Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Dr Shezad Malik Law Firm has offices based in Southlake, Fort Worth, and Dallas and represents people who have suffered catastrophic and serious personal injuries or the loss of loved ones, including wrongful death, caused by the negligence or recklessness of others. We specialize in Personal Injury trial litigation and focus our energy and efforts on those we represent. Dr Shezad Malik Law Firm is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas and represents clients across the United States.

AREAS OF PRACTICE:Our Dallas Fort Worth Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorneys and Lawyers have extensive experience in the areas of: car and truck accident, sexual abuse, tractor trailer and commercial vehicle litigation, medical malpractice, wrongful death, serious auto accidents and car wrecks, bus accidents, dog bites, product liability, brain/head injuries, burn and electrical injuries, spinal cord injuries, premises liability/slip and falls, negligent security, and many other types of personal injury cases.

Being a board certified internist and practicing cardiologist for many years, I have naturally gravitated to the areas of law that combines my training as an attorney and physician. We concentrate in the practice of Personal Injury law, Mass Tort and Product Liability litigation.

We feel confident that when the client visits with us we can help them navigate the legal maze and try to resolve their legal problem. Please call us now toll free at 888-210-9693, 817-900-8439 for further information. We do offer a free initial telephonic evaluation to assess the legal issues and then if the client desires we investigate further with a case conference.

Peter Smythe is a Martindale-Hubble AV-rated attorney who handles federal and Texas appeals. He has tried cases to verdict in county courts at law and state district courts and also federal district courts. He has handled appeals on both the state and federal levels.

With over 34 years experience, we have seen a wide variety of legal issues. We are aware of the problems people encounter as they deal with family law issues. Since virtually every case will settle without going to a final trial, we focus on finding or creating solutions through negotiations. We strongly encourage the use of Collaborative Law in almost every case, but sometimes it is inappropriate or the other attorney is not a Collaborative attorney. Then, we are prepared to work through the litigation approach, to the extent necessary. As a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law since 1984, I have a great deal of experience in resolving cases through trials, mediations, negotiations and Collaborative Law.

I handle all types of complex commercial litigation with a special emphasis on intellectual property, labor and employment law, and business litigation.

Augustus Corbett is building a reputation as one of the best Dallas Fort Worth criminal defense, personal injury, and family law lawyers in Texas. He represents people throughout the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, which includes Collin, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Wise Counties. Mr. Corbett also practices federal criminal defense in the United States District Court in the Northern District of Texas.

Specifically, the Corbett Law Firm provide legal assistance on the following areas of practice:

- Criminal Law

Our Dallas based criminal law practice covers many types of state and federal criminal cases including capital murder.

• All 3G Offenses

“3g” offenses are a special set of offenses under Texas laws that get special treatment, i.e., they receive harsher treatment from the courts and the penal system. They are codified in Chapter 42.12 § 3g of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. The offenses include: Murder, Capital Murder, Indecency with a Child, Aggravated Kidnapping, Sexual Assault, Aggravated Sexual Assault, Aggravated Robbery, offenses under the Controlled Substances Act involving use of a child or a second Drug Free Zone offense, Injury to a Child, Injury to an Elderly Person, Injury to a Disabled Person, Sexual Performance by a Child, or offenses where there is a finding of a Deadly Weapon.

• Murder

Nothing is more serious in the Texas criminal justice system than when the government accuses a person of criminal homicide, especially capital murder. If convicted, the person will most likely lose his freedom, certainly his civil rights and possibly his life. Although we take each case seriously, for the reasons above, we approach murder cases with a heightened sense of importance. We realize the consequences can be dire. We know a person’s fate, in no small part, depends on our preparation and performance.

• Drug Charges

Mr. Corbett has helped some of his clients take advantage of the benefits of drug court. By an Act of the 77th Legislature, all counties with a population of more than 550,000 were required to create a Drug Court by September 1, 2002. Hence, the following counties operate drug courts: Bexar, Harris, Hidalgo, Dallas, El Paso Tarrant, and Travis counties. People charged with drug offenses who have a substance abuse problem may benefit from time spent in Drug Court.

• Assaults

We have successfully defended many assault cases. In fact, our efforts have resulted in the district attorney’s office dismissing some of those cases including aggravated assault. What’s more, in some situations our efforts have prevented the Grand Jury from returning indictments. We are proud of our record defending assault cases. With all assault cases, we began by determining if there are any reasons that justify the use of force. If so, we are not bashful about taking a case to trial to demonstrate to the jury that our client was justified in using force.

• Sex Crimes

The Corbett Law Firm has represented people charged with sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault. These cases are challenging and require special knowledge in the law since the legislation has given the state special statutory tools to go after people accused of these crimes. For instance, typically out of court statements are inadmissible at trial; however, if a child makes an out of court outcry statement that someone has sexually assaulted him, that statement is admissible under circumstances.

• Robbery & Burglary

A simple theft can easily become a robbery under Texas law. For instance, a theft can become a robbery if the alleged victim is injured or threatened. What is more, it is aggravated robbery if a deadly weapon was involved or if the alleged victim was seriously injured, 65 or older, or disabled. These cases present a different set of challenges. Often, the government has eyewitnesses or surveillance video as evidence to bolster their case. A skilled attorney must therefore be abreast of the law and science regarding this type of evidence.

• Fraud

One more type of offense in this class of offenses is fraud charges. Fraud charges encompass a very broad range of criminal charges including theft, writing bad checks, criminal simulation (forgery), identity theft, credit card abuse, welfare fraud, deceptive business practices, bribery, falsely claiming to have a college degree and many others. It is not unusual for fraud charges to result in penitentiary time if the monetary loss is substantial and the circumstances flagrant.

• We also cover the following areas of Criminal Law: DWI & DUI; Probation Violations; Computer Crimes; and Juvenile Crimes.

- Personal Injury

Our Dallas based personal injury practice is dear to our heart. We believe strongly that victims should be compensated when they suffer injuries due to another person's negligence. The specific types of personal injury cases we handle are Car, 18-Wheeler and Motorcycle Accidents, Forklift Accidents, Automotive Defects, Spinal Cord/ Brain Injury, Wrongful Death, and Workplace Injuries.

- Family Law

Family law is a very challenging area of law since decisions are being made about people's families, children, property, etc. We handle cases involving divorce, child support, custody, CPS, modifications, and enforcement.

- Bankruptcy

• Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is “liquidation”, i.e., the trustee sales your nonexempt property and distributes the proceeds to your creditors. There are no filings of repayment plans since the trustee liquidates your assets. However, you will be allowed to keep certain “exempt” property.

• Chapter 11

Usually favored by corporations, Chapter 11 Bankruptcy allows debtors to reorganize their debts and pay them over time in an effort to save their businesses. However, individuals may also file Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.

Mr. Parker is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law. He is past President of the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, past Chairman of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association Advocates, sustaining member of the American Association of Justice, Director of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, member of the Dallas and Tarrant County Trial Lawyers, Tarrant County Bar and Tarrant County Bar Foundation. Mr. Parker has an a.v. rating, the highest rating awarded by Martindale-Hubbell lawyer rating directory. Since 2002 Mr. Parker has also been repeatedly recognized by Fort Worth, Texas as one of Fort Worth's attorneys worth knowing and a Texas Super Lawyer (2003, 2006-present) by Thomson Reuters as published by Texas Monthly magazine. He is the past President of the Tarrant County Bar Association and has been selected as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Bonnie Sudderth, former Chief Judge of the Fort Worth Municipal Courts, was first elected to the 352nd District Court bench in the March 1996 primary. (She had no opponent in the November general election.) Although her term was scheduled to commence on January 1, 1997, the bench was vacant at the time of her election. Consequently, shortly after the primary, Texas Governor George W. Bush appointed her to fill the vacancy for the remainder of 1996. She has continuously served since that time. Judge Sudderth is the longest serving judge in the history of the 352nd Court. Judge Sudderth has 21 years of combined judicial experience.

Chad West has dedicated his career to protecting the rights of individuals who are facing difficult legal circumstances. Throughout his career, he has worked on a vast variety of cases ranging from complex litigation suits to car wreck cases to workplace injury cases generating over $200 million in verdicts, judgments, and settlements. Chad's practice focuses on civil litigation, personal injury, and car accidents.

After growing up on a farm in Southern Illinois, Chad attended and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He served in Hungary and Bosnia as an Army operations officer and, after being promoted to Captain, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas as a training officer and Company Commander. For his service and leadership, Chad was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, and the Airborne and Expert Field Medical Badges.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the Army, Chad attended the nationally recognized Texas Tech University School of Law, and graduated with honors. He initially clerked for Judge Terrie Livingston, an appellate judge at the Court of Appeals for the Second District of Texas, Fort Worth. Subsequently, Chad worked for a Texas legendary trial firm and learned the art of representing victims of negligence. Chad then opened his own firm in Oak Cliff, near his home and community.

Chad is passionate about his community. He organizes and chairs the Dash for the Beads, a 5K Fun Run that raises funds for North Oak Cliff, he serves on the Dallas Leadership Committee of Lambda Legal, an organization that fights for equality for everyone, and he serves on the Board of Directors for the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce.

Chad's practice is dedicated to the representation of individuals.

Mr. McDonald's thirty year career has been devoted exclusively to litigation. Over the span of his career, he has litigated hundreds of cases including over a hundred cases tried to jury verdict. Within the litigation field, Mr. McDonald has had an extremely diverse practice. Mr. McDonald has been an entrepreneur in law and has been at the forefront of many cutting edge legal battles for thirty years. Mr. McDonald has an a.v. rating, the highest rating awarded by Martindale-Hubbell lawyer rating directory.

I am a personal injury lawyer in Texas who handles serious accidents invloving products liability, aviation, airplane, helicopter, truck wrecks, motorcycle wrecks, bus wrecks and similar significant injury matters.

Jim Ross is the founding and principal attorney of Jim Ross & Associates P.C. Jim served his country as a marine, and served his community as a police officer. He now defends his clients' rights with passion, intelligence and trust.

My name is Todd Durden and I have been licensed to practice law in the State of Texas since November 1989. My firm philosophy is centered around what I believe clients deserve, and ought to expect from, their lawyer.

Dignity - You deserve to be treated with dignity throughout the legal process. An attorney who is courteous shows respect for the legal system. Courtesy should always be shown the client, and should extend to all persons involved in the case, especially Court personnel.

Honesty - You deserve a lawyer you can trust, one who will give you frank and candid advise.

Ability - You deserve a lawyer with legal training and experience, and technical ability. This is the keystone of the lawyer's qualities.

Diligence - You deserve a lawyer who will take care of your business. In the law, a missed deadline can cost you your case.

Affordability - You deserve a lawyer you can afford, who is an excellent value. To deliver quality legal services, your lawyer should have adequate office facilities, a qualified staff, and up-to-date technology. All these cost money that the clients ultimately provide. Your money should be spent on an attorney who works as hard for it as you do.

Some examples of entities the firm has successfully prosecuted claims against include Abilene Psychiatric Hospital, Abilene Regional Medical Center, AmeriCredit Financial Services, Inc., Ashland, Inc., Baylor All Saints Medical Center, Baylor Medical Center at Southwest Fort Worth, Beverly Health and Rehabilitation, Inc., Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., Carriere Trucking Company, East Texas Medical Center, E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, ExxonMobil Corporation, Gateway Concrete Inc., Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., Kelly-Moore Paint Company, Kennedy Financial Services, MasTec North America, Inc., Medtronic, Inc., Schlumberger Technology Corp., SEI Investments Management Corp., State Farm, The Home Depot, Inc., Universal Insurance Exchange, Vanguard Utility Service, Inc., VRS Financial Services, Inc., and Walsh Press Co. The firm has also successfully defended many individuals and companies in court.

Attorney Lal Varghese, is admitted to practice as an attorney in Texas by the Supreme Court of Texas, and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas since 1992. He is still licensed in Kerala, India to practice in any court. He has been practicing as an attorney for the past 31 years, out of which he is been practicing immigration law for the last 17 years in Dallas, Texas. Attorney Lal Varghese is a member of several legal and professional associations including the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), American Bar Association (ABA), National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), National South Asian Bar Association (NASABA), Indian-American Bar Association, State Bar Of Texas, Dallas Bar Association, Dallas Asian American Bar Association (DAABA), and Texas Chapter of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He also volunteers his time as a mentor for other US immigration lawyers through AILA. He is also serving as Associate Editor of ’Messenger’, a Diocesan publication, and a member of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Diocese and also as Legal Counsel for the Diocese of N. America & Europe of the Mar Thoma Church, a protestant Christian church believed to have been be found by St. Thomas, Apostle to Jesus Christ in A. D 52 in Kerala, India.

Don is a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His practice is limited to criminal defense. Don also represents individuals who are under investigation by law enforcement before any formal charges are filed.

Don has been named a Texas SuperLawyer by Texas Monthly magazine in 2009. He is a former prosecutor. Call for a free consultation with a criminal law specialist.

Michael Kelsheimer focuses his practice on the employment law needs of Texas businesses and executive employees. He recognizes that the cost and expense of litigation make resolving employment disputes challenging. To help avoid these concerns, he utilizes his experience in and out of the courtroom to prevent or quickly resolve employment disputes through proactive employer planning and timely advice. When a dispute cannot be avoided, Michael relies upon his prior experience as a briefing attorney for the United States District Court and his extensive experience in employment and commercial lawsuits to secure favorable resolutions for his clients.

Michael has experience in a wide variety of employment and commercial matters including cases involving race and sex discrimination, fair labor standards, covenants not to compete, deceptive trade, fraud, negligence, and enforcement of contracts in state and federal courts as well as through binding arbitration.

Michael is also the author of the Texas "Employer Handbook", a monthly guide for Texas business owners.