|
WILLIAM KENNETH C. DIPPEL formed his own plaintiffs' firm in 1994, specializing in product liability, medical malpractice, and premises liability. From 1994 to present, the vast majority of his work has been representing families who have suffered catastrophic injuries, although the firm is occasionally called upon to represent select defendants in unique trial circumstances. Mr. Dippel's former employment experience includes work at the Dallas defense firm of Strasburger and Price, from 1983 to 1994, where he progressed from associate to full equity partner and the focus of his work was in defending high stakes product liability litigation for automotive and other manufacturers. He earned his B.S. degree, cum laude, from Louisiana State University and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Southern Methodist University. Mr. Dippel began publishing his legal works while still in law school and has continued to the present. In 1996, he became board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in personal injury trial law. Mr. Dippel also holds an "AV" rating in Martindale-Hubbell signifying "very high to preeminent legal ability," as well as the highest possible ranking for ethics. In 2004 and successive years, he was selected as one of the "Preeminent Lawyers" in the United States. While his practice focuses in all counties of Texas, Mr. Dippel also has practiced in jurisdictions around the country, has actively been involved in litigation in California, Washington State, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Florida, and he has recently been admitted to the 3rd Circuit and 11th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals. He also recently negotiated one of the largest Texas premises liability settlements this decade. Mr. Dippel's client has appeared on Good Morning America, NBC Dateline, and other national media programs, to educate sexual assault victims and encourage reporting of these crimes. He is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association, and a charter member of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, as well as the Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas. Mr. Dippel has most recently lectured at the Texas Trial Lawyers Association "Advanced Products Liability" course, the State Bar of Texas "Advanced Personal Injury" seminar, and the State Bar College Spring Training School. KATHY HARKINS is a paralegal with the Austin insurance defense firm of Wilson Grosenheider Jacobs Basinger & Loiacono, L.L.P., where she conducts investigations and client and witness interviews and responds to discovery. She is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in personal injury trial law, although is currently working more in construction defense matters at the present time. Ms. Harkins has taught numerous paralegal classes. She received her CLA designation in 1985 and CLAS specializations in estate planning and probate, civil litigation and criminal law. Ms. Harkins earned her B.S. degree from Iowa State University and her paralegal certificate and M.A. degree in Legal Studies from Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University. She is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.; the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas; and the Capital Area Paralegal Association (membership chairman). JENNIFER B. ROGERS, CP, is a certified paralegal with the law firm of Hays & Owens L.L.P., where she works primarily with the Oil & Gas litigation team and assists with administrative agency issues and banking law. She is the 2010-2011 president-elect of the Capital Area Paralegal Association and the organization's NALA liaison. Ms. Rogers is on the academic advisory board for the paralegal programs at ITT Tech of Austin and Virginia College of Austin. She has an associate of applied science degree in paralegal studies from Austin Community College. Ms. Rogers is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants (current), Capital Area Paralegal Association (current) and of the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas (current). STEVEN D. SETTLES is a paralegal in the San Antonio office of Cokinos, Bosien & Young, a Houston-based firm founded in 1989 and known throughout Texas as a leader in construction law and complex litigation matters. Mr. Settles is responsible for cases from their initial intake through settlement and appeals. He is a certified mediator with the Bexar County Mediators and is a Board Certified Paralegal (Civil Trial Law) with the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Settles earned his B.A. degree from Park University and paralegal certificate from the Naval Justice School. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas (Paralegal Division). CYNTHIA W. VEIDT is a partner at Cary & Lippincott PLLC. Ms. Veidt has represented individuals and business entities of all sizes, including multinational corporations, in a broad range of commercial disputes and transactions, as well as consumer rights, family law, estate planning, probate administration, and employment matters. She has experience in trial and appellate matters, often involving voluminous discovery and complex analysis, in state and federal courts and before arbitration tribunals. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Veidt was employed as a senior paralegal in the Civil Litigation Section of the Travis county attorney's office for more than six years. In addition, she occasionally serves as an adjunct professor in the legal studies program at Texas State University. Her publications and presentations include; "Family Law," Texas State University, Spring 2010; "Real Estate Law," Texas State University, Spring 2008; "Focus on Women in the Judiciary," CLE, 2007; "Where There's Smoke, There Must Be Fire: Rights of the Accused Sexual Harasser," 19 REV. LTIG. 71, 2000; and "What Did He Say? Making A Clean Record," Austin Lawyer, Vol. 12 No. 3, April 2003. Ms. Veidt is a member of the Austin Bar Association, the Austin Women's Political Caucus (former president, vice president, and vice president of membership), and the National Women's Political Caucus - Texas (vice president of membership). She is a former volunteer editor of the Austin Lawyer and a former articles editor for The Review of Litigation.
|