Office Addresses:
1807 Westminster
Denton, TX 76205-7827
940-387-0404 (ph.)
940.383.7656 (fax)
905 Chapman Dr.
Sanger, TX 76266
940.458.0013 (ph.)
940.458.3438 (fax)
Personal:
Born May 6, 1962, Denton, Texas
Married June 1, 1985, to Michelle Ramsour
Two children:
John Eliot, born April 4, 1994
Audrey Rae, born September 20, 1998
Education:
B.A. (Honors Program) Baylor Univ., 1983
Honors Program
Alpha Kappa Psi
Baylor Ambassadors
Employed, Pakis, Cherry, Beard & Giotes, P.C.
J.D., Baylor Law School, 1985
Class Secretary, 1985
Phi Delta Phi
Moot Court Society
Order of Barristers
Dawson & Sodd Scholarship
Employed, Pakis, Cherry, Beard & Giotes, P.C.
J.D., Baylor Law School, 1985
Class Secretary, 1985
Phi Delta Phi
Moot Court Society
Order of Barristers
Dawson & Sodd Scholarship
Employed: Pakis, Cherry, Beard & Giotes, P.C.
Baylor Law Library
Employed: Pakis, Cherry, Beard & Giotes, P.C.
Baylor Law Library
Professional:
Admitted to Bar November 5, 1985
Associate, Philips & Hopkins, P.C., 1985-1987
Associate, Hickey & Wood, P.C., 1987-1991
Shareholder, Wood, Springer & Lyle, P.C., 1991-1996
Partner, Springer, Lyle & Watt, L.L.P., 1998-2005
Partner, Springer & Lyle, L.L.P., 1994-present
Professional Licenses, Memberships:
State Bar of Texas, Bar No. 18966750
Licensed Insurance Agent, Texas Department of Insurance
Licensed Real Estate Sales Person, Texas Real Estate Commission
American Bar Association
College of the State Bar of Texas
Texas Bar Foundation Fellow
Texas Young Lawyers Association 1984-1998
Professionalism Committee, 1994
Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1985-2009
Interim Chair, Pantopaque Litigation Group, 1994
Birth Trauma Litigation Group (1997-1998)
Medical Negligence Litigation Group (1995 – 2005)
Medical Devices and Pharmaceutical Litigation Group (1995-1998)
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Membership Committee, 1991-1994
Denton County Bar Association
Chairman, Pro Bono Committee, 1993
Director, 1995-96
Vice President, 1996-97
President, 1997-98
Member Fellow, Roscoe Pound Foundation, 2004-2008
Fellow, Hon. Paul Brown American Inn of Court
Amissions to Practice:
State Bar of Texas
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
Certificates of Specialization:
Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1991- present
Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1992 – 2001
Publications:
Jeff Springer and R. William Wood, “Third Party Insurance–Bad Faith Claims,” Texas Trial Lawyers Seminar, 1989
Frank Lyle and Jeff Springer, “New Health Plan Proposals Doomed Under ERISA’s Umbrella,” Texas Lawyer, April 11, 1994.
Frank Lyle and Jeff Springer, “Medical-Necessity Decisions and the Texas HMO Statute,” Texas Lawyer, April 18, 1994.
Frank Lyle and Jeff Springer, “Medical-Necessity Determinations Under Group Health Plans and the Texas HMO Statute,” Texas Bad Faith Bulletin, Vol. VI Issue III (July 1994).
Jeff Springer, “Legal Injury: A More Reasoned Approach to the Discovery Rule,” The Advocate, Vol. 13 No. 3, (October 1994).
Jeff Springer, “Lawyers Must Support Reform,” Denton Record Chronicle (February 7, 1995).
Jeff Springer, “Appointment System Fatally Flawed,” Texas Lawyer, 1995.
Jeff Springer, “The Skinny on Tort Reform Part One: Venue,” Denton County Lawyer, Winter 1995.
Jeff Springer, “The Skinny on Tort Reform Part Two: Medical Malpractice,” Denton County Lawyer, Spring 1996.
Jeff Springer, “Courage, Courage, and More Courage: Jury Selection in the Age of Tort Reform,” Spring Civil Litigation Seminar, Denton County Bar Association, March 1997.
Jeff Springer, “Okay, Enough is Enough,” Denton Record Chronicle (October 6, 1997).
Jeff Springer, “Chipping Away at the Tort System,” 99 Denton Record Chronicle 263 (April 30, 2003).
Seminars and Presentations:
“Perfecting Appeals,” Denton County Bar Association Spring Civil Litigation Seminar, Denton, Texas 1994.
“Medical Necessity Opinions and the Texas HMO Statute,” Texas Medical Association 1995 Annual Meeting, Austin, Texas, Summer 1995.
“Advocacy in Voir Dire,” Denton County Bar Association Spring Civil Litigation Seminar, Lewisville, Texas 1997.
Panel Member, “The Case of the Silent Alarm: A Study In Professionalism,” Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism, South Texas College of Law, Denton, Texas 1999.
“The Basics of Automobile Litigation,” Denton County Bar Association Annual Practice Skills Course, Corinth, Texas 2004.
“Considerations for Litigating an 18 Wheeler Case,” Denton County Trial Lawyers Association, Denton, Texas, February 2005.
“Complex Tort Litigation,” Denton County Legal Assistants Association, June 2009.
Other:
Instructor, Law & Banking, American Institute of Banking, 1986-87.
Adjunct Professor of Law, Banking and Finance, University of North Texas, 1992-93
Guest lecturer, Law & Economics, University of North Texas, 2005-present.
Judge, Association of Trial Lawyers of America National College of Advocacy Student Trial Advocacy Competition, Southwestern Region, 1994-95. Judge, Southern Methodist University Law School – Vial, Hamilton Mock Trial Competition,
Spring 1997. AV Rating, Martindale-Hubble Law Directory.
Life Member, National Registry of Who’s Who
Community Activities:
Member, First United Methodist Church, Denton
Finance Committee, 2002-2006
Secretary, 2003
Vice Chair, 2004
Chair, 2005, 2006
Building Committee, East Wing Project (2004-2006)
FUMC Ford/Maxcy Committee Chairman 2009-2011
FUMC Denton Men’s Ministry, Chairman, 2010
Administrative Board, 2004-present
Board of Trustees, 2010
Board of Governors, Denton Community Theatre, Inc., 1988-1997, 2004-present
President, 1993-95
First Vice President, 1990-92, 1995-97
Secretary, 1988-90
Volunteer, Big Brothers & Sisters of Denton, 1991-1993
Volunteer, Greater Denton Arts Council, 1990-Present
Volunteer, Denton YMCA, 1990-91
Board of Directors, Sanger Arts Council, 1996-97
Charter Member, Sanger Rotary Club (currently inactive)
Board of Trustees, Selwyn School 1999-2001
Sanger Education Foundation, 2005-present
President, 2005-2009
Vice President of Administration, 2009-2010
City of Denton, Legal Business of the Year 2007
Sanger Lions Club (2008-present)
City of Sanger, 4(b) Economic Development Board, 2008-present
Denton County Lake Ray Roberts Planning and Zoning Board, 2009-present
Significant Present / Former Clients:
MBank, Denton (now BankOne)
First State Bank of Texas (now Wells Fargo)
Abraham Cattle Company, Memphis TN
Denton County, Texas
City of Denton, Texas
City of Lewisville, Texas
Matthews Southwest
Eagle Mountain Gas Partners
Town & Country Mortgage
Scott Brown Properties
Institutional Securities Corporation
Trial and Appellate Opinions:
In re J-W Gathering Co., Not Reported in S.W.3d, 2009 WL 3416436, Tex.App.-Fort Worth, October 20, 2009 (No. 2-09-364-CV).
Hill v. Anderson, Slip Copy, 2009 WL 2382794, , E.D.Tex., July 31, 2009 (No. 4:07CV315).
In re Newell, Not Reported in S.W.3d, 2008 WL 4938316, Tex.App.-Fort Worth, November 20, 2008 (No. 2-08-418-CV).
Pipes v. Pipes, Not Reported in S.W.3d, 2008 WL 2639481, Tex.App.-Fort Worth, July 03, 2008 (No. 2-07-346-CV).
Ortegren v. City of Denton, Not Reported in S.W.3d, 2006 WL 495387, Tex.App.-Fort Worth, March 02, 2006 (No. 2-05-177-CV).
Leeper v. Woodrick, Not Reported in S.W.3d, 2005 WL 1475614, Tex.App.-Fort Worth, June 23, 2005 (No. 2-04-371-CV).
Millard & Assoc., L.P. v. Chief Holdings, LLC, Not Reported in S.W.3d, 2004 WL 1800464, Tex.App.-Fort Worth, August 12, 2004 (No. 2-04-164-CV).
Krell v. Smith, Not Reported in S.W.3d, 2003 WL 22147556, Tex.App.-Fort Worth, September 18, 2003 (No. 2-02-417-CV).
Texas Department of Transportation v. Tony R. Anderson, et. al., Not Reported in S.W.3d, 2002 WL , Tex. App.- Fort Worth, March 28, 2002 (No. 2-98-383-CV).
Becton Dickinson and Co. v. Usrey, 57 S.W.3d 488, 2001 WL 921459, Tex.App.-Fort Worth, August 16, 2001 (No. 2-00-052-CV).
Medina v. State, 986 S.W.2d 733, 1999 WL 32989, Tex.App.-Amarillo, January 27, 1999 (No. 07-98-0054-CR).
Preferred Risk Mut. Ins. Co. v. Watson, 937 S.W.2d 148, 1997 WL 8421, Tex.App.-Fort Worth, January 09, 1997 (No. 2-95-188-CV).
Streetman v. Benchmark Bank, 890 S.W.2d 212, 1994 WL 700902, Tex.App.-Eastland, December 15, 1994 (No. 11-93-221-CV).
Coleman v. Dupree, et. al., Not Reported in S.W.3d, 1994 WL 8614, Tex. App.- Dallas, January 7, 1994, (No. 05-92-00962-CV).
Cole v. Gabriel, 822 S.W.2d 296, 1991 WL 284145, Tex.App.-Fort Worth, December 31, 1991 (No. 2-90-298-CV).
Lewis v. A.H. Belo Corp., 818 S.W.2d 856, 1991 WL 213141, 19 Media L. Rep. 1566, Tex.App.-Fort Worth, October 22, 1991 (No. 2-90-126-CV).
First State Bank of Denton v. Maryland Cas. Co., 918 F.2d 38, 1990 WL 174682, 31 Fed. R. Evid. Serv. 998, C.A.5 (Tex.), November 29, 1990 (No. 90-4089).
Notable Recent Verdicts and Settlements:
$2,400,000.00 gross recovery against trucking company and driver, Glenn Patrick O’Dell v. Arthur Roy McGee; Frank Bartel Transportation, Inc.; DOT Leasing, Inc.; and Steve Bartel, Cause No. 2003-50220-367, 367th District Court, Denton County, TX. Date: 2/14/2005.
Successful defense of home rule municipality in wrongful death case resulting in take-nothing judgment in favor of city. Robert Ortegren and Eva Marie Hennicke, individually and as next friend of Ariana N. Ortegren, a minor,and on behalf of the statutory beneficiaries of Robert T. Ortegren, Deceased, Plaintiffs, v. City of Denton, Texas, Defendants, Cause No. 2002-30205-211, in the 211th District Court of Denton County, Texas. Date: 3/2/2006.
$2,500,000 gross recovery against estate of the driver of an automobile that negligently caused the death of the plaintiffs’ father. Josie Rivera, as next of friend of minors, Christopher and Ariel Rivera;Jennifer Rivera and Stephanie Rivera, Individually and as representatives of the Estate of David Rivera, deceased Plaintiff vs. The Estate of Ronald Lee Jensen, Defendant, Cause No. 2006-60180-393 393rd District Court, Denton County, TX. Date: 7/12/2006.
$1,900,000 gross recovery for a city worker critically injured while repairing an intersection signal light. Enrique J. Villagomez v. David Owen Frisby,Hurricane Waste Systems, LLC, a/k/a Hurricane Waste System, LLC, Hurricane Waste Systems and Hurricane Transportation, Cause No. 2005-60283-393 393rd District Court, Denton County, Texas. Date: 3/7/2007.
Confidential settlement of children’s claims for the wrongful death of their father. Cynthia Johnson, f/k/a Cynthia Green, as next friend of Kristopher Michael Green, a Minor; and Whitney Lee Green, individually and as representative of the Estate of Michael Edwin Green, Deceased, Plaintiffs, v. Robert William Lowrie and Lott Surplus Materials, Inc., Defendants. Cause No. E-178,823, in the 172nd District Court of Jefferson County, Texas. Date: February 2008.
Successful resolution of complex litigation claims involving multiple suits between family members over multimillion dollar probate estate. Some of the many lawsuits involved include: Re: In the Guardianship of Kathryn H. Gibbs, An Incapacitated Person; Cause No. GA-2001-196, in the Probate Court of Denton County, Texas, including multiple ancillary cases; Re: In the Matter of the Guardianship of Kathryn Houseworth Gibbs, An Incapacitated Person, Cause No. 02-05-00143-CV in the 2nd Court of Appeals of Texas; Re: In the Matter of the Guardianship of Kathryn Houseworth Gibbs, An Incapacitated Person, Cause No. 02-05-00460-CV in the 2nd Court of Appeals of Texas; Re: Estate of Bert Gibbs, Deceased; Cause No. 05-126-2 in the Probate Court of Tarrant County, Texas. Date: June 2008.
$3,684,000 gross jury verdict (including stipulated damages) ultimately resulting in $784,000.00 judgment for securities firm and individual registered investment advisor against company and individuals for business torts and defamation. Terry L. Hill and Institutional Securities Corporation, Plaintiffs, v. Thomas W. Anderson, RSGroup Trust Company, A.J. Walker, and Retirement Systems Distributors, Inc., Defendants, Cause No. 4:07CV315, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division. Date: July 31, 2009.