrival of a new partner, Donald A. DeCandia. Don DeCandia comes to Hartline Barger from Modrall Sperling, bringing with him over 30 years of trial, litigation, and appellate experience in the areas of products liability, tort, personal injury, and ERISA litigation. He has litigated complex commercial cases and class actions and has a depth of experience in appellate work. Don has handled scores of products liability cases in the vehicle context, including the defense of several tire manufacturers in tire failure litigation. He has also represented building product and power tool manufacturers, and his practice includes insurance bad faith cases and premises liability matters. Many of his cases involve claims for wrongful death and serious personal injury. Don is a 1989 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin School of Law.

We’re excited to have Don join the Hartline Barger family,” added managing partner Larry Grayson. “He has the experience and quality of work our clients expect from Hartline Barger.

The Santa Fe office is located at 141 E. Palace Ave, Garden Level Suite #2, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501.

The Albuquerque office is located at 500 Marquette NW, Suite 770, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102.

About Hartline Barger
Hartline Barger LLP is a Texas-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, trucking & transportation, personal injury defense, premises liability, labor & employment, insurance defense, healthcare, construction, and dealer/franchise litigation. For more information about Hartline Barger, visit www.hartlinebarger.com.