FN-5404299 MN-5404299 LN-5404299, Esq.
Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator, Former Texas District Court Judge
Houston, Texas
35-year trial lawyer and former Texas District Court Judge. As a trial lawyer, have personally tried over 38 jury trials to verdict and handled over 40 appeals in personal injury and business disputes. As a judge, presided over 30 jury trials and multiple other bench trials in all areas of the law including employment, personal injury, business and contractual disputes and a variety of others. As a full time mediator and arbitrator I have mediated over 375 cases in all areas of the law, including non-subscriber, employment, sexual assault and sex trafficking, construction, real estate, personal injury, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, general business disputes, and insurance disputes. Have arbitrated multiple cases.
Lunceford ADR LLC-Owner
Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator, Former Texas District Court Judge
Owner, Lunceford ADR LLC, 2022-present; Counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, 2017-2022; Texas State District Judge, 2015-2017; Shareholder, Sprott Newsom Lunceford Quattlebaum Messenger PC, 2006-2015; Senior Associate, Munisteri Sprott Rigby Newsom & Robbins, 1999-2006; Self-Employed Attorney-at-Law, 1998-1999; Staff Attorney, Oppenheim & Associates (St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company), 1994-1997; Associate Attorney, House & House P.C., 1992-1994; Associate Attorney, Baker & Hostetler, 1991-1992; Associate Attorney, Wood, Lucksinger & Epstein, 1988-1991; Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, Beecham Laboratories, 1984-1985; Regional Order Services Manager, American Hospital Supply, 1983-1985.
Practicing trial lawyer for 35 years. Lead counsel in over 38 jury trials and over 40 appeals in personal injury (medical malpractice) and commercial cases in a variety of areas including DTPA, real estate, contracts, construction, property damage, insurance, peer review, civil RICO, employment discrimination, non-subscriber worker’s compensation and administrative appeals.
Appointed by Texas governor to serve as District Court Judge in Harris County in 2015. Presided over 30 jury trials and numerous bench trials in all types of negligence and commercial cases, including real estate, business disparagement, deed restrictions, oil & gas, general contracts, employment discrimination, property disputes and other state law claims. Ruled on numerous special appearances and summary judgment motions and served as ancillary judge, handling temporary restraining orders and other emergency hearings.
Since 2017 have served as an Arbitrator and Mediator in a variety of cases (see section on ADR experience). Starting in January 2022, practice is exclusively ADR.
Appointed by Texas governor to serve as District Court Judge in Harris County in 2015. Presided over 30 jury trials and numerous bench trials in all types of negligence and commercial cases, including real estate, business disparagement, deed restrictions, oil & gas, general contracts, employment discrimination, property disputes and other state law claims. Ruled on numerous special appearances and summary judgment motions and served as ancillary judge, handling temporary restraining orders and other emergency hearings.
Since 2017 have served as an Arbitrator and Mediator in a variety of cases (see section on ADR experience). Starting in January 2022, practice is exclusively ADR.
Conducted over 125 mediations to date in many areas of the law including personal injury, medical malpractice, dram shop, sexual assault, contract disputes, real estate, oil and gas, employment, property tax appraisals, medical peer review, deed restrictions, attorney malpractice, construction, oil and gas contracts, and non-subscriber worker’s compensation cases.
Mediated medical billing contractual disputes and contract disputes between hospitals and physicians. Mediated over 15 Harris County Appraisal District cases where the issues are related to the taxable value of the real or personal property being appraised. Mediated numerous construction materials cases and construction defect cases.
Experienced in remote Zoom mediation and in person mediation, both involving multiple parties.
Mediated medical billing contractual disputes and contract disputes between hospitals and physicians. Mediated over 15 Harris County Appraisal District cases where the issues are related to the taxable value of the real or personal property being appraised. Mediated numerous construction materials cases and construction defect cases.
Experienced in remote Zoom mediation and in person mediation, both involving multiple parties.
Physician practice disputes, property tax evaluation, deed restriction interpretation, contract interpretation, admissibility of evidence, necessity of medical/surgical treatment, premises defects, construction defects, product defects, oil and gas contracts, negligence and professional malpractice, hospital peer review, general business disputes, including formation of business entities, interpretation of contractual arbitration clauses and choice of law provisions.
Mediation provides an alternative in the litigation process where the parties get to control the outcome of their dispute. It should be a comfortable experience where the parties can trust that the mediator listens to them and provides input with the goal of helping the parties achieve resolution. As the mediator, my job is to respect the parties’ desire for confidentiality and provide non-judgmental information to help them evaluate the pros and cons of continuing with their litigation. It is also my job as the mediator to not stop working, even after a failed mediation, because many times litigants just need extra time or more information to achieve resolution.
Conduct mediations and arbitrations in person and on Zoom Platform. Very proficient in Zoom and in Webex and Teams.
University of Houston Law Center (JD-1988); University of Colorado Boulder (BA, Economics-1983).
Admitted to the Bar: Texas (1988); US District Court: Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas, Western District of Arkansas; US Court of Appeals: 5th Circuit; US Supreme Court.
Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2008).
Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2008).
American Board of Trial Advocates; Association of Attorney Mediators; Texas Association of Credentialed Mediators; Houston Bar Association; American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys; Fellow, College of the State Bar; Member, State Bar of Texas Pattern Jury Charge Committee, Malpractice, Premises & Products; Member, State Bar of Texas District IV Grievance Committee.
2022 Legal Legislation Update for Houston Association of Paralegals; Medical Malpractice Law Update: HCA Physician Yearly Meeting, 2019; TexBar CLE Presenter for Advanced Consumer & Commercial Law: “10 Things Judges and Juries want you to know.”, 2017; TexBar CLE Presenter for Advanced Evidence & Discovery: “Courtroom Tips a/k/a What to Never Say to the Judge.”, 2017; Client Seminar: “The Truth in Documentation—Avoiding the Courtroom Drama.”, 2017; GHSHRM (Greater Houston Society for Healthcare Risk Management), 2005-2014; GHSHRM Education Day Legal update speaker, 2016-2017, 2022-2023; ASHRM (American Society Healthcare Risk Management) Presenter at yearly conference: “Criminal Actions with Civil Consequences in a Healthcare Setting.”, 2009.
$500 Per Hour
English
United States of America
Houston, TX
The AAA’s Rules provide the AAA with the authority to administer a mediation including, mediator appointment, general oversight and billing. Accordingly, mediations that proceed without AAA administration are not considered AAA mediations, even when the parties select an mediator who is on the AAA’s Roster.
The information contained in this resume has been supplied solely by the individual mediator and may, or may not, be a complete recitation of their experience. The AAA assumes no responsibility for the content, completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in a mediator’s resume. If you have any questions about a mediator’s experience or background, you are encouraged to contact your case manager.
Mediators on the AAA Roster are not employees or agents of the AAA.
The information contained in this resume has been supplied solely by the individual mediator and may, or may not, be a complete recitation of their experience. The AAA assumes no responsibility for the content, completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in a mediator’s resume. If you have any questions about a mediator’s experience or background, you are encouraged to contact your case manager.
Mediators on the AAA Roster are not employees or agents of the AAA.
