Railroad FELA Lawyer Background

The Willis Law Firm - Texas and New York*

The Willis Law Firm is based in Houston, Texas with a strong national presence and recognition. With over 23 years of personal injury experience. Mr. Willis has gained a national reputation as a leading personal injury lawyer in the United States. Willis prosecutes serious injury and death cases involving:

• Injury and death cases against the railroads
• Oilfield accidents - drilling rig injuries
• Toxic exposures to industrial, maritime & railroad workers
• Asbestos –mesothelioma lawsuits for workers
• Benzene – leukemia lawsuits for injured workers
• Industrial accident lawsuits
• 3rd party litigation for injured workers
• Product liability litigation for defective manufactured parts or dangerous products
• Third party lawsuits against general contractors & subcontractors

Mr. Willis and the Willis Law Firm are committed to representing seriously injured people and their families. Mr. Willis was born and raised in Texas. He graduated from Baylor University in 1978 and then went on to graduate from the South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas in 1982. Mr. Willis served as a Briefing Attorney on the Supreme Court of Texas for the Honorable Robert M. Campbell in Austin, Texas until 1984 – when he began to practice plaintiff's personal injury law in Houston. In 1992, Mr. Willis founded Willis Law Firm, a personal injury law firm with heavy emphasis in serious personal injury, wrongful death litigation, worker’s rights, maritime litigation, products liability and industrial accident litigation.

Mr. Willis' educational, career and legal background include:

• Baylor University (BA 1978)
• South Texas College of Law (JD 1982)
• State Bar of Texas (Admitted to Bar in 1983)
• New York State Bar (Admitted in 2005)*
• Supreme Court of Texas - Briefing Attorney (1983-1984)
• Vice President - Harris County Bar Association (1984-1985)
• Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer (Since 1988)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Since 1988)
• Texas Bar Foundation (Member since 1996)
• Awarded the Steven J Sharp Public Service Award 2001
• United States Patent Holder

Mr. Willis has the distinction of being Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1988. This legal certification by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization identifies an attorney who has been recognized as having extensive knowledge and actual experience trying a prescribed number of personal injury cases to a jury verdict. In order to be Board Certified, Mr. Willis had to pass strict testing and qualification requirements to demonstrate his knowledge of the law of evidence, procedure and other areas of substantive law in the trial of civil cases. Less than 2% of all Texas attorneys have earned this important certification in Personal Injury Trial Law.

In 1991, a record judgment was awarded in a Ft. Bend County, Texas courtroom (outside of Houston), against the Southern Pacific Transportation Company as a result a single car train collision which cost the life of one girl and left the other passenger seriously brain damaged. The court also found punitive damages or exemplary damages against the railroad. The case involved a passenger vehicle that was broadsided by a 142 car, 3 engine train, in which it alleged and ultimately proved to the court was speeding and did NOT sound the horn or bells on the train until the moment of impact. The trial attorney David P. Willis was contacted by local attorney to represent the family of the severely injured child. * On a sad note, during this 3 week trial another driver of another car was also killed at the same intersection. Southern Pacific had until then had refused to put signals and gates at this crossing. Unfortunately it took a big verdict and yet another death before the proper safety equipment was installed. >> Read more about this Texas railroad injury and death lawsuit.

In 1997, Mr. Willis was involved in one of the nation's first Firestone ATX Radial Tread / Belt Separation and Ford Explorer rollover cases which occurred in Texas. A products liability lawsuit was filed in 1998 against Ford and Firestone due to the Ford Explorer going out of control and rolling after the back left Firestone ATX radial tire's tread came off. After a long battle with Ford and Firestone a very significant confidential settlement was reached by all parties. On July 17, 2001 Mr. Willis was recognized as one of a very select group of products liability attorneys in the nation and was awarded the prestigious Steven J. Sharp Public Service Award for his contributions in investigating and gathering evidence pertaining to tire belt separation and vehicle rollovers in Firestone Tire and Ford Explorer Cases. The efforts by these selected attorneys and others helped lead to the largest recall in U.S. history. This award was presented to Mr. Willis by the President of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

My Commitment

"My firm is committed to representing individuals and families who have been the victims of a wrongful death or serious personal injury. Although monetary compensation cannot heal the emotional and physical scars left as the result of a serious accident, it can help in many cases to relieve much of the economic stress and hardship associated with the injury or loss of a loved one. Many times it is the only means of support and future security for the injured individual and their family. Litigation may not bring back a loved one, or heal a serious injury, but it may serve to help prevent others from having to endure the same loss." …David Willis

Railroad Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one were injured in a railroad-related accident or injury claim, you should contact a railroad injury attorney who is knowledgeable in FELA claims. Most injured railroad workers and their families need legal assistance to protect their legal rights. The Willis Law Firm, with principle offices in downtown Houston, Texas, is familiar with the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) and is privileged and proud to represent injured railroad workers. Mr. Willis is a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is licensed in Texas and in New York. For a Free FELA Case Evaluation or FELA Injury Evaluation Online or Call Toll Free 1-800-883-9858 Nationwide FELA Assistance is Available.