Trial Experience · John W. Raley III
A courtroom record you can look up.
For more than 40 years, John Raley has tried cases to verdict as lead trial counsel in Texas state courts, federal district courts, and arbitration, for plaintiffs and defendants, for individuals, small businesses, hospitals, and Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies. The matters below are listed with case names, courts, and dispositions so that counsel and clients evaluating trial experience can verify it.
Please note: Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict future outcomes. Every case is different, and the outcome of any legal matter depends on its specific facts and circumstances. Roles are described as accurately as the record allows; in multi-counsel matters, results reflect the work of a trial team.
Tried below, defended above.
Appellate record
John has argued and won cases before the Texas Courts of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and the Federal Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. That record includes a unanimous reversal in the Texas Supreme Court in the case that set the statute of limitations for all general torts in Texas, and a successful brief in opposition to a petition for writ of certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Many of the trial results below were tested on appeal and affirmed. Where that is the case, it is noted in the entry.
Section one
Commercial, IP, and fraud matters
Verdicts, judgments, and settlements for plaintiff commercial clients in John's career exceed $200 million in the aggregate. Representative matters tried as lead counsel:
Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict future outcomes. Every case is different, and the outcome of any legal matter depends on its specific facts and circumstances. Roles are described as accurately as the record allows; in multi-counsel matters, results reflect the work of a trial team.
Eifert v. IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
215th District Court, Harris County, Texas
Defense of a securities fraud claim seeking $70 million. Following a two-week jury trial, the client obtained a take-nothing judgment, which was upheld on appeal.
Varco, L.P. v. Pason Systems USA Corp.
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
Patent infringement trial for the plaintiff. Following a two-week jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of $14.3 million, which was upheld on appeal and collected.
Air Measurement Technologies, Inc. v. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas (San Antonio)
Professional liability trial arising from the handling of patent matters. As one of the lead trial lawyers for the plaintiffs, John helped obtain a $72.6 million jury verdict following a four-week trial. The case settled confidentially after trial.
Petrello v. Prucka, et al.
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
Defense of an $8.2 million real estate breach of contract claim. Following a one-week jury trial, the client obtained a take-nothing judgment with a full award of attorneys' fees, upheld on appeal.
Tesco Corp. v. Weatherford International, et al.
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
Patent infringement defense in a matter where the plaintiff originally sought more than $100 million and sought more than $14 million at trial. Following a two-week jury trial, the client obtained a take-nothing judgment with a full award of attorneys' fees, upheld on appeal and collected.
National Oilwell Varco, L.P. v. Pason Systems USA Corp.
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
Patent infringement bench trial for the plaintiff. Following a four-day trial, the client obtained a verdict and judgment exceeding $4 million, upheld on appeal and collected.
Sealy Davis v. Pipkin, Oliver & Bradley, LLP, et al.
AAA Arbitration, Houston, Texas
Defense of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims alleging more than $3 million in damages. Following a five-day arbitration hearing, the three-member panel issued a zero award against the client and awarded the client its attorneys' fees in full.
National Oilwell Varco, L.P. v. Pason Systems (related matters)
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado, and related proceedings in Texas and Canada
Resolution of three related patent infringement matters for the plaintiff in a combined settlement of $112 million. All settlement funds were collected.
Peak Completion Technologies, Inc., et al. v. Team Oil Tools, LLP, et al.
441st District Court, Midland County, Texas
Representation of the plaintiff and counter-defendant in a trade secrets matter with more than $35 million at issue. Following a ten-day trial, the jury found that the client did not misappropriate trade secrets and that the opposing party did. The case settled favorably and confidentially after trial.
Derrick Petroleum Services v. PLS, Inc.
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
Representation of the defendant and counter-plaintiff in a breach of contract matter with more than $30 million at issue. Following a six-day trial, the jury returned a verdict for the client, and the case settled favorably and confidentially after trial.
National Oilwell Varco, L.P. v. Auto-Dril, Inc.
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
Defense of breach of contract and fraud counterclaims seeking more than $8 million. Following a seven-day jury trial, the counter-defendant client obtained a take-nothing judgment, upheld on appeal.
Section two
Professional liability and personal injury matters
Trials defending physicians, hospitals, lawyers, and businesses, and representing injured plaintiffs, across three decades of Texas and Oklahoma courtrooms:
Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict future outcomes. Every case is different, and the outcome of any legal matter depends on its specific facts and circumstances. Roles are described as accurately as the record allows; in multi-counsel matters, results reflect the work of a trial team.
Watts v. TELA
10th District Court, Galveston County, Texas
Defense of an alleged toxic chemical inhalation claim by an industrial plant worker. Following a five-day jury trial, the jury found no injury and no toxic inhalation, and the client obtained a zero verdict and judgment. Nearly a dozen similar claims by other plaintiffs were subsequently dropped.
Mize v. Houston Belt & Terminal Railway Co., et al.
152nd District Court, Harris County, Texas
Defense of a railroad worker's claim for more than $1 million in personal injuries. Following a five-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of $5,000, the figure John suggested in closing argument, against a claim where a six-figure settlement had been offered.
Cummins v. Memorial City Cardiology Associates, et al.
334th District Court, Harris County, Texas
Defense of a medical malpractice claim alleging that negligent hospital care caused paralysis, with more than $1 million claimed. Following a six-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of no liability.
Phelan v. Estrada, M.D.
319th District Court, Nueces County, Texas
Defense of a medical malpractice claim alleging negligent prescription of anti-seizure medication. The client obtained a zero judgment.
Chumley, et al. v. Charter Fairmont Institute, Inc.
61st District Court, Harris County, Texas
Defense of a medical malpractice claim alleging failure to supervise psychiatric patients. Following a four-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of no liability.
Humphries, et al. v. St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, et al.
133rd District Court, Harris County, Texas
Defense of a medical malpractice claim alleging that changes to patient feeding orders caused a patient's death, with several million dollars claimed. Following a six-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of no liability.
Gipslis v. Baylor College of Medicine
190th District Court, Harris County, Texas
Defense of a medical malpractice claim alleging that negligent cardiology care led to an unnecessary amputation. Following a four-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of no liability.
Willoughby v. Baylor College of Medicine, et al.
11th District Court, Harris County, Texas
Defense of an orthopedic surgeon in a medical malpractice matter involving a severed artery and permanent nerve damage. Following a four-day trial, the jury returned a verdict significantly below the last settlement offer.
King v. Circle K Stores, Inc.
260th District Court, Orange County, Texas
Defense of a dram shop matter arising from a double fatality, with seven wrongful death plaintiffs and more than $60 million claimed. The case settled for a small fraction of the amount claimed at the conclusion of a nineteen-day trial.
Thompson v. Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, et al.
157th District Court, Harris County, Texas
Defense of Baylor and nearly two dozen physicians in a medical malpractice claim alleging that negligence caused severe brain damage to a child, with more than $50 million claimed. Following a seventeen-day jury trial and three days of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of no liability.
Green v. C.R. Anthony Company, et al.
District Court of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma
Defense of a premises liability claim alleging a dangerous condition caused a fall and hip replacement. Following a four-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of no liability.
Osborne, et al. v. The Estate of Dr. Jack Southern, et al.
133rd District Court, Harris County, Texas
Defense of a neurosurgeon in a medical malpractice claim alleging negligent back surgery. Following a four-day jury trial, the jury returned a defense verdict on liability.
Panchal, et al. v. Van Den Veyver, M.D., et al.
164th District Court, Harris County, Texas
Defense of several physicians in a medical malpractice claim alleging that negligent care caused a mother's death during childbirth. Following an eight-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of no liability.
Garcia v. Columbia Rio Grande Healthcare, L.P., et al.
275th District Court, Hidalgo County, Texas
Defense of a hospital in a medical malpractice claim with more than $40 million claimed. The jury returned a verdict substantially below the amount claimed, and the case settled on appeal.
Dang v. Frazier
County Court at Law No. 3, Harris County, Texas
Defense of an auto accident claim. During cross-examination of the plaintiff, the plaintiff agreed to an immediate dismissal with prejudice, and the client obtained a zero judgment.
Ricks v. Conley, Rosenberg, Scroggins & Brenneise, LLP, et al.
191st District Court, Dallas County, Texas
Defense of a lawyer in a legal malpractice matter. Following an eight-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict significantly below the amount claimed, and the case settled on appeal.
Webb v. Stockford, et al.
199th District Court, Collin County, Texas
Defense of a lawyer in a legal malpractice matter. After a week-long trial, the court granted the defense judgment notwithstanding the verdict based on the defense that the underlying matter lacked merit. The dismissal was upheld on appeal.
Why this page exists
Experience is the product. Here is the receipt.
Parties choosing a mediator, counsel selecting an arbitrator, and firms retaining a trial consultant all ask the same underlying question: has this person actually done the work? This record is published with case names, courts, and dispositions so the answer can be checked rather than taken on faith.
This experience spans the law, the rules of evidence and procedure, and the appellate system, and just as importantly, the human side of juries and judges. It is the foundation for John's work today as a mediator, an arbitrator, and a litigation consultant.
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