Before beginning his legal studies and career, James Rodriguez earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas A&M University. After graduating from Texas A&M in 1989, Mr. Rodriguez was selected from a nationwide search to participate as a Fellow in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington D.C. While in D.C he worked as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill. In 1996, Mr. Rodriguez graduated from the University of Houston Law Center, after working full time as a legal clerk while attending law school. After law school, Mr. Rodriguez began his career representing catastrophically injured clients and today is a partner with Padilla & Rodriguez, L.L.P., where he continues to work on cases involving catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful deaths. Mr. Rodriguez is fluent in Spanish and has worked in a number of capacities advocating for immigrants’ rights. He has served as past president of the Mexican American Bar Association (Houston); past vice president of the Hispanic Bar Association (Houston); past president of the League of Latin American Citizens Council 30. He is currently on the advisory board of the Hispanic Bar Association (Houston) and is a member of the board of directors of the Fe y Justicia Worker Center. He is also a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Association of Justice. Mr. Rodriguez is a Member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers (2013). Mr. Rodriguez is a native of Bryan, Texas. His family roots trace back to the earliest Mexican settlers in Brazos County, Texas. While living in Houston, Texas, Mr. Rodriguez remains active with his family and in community, business and civic affairs in Bryan. His interests include fund-raising for various programs aimed at the advancement of minority young adults and speaking to young students about the value of education.

Rodriguez Law Firm was founded by esteemed personal injury attorney and legal specialist, Dagoberto Rodriguez. An innovative and accomplished legal advocate, attorney Dagoberto Rodriguez addresses each personal injury case with the dedication and focused attention it deserves. He represents victims in liability cases with the highest-level standards of professionalism, and to date, has recovered millions of dollars in settlements. His practice is focused on personal injury litigation and zealously protecting the best interests of the people he serves.

D. Douglas Grubbs has been helping victims of defective pharmaceutical products since early 2004 when he assisted with a nationwide Fen-Phen docket comprising more than 7,000 injured men and women. From 2005 to 2008, Doug attended South Texas College of Law where he made the Dean’s Honor List. Throughout law school, Doug also clerked at a nationally recognized mass tort law firm in Houston. After earning his jurisprudence doctorate in 2008, Doug accepted an associate position at a prominent East Texas law firm where he focused his practice on the firm’s national pharmaceutical and medical device dockets. During that time, Doug also advocated for those who had been injured as a result of negligent drivers, medical malpractice, and unsafe work premises. Mr. Grubbs returned to Houston in 2012, continuing to represent those wrongfully injured by negligent pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Doug’s diverse experience in products liability litigation allows him to quickly determine the merits of a potentially successful claim. He has also been involved in numerous facets of mass tort litigation including depositions, motion practice, written discovery, witness and trial preparation, as well as settlement negotiations. In honor of his excellence in the practice of law, Doug has been recognized by his peers as a 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 Texas Super Lawyers – Rising Star (a Thomson Reuters service). This recognition is awarded to only 2.5% of emerging attorneys in Texas 40 years old or younger, or those who have been practicing law for 10 years or less. In 2013, Doug joined a select group of lawyers recognized for their legal ability and professional ethical standards by receiving an AV® Preeminent Peer Review rating (a Martindale-Hubbell service). An AV® certification mark is a testament to the fact that Doug’s peers ranked him at the highest level of professional excellence. Doug has also received a 5 out of 5 preeminent client review rating from an IVC filter client. In 2016, Doug was invited to join The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40. Membership is extended solely to a select few of the most qualified attorneys from each state who demonstrate superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature, and public profile. Invitees must exemplify superior qualifications, trial results, and leadership as a young lawyer under the age of 40.

As the founding member of The Hartley Law Firm, Austin has represented countless victims of negligence. He devotes virtually 100% of his practice to seeking justice for people who have been wronged by another. Austin has an established tack record of obtaining maximum value on his client’s cases whether through settlement or trial–no matter what it takes. A forever champion of the underdog, he prioritizes the needs of the client above all else. His objective in every case is to establish a lasting relationship built on trust and good guidance. The foundational principle of his law firm is to create a boutique law firm client experience that obtains big law firm results.

Not everyone can identify the pitfalls and missteps that can affect your rights after a car crash. Who can? Cam can! When you’re hurt and worried about costly medical bills, not everyone can help you get the treatment you need and get your bills paid. Who can? Cam can! When your car isn’t driveable or if it’s stuck in the shop, not everyone can ensure you get back on the road. Who can? Cam can! The aftermath of a crash can range from inconvenient to devastating, but no matter how small, no matter how large, Cam has the experience and knowledge to protect your rights and get you what you deserve. After a crash, if you’re in a jam, don’t hesitate…call car crash Cam!

JOHN R. HOWIE, JR., is an accomplished trial attorney who focuses his practice on personal injury cases, including trucking and auto accidents, bad faith insurance practices, product liability, premises liability, medical negligence, nursing home litigation, consumer protection and breach of contract cases. He graduated with a BBA from Southern Methodist University in 1994 and went on to graduate from SMU Dedman School of Law in 2000. During law school, he served as the Notes and Comments Editor (1999) and Co-Managing Editor (2000) of The International Lawyer. John was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2000. He is also a member of the Tarrant County, Dallas County and American Bar Associations, and is admitted to practice before all Texas state courts as well as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. He is a member of the Dallas and Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Associations, American Trial Lawyers Association and Dallas and Tarrant County Associations of Young Lawyers. He is a sustaining member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.

Catherine Marsden is an attorney practicing in the Commercial, Industrial, and Catastrophic Injury Litigation department at Bailey & Galyen. She is an El Paso native and a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso who now calls Dallas home. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2018 after graduating from the University of Texas School of Law. Catherine is an accomplished attorney with a robust background in mass torts and complex litigation. Catherine’s deep understanding of the intricacies involved in complex personal injury cases underscores her commitment to the public and advocating for individuals from diverse backgrounds. Catherine is known for her dedication to representing ordinary individuals facing complex legal challenges and ensuring they receive diligent and compassionate legal representation.

With decades of legal and leadership experience, Steve has built a distinguished career in personal injury, consumer protection, and commercial litigation. A seasoned trial attorney, he has handled over 100 jury trials, earning recognition as a Texas Super Lawyer (2004–2018) and Fort Worth Texas Top Attorney (2003–2017). Steve has served as President of the Tarrant County Bar Association, the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, and the Fort Worth Jaycees. His dedication to the legal community and public service extends to his tenure as an elected director of the State Bar of Texas and Chairman of the Tarrant County Democratic Party. Respected for his professionalism and advocacy, Steve continues to make a lasting impact in the courtroom and beyond.

Kern Lewis joined Bailey & Galyen in 2020, bringing extensive experience in brain injury cases. He understands the devastating impact that a brain injury can have on someone’s life, and he has dedicated his career to fighting against the negligence of others. “There is hardly any injury more devastating than a traumatic brain injury. An injury to a person’s back, arms or legs is terrible – but a brain injury is an injury to the very core of who a person is,” says Lewis. “A brain injury impacts their memory, their personality, and their ability to think.” In a recent traumatic brain injury case – Lewis lived with his client for several days to be able to completely understand and experience the impact the injury had on her life. “When I told her story to the jury at trial – I was able to do so as someone who experienced it – not just heard about it. It makes a huge difference.” His client received the largest jury verdict ever awarded in that court. But even after the trial and the money was paid, he continued to work with that client and her family members to make sure she was taken care of. Lewis’ skills as a trial lawyer have earned him local and national recognition. He is double board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law and Consumer and Commercial Law, a distinction only 15 lawyers have obtained. Lewis has also been inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) with the rank of Associate and has an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level of professional excellence. He has been repeatedly named to the Texas Super Lawyers list, which is an honor less than 5 percent of lawyers obtain. In 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2018 he was named a “Top 100” Trial Lawyer in Texas by the National Trial Lawyers Association. He was also named to the National Trial Lawyer’s list of Top 25 Brain Injury Lawyers in 2018.

Mr. Pierret attended the University of Dallas on full academic scholarship, obtaining a degree in Philosophy, and went straight to law school at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. His first job as an attorney brought him to Fort Worth as a briefing attorney for Justices Clyde Ashworth and David Farris on the Fort Worth Court of Appeals, and he has remained in Tarrant County for the past 35 years. Mr. Pierret’s practice has always revolved around tort law, both plaintiff and defense, and he has been Board Certified in Civil Trial Law since 1991 and Personal Injury Law since 1998. He received a Top 10 Attorney Award in 2020 from the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, and he will devote his time at Bailey & Galyen to representing those who have been injured by someone else’s negligence.