David James

Socia

Abogado de Lesiones Marítimas, Lesiones en el Transporte, Lesiones en el Sector Energético y Reclamos bajo la Ley Jones

Beaumont y Houston, Texas

Atendiendo a clientes en Texas y Luisiana

David James es un litigante con amplia experiencia en quien puede confiar para asegurar la máxima compensación posible en su caso. David es tenaz, agresivo y siempre luchará por usted. Antes de unirse a Sorrels Law, David fue socio en una firma multinacional de gran tamaño, donde defendía a corporaciones y compañías de seguros en casos de lesiones personales. También litigó, tanto en defensa como en representación, asuntos relacionados con daños a la propiedad y litigios comerciales para aseguradoras y empresas. Hoy en día, utiliza esa experiencia para ayudar a personas que han sido lastimadas por la negligencia de estas mismas compañías.

David es bien conocido en los sectores marítimo, del transporte y energético, donde anteriormente representó a operadores de embarcaciones, compañías de transporte por carretera, empresas de energía y diversos intermediarios del transporte en todo tipo de litigios. Antes de convertirse en abogado, David trabajó durante sus estudios con contratistas en refinerías y pasó varios años trabajando para un conocido propietario y operador de embarcaciones en remolcadores y barcos. Durante la facultad de derecho, trabajó como operador de tanques en operaciones de carga de barcazas en el área de Baton Rouge. La experiencia práctica de David es invaluable en su labor como abogado.

David tiene una amplia experiencia en tribunales estatales y federales en numerosos tipos de casos de lesiones personales. Por ejemplo, ha defendido exitosamente varios casos, incluyendo uno por exposición química que involucraba a más de 20,000 demandantes. Además, ha manejado reclamos relacionados con exposiciones químicas, explosiones de embarcaciones, colisiones entre trenes y barcazas, accidentes automovilísticos y otros casos de lesiones catastróficas y muertes. Ha recuperado millones de dólares para sus clientes del sector transporte, incluyendo múltiples compensaciones de siete y ocho cifras en asuntos de colisión, daños a la propiedad y litigios comerciales. Esta sólida experiencia le permite a David entender las estrategias que utilizan las compañías y aseguradoras para evitar o minimizar lo que deben pagar a las personas lesionadas por su negligencia.

David representa a personas lesionadas en casos relacionados con:

  • Demandas bajo la Ley Jones (Jones Act)
  • Lesiones en alta mar y plataformas marítimas
  • Muerte injusta en el ámbito marítimo
  • Demandas de terceros bajo la Ley de Compensación para Trabajadores Portuarios y de Astilleros (LHWCA)
  • Lesiones en refinerías, plantas químicas y sitios industriales
  • Accidentes de tráileres y camiones de carga pesada
  • Demandas de trabajadores ferroviarios (FELA)

David es originario de Port Arthur, Texas, donde creció en un hogar de clase trabajadora bajo la sombra de múltiples refinerías. Volvió al Golden Triangle después de graduarse de la facultad de derecho para comenzar su carrera legal y formar una familia. Está casado con Kelly desde 2001 y juntos tienen tres hijos maravillosos.

David lidera la oficina de la firma en Beaumont, Texas, y continúa representando a clientes en toda la Costa del Golfo. Cuando no está defendiendo a sus clientes, participa activamente en el Rotary local, deportes juveniles y asuntos comunitarios.

Si usted o un ser querido ha resultado lesionado en vías navegables interiores, en alta mar, en el mar, en la carretera o en un sitio industrial, comuníquese con David hoy para una consulta gratuita.

  • Respondió, investigó y litigó numerosos casos de grandes siniestros y otros incidentes marítimos, incluyendo colisiones, choques, lesiones personales, casos de carga y cuestiones ambientales.
  • Representó a numerosos marinos con licencia de la USCG y pilotos de puerto en procedimientos administrativos ante la Guardia Costera de EE. UU. y comisiones de pilotos.
  • Representó a numerosos propietarios y operadores de chasis y contenedores intermodales en reclamos por accidentes de vehículos comerciales.
  • Representó a un propietario de embarcación en varios asuntos derivados de una gran colisión y derrame de petróleo; fue contratado para responder al incidente y proteger los intereses del propietario en investigaciones realizadas por el NTSB, USCG, Texas GLO y otras agencias; luego asumió la defensa en el litigio civil complejo presentado por más de 20,000 demandantes, muchos de ellos sin representación; desarrolló una estrategia legal que incluyó el primer uso de una Orden de Gestión de Casos tipo Lone Pine en el contexto de una acción bajo la Ley de Limitación de Responsabilidad del Propietario de Buques; logró la desestimación de más de 17,000 demandantes antes de comenzar el proceso de descubrimiento.
  • Formó parte del equipo de juicio que logró una compensación de ocho cifras tras una colisión y derrame de petróleo.
  • Litigó reclamos derivados de una gran colisión que resultó en la pérdida de una embarcación.
  • Asesoró a intereses navieros en numerosas investigaciones llevadas a cabo por la USCG y otros entes regulatorios.
  • Defendió una acción colectiva contra un propietario de embarcación presentada por intereses agrícolas tras un choque con una esclusa operada por el gobierno de EE. UU.; presentó demandas contra el gobierno y logró la desestimación de sus contrademandas antes de comenzar el descubrimiento; resultó en un acuerdo altamente favorable para su cliente.
  • Representó a un naviero en un encallamiento que involucró un contrato de salvamento bajo la forma abierta de Lloyd’s; logró un resultado favorable en litigio relacionado con la invocación injustificada de SCOPIC por parte del salvador.
  •  Atendió un caso de gran choque que destruyó totalmente el muelle de una terminal petrolera; el asunto se resolvió antes de iniciar el litigio bajo términos altamente favorables para el cliente propietario del barco.
  • Logró la desestimación de una demanda por incumplimiento de contrato debido a la falta de cumplimiento de las obligaciones de descubrimiento por parte de la contraparte.
  • Obtuvo la desestimación de las reclamaciones de una importante petrolera contra su cliente por abusos en el proceso de descubrimiento.
  • Ha recuperado múltiples indemnizaciones de siete cifras por daños a embarcaciones, incluidas explosiones y colisiones.
  • Ha recuperado múltiples indemnizaciones de siete cifras en casos de embargo de embarcaciones vinculados a litigios comerciales.
  • Defendió exitosamente a un administrador de embarcación en un caso de lesiones personales argumentando falta de jurisdicción in personam.
  • Defendió un incidente significativo derivado del contacto entre una barcaza y una locomotora en las riberas del Alto Río Misisipi.
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Personal Injury
  • Products Liability
  • Premises Liability
  • General Negligence
  • Truck and Automobile Collisions
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Maritime Accidents
  • Birth Injuries
  • Wrongful Death
  • Appellate Law
  • Arbitration
  • University of Texas School of Law, Juris Doctor with Honors
    • Associate Editor Texas Law Review
    • Order of the Coif (top 10% of class)
  • University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Business Administration, with Honors
    • Major Finance, Minor Marketing
    • Beta Gamma Sigma National Business Honor Society
    • Kappa Kappa Gamma, service and social sorority
  • Top 100 – The National Trial Lawyers
  • Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • Texas Law Review, Associate Editor
  • Order of the Coif
  • Carrington, Coleman Sloman and Blumenthal Academic Excellence Award
  • Bankston, Wright and Greenhill Award in Tort Law
  • Highest overall GPA at UT Law first year
  • Dean’s Achievement Award for highest achievement in the study of Contracts
  • Dean’s Achievement Award for highest achievement in the study of Torts
  • State Bar of Texas
  • State Bar of Arizona
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States District Court Southern District of Texas
  • Pro Hac Vice admissions to Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New Mexico and Utah
  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association
  • Houston Trial Lawyers Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Fulbright and Jaworski (Norton Rose Fulbright)
  • Mayor Day Caldwell and Keaton
  • Andrews Kurth
  • Hunton Andrews Kurth
  • The Ammons Law Firm
  • The Newsome Law Firm

Recognized as a Rising Star in 2019, 2020 and 2021 by Texas Super Lawyers, Phil is also a Fellow in the Texas Bar Foundation. Prior to becoming a lawyer, taught in the Houston Independent School District at an inner-city middle school. He also served as a bandmaster and musician on Norwegian, Celebrity, Holland America and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. He is admitted to the Fifth Circuit, Southern District of Texas and Western District of Texas in the federal court system.

Phil lives in Houston with his wife and their two young boys. When not working, Phil can be found coaching or assisting with his kids’ sports, enjoying Houston’s vibrant arts scene with his wife, or cheering on the Astros.

J.D., University of Virginia School of Law

  • Order of the Coif (Top 10% of Class)
  • National Trial Advocacy Team
  • National Trial Competition (National Finalist)
  • National Trial Advocacy College (Graduate)

M.A., The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies

  • Highest Honors
  • Dual concentrations in International Economics and U.S. Foreign Policy

B.A., Washington & Lee University, Politics

  • Summa cum laude
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • American Bar Association
  • American Association for Justice
  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Top Scorer, Texas Bar Exam
  • Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
  • Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation
  • Houstonia Magazine’s “Top Personal Injury Lawyers”
  • Texas Super Lawyers “Rising Star”
  • U.S. Inspector Generals’ Council’s “Top Financial Crimes Investigation”
  • “Legal Article of the Year,” Houston Bar Foundation
  • National Trial Competition, National Finalist
  • Order of the Coif, Virginia Chapter
  • Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
  • Sorrels Law Adds Litigation Muscle with Ex-Prosecutor, Law360 (April 20, 2023) (profiled) Read More…
  • Did Texas Rangers miss a key fact in probe of Lina Hidalgo’s office?, Houston Chronicle (April 3, 2022) (quoted)
  • Hidalgo Aides Are Accused of Steering a Contract to an Ally. Internal Communications Paint a Murkier Picture, Texas Monthly (March 29, 2022) (quoted)
  • Supreme Dilemma: Handling Conflicts Between State Medical Privacy Laws and Federal Investigative Subpoenas, 31 The ABA Health Lawyer 6 (Aug. 2019) (co-author)
  • Lessons in Due Diligence Seen in Case of Jailed Fraudster Whose History Hid in Plain Sight, Regulatory Compliance Watch (Dec. 3, 2018) (quoted)
  • Seeking Justice for Victims, UVA Lawyer (Spring 2018) (profiled)
  • Woman Who Ordered ‘Colombian Necktie’ Hit from Pinellas Jail Tells Judge She Has ‘Bad Judgment,’ Gets 65 More Years, Tampa Bay Times (Jan. 4, 2018) (quoted)
  • Case Study in International Money Laundering, Financial Crimes/Inspectors General Conference(Tampa, Aug. 2017) (speaker)
  • Emerging Trends in Securities Enforcement, Hillsborough Bar Assoc. (Tampa, April 2017) (speaker)
  • Effective Opening Statements, Goldberg Inn of Court (Tampa, Jan. 2017) (speaker)
  • The Benefits and Costs of the Joint Venture, 79 Texas Bar J. (Nov. 2016) (co-author)
  • Timely Disclosure Requirements of Texas’s RTP Statute, Texas Lawyer (Nov. 2, 2015) (co-author)
  • Joint Venturing the Case, 52 Houston Lawyer (July/Aug. 2015) (co-author)
  • Called to the Bar, 77 Texas Bar J. (July 2014) (author)
  • Address on Behalf of New Inductees, Texas Bar Induction Ceremony (Austin, June 2014) (speaker)
  • Waiting in the Wings? Assessing the Admissibility of Neuroimagery, 27 Dev. Mental Health L. 1 (2008) (author)
  • Prosecuting Opportunistic Hate Crimes, Anti-Defamation League (Boston, July 2008) (speaker)
  • Gerger, Hennessy & Martin (Partner)
  • Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check (Partner)
  • U.S. Department of Justice (Assistant U.S. Attorney)
  • Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Aziz (Associate)
  • Hogan Lovells (Associate)
  • Manhattan District Attorney’s Office (Assistant District Attorney)

Randy is the past President of the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists, and past Chair of the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation.  He has served as the President of the Houston Bar Association, President of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, President of the Houston Trial Lawyers Foundation, Vice President of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Trustee of the Texas Bar Foundation, Director of the State Bar of Texas (two terms), Commissioner of the Equal Access to Justice Commission, Trustee of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, and is currently on the Board of Directors at South Texas College of Law Houston.

Randy started his legal career at Fulbright & Jaworski, where he represented doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, and businesses in the state of Texas who were accused of civil wrongdoing.  He graduated Magna Cum Laude from South Texas College of Law Houston in 1987, where he was on the Law Review and was a member of the nationally recognized Board of Advocates.  South Texas College of Law Houston has honored Randy with its highest honor— the Dean’s Medal, as well as its Public Service Award (the inaugural award).  South Texas College of Law Houston has renamed its legal clinics The Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics, which represents 15,000 square feet of new, state-of-the-art facilities to bring together clients with unmet legal needs and students who are eager to work with those clients under the direct supervision of their professors.  In 2018, South Texas College of Law Houston honored Randy with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Prior to law school, Randy graduated Magna Cum Laude from Houston Baptist University— where he was recognized as an NCAA Academic All-American in 1984.  He attended HBU on a soccer scholarship, and the soccer field at the university now carries his name— Randall O. Sorrels Field.  While at school, he was recognized as the Outstanding Student in both Political Science and Speech Communications.  In the greatest honor, the university gives to alumni, Randy was named as HBU’s Outstanding Alumnus of the Year for 2009, and he continues to be involved in alumni events and meetings.

Randy is married to his law partner, Alex L. Farias-Sorrels, and considers her one of the smartest lawyers he knows.  He is also a father of five children and one granddaughter.  His oldest daughter is a teacher and helps with the Sorrels Law communications efforts.  His second daughter is a speech language pathologist in New York.  His twin son and daughter are law students at the University of Texas.  And his youngest son is in a Montessori program.

  • State Bar of Texas, 1984
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • American Association for Justice
  • Houston Bar Association, Appellate Section Member
  • State Bar of Texas, Appellate Section Member
  • Texas Association of Board Certified Trial and Appellate Specialists
  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association

He has published numerous articles, including:

  • “False Claims Act Actions—The Developing Case Law Regarding If and When Opinions of Medical Necessity Can Be Fraudulent”, The Health Lawyer, April 2015.
  • “In BP Gulf Oil Spill Litigation, the District Court Decided Important Legal Questions that will Likely be Appealed, including the Standard for “Gross Negligence” and “Willful Misconduct” under the Clean Water Act and the Standard for Vicarious Liability for Punitive Damages under Maritime Law”, The Energy Newsletter, October 1, 2014.
  •  “New York’s Highest Court Holds that Zoning Laws of New York Towns Banning Fracking Are Enforceable — A Brief Analysis of the Oral Arguments and the Court’s Opinion”,Pratt’s Energy Law Report, September 2014.
  •  “New Silica Exposure Standard Likely to Impact Fracking”, Energy, Employment and Project Finance Law360, September 17, 2014.
  •  “New Trial Orders in Texas Now Subject to Appellate Review”, Texas and Appellate Law360, September 9, 2013.
  •  “Unsettled Questions of Texas Law—Claim for Exemplary Damages Against an Insured Employer for a Work-Related Death”, 53 South Texas Law Review 787, Summer 2012.
  •  “Cellphones can be perilous to employers,” Houston Business Journal, August 12, 2011.
  •  “Tortious Interference Arising from Filing or Threatening to File a Lawsuit: The Privilege Defense in Flux,” The Houston Lawyer; September/October, 2003.
  •  “The 1979 Amendments Revolutionized the Texas Statutes of Limitations. But it was Not Recognized Until Almost 11 Years Later,” Texas Bar Journal, Vol. 54, No. 4, April, 1991.
  • Served on the Board of the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists.
  • Served as the President of the Houston Chapter of the Christian Legal Society.
  • Performed significant pro bono legal services for many clients who could not afford to pay an attorney.
  • Mentored underprivileged high school students through Breakthrough Houston.

He lives in Bellaire, Texas with his wife Carol, and has two adult children. He is an avid cyclist and consumer of political news. He and Carol are active members at Christ the King Presbyterian Church.