Attorneys
|
 |
Paul R. HeyburnShareholder
Houston / Beaumont |
||
 |
AV® PreeminentTM 5.0 out of 5 |
Paul Heyburn specializes in complex litigation matters with an emphasis in products, premises, environmental, commercial, and personal injury cases. His clients range from Fortune 500 corporations to family-owned businesses. Paul has successfully tried to verdict cases with damages alleged in the tens of millions of dollars. He joined MehaffyWeber in 1994 and became a shareholder in 2000.
Paul has been recognized as both a "Rising Star" and a "SuperLawyer" by Texas Monthly magazine and was named as a Top Lawyer in Houston by HTexas magazine. Paul is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society that includes less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Paul is also the firm's delegate to Mackrell International; a global network of law firms with over 4,500 attorneys in 60 countries. Paul has served on the firm's compensation committee and currently serves on the management committee.
Areas of Concentration
Products litigation; environmental litigation; commercial litigation; personal injury litigation
Licenses
State Bar of Texas
State Bar of Arkansas
United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas
Education
Paul graduated Order of the Coif from Texas Tech Law School in 1993 and received his Bachelor's in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin in 1988. While in law school, Paul was a Comment Editor for the Texas Tech Law Review and was a member the Board of Barristers.
Representative Experience
Obtained finding of no liability for Fortune 1000 client for plaintiff seeking recovery for personal injury sustained as a result of a collision between a train and a tractor-trailer. King v. Bigler LP, 2011 WL 1542737 (S.D.Tex. 2011)
Successful trial and appeal of finding of no liability in favor of a Fortune 100 client in a commercial subrogation lawsuit. Dewayne Rogers Logging, Inc. v. Deere & Company, 299 S.W.3d 374, 391 (Tex. App.-Tyler 2009, pet. denied, October 21, 2011 ) (the Texas Supreme Court denied plaintiff's petition for review after requesting full briefs on the merits).
Obtained finding of no liability for multiple multi-national corporate clients following a five week trial in CERCLA cost recovery for a $30,000,000.00+ Superfund site. Lyondell Chemical Co., et al, Plaintiffs, v. Albemarle Corp., et al, Defendants, (Doc. 1292) (E.D.Tex. 2007)
Obtained defense verdict after a three week trial for claims made on behalf a former employee of Fortune 100 client who claimed that his cancer was caused by exposure on client's premises. Wolf, et al v. The Dow Chemical Co.; Cause Number 16383*BH01, District Court of Texas, 23rd Judicial District, Brazoria County.
Obtained summary judgment on successor liability claims made by personal injury claimant against a Fortune 100 client. The judgment was sustained on appeal. Wortham v. Dow Chemical Co., 179 S.W.3rd 189 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2005, no pet.)
Successfully defended multiple clients in CERCLA cost recovery suit related to a $120,000,000.00 Superfund site. U.S.A. v. Atlantic Richfield Co., No. 98 CV 0408; In the United States District Court (S.D. Texas 2002)
Regional counsel for multiple Fortune 100 clients in cases involving claims of product defect and premises injury.
Represents multiple multinational corporations in environmental litigation.
Membership and Honors
After leaving law school, Paul served as Briefing Attorney to the Hon. Chief Justice J. Curtiss Brown of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston.
He is a member of both the Texas Bar Foundation and the Houston Young Lawyer Foundation. These are invitation-only organizations dedicated to advancing the justice system for all. Both are limited to less than one percent of the membership of the Texas and the Houston Bar associations. Selection is based on an outstanding record in the legal profession as well as a commitment to support the community statewide and locally.
Articles
Paul has authored and co-authored multiple articles including:
- "The Inherent Conflict Between the Reasonable Ratio and Network Tests in Ascertaining Punitive Damages in Texas," 23 Tex. Tech L. Rev. 1059;
- "Ethical Issues in Mass Torts," Asbestos/Personal Injury Seminar, Defense Research Institute, November 1996;
- "Premises Liability for Criminal Conduct: When is Foreseeability Established?," The Houston Lawyer, September/October 1998.
- "Closing Argument," HarrisMartin - Texas Asbestos Litigation Conference 2008.
