Paul Cannon | Houston Personal Injury Lawyer
Paul H. Cannon
Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law
Accident & Injury, Car Accident, Wrongful Death, Slip & Fall Accident, Animal Bite, Premises Liability, Auto Accident, Car Wreck, Dog Bite, Animal Attack, 18 wheeler Accidents, Truck Wrecks, Product Liability, Defective Products, Car Collision
https://www.simmonsandfletcher.com/
- Law Office: Simmons and Fletcher, P.C.
- Law School: South Texas College of Law, J.D. 1995
- Status: In Good Standing * Status is reviewed annually, For latest information visit here
- Licensed: 29 years
713-932-0777 Showcase Page
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introduction
QUESTIONNAIRE
A very nice woman took her granddaughter for a walk on the street she lived on. Her granddaughter was riding on her shoulders as she walked. They passed a house with a large iron gate around it when the electronic gate opened and a car drove out. Before the gate could close, three aggressive pitbulls and one smaller dog came running out of the gate and attacked her. She handed off the child to another person who ran with the child and she did her best to fight off the dogs until the person in the car, returned and chased the dogs back into the gate. After the attack the dogs were put down due to a history of attacks on other people. To add insult to injury, the owners went out and bought another pitbull for the yard. When she came to me, she was petrified to walk down her own street. We gave them a chance to do the right thing, but the dog owner's homeowner's insurance company refused to pay their policy limits to settle the claim. A lawsuit was filed. After taking the depositions of the prior victims of these poorly raised dogs and the negligent owners, we went to mediation. The evidence we had amassed against these grossly negligent dog owners was so great that not only did they pay us their policy limits, the owners agreed to a settlement that would require them to pay a fine of $100.00 a day if they ever again kept on their property any of the top five aggressive dog breeds. This settlement was not only a victory for my client, it was a result that a jury could not have awarded. I was able to negotiate for my client a result that brought her peace of mind and a sense of security so that she could again walk down her own street without fearing for her life.
How did you build a successful practice?One case at a time. First and foremost, you must listen to your client and see what it is they really want to gain from the case. Hiring a lawyer is scary for most people. As lawyers, it is easy to think solely in terms of ""what's it worth?"" In the end, all a jury can award is money. But, for many people, money isn't what it is really about. They want something more whether it be closure or an apology or to just be heard. I have built my practice by listening to the client and trying to obtain a result that gives them what they really want out of the case. Second, I am a competitor at heart. I hate losing. When I litigate a case, I pull out all the stops to try to obtain the best possible result for my client.
What should clients look for in a lawyer?Look for a lawyer you can trust. You are navigating a world that is very different than anything you have ever experienced when you have to pursue a legal claim. Most people see their case as straight-forward. But in reality, very few cases ever rally are simple. Our legal system is complex and has a complex set of rules. You need someone who has the experience to navigate those rules that you can listen to with confidence in making your decisions. After all, the case is your case, not the lawyers. The decisions are yours to make with trusted advice of counsel. Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. has been a name trusted by Houstonians since the 1970's. I had the fortune to come to work her as a law clerk in 1994 and earn my way into a permanent position as a litigator even after I was told day 1: ""this is not a job with potential for advancement, we just need a clerk."" I am Certified in Personal Injury Trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2005 and I have recently been recognized by Texas Monthly Magazine's Super Lawyers Magazine as a Texas Super Lawyer.
How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases?Depends where the case is. I handle cases all over Texas when necessary. For cases here in Houston, it is nice that I have done the for 20 years and am familiar with all of the firms that represent the major insurance carriers. More importantly, they know me and my firm and they know we will try a case.
What information can you provide in a free phone consultation?During the initial free consultation, our goal is to learn as much as we can about the case and determine how to best help the client. If it is a case within our area of practice, we then prefer to schedule the client in for a free face-to-face consultation. At both of these consultations we can discuss the legal issues that are faced and the claims process and well as give general advice on what to expect. We are also happy to answer questions the client may have and assist them to obtain the medical care they need.
What information do you need in a free phone consultation?We need to know the basics: What, Where, When, Who and Why the accident happened. From that, we can determine what documentation that you have that you can bring to our initial consultation.
What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community?The biggest difference is that we consider ourselves Christian Trial Lawyers. That doesn't mean we don't help people of other faiths, but it does mean that our goal is to serve our clients as we would serve our Lord himself. We strive to serve with honor, integrity and compassion. We are here to help people, not numbers.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?As a trial lawyer, I have to admit that there is no better feeling than walking out of Court after having just obtained a favorable verdict for my client. But the majority of cases settle out of court. Luckily, knowing I took a bad situation for a client and helped them pick up the pieces and repair the damages is a reward I get to experience in the cases that settle as well.
What are your other interests in addition to law?Soccer. I love soccer. I hold season tickets for the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash. But my greatest soccer heroes are my kids. My son Zac plays select soccer as a goalie with the Cypress Dynamos. My daughter Sydney plays for the Cypress Dynamos as well as for the Olympic Development Program. Give me a soccer ball, some green space, and my two kiddos and I am the happiest man in the world. My wife is a former collegiate Tennis athlete but we have managed to convert her into the greatest soccer mom of all time!
Are you involved in your community?Currently, I am the parent coach for both of my kid's soccer teams. My family attends Fairfield Baptist Church. As a law firm, Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. offer three college scholarship opportunities and we support a number of Charitable Events including the Wounded Warriors Project and Houston Buddy Walk to name a few.
Experience
Position | Organization | Location | Duration |
---|---|---|---|
Trial Attorney | Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. | Houston, TX | Present |
Law Clerk | McElroy & Sullivan | 1994 |
Education
School | Degree | Major | Graduation |
---|---|---|---|
South Texas College of Law | J.D. | Law School | 1995 |
University of Texas System, Austin | Bachelors | Philosophy | 1992 |
Admission
State / Court | Date |
---|---|
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas | 1995 |
Texas | 1995 |
Associations
- Houston Dynamos Select Soccer | Team Manager, U11 Girls Silver | 2013 - Present
Harris County Democratic Lawyers Association | Member | 2013 - Present
PolicyMic | Pundit | 2012 - Present
Houston Trial Lawyers Association | Member | 2009 - Present
Christian Trial Lawyers Association | Member | 2009 - Present
South Texas College of Law Alumni Association | Member | 1995 - Present
Honors & Awards
- Top Lawyers | H Texas Magazine | 2013-2015,2017,2019
Super Lawyer | Thompson-Reuters | 2017-2019
Top 100 Trial Lawyers | National Trial Lawyers | 2017
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2017
Texas Super Lawyer | Texas Super Lawyers Magazine by Texas Monthly | 2017
Top 10 Blog Article | Texas Bar Today | 2015
Top Lawyer | H Texas Magazine | 2013
Cases
$300,000.00 Dog Bite Settlement
Alexander v. Smart. While playing outside in his neighborhood with his sister and friends, a young boy was attacked by a neighbor’s pit bull. The neighbor has recently purchased the pit bull as a guard dog after someone had burglarized their home. The neighbor’s child brought the dog outside on a leash but tripped over the thresh hold of the doorway and let the dog loose. The dog attacked our client, biting him about he head and sides of the face. A good samaritan driving by stopped and pried the dogs jaws off of the boy’s head. The attack resulted in numerous stitches to the scalp and some scarring around the sides of the face. Medical expenses for emergency care totaled $10,018.60 after medicaid payments. After filing a lawsuit and conducting some necessary discovery, Paul Cannon made a time-limited demand to the defendant’s homeowner’s insurance company demanding that they pay their full policy limits of $300,000.00 to settle the case. Defendant’s opted to accept the demand rather than go to trial. (Per state bar disclosure requirements the attorney fees were $100,000.00 and expenses were $1,480.74.)
Publications
- Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. | Who is at fault in a rear-end auto accident? | 2018
Business.com | Your Company Carpool Incentive Could Be Exposing You to Legal Liability | 2018
Lawyer.com | Unique Factors in Litigating the Tanker Truck Rollover Case | 2018
LawFirms.com | Pitfalls for Texas Lawyers in Federal Court | 2018
Self Growth | Important Considerations when Involved in a Truck Accident | 2018
Attorney at Work | Five Ways to Generate Referrals on a Budget | 2017
Lawyer.com | Occupational Injury Plans and Arbitration Agreements in Employment Contracts | 2017
Lawyer.com | Landlord Liability For Tenant Dog Attacks Under Texas Law | 2017
Texas Bar Journal | Advertise With Care SHOULD YOU USE A SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING COMPANY? | 2017
Lawfirms.com | Is it Time to Repeal 28 U.S. Code Sec. 1332 - The Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Rule? | 2017
HG.org Global Legal Resources | Understanding the Texas Stowers Demand Doctrine | 2017
HG.org Global Legal Resources | Recent Evolution of the Duty to Provide a Safe Workplace in Texas | 2017
HG.org Global Legal Resources | Lack of Regulation Regarding Ambulance Accidents in Texas Adds Insult to Injury | 2017
Lawyer.com | Can Drinking Alcohol Be Used Against You in A Personal Injury Case Even If You Were Not Intoxicated? | 2017
Lawyer.com | Theories of Recovery In Texas Dog Bite Law | 2017
Lawyer.com | Why You Should Never Try To Handle a Slip and Fall Without an Attorney | 2017
Hg.org Global | Evidence of Seat Belt Use Now Admissible in Texas - Nabors Well Services Ltd. v. Romero | 2015
Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. | Who is at Fault in a Rear-End Accident? | 2014
JD Supra | The Resurrection of the Competitive Sports Doctrine in Texas | 2012
Ezine Articles | What Does It Mean For a Personal Injury Lawyer To Be Board Certified In Texas? | 2012
Self Growth | Home Owner Legal Considerations When Getting a Dog | 2012
HG.org Global Legal Resources | Important Differences in 18 Wheeler Accident Cases and Other Automobile Accident Cases | 2012
HG.org Global Legal Resources | Build-A-Bear Fruit Tutu Recall | 2011
Ezine Articles | Using the Internet to Get a Casino Job | 2010
Office Hours
Sun. | Mon. | Tue. | Wed. | Thu. | Fri. | Sat. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9:00 am - 5:00 pm | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm |
Verified Credentials
Paul H. Cannon has been a Premium Member since September 12, 2022.
Lawyers with longer memberships tend to have more experience so we use the Membership date to help prioritize lawyer listings on search pages.
Verified Credentials | Date Verified |
---|---|
(1995) Licensed as Attorney in Texas. Verified with Texas State Bar. | February 10, 2017 |
Above credentials have been verified independently by Lawyer.com.
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Learn More
Legal Articles
Landlord Liability For Tenant Dog Attacks Under Texas Law (2017-02-11 11:24:07)
A discussion of a landlord's potential liability for an attack by dog owned by the landlord's tenant.
Occupational Injury Plans and Arbitration Agreements in Employment Contracts (2017-02-11 15:30:50)
Be aware that employers who offer alternative plans to workers compensation often require you to waive your right to sue them and go to arbitration instead when you sustain a work injury.
Can Drinking Alcohol Be Used Against You In a Personal Injury Lawsuit Even If You Were Not Intoxicated? (2017-02-11 20:08:51)
Contrary to what some people may believe, you do not have to be legally intoxicated for evidence of alcohol use to be used against you to show negligence in a civil personal injury case.
Why You Should Never Try To Handle a Slip and Fall Without an Attorney (2017-02-12 07:26:40)
Premise owners have no duty to preserve evidence unless you very specifically request what you want preserved.
Theories of Recovery in Texas Dog Bite Law (2017-02-12 11:26:48)
There are three theories of liability in Texas dog bite law.
Unique Factors in Litigating the Tanker Truck Rollover Case (2018-05-08 20:02:56)
Tanker truck rollover accidents involve some unique issues from other 18 wheeler accidents. Truck accident lawyers need to be familiar with these nuances when they handle these cases.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome: A Little-Known Risk of Gastric Bypass Surgery (2020-02-18 12:35:26)
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is a condition that can develop following failure to consume sufficient Vitamin B. This can happen after a gastric bypass surgery. Knowing what to watch for can prevent it.
Tesla Autopilot Crash Investigation Opens Door for Product Liability Claims (2020-02-27 13:15:00)
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a report on February 25, 2020, that found that the human error in the fatal crash of 2018 involving a Tesla Model X P100D was foreseeable. This potentially takes the defense of user error and makes it a grounds for liability as an anticipated misuse of the product.
Falls are the #1 Cause of Accidental Death on Construction Sites (2020-08-04 08:37:23)
Fall-related deaths for workers is on the rise. This article is a discussion of how some of those deaths and injuries can be prevented.
Peer Endorsements
Additional Info
Language translation Primary Practice Location: Houston , Texas
Fee: Offering free consultation. Call today to learn more about our fee structure.
Service Type: Private
Language: English | Spanish
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Change History
9821 Katy Fwy #925
Houston, TX 77024