Attorneys

• State of Texas, 2005
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

• State Bar of Texas, Construction Law Committee
• Texas Association of Defense Counsel
  • Board of Directors, District 18
  • Young Lawyers Committee Chairman
• Defense Research Institute
  • Construction Law Committee
• Houston Bar Association
• Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

• Super Lawyers
  • Selected to Texas Rising Stars list by Thomson Reuters (2008 – 2015)
  • Selected to Texas Super Lawyers list by Thomson Reuters (2016 – 2019)
• Best Lawyers^®
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants (2017)

• Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2016 Spring Seminar Co-Chair
• “Use of Rule 11 Agreements, Controverting Affidavits, and Medicare Secondary Payer Statute,” Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guarantee Fund CE Presentation, 2015
• “Dismissal on the Pleadings – Rule 91a”, Texas Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, 2014
• “The ‘New’ Standard for Establishing Specific Causation in Texas Asbestos Cases,” The Fetti Newsletter, 2009

• “Five Lessons Learned from Recent Trials,” presenting to Texas Association of Defense Counsel Summer Meeting, 2017.
• “Attacking Indemnity and Attorneys’ Fees Under Section 38.001 in Construction Defect Cases,” Texas Assocation of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, 2016.
• “Utilization of 18.001 Controverting Affidavits – When, Why, and What’s Next,” presented to seminar for Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association, 2015.
• “Dismissal on the Pleadings: Rule 91a – Application and Implications,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel Magazine, 2014.
• “The ‘New’ Standard for Establishing Specific Causation in Texas Asbestos Cases,” written by Michele Smith and Trey Sandoval, The Fetti Newsletter, 2009.

Daniel Williams and Jimmie Williams vs. The Dow Chemical Co.
Michele Smith, Art Almquist, Trey Sandoval Premises Liability

Michele Smith, Art Almquist and Trey Sandoval working with attorneys from Kirkland Ellis won a victory for The Dow Chemical Company in a premises liability case in Brazoria County. Daniel Williams, aged 75, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005. Williams and his spouse sued Dow for negligence and gross negligence alleging that Mr. Williams’ cancer was caused by exposure to asbestos in the workplace and that the workplace was unsafe. Dow Chemical contended that it operated its facility in a safe manner, that Mr. Williams’ asbestos exposures were minimal and his cancer was caused by his smoking history of at least 35 pack-years. At trial, plaintiffs argued for more than $5,000,000 in damages. The jury returned a verdict of no liability in favor of The Dow Chemical Company

More Info: MehaffyWeber, Thomas Kuhns and Stacey Pagonis – Kirkland Ellis; Daniel Williams and Jimmie Williams vs. The Dow Chemical Co.; Cause No. 35769*RM05, 149th Judicial District Court, Brazoria County, Texas

Janie Wolf, et al vs. The Dow Chemical Co.
Art Almquist, Sandra Clark, Paul Heyburn, Trey Sandoval, Premises Liability

The firm represented Dow Chemical Co. and obtained a defense verdict on February 1, 2008. In 1999, Alton Wolf died of lung cancer, at the age of 65. Wolf’s widow and adult children sued Dow for gross negligence, alleging that Mr. Wolf’s cancer was caused by exposure to asbestos in the workplace and that the workplace was unsafe. Alton Wolf held various jobs, such as a pipefitter and operator from 1952 to 1987 as an employee of The Dow Chemical Co. in Freeport. Dow Chemical contended that it operated its facility in a safe manner, that Mr. Wolf’s asbestos exposure was minimal and his cancer was caused by his smoking history of at least 40 pack-years. 

More Info: Janie Wolf, et al vs. The Dow Chemical Co.; Cause Number 16383*BH01, District Court of Texas, 23^rd Judicial District, Brazoria County