David J. Escobar Partner
- Houston
- 713.863.2739
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David describes himself as a problem solver who enjoys the competition and energy of litigation. David started his legal career in 1990 at the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office in Fort Worth, Texas where he developed an interest in cases involving criminal street gangs. In 1992, he helped establish a Gang Prosecution Unit. By the time he left the DA’s office in 1994, David had tried more than 80 first chair jury trials with only 1 loss and 1 deadlocked jury.
In 1994, David left the DA’s office and became a partner in the Litigation Division at Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller in Fort Worth. At SGRM, David was involved in many different areas of litigation but specialized in Medical Malpractice.
In September 2000, David moved back to Houston, Texas, where he grew up. He joined Lorance Thompson and initially focused on commercial litigation and insurance defense before eventually moving to the health care section. While at L&T, David has represented clients in the following areas of law: medical malpractice, intellectual property, libel and slander, employment law, dram shop litigation, premises liability, legal malpractice, commercial Litigation, DTPA, breach of contract, landlord liability, trucking accidents, motor vehicle accidents and criminal law, among others. David became a partner at L&T in 2001.
David is a competitive baseball and soccer coach. He plays in a 30+ soccer league as well as a Goalkeeping Coach for the Shadow Creek Soccer Club. When not in the office or playing/coaching sports he is an enthusiast for traveling and reading.
Services
- Healthcare
- Labor & Employment
- Litigation
Education
- University of Houston Law Center, J.D., 1988
- Texas Christian University, B.B.A., 1985
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law –Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Representative Experience
- Won a jury trial for an ophthalmologist in a medical malpractice case in which Plaintiff claimed the doctor failed to diagnose a retinal detachment. The jury deliberated less than 5 minutes before returning a verdict.
- Won a jury trial on behalf of a hospital that was sued for wrongful death when its house staff allegedly failed to appreciate the signs and symptoms of ARDS.
- Won a jury trial on behalf of an ophthalmologist who was sued for damages when the light bulb in his surgical microscope burned out during cataract surgery and no spare bulb could be found. As the doctor attempted to locate the spare bulb, the capsule tore and the nucleus fell into the vitreous cavity.
- Won a jury trial on behalf of an emergency room physician who was sued for the wrongful death of a post Aortic Valve Replacement patient who appeared in the ER with symptoms of shortness of breath. Plaintiff alleged the ER doctor was negligent in failing to admit the patient who died of a heart attack three days later.
- Won a jury trial on behalf of an ophthalmologist who was sued by a patient when complications from a surgery to replace an anterior chamber lens implant led to increased Intra Ocular Pressure and eventually blindness.
- Won a jury trial by getting a directed verdict on behalf of a nightclub in a dram shop case in which two persons were killed in a car accident after consuming alcohol at the club. The driver’s blood alcohol content was .14.
- Obtained an excellent jury verdict for the defense in a case in Austin County in which Plaintiff widow sued for wrongful death, survival and bystander liability after watching her husband bleed to death after his legs were severed when a car driven by Defendant collided with him and pinned him between her bumper and his tailgate. Defendant admitted liability and the jury awarded a total less than half of what Defendant had offered to pay before trial.
- Obtained the dismissal of a libel and slander case in which Plaintiff alleged damages of over a million dollars in Federal Court on jurisdiction and venue grounds.
- Obtained a Summary Judgment for a family who was sued for negligence, negligent entrustment and civil rights violations when their son was involved in burning a cross in the front yard of an African American family in Katy, Texas.
- Obtained a Summary Judgment in a legal malpractice case on behalf of a national temporary legal placement service. Plaintiff in this case, claimed to have sustained over a million dollars in damages due to the defendant’s failure to properly investigate a business transaction.
- Obtained a Summary Judgment on behalf of a local insurance company who was sued for failing to protect a personal injury lawyer’s contingency interest.
- Obtained favorable settlement of a liability claim on behalf of a local psychologist in a suit in which a profoundly mentally handicapped patient escaped from a respite home and drowned in an apartment swimming pool.
- Obtained a very favorable settlement on behalf of a local golf club manufacturer who was sued for patent infringement regarding the design of a set of golf clubs by a multinational golf club manufacturer.
- Represented the president of a national bakery in a Federal Antitrust prosecution.
- Won a trial for an ophthalmologist who was accused of negligence in performing a cataract surgery and not following up with the patient appropriately.
- Won a bar security case where plaintiffs claimed they were severely beaten by security personnel at a local sports bar. The jury found that the bouncers acted in self-defense.
- Won a dram shop case where Plaintiff sued a local bar after being involved in a MVA with a drunk driver who had been served alcohol at the bar. The drunk drivers BAC was .14 but the jury found that he was not “obviously intoxicated” when he left the bar.
Professional Activities
- South Texas College of Law Mock Trial Judge – 2004
- Director, Texas Risk Management – Texas Osteopathic Medical Association annual conference, Galveston Texas
- Member, Houston Bar Association
- Speaker, Opening Statements – M.C.L.E. Course: University of Houston Law Foundation “Trial Tactics” Seminar June- July 1997
- Speaker, Evidence Update – M.C.L.E. Course: University of Houston Law Foundation “Advanced Civil Discovery” Seminar June – July 2000
- Speaker on Dram Shop and Bar Security Litigation for several CLE programs and webinars.