Areas of Practice

• Commercial and Business
• Construction Litigation
• Energy and Petrochemical
• OSHA
• Products Liability
• Professional Liability
• Death Care
• Transportation
• Insurance Law

Publications and Seminars

“Getting Control of Your Post – Accident Investigations, Including Dealing with OSHA” (Presentation at 2018 HCA Conference)

“On Edge of Houston, Underground Caverns Store Huge Quantities of Natural Gas Liquids.” Houston Public Media. Dave Fehling, October 19, 2015. Mr. Garnett is featured in a story that was broadcast on National Public Radio on October 19, 2015 about the safety of underground storage caverns in Texas. He discussed the events that led to the 1992 explosion of an underground storage cavern in Brenham, Texas and how the verdict from the lawsuit led to more stringent safety regulations. Here is a link to the story and podcast.

Property Insurance Case Law Update (RSUI Claims Seminar, June 2011)

Ten Worst Jurisdictions in the United States (Presentation to Bermudian Insurers, March 2011)

Taming the E Dragon: Controlling Costs, Avoiding Double Billing & Winning Fee Disputes for Duplicative E-Discovery in Litigation of All Sizes (Council on Litigation Management, March 2010 Conference).

“Surprise: Judge’s Hand out Most Punitive Awards.” Wall Street Journal. Jess Bravin, June 12, 2000. A study by the U.S. Justice Department found that judges award higher punitive damages than juries. Mr. Garnett’s verdict in the Brenham explosion case is featured as an example of a large punitive damage award by a jury.

“Court’s Decision on Blast Damages not Considered a Setback.” The Brenham Banner Press. Arthur Hahn, January 3, 1999. Mr. Garnett is quoted in this news story about the Houston Courts of Appeals decision in the Brenham explosion case: “He considers the appeals court’s ruling a ‘victory’ for his clients.”

“New Ruling Weakens Cap on Damages.” The Wall Street Journal. Mary Flood, November 4, 1998.

Mr. Garnett was asked about the conservatism of Texas appellate courts at the time the Court of Appeals upheld the Brenham explosion case. He replied, “Only one or two in thirty cases of punitive damages awards are upheld because of the high bar from the Supreme Court and the conservative judiciary.”

Trial Tactics (South Texas College of Law 1996).

“Gas Pipeline Companies Want a New Trial.” Bryan-College Station Eagle. Sam Lawrence, March 8, 1996.
Mr. Garnett said that his clients will fight Seminole Pipeline Company’s legal motions to reduce the damages awarded to Mr. Garnett’s clients.

“Firms Told to Pay for Brenham Blast.” Houston Chronicle. George Flynn, February 13, 1996. Mr. Garnett is hopeful that his clients’ victory in the Brenham explosion case will prevent an explosion like this from happening again. Despite opposition to the reopening of the salt dome storage facility, Mr. Garnett said, “residents will never be sure if Seminole will try again to make it operational.”

Garnett and Pletcher, “What You Need to Know to Evaluate a Nonsubscriber Workers’ Compensation Case,” 11 Texas Personal Injury Law Reporter No. 1 (1993).

Insurance Contract Coverage Problems (State Bar of Texas: Advanced Workers’ Compensation Course 1991).

The New Workers’ Compensation Statute (State Bar of Texas: Advanced Workers’ Compensation Course 1990).