Pezzulli Barnes
17300 Preston Road
Suite 220
Dallas, Texas 75252
Tel: 972.713.1300
Fax: 972.713.1333
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Areas of Concentration
- Complex Commercial Litigation
- Products Liability Litigation
- Securities Fraud Litigation
- Personal Injury Litigation
- Lender Liability Litigation
- Rico Litigation
Experience
An accomplished trial attorney, speaker, writer and immediate past member of the Town Council of Fairview, Texas. Michael Pezzulli is well known as the attorney to retain if your case needs to be tried to a verdict.
After having been selected in 1976 to be a Law Clerk to the Honorable John A. Field, Jr., Senior Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Michael Pezzulli was recruited at the conclusion of his clerkship to come to Dallas with one of Dallas' premiere law firms.
In 1980 he opened his own firm specializing in litigation of complex matters and has, for the last 30 years, concentrated on taking to trial virtually any matter that can be tried to a judge or a jury. He has extensive experience in banking litigation, securities litigation, RICO litigation, products liability litigation, prosecution of sexual abuse cases against a number of institutions, and civil rights litigation. Michael is an experienced trial attorney having represented clients in both federal and state courts as well as having represented clients in alternative dispute resolution forums including arbitrations and mediations.
Michael has tried cases throughout the United States before both State and Federal Courts. Some of his most significant case work includes:
- Representing numerous children abused by representatives of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas;
- Representing individuals injured by defective automobiles, drugs, and other products;
- Representing individuals whose civil rights, and even life, was taken by governmental agencies;
- Representing Banking institutions in Lender Liability suits;
- Representing and defending individuals accused of securities violations;
- Representing individuals in oil and gas fraud cases;
- Representing attorneys accused of malpractice or malfeasance.
Professional Activities and Memberships
For the last 6 years in a row, including 2010, Michael has been named a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly Magazine. Michael just completed a twelve year term as an examiner for the State Bar of Texas, Board of Legal Specialization, Civil Trial Examination.
He has been Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1986.
He is licensed to practice law in both Texas and West Virginia and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Fourth Circuits, United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia, the Northern District of California, the United States Court of Claims and the United States Tax Court.
Publications and Speeches
Attorney-Client Privilege in Civil Litigation, Protecting and Defending Confidentiality (Fourth Edition), Author of Chapter 6, American Bar Association, 2008.
A Defense Perspective Interview with Michael F. Pezzulli; RICO Drug Enforcement Newsletter; December 1989.
Advanced Creditor's Rights Course Deficiency Suits; prepared for the "Advanced Creditors' Rights Course" sponsored by the State Bar of Texas, Vol. 2.
An Ill Wind Blows Into Town?: U.S. Supreme Court Rules That State Courts Have Concurrent Jurisdiction Over Rico Claims; Dallas Bar Association Business Litigation Seminar; April 10, 1990.
A Practical Guide to Presenting and Defending Spoliation of Evidence Case; July 31, 1988; ABA Annual Meeting/Tort & Insurance Section; Toronto Canada.
Attorney-Client Privilege in Civil Litigation, Protecting and Defending Confidentiality (Third Edition), Author of Chapter 18, American Bar Association, 2004.
Crimes, Criminals, and Civil Litigators or Will the Real Defendant Please Stand Up?; Dealing with Regulatory and Criminal Fall Out; August 2002; Chapter 4.
Criminal Law and Civil Litigators: A Review of Three Little Known Federal Statutes and Their Potential Application to Attorneys; Litigation Update 1992; San Antonio.
Debtor's and Creditor's Rights Attachment and Garnishment Constitutional Parameters of Prejudgment Remedies; West Virginia Law Review; Vol. 78, Number 1.
Defenses to Deceptive Trade Practice Claims; Advanced DTPA Consumer Law Course; May 1989; State Bar of Texas.
Direct and Cross-Examination of a Psychologist in a Psychological Injury Case; Southern Methodist University Products Liability Institute; 1988.
Foreclosure Documents Lien Documents; Notices; Sale Documents; Deficiency Suits; Collections: Drafting Documents for a Collections Practice; October 1991.
Introduction and Use of Experiments and Other Forms of Demonstrative Evidence Including Computer Generated Evidence; Southern Methodist University Products Liability Institute; Chapter 6, 1987.
It's Like Banging Your Head Against A Brick Wall: Representing Troubled Financial Institutions Against The Federal Government; 3rd Annual Advanced DTPA/Consumer Law Course; May 4-5, 1990; San Antonio, Texas.
Loans, Collateral & Repossession; Comprehensive Consumer Law Seminar; Houston; August 26-27, 1994.
New Approaches to Presenting Evidence in Commercial Litigation; Emerging Trends in Texas Evidence: Federal and State Developments; March 1989.
Parallel Prosecution of Civil and Criminal Proceedings
Pretrial and Trial Publicity Ethics, Practicality and Ambiguity; "Learning from the Masters", Dallas Bar Association; September 10, 1993.
Punching The Tar Baby Ramifications For Failing To Defend Insured's; Prepared For The State Bar Of Texas; Professional Development Program.
Real Estate Foreclosure Litigation and its Bankruptcy Implications; Advanced Civil Trial Course Litigation; July 1987; Vol. 1.
Selection of Testifying and Consulting Experts The Importance of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b) (4); Southern Methodist University Products Liability Institute; Chapter 5; 1988.
Suing, Defending And Negotiating With Insurance Companies;
Suits and Estates: Commercial Defenses; 5th Annual Creditors' Right Course, April 1990.
Tactical Use of Discovery and Claims of Privilege as a Sword and a Shield; Advanced Evidence and Discovery Course 1990-1991; State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program.
Technique and Strategies for Representing Client in Civil Rico Action; 7th Annual Advanced Civil Litigation Institute; South Texas College of Law; 1989.
The Court's Charge in DTPA Cases; Consumer Law Seminar; February 12, 1988.
The Emerging Damages Issues in Nursing Home and other Geriatric Personal Injury Cases; April 1992; Southern Methodist University School of Law; Personal Injury and Products Liability Symposium.
The Self-Defense Exception To The Attorney's Ethical Obligation To Maintain Client Confidences.
UCC and Real Property Foreclosures, Practice Skills Course; Professional Development Program; State Bar of Texas.
"We'll Know It When We See It": The Concept Of Good Cause For Failure To Supplement Discovery Responses Under The Texas Rules Of Civil Procedure; State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Discovery Course; 1989.
Presenter, Marie Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland Trial Advocacy demonstration organized by The Honorable John McClellan Marshall, March 1996,
Educational Background
1976 - J.D., West Virginia University [Law Review-published 3 articles]
1973 - B.A., Political Science, West Virginia University [Magna Cum Laude]
Interests
He enjoys working on the family farm tending to the goats and chickens. He is an avid model train enthusiast and has been working on the family train layout for the last eight years with the firm belief that it will never be finished. He and his boys are avid sportsmen, hunting and fishing as the seasons permit.
Civic Involvement
Michael has recently completed serving for 8 years on the Town Council of Fairview, Texas. He is also a member of the Environmental Committee for the Town of Fairview. Michael is also active at his children's school, Lovejoy Independent School District, and has coached the middle school Modern Oratory Team to two consecutive first place wins.
Contact
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VCard
Michael F. Pezzulli