Curriculum Vitae
LAW OFFICES
514 E. Belknap, Suite 100
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
817/877332-2525
EDUCATION
Undergraduate--University of Texas at Austin
Degree--Bachelor of Arts, with honors (1973)
Major--Political Science
Minors--History and English
Law School--University of Texas
Degree--Doctor of Jurisprudence with High Honors (1976)
Order of the Coif for scholastic excellence
Phi Delta Phi Honor Society
Appointed to Legal Research Board for excellence in writing skills
Elected Managing Director of Legal Research Board
One of twelve third-year students chosen to teach legal research, writing and advocacy to freshlaws
Selected as third-year student to teach Fulbright International Scholars
Appointed to American Journal of Criminal Law
JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP
Served as Briefing Attorney to United States District Judge William S. Sessions, United States District Court, Western District of Texas, 1976-1978
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Professor, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law; Medical Malpractice, Spring 2003, Fall 2003, Fall 2004.
"Legal Research and Writing"--freshlaw class of 1978, University of Texas, Fall 1975
"Brief Writing and Oral Advocacy"--freshlaw class of 1978, University of Texas, Spring 1976
"The American Court System and Legal Research"--Fulbright International Scholar Program Summer 1975
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Associate--Law, Snakard, Brown and Gambill, 1978-1980
Associate--Barlow, Gardner, Tucker and Garsek, 1980-1984
Partner--Gardner and Watson, 1984-1995; small trial firm representing individuals and businesses in general trial practice
Partner, Watson & Parker, 1995-2002, exclusively representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases
Author, Trial Lawyer, and Mediator in personal injury, consumer and business cases; 2002 to present
MEDIATION EXPERIENCE
Mediation Certification Course--Baylor Law School training course, 1989
Mediation of over one hundred medical malpractice, personal injury and commercial claims
BOARD CERTIFICATION
Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1988-present
AUTHOR
Tunnel Vision: Insurance Propaganda Corrupts of Medicine and Law(Townsend Press 2006)
Texas Civil Evidence (Knowles 2003), with updates in 2004 and 2005
Case Note--Due Process Under Criminal Law. 4 Am.J.Crim.Law 350 (1976)
"Handling a Case of Failure to Detect Glaucoma," ABA Tort And Insurance Practice Journal (1995)
AFFILIATIONS
American Board of Trial Advocates
National Board of Directors--1998 to 2003
Texas Chapter Board of Directors--1997-2003
Secretary and Treasurer--1999-2001
Civil Justice Committee--1995-1996
Liason Committee--1998-1999
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Board of Directors 1995-2001
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court 1993-1998
Association of Trial Lawyers of America 1988-2001
Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association
President 1995-1996
Board of Directors 1993-2004
Tarrant County Bar Association
State Bar of Texas
LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS
"Federal Court Pre-Trial Conference"--Federal Bar Association 1987
"Nuts and Bolts Seminar--Litigating Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation Cases"--State Bar of Texas 1988 and 1989
"Consumer Ramifications of Tort Reform"--Tarrant County Joint Chambers of Commerce 1995
"Legislative Tort Reform Measures"--Fort Worth Paralegal Association, 1996
"Tarrant County Jury Symposium"--Tarrant Count Bar Association 1999
"Expert Witnesses in Medical Malpractice Cases" lectures to Texas Wesleyan Law Students 2000 and 2001
"Medical Malpractice Statutes of Limitations and Deadlines"--Fort Worth Paralegal Association 2002
"Relevance and Privileges Under Texas Rules of Evidence"--Fort Worth Paralegal Association 2002
HONORS AND AWARDS
"Who's Who in American Law" 2001
Recognized by Fort Worth Magazine as one of Tarrant County's top Medical Malpractice lawyers 2002
SIGNIFICANT TRIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Represented Plaintiff in United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas in 1981in first reported Texas case of recovery for rape victim as a result of inadequate hotel security
in 1981in first reported Texas case of recovery for rape victim as a result of inadequate hotel security
Represented Plaintiff in 1984 in first case in Tarrant County where Plaintiff obtained judgment for treble damages of over one million dollars under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act
Represented Plaintiff in 1987 in first Tarrant County case of homeowner recovery for treble damages against homeowner insurance company
Represented Plaintiff in 1994 in first Tarrant County medical malpractice verdict for delay in diagnosis of breast cancer
