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Overview

Paul Bennett has been focused on solving client problems and resolving conflicts for over 25 years.  Experience has taught him that disputes are not concluded in a vacuum, but through prompt and thorough investigation, early evaluation and timely communication with clients and opposing counsel. Most cases never make it to a jury, but he is ready for those that do.  He has extensive trial experience and has achieved defense verdicts for his clients in courts and arbitration tribunals throughout Texas, including cases involving trucking accidents, car wrecks, dram shop claims, product liability claims, premises claims, fires, dog bites and construction defect claims.  Past clients have described Paul’s efforts on their behalf at trial with words like “articulate,” “prepared” and “excellent.”

Paul frequently represents individuals and businesses in the transportation, hospitality, insurance, construction and manufacturing industries.  He has also represented professionals such as real estate brokers, real estate appraisers, accountants and insurance brokers in contested matters, including before professional boards and licensing agencies.  He is a frequent speaker on Texas legal topics at professional conferences throughout the United States.

A native of Tyler, Texas, Paul and his wife Janet live in Dallas with their two children and a Collie.  When not trying cases, he can be found coaching YMCA soccer and cheering at flag football games.

Experience

Experience

Products Liability/Fire – Achieved defense verdict at jury trial of a fire claim involving a defective electrical transformer and a property damage claim in excess of $500,000.

Product Liability/Medical Device – Achieved a favorable, early settlement for medical device distributor in multi-party products liability case involving amputation.  The rest of the case went on for years after the settlement.

Dram Shop (alcohol liability) – Achieved defense verdict for restaurant and bar after jury trial of a dram shop case filed by a Plaintiff who was allegedly injured by an intoxicated patron.

Salmonella Food Poisoning – Achieved a defense verdict at trial for a national restaurant chain accused of poisoning a patron with tainted food.

Passenger Car Accident – Achieved defense verdict at trial for motorist in case involving a sideswipe accident on a freeway and a claimed lumbar fusion. 

Multi-vehicle Rear End Accident – Achieved a defense verdict at trial in the defense of a construction company and its commercial driver who rear ended other motorists in a multi-vehicle collision.

Construction/Wrongful Death – Obtained a complete summary judgment, later upheld on appeal, for general contractor sued over the death of a subcontractor employee from a fall on a construction site.

Construction Defect – Successfully defended roofing and waterproofing subcontractor in arbitration proceeding against over $10 million in construction defect claims associated with water infiltration and rot, with an ultimate award of less than 4% of the total claimed.  This successful outcome resulted in the settlement of five other pending claims against the client on favorable terms.

Premises Liability – Obtained a complete summary judgment in favor of general contractor accused of faulty roof repairs on a commercial building that led to leaks and a claimed slip and fall accident and claim of a resulting lumbar fusion.

Trucking – Achieved a defense verdict at trial for truck driver in a freeway sideswipe accident involving a paraplegic Plaintiff.

Trucking – Achieved a defense verdict at trial, later affirmed on appeal, for a retailer accused of improper loading of cargo that resulted in a commercial truck roll over accident and serious injuries.

Trucking – Defended national retailer and its truck driver at trial, with a verdict of less than 15% of the Plaintiff’s last demand, and less than half of the client’s last pre-trial offer.

Professional Malpractice – Obtained complete summary judgment for a commercial real estate appraiser, later affirmed on appeal, facing multi-million dollar claims involving the appraisal of undeveloped tracts of commercial real estate near downtown Fort Worth.

Professional Malpractice – Obtained complete summary judgment for a commercial real estate appraiser, facing multi-million dollar claims involving the appraisal of a planned development in Parker County, Texas.

Professional Malpractice – Obtained complete summary judgment, later affirmed on appeal, for a commercial real estate broker facing multi-million dollar claims involving alleged misrepresentations in the sale of a ranch.

Professional Malpractice – Successfully defended appraisers before the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board and obtained substantial reductions of proposed penalties and sanctions against them in enforcement proceedings.

OSHA Investigations – Successfully represented numerous employers and businesses and defended against proposed OSHA citations and penalties, including contested cases before the Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission.

Professional & Community

Honors & Recognitions

Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America

Community & Professional

State Bar of Texas 

Texas Association of Defense Counsel 

Dallas Bar Association 

Defense Research Institute 

Construction Law Section, State Bar of Texas

Litigation Counsel of America - Barrister, Order of Veritas

 

Lawyer Honorary Society ( Senior Fellow) 

Diversity Law Institute

Trial Law Institute

Member, Claim & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)

Member, Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)

News & Events

News

Education

J.D., Texas Tech University School of Law, 1993

B.A., Austin College, 1989

Admissions

  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
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