Texas Lawyer Blog

Police: O'Quinn's vehicle traveling 76 mph to 79 mph when it struck tree

The vehicle driven by Houston lawyer John M. O’Quinn was traveling between 76 mph and 79 mph on Oct. 28 when it struck a tree, killing O’Quinn and an employee of his firm, a Houston Police Department spokeswoman says. Spokeswoman Jodi K. Silva says the data recorder instrument in the Chevrolet Suburban O’Quinn was driving indicates the vehicle speed at the time of impact. “We haven’t finished conducting the investigation, but that’s what the data recorder is indicating,” she says. “Our investigators are still working to validate those numbers through further investigations and reconstruction efforts,” she says. The vehicle was traveling out of downtown Houston on Allen Parkway, crossed over a median and struck a tree. The speed limit on Allen Parkway is 40 mph. O'Quinn, 68, and Johnny Lee Cutliff, 56, both were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Neither was wearing a seat belt. O’Quinn, a prominent plaintiffs lawyer, founded the O’Quinn Law Firm.
-- Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

$145,000 starting salary for 2009 for incoming first-year associates at Haynes and Boone

Incoming associates at Haynes and Boone will start work Nov. 30 with a starting salary for 2009 of $145,000. That’s below the $160,000 first-year salary that’s been the first-year BigTex market rate. Richard Fijolek of Dallas, the firm’s financial partner, says the firm hasn’t yet decided what it will pay the first-year lawyers in January. “We haven’t decided what we are paying in 2010. We are trying to figure out what the market is,” Fijolek says. The $145,000 starting salary was first reported in the Above the Law blog. Fijolek says the firm is waiting to see where the BigTex market rate settles before setting its 2010 salary for first-year lawyers. “We are not trying to set market. We typically pay at the market or the high end of the market,” he says. Fijolek says the firm has notified the associates of their 2009 salary but also told them that they will spend most of December in training and will do little billable work. When the firm sent the incoming associates job offers, it did not specify a starting salary, he says. According to Texas Lawyer’s New Associates Survey, published on Oct. 19, 38 incoming associates are scheduled to start work on Nov. 30 at Haynes and Boone offices in Texas.
-- Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

Lawyer sues church, homeless day center in Houston

A lawyer who owns an office building located near The Beacon, a day center for homeless people in downtown Houston, filed a suit Monday seeking a permanent injunction to shut down the operation on the ground it’s a “private nuisance.” Lawyer Harry C. Arthur seeks a minimum of $250,000 in damages from defendants Christ Church Cathedral and The Beacon to compensate him for the loss of rentals in his building and the loss of its market value. Arthur alleges The Beacon, which is operated by Cathedral Health & Outreach Ministries, has created a “health hazard” in the area. “The persons attracted by the free meals, free laundry and other services, urinate, defecate and drop trash in the street, sidewalks, doorways and other private property areas of the neighbors,” Arthur alleges in the petition filed in state district court in Harris County. Arthur alleges that on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, when The Beacon is closed, “things are once again quiet and pleasant” in the area. However, he alleges, from Thursday nights through Monday nights, “hundreds of disheveled individuals sleep and hang out on the streets and sidewalks” near The Beacon. Arthur’s building, The Marine Building, is located diagonally across an intersection from The Beacon. “The individuals sing, play music, dance, fight, share drugs and other undesirable activities,” Arthur alleges in the petition, noting that individuals sleep on the sidewalks because The Beacon is closed at night.  He also alleges the Beacon “encouraged others with probably good intentions to bus indigent people to The Beacon so that they may also be fed and cared for.” Arthur, of Law Offices of Harry C. Arthur, did not immediately return a telephone message left at his office. Carol Barnwell, director of communication for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, declines comment and refers questions to Dean Joe Reynolds of Christ Church Cathedral. Neither Reynolds nor Tracy Burnett, executive director of The Beacon, immediately returned a call seeking comment.
-- Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

Supremes’ photos mark comings, goings on high court

The Texas Supreme Court has a new photo of the nine justices posted on the court’s Web site. The updated photo includes Justice Eva Guzman (standing), whom Gov. Rick Perry appointed to the high court Oct. 8.  Osler McCarthy, the Supreme Court’s staff attorney for communications, says he shot the previous photo of the justices Sept. 9, after Scott Brister left the court.  “We wanted something of the Supreme Court that was then on the Web site,” says McCarthy, who does double duty as the court’s spokesman and photographer.  “When Judge Guzman was appointed, it took me forever to get them [the justices] together,” McCarthy says.  McCarthy says he finally shot the current photo Nov. 16, the day of a Supreme Court conference.  Unless something else surprising happens, the next photo will be taken after Justice Harriet O’Neill leaves the court at the end of 2010.  O’Neill announced earlier this year that she will not seek re-election.
-- Mary Alice Robbins

Tom Schieffer’s decision could make for some political changes

George Bramblett, a partner in the Dallas office Haynes and Boone and a Democrat, has been a busy man this morning. That’s because Tom Schieffer (pictured) will announce later today he will not seek the Democratic nomination for governor -- a decision confirmed by his campaign’s general counsel, Susan Hays of Dallas' Geisler Hays. “I was a Schieffer man, and I was getting ready to give him a party on Dec. 8. And I was surprised and disappointed. But I just talked to him, and he’s doing the right thing for himself, and I still like him," Bramblett says. His fundraiser for Schieffer was going to be held at Dallas’ Crescent Club, “and I’ve been calling everyone to tell them it’s been canceled,” he says. Bramblett declines to discuss Schieffer’s reasons for stepping down -- something Schieffer will no doubt explain himself. But Hays, who says she has no independent knowledge of Schieffer’s reasons, says it may have to do with the possibility that Houston Mayor Bill White may enter the governor’s race. White had been seeking the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Kay Bailey Hutchison. However, Hutchison recently announced that she is holding on to her seat until after the Republican primary, in which she is seeking to defeat Gov. Rick Perry. Assuming Hutchison loses the Republican primary and keeps her Senate seat, “that left Bill White with millions of campaign dollars and a statewide operation and nothing to run for," Hays says. Katy Bacon, a spokeswoman for White's campaign, says the campaign will issue a press release about his plans after Schieffer's afternoon press conference.

-- John Council

UPDATE: A statement on Bill White's campaign Web site reads as follows: "Since Friday a week ago Texans from all backgrounds and all regions have asked me to consider running to be our next Governor of Texas. Today I agree to consider running for Governor, and shall make a decision by Friday, December 4th."

Home for the holidays and for the swearing

This week, plenty of kids will be coming home for the holidays with their parents. But most of them won’t get sworn like some of the sons and daughters of justices on Dallas' 5th Court of Appeals -- no, not sworn at, sworn in. On Wednesday at noon, four of the justices’ progeny -- all of whom are recent law school graduates who just passed the bar -- will be sworn in as lawyers by their judicial parents. They include: Sean Michael O’Neill, son of Justice Michael O’Neill; Ellen Miers Peeples, daughter of Justice Elizabeth Lang-Miers; Katherine Fillmore, daughter of Justice Robert Fillmore; and Kathleen FitzGerald Perdon, daughter of Justice Kerry FitzGerald. The justices recently discovered that their children had all passed the bar and decided to make the swearing in part of the court’s Thanksgiving luncheon celebration, O’Neill says. “I had no idea that other members had kids of that age and what they were doing. It was just through casual talk that we found out they were all going to law school and all took the bar at the same time,” O’Neill says. “It was startling to us. It’s almost a third of the court to have four out of the 13 of us” have children who passed the bar, he says.
-- John Council

Survey results show most companies have frozen or will freeze outside counsel rates

Even before the nation’s economy soured in the fall of 2008, corporate legal departments were cutting internal costs, negotiating alternative fee arrangements, and cutting or freezing the rates they pay outside counsel, consulting firm Hildebrandt reports in its 2009 Law Department Survey. The survey, made public Nov. 19, includes 2007 and 2008 data from 231 legal departments at private and public companies;  22 percent are on the Fortune 500 list. According to the survey, 55 percent of the companies have or will use alternative billing, 64 percent have implemented or will implement rate freezes, and 46 percent have implemented or will implement rate reductions with outside counsel. Half of the companies report they have used or will use regional or boutique firms to cut outside counsel spending. Most of the companies, 63 percent, have no plans to reduce the number of lawyers or nonlawyer professionals in their legal department, and 59 percent have no plans to cut support staff. They companies have targeted “non-core” spending, with 82 percent of the companies indicating they have reduced or will reduce travel spending and 77 percent saying they have reduced or will reduce spending on meetings and training. More than half, 51 percent, have frozen or will freeze salaries for law department staff. Meanwhile, 57 percent of the companies have used or will use e-billing to cut spending. Hildebrandt, a Thomson Reuters business based in New Jersey, says the survey is “most reflective of the period leading into the economic downturn which began in mid-September 2008.” Of the companies in the survey, 21 are based in Texas.
-- Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

This Week in Texas Lawyer

State of play: Some landowners are unhappy about leasing issues in the Barnett Shale. Senior reporter Brenda Sapino Jeffreys looks at a trio of firms that have banded together and signed up hundreds of clients. Lawyers Randal Mathis, Kip Petroff and Christopher Payne (from left to right) are ready to drill down.

Recusal motion: Senior reporter Mary Alice Robbins learns that a criminal defendant is trying to recuse 140th District Judge Jim Bob Darnell from his case. Why? The defendant alleges Darnell is beholden to the Lubbock County DA's Office for the way it handled a case involving the judge's son, Jared.

Anybody here?: Why is minority representation so low among law clerks at staff attorneys at the state's appellate courts? Senior reporter Mary Alice number looks at the numbers and talks to the judges.

Anatomy of Gray's: Merchant mariner, policeman, lawyer, judge. Senior reporter talks to a U.S. District Judge Gray Miller (pictured), who's patrolled the high seas and mean streets.

Inadmissible. Discipline. VerdictSearch.

Correction.

Stee-rike! Baseball players cry foul on the Stanford receiver. Senior reporter Brenda Sapino Jeffreys sees how the refs called the plays.

Look your best: Corporate counsel and stylista Kasia Benson on painlessly updating your wardrobe, developing a signature style and the best fashion blogs.

This Week in Energy Lawyer

Advance man: 28 days after Baseline Oil and Gas Corp. of Houston filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition, a judge confirmed the reorganization plan. Senior reporter Brenda Sapino Jeffreys talks to Rhett Campbell (pictured), one of the lawyers who made the quick turnaround happen.

Crunching the numbers: From firms to industries to businesses, check out the statistics on energy company litigation in federal districts courts in Texas for the first 10 months of 2009.

CREZ-y for you: Hannah Wiseman explores why the push to increase renewable energy capacity and transmit power means work for lawyers.

Tick-tock: Nolan Knight tracks some fast-approaching deadlines for emissions monitoring and reporting.

Danger in the pool: Norma Rosner Iacovo explains how to craft pooling clauses to avoid the results of Wagner & Brown Ltd. v. Sheppard.

Genealogy resources available on the Harris County District Clerk’s Web site

People looking for ancestors who may have become U.S. citizens in the Houston area can do some genealogical research on the Harris County District Clerk’s Web site. Some naturalization records from 1837 to 1913 can be located online, says District Clerk Loren Jackson. “It’s pretty exciting stuff,” he says. The records are certificates immigrants from 30 countries -- ranging from Afghanistan to the United Kingdom -- filed with the county when they declared their intention to become U.S. citizens. Prior to 1921, immigrants living in Texas could swear before a judge their intent to become a citizen and then register to vote, Jackson says. The documents “indicate these folks are renouncing their allegiance to whatever country they came from,” Jackson says. The search function has been up and running since August, but Jackson announced the online resource today in honor of Houston’s first annual Citizenship Week.
-- Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

Let the judicial confirmation games begin

I just received a press release from U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who’s announcing he's voting a big “no” to President Barack Obama’s first appellate court nominee, Judge David Hamilton for the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Cornyn, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wasn’t kind in his assessment of Hamilton’s time on the U.S. district court bench, writing: “After close review, I believe Judge Hamilton’s writings and statements show an unwillingness to serve as a neutral arbiter of the law.” Cornyn wrote in the statement, “In numerous opinions written during his tenure on the District Court, Judge Hamilton has displayed a lack of impartiality, a disregard for precedent, and a willingness to legislate from the bench.” In other words, Hamilton is being hammered by Republicans in very much the same way 5th U.S. Circuit Judge Priscilla Owen was by Democrats who filibustered her nomination in 2005, causing Cornyn and other Senate Republican to call for the so-called “nuclear option.” That would have changed the filibuster rules and freed up Owen’s nomination. The outcome eventually was thwarted by a deal brokered by moderate Republican and Democrats, and Owen’s nomination went to a floor vote, where the full Senate approved her. But I asked Cornyn back in 2005, if the roles were reversed, would he regret voting for the nuclear option if a Democratic president was in power and Cornyn wanted to filibuster an appellate court nominee he didn’t like? Here’s what he said: “Well, strictly from the standpoint of making it harder to get my way, maybe. But I do think that we should make our decisions based on principle and not on who it helps and who it hurts. And I do this, and I think the majority does this, with a very clear understanding that it would cut both ways.” Sounds like the Democrats can go nuclear if they want to -- with Cornyn’s blessing.
-- John Council

Texas Supreme Court dismisses as improvidently granted petitions for review in bonfire case filed by Zachry Construction Corp. and Scott-Macon Ltd.

Zachry Construction Corp., et al. v. Texas A&M University may be one of those rare cases where both sides win something. The case arose out of the 1999 Texas A&M bonfire collapse, which killed 12 students and injured 27 others. In a per curiam opinion issued today in Zachry, the Texas Supreme Court withdrew its order granting the petitions for review filed by Zachry and Scott-Macon Ltd. as improvidently granted. Zachry and Scott-Macon are defendants in the underlying personal injury and wrongful death suits stemming from the bonfire accident. The Supreme Court’s opinion provides the following background on the case: Zachry and Scott-Macon had sought to designate Texas A&M as a responsible third party so that its percentage of responsibility could be submitted to the jury. But Texas A&M challenged its designation as a responsible third party on sovereign immunity grounds. Although the trial court rejected Texas A&M’s arguments, Waco’s 10th Court of Appeals reversed and rendered a judgment dismissing all claims against Texas A&M.  Zachry and Scott-Macon petitioned the Supreme Court for review. But Texas A&M University entered into “a master settlement agreement” with the plaintiffs. That means Texas A&M University is a “settling person.” As noted in the Supreme Court’s opinion, Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §33.003(3) requires a jury to make a determination of proportionate responsibility as to “each settling person.” That should reduce potential liability of Zachry and Scott-Macon. Texas A&M also wins because the 10th Court’s decision that it has  sovereign immunity remains intact. Ben Taylor, a partner in Fulbright & Jaworski in Dallas, argued for Zachry and Scott-Macon before the Supreme Court on Sept. 8 but declines comment on the case. Jim Ho, state’s solicitor general, who argued on Texas A&M’s behalf before the high court, also declines comment.
-- Mary Alice Robbins

5th Circuit chief judge to U.S. Sentencing Commission: Listen up

The U.S. Sentencing Commission today held its second day of hearings on federal sentencing guidelines in Austin. Edith Jones, chief judge of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, was one of the speakers at the morning session, held at the University of Texas School of Law. Jones’ first suggestion to the commission was to continue to seek advice from 5th Circuit judges to take advantage of their particular sentencing expertise. As Jones pointed out, the 5th Circuit handles about 18 percent of the entire federal criminal docket. During a break in this morning’s hearing, William K. Sessions III, the commission’s chairman, says the two days of hearings in Austin are part of a series of seven hearings that the commission is holding around the country to receive input on the sentencing guidelines. Sessions, a U.S. district judge for the District of Vermont, says the commission generally has heard from judges and others that the advisory system now in place is working well. But he says others have expressed concerns that the advisory system has increased disparities in sentencing, not only among different regions of the country but within individual courthouses. The commission will report to Congress on mandatory minimum sentencing and its relationship to sentencing policy by the end of October 2010, Sessions says.
-- Mary Alice Robbins

St. Mary’s Law summer program in China open to all law students

St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio is launching a summer program in China in 2010, says Robert H. Hu (pictured), director of St. Mary’s law library, associate law professor and co-director of the program. The four-week program will offer five courses taught by St. Mary’s law professors and Chinese law professors at the Law School of Beihang University in Beijing, he says. Two leading law firms in Beijing -- King & Wood and Jun He Law Offices -- have also made informal commitments to provide part-time 2010 summer associate positions for a few St. Mary law students participating in the study program, Hu says. He notes the school has applied for and expects to receive American Bar Association accreditation for the program’s courses. The China summer program is not restricted to St. Mary’s students, but is open to all law students, says Vincent R. Johnson, law professor and co-director of the program. “We think that a complete legal education today at least begins the acquaintance of law students with international and comparative law, and there is probably no better place to do that then with reference to clients doing business in China,” Johnson says
-- Jeanne Graham

Fashion Fridays: The magic of manicures and pedicures

One of the first things I noticed when I moved to Texas was the remarkably high number of beautiful manicures and pedicures. From French white to bright colors to tiny designs and jewels glued near the tips, I had never seen such elaborately cared-for nails. The casual, uneven-and-chipped approach I had always taken embarrassed me as a Dallas newcomer. Over time, I realized that most of these manicures and pedicures were helped along by acrylic and weekly trips to the nail salon.  We certainly have an unlimited number of nail salons and spas to choose from in Texas cities and neighborhoods. I also came to enjoy the pampering of it all:  hot towels, warm paraffin, a shoulder and foot massage, perhaps a glass of wine. Particularly considering my pathetic nail-care record in the past, I consider myself a bit of a nail salon connoisseur these days. My friends joke that I choose a restaurant based on its walking distance from my favorite salon (actually, it’s just that the salon's neighborhood has some terrific little places to eat, and I might as well grab a manicure if I’m going to be there for dinner anyway). Sometimes, which salon I visit will depend on my mood.  If I’m feeling stressed I’ll visit a high-end spa for an artiste's heavenly pedicure. If I’m in a rush, I’ll dart in and out of a shop in a funky locale. When I’m feeling sociable, I hang out with the girls at my neighborhood shop and get a fantastic brow wax while I’m at it.  I have even managed to persuade a few of my male friends into accepting the wonders of a regular pedicure for themselves. Like most everything else in life, a manicure can be a reflection of your style and personality.  (No wonder my pre-Tex manicure was casual, uneven and chipped! Much better now: shiny-pink.) While those of us in the legal profession probably limit ourselves to more neutral polish hues and natural-looking nails, I recently came across a few inspiring trends I just had to share.

1. Glimmering, pale yellow and gold polish: Wear this on super-short, round-filed fingers or tanned toes. Too sheer, and your nails can look sallow. Make sure to layer on at least two coats for a saturated, opaque color.
2. Half-moon fingernails: This trend is borrowed from the 1940s. The idea is to exaggerate the natural half-moon shape at the base of your natural nails and mix it with other brighter shades on the remainder.
3. Metallic polish: This fall I’ve been wearing a dark, metallic gray on my toes. It’s a great alternative to the blackish-red I usually turn to in the colder months. I’ve also seen some fantastic nonglossy bronzes that may be appropriate on your hands for more casual office atmospheres.
4. Alpha-hydroxy peel manicures and pedicures: This is usually a service offered only at more upscale spas, but it is well worth the splurge. The technician will apply a serum that magically exfoliates what seems like years of dryness and over time can smooth away unsightly scars and pigmentation.

Not all lawyers have the time, resources or willingness to spend an hour at the nail salon every week. Those who need to stretch a good mani or pedi longer than usual can follow these tips to minimize the look of wear and tear:

• Try to start out with as neutral a shade as possible: The closer your nail color is to your natural nail, the less chipping will show and the more likely you are to be able to find a quick-fix polish pen for boo-boos.
• Massage your nails with cuticle oil before bed: This will keep your cuticles neat and tidy between treatments. Depending on the formula you use, some promote nail growth.
• Stay out of the sun (and tanning beds): UV stresses certain types of polish and can accelerate cracking and discoloration.
• Keep them short: It’s pretty simple. If your nails are short, there is less nail to break.

Kasia Benson is corporate counsel at Essilor of America Inc. in Dallas. She also is the founder of Wardrobe Peace, which provides sensible, “use what you’ve got” wardrobe consulting services to lawyers and other busy professionals.

Lush lawn in process for the new UNT Law School

When you look at an artistic depiction of the proposed new home of the UNT Law School on the institution's Web site, the location is hardly recognizable as part of downtown Dallas. The picture shows the Beaux Arts building on Main Street, which the school will eventually occupy. The illustration shows the building, a structure that served until 1978 as Dallas' City Hall, with a lush green lawn in front in a nearly isolated setting. Until recently, however, the building, on a Dallas corner, had across the street a parking lot and a tasty but not architecturally attractive barbecue joint. In early November, however, reality took a step in the direction of the artistic depiction, says state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, founder of Dallas' West & Associates. West sponsored the legislation this year in Austin that launched the formal plans for the new public law school, the first in Texas in more than 40 years. Last week, West says, the city parks department put down a lawn where the parking lot used to be. It will probably be more than two years, however, says West, until the school occupies that building. Rather, when it opens its doors in 2011, the UNT Law School will share space in another downtown building with the UNT System headquarters until the Beaux Arts structure is renovated, which West says is going to take a lot more fundraising.
-- Miriam Rozen

Firm’s contingent-fee dispute with exoneree leads to suit against state comptroller

The Lubbock firm of Glasheen, Valles, Inderman & DeHoyos has sued State Comptroller Susan Combs and the firm’s former client Steven Phillips to prevent Combs from paying Phillips more than $1 million that the firm claims it is owed as a contingent fee. In its original petition in Glasheen, Valles, Inderman & DeHoyos v. Phillips, et al., filed Nov. 16 in a Travis County district court, the firm alleges that it is entitled to $1,024,166.67 on its contingent fee under a contract that Phillips signed in December 2008. Attached as an exhibit to the petition is the claim that Phillips filed Sept. 11 with the State of Texas Comptroller’s Office for about $4 million, half of which would be paid in a lump-sum amount and the rest to be paid in installments through an annuity. The money is compensation for 24 years Phillips spent in prison. In 2008, DNA testing exonerated Phillips of a sexual assault and burglary conviction. Glasheen, Valles alleges in its petition that Phillips discharged the firm and breached his contract with the firm after the firm “successfully procured a substantial increase in the compensation” that state law provides for persons in the same circumstances as Phillips. Glasheen, Valles further alleges that the comptroller has ignored the firm’s Nov. 13 claim and request for payment of the amount the firm claims it is owed. In its petition, the firm asks the Travis County court to enjoin the comptroller from paying Phillips until the resolution of Phillips v. Glasheen, et al. — which involves Phillips’ declaratory judgment suit against Kevin Glasheen and Glasheen, Valles and Glasheen’s counterclaim against Phillips — pending in the 95th District Court in Dallas. At Glasheen’s request, the 95th District Court canceled a temporary injunction hearing set for today in the Dallas case. Glasheen did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment. R.J. DeSilva, spokesman for the comptroller’s office, says the comptroller’s office has not yet been served with the suit. Bob Bragalone, an attorney representing Phillips and a partner in Gordon & Rees in Dallas, says, “We’ll be arguing that it’s the state’s duty to pay him [Phillips].”
 -- Mary Alice Robbins

UNT Dallas College of Law dean search progressing

The committee tasked with helping pick a founding dean for the soon-to-open UNT Dallas College of Law may have a substantive update on its progress as early as the end of the month, according to Cynthia Hall, a spokeswoman for the UNT System. The first new public law school in Texas in more than 40 years will be located in downtown Dallas in the old municipal building. Hall says the dean selection committee has received "a lot of applicants" and "scheduled interviews." But, Hall says, she is reluctant to go into further details of the committee's activities, such as how many candidates are now under consideration and who they are, at this delicate stage. Lee Jackson, the chancellor of the UNT System, has set late January or February as the final deadline for dean selection, so whoever is chosen may prepare the school for classes that will start in the spring of 2011. The committee is led by U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade and Dallas' Godwin Ronquillo partner Marcos Ronquillo.
-- Miriam Rozen

A field of dreams, now bathed in light, is named for Houston lawyer, former soccer standout

Randall Sorrels (pictured) now patrols the Harris County Courthouse as a plaintiff’s attorney. But 25 years ago, he was patrolling the back field for the Houston Baptist University Huskies soccer team as a stopper. Sorrels was the captain of that team and a NCAA Academic All-American before he graduated from HBU in 1984. On Nov. 6, HBU named Sorrels, now a partner in Houston’s Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend, as their Distinguished Alumnus for 2009. But a month earlier, on Oct. 17, HBU also honored Sorrels by naming the school’s soccer field “Sorrels Field.” Sorrels says he’s proud of both honors. His name is now affixed to a field used by one of the rare Texas NCAA Division I soccer teams — the only other such team in the state is at Southern Methodist University. “The reality is I gave them some money,” says Sorrels, who gave HBU an undisclosed donation to the school to provide lights and new stands for the soccer field. “And we’ve played two games under the lights, and the stands were full,” says Sorrels, who once served as an assistant soccer coach for the school after graduation. He also met his future law partner, Benny Agosto Jr., on the HBU soccer team. “It’s a great spirit for the school,” Sorrels says of the soccer games.
-- John Council

St. Mary’s Law recognized for serving the poor

The Texas Access to Justice Commission (TAJC) in Austin recently gave St. Mary’s University School of Law its 2009 Law School Commitment to Service Award in recognition of the school’s efforts in serving the poor. “We are very passionate about providing services to the community and particularly to those members of the community who can’t get legal services anywhere else,” says Ana M. Novoa, associate dean for clinical education and public interest for the San Antonio law school. Novoa notes that working with homeless people, for example, presents unique challenges for volunteer attorneys. “They won’t come into the office, they don’t have telephones and they don’t have places where you can send mail,” she says. “We focus on the populations that are difficult for other people to service.” The law school’s Center for Legal and Social Justice includes three clinical programs that handled 1,465 cases and served 2,700 people during 2008, Novoa says. “During that calendar year we obtained $22,089 in monthly benefits and $295,026 in lump sum benefits for our clients, most of whom were homeless,” she says. The clinical programs represent clients in matters including family law issues; Social Security disability claims; consumer claims including identity theft, misdemeanors and low grade felonies; and deportation proceedings, Novoa says. The TAJC’s award, which was presented to St. Mary’s law school on Nov. 16, recognizes an American Bar Association-accredited Texas law school for advocating for underserved populations and providing pro bono legal service opportunities to its students, according to information on the TAJC Web site. Another criteria considered by the TAJC is the number of the law school’s legal services student groups. “We are passionate about teaching our students not just law, but how to practice law, and in a way that recognizes and supports the enormous need there is for legal services in the community,” she says.

-- Jeanne Graham