JOHN SMITHER
John's practice primarily focuses on eminent domain matters, personal injury and commercial transactions. He is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is AV peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell. John is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Texas as well as the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He is also a member of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas.
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EDUCATION
South Texas College of Law, J.D., 1993
Vanderbilt University, B.A., 1990
ADMITTED
State Bar of Texas, 1994
United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas, 1994
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, 1998
United States Supreme Court, 2002
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2017
PUBLICATIONS
“A Primer on Indemnity,” The Houston Lawyer, March/April 2004.
SEMINARS AND PRESENTATIONS
“Pipeline Damages and Project Updates,” Presented at CLE International Eminent Domain Conference, 2020.
“Pipeline Damage Models,” Presented to the International Right of Way Association, 2020.
“Pipeline Project Updates and Challenges Facing Condemnors,” Presented at CLE International Eminent Domain Conference, 2019.
“Pipeline Project Updates and Challenges Facing Condemnors,” Presented at CLE International Eminent Domain Conference, 2018.
“Insurance Issues, What’s Recommended and Why,” Presented at Advising Small Business Owners Institute, Houston Bar Association, 2006.
“Premises Liability Law: Texas and Florida,” Approved by the Texas Department of Insurance and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation for Continuing Education, 2006.
“Offers of Settlement/Judgment: Texas and Florida,” Approved by the Texas Department of Insurance and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation for Continuing Education, 2006.
“The Legal Environment of Risk Management and Insurance” – CPCU 530, Presented through AON Corporation, Spring 2006.
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
Board Certified- Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2009
AV Peer Review rating by Martindale Hubbell
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
State Bar of Texas, Member, Litigation Section
Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Life Member
REPORTED CASES
Hlavinka v. HSC Pipeline Partnership, LLC, No. 01-19-00092-CV, 2020 WL 3393540 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] June 18, 2020).
Yowell v. Granite Operating Co., No. 18-0841, 2020 WL 2502141 (Tex. May 15, 2020).
Graves v. Lone Star NGL Pipeline L.P., No. 09-18-00173-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 1524 (Tex. App.—Beaumont Feb. 28, 2019).
Yowell v. Granite Operating Co., 557 S.W.3d 794 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2018, pet. granted).
Crosstex NGL Pipeline, L.P. v. Reins Rd. Farms-1, Ltd., 404 S.W.3d 754 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2013).
In re Crosstex NGL Pipeline, L.P., No. 09-13-00168-CV, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 6531 (Tex. App.—Beaumont May 30, 2013).
Michael Alan Walker v. Thomasson Lumber Company, et al., 203 S.W.3d 470 (Tex.App. — Houston[14th Dist.], 2006).
Herbert L. Wilson v. Mitul Patel dlb/a Best Western Rockdale, et al., No. 03-03-00275-CV, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 2614 (Tex.App. — Austin, mem. op, 2004).