Richard A. Sheehy

Richard A. Sheehy

Senior Counsel

Mr. Sheehy is a founding shareholder of the firm, and has been with the firm continuously since it was formed in 1985. Prior to that time, he practiced law as a member of the litigation section of a major firm in Houston. Currently, he is President of the firm, and is head of the appellate section. He has represented clients on both sides of the docket in over 150 cases in the appellate courts, including cases in the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Texas Supreme Court, and the Texas Courts of Appeals. Many of these cases are considered the leading authorities in Texas on the issues presented in the appeal. He is the author of a number of papers on topics related to civil trial and appellate law, and is a frequent speaker to various professional groups. He has lectured at a local law school, college, and high school. Mr. Sheehy is board certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Mr. Sheehy also has an active and varied trial practice. He has served as regional counsel for companies involved in national products liability litigation. He has extensive experience in the defense of mass tort litigation, civil rights cases against municipalities, and professional malpractice claims against doctors and lawyers. He has handled some of the leading cases on First Amendment rights in Texas, including disputes over public access to judicial proceedings and the reporters’ privilege. Lawyers from both sides of the docket consult with him on a regular basis on complex legal issues. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Mr. Sheehy is also committed to the community. He has served on the Boards of several schools and charitable organizations, and is an active member of his Church.

Community Activities

  • Board of Trustees, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory (1998-2004)
  • Board of Trustees, Houston Preparatory Academy (1989-1995)
  • Board of Trustees, Texas Institute for Arts in Education (1990-1994)
  • Board of Directors, Houston Chapter Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (1996-2002)
  • Friends of the Houston Public Library
  • Friends of the Houston Zoo
  • Life Member, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
  • Lay reader, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

Contact Richard A. Sheehy




Areas of Practice

Publications and Seminars

  • Annual Survey of Texas Asbestos Law (National Client Seminar, October 2009)
  • Calculation of Damages and Attorneys’ Fee in Catastrophic Cases (State Bar of Texas medical Malpractice Seminar, March 2009)
  • Overview of Texas Asbestos Law (National Client Seminar, August 2008)
  • Preserving Error (U.H. Law Foundation: Advanced Civil Litigation 2006)
  • The 2005 FAIR Act (National Client Conference 2005)
  • Preparing a Witness for Depositions and Trial (U.H. Law Foundation: Litigation and Trial Tactics 2003, 2004)
  • Preparing a Witness for Depositions (U.H. Law Foundation: Advanced Civil Discovery 2002)
  • The Discharge in Bankruptcy in Latent Disease Cases (FOR THE DEFENSE at 69, August 2001)
  • Developing Your Case (South Texas: How to Win at Trial with a Financial Expert 2000)
  • Daubert/Robinson/Havner Update(South Texas Advanced Civil Trial Law Conference 1999)
  • Depositions Under the New Rules (Civil Discovery Under the New Rules 1998, 1999)
  • Evidence Update (Advanced Personal Injury Law Conference 1998)
    The Joint Defense Privilege (Chemical Manufacturers Association 1997)
    Special Problems When Using Experts (Advanced Civil Trial Conference 1997)
    1996 Texas Supreme Court Update (Advanced Civil Trial Seminar for Legal Assistants 1996)
    Oral Depositions in Texas: Practical Issues (Second Annual Discovery Practice Conference 1996)
    Issues in Expert Testimony(HBA Trial Practice & Procedures Institute 1996)
    Expert Witnesses:Hot Issues (Advanced Civil Trial Law 1996)
    Objections to Evidence (Texas Association of Defense Counsel 1995)
    Legal Issues (ACE Accreditation 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
    Trial Training with the Masters: Objections to the Charge (South Texas College of Law 1995)
    Ethical Considerations for Today’s Trial Lawyer (Advanced Strategies in Obtaining and Using Evidence 1993, 1994)
    Professional Liability(HBA Wills & Probate Institute 1993)
    Organizing, Preparing and Presenting Evidence (Trial Issues 1991)
    Suing and Defending Government Agencies (HBA Continuing Legal Education 1990)
    Disclosure from Government Agencies (U.H. DAILY COUGAR 1990)
    Professionalism(Advanced Personal Injury Law Course 1989)
  • Tortious Interference:Lawyers as Targets (HBA Continuing Legal Education 1989)
  • Deposition Techniques (Civil Litigation 1988, 1989, 1990)
  • Recent Developments under Texas Rules of Evidence (Civil Litigation 1988, 1989, 1990)
  • Submission of the Charge in Texas (Advanced Civil Litigation 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988)
  • Devices for Exclusion of Evidence (How to Offer and Exclude Evidence 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986)
  • Private Nonracial Discrimination Under 42 U.S.C. Section 1985(3) (University of Virginia School of Law 1978)
  • Successfully represented the petitioner before the Supreme Court of the United States in Henderson v. United States, 517 U.S. 654 (1996). Mr. Sheehy argued the case before the Court. He was hired to represent the petitioner after the Court of Appeals rejected petitioner’s argument on the application of the service provision of the Suits in Admiralty Act.
  • Successfully represented the hospital in three leading cases before the Texas Supreme Court on hospital liability. Miller ex rel. Miller v. HCA Inc., 118 S.W.3d 758 (Tex. 2003) (Court rejects liability for hospital that refused to withhold treatment for child born alive but prematurely after significant jury verdict against hospital); Romero v. KPH Consolidation, 166 S.W.2d 212 (Tex. 2005) (Court rejects liability for hospital for malicious credentialing of doctor); Payne v. Galen Hospital Corp., 28 S.W.3d 15 (Tex. 2000) (Court affirms no liability for hospital for injury to nurse). He is considered a leading expert in Texas on the new medical malpractice legislation, especially in the field of compliance with statutory requirements for expert reports.
  • Represented newspapers in the first cases in Texas on public right of access to judicial proceedings. These cases involved emergency petitions for writ of mandamus in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Houston Chronicle Publishing Company v. McMaster, 598 S.W.2d 864 (Tex. Crim. App. 1980) (en banc); Houston Chronicle Publishing Company v. Shaver, 630 S.W.2d 927 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982) (en banc).Mr. Sheehy also successfully represented a television station in the first case in Texas on the reporter’s privilege. Channel Two Television Company v. Dickerson, 725 S.W.2d 470 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1987, orig. proceeding). Represented landowners on appeal in a case involving damage to land after a pipeline explosion. This case is one of the only cases in Texas in which an appellate court affirmed an award of punitive damages. Seminole Pipeline Co. v. Broad Leaf Partners, 979 S.W.2d 730 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 1998, no pet.)
  • Acted as regional counsel for Dow Corning Corporation in litigation involving claims of personal injury allegedly sustained as a result of the use of breast implants. The firm was responsible for more cases than any other firm in the country. Mr. Sheehy served on the company’s national products liability litigation team.

Education

  • University of Virginia, (J.D., 1978)
  • University of Virginia, (B.A., with high distinction, Physics and Speech Communications, 1975)

Legal Memberships

  • State Bar of Texas
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association (Chairman, Litigation Section 1986-87)
  • Texas Association of Defense Counsel
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Bar Association for the Fifth Circuit
  • Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
  • Fellow, Houston, Bar Association

Honors and Awards

  • Texas Super Lawyer
  • Board Certified: Civil Appellate Law
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Omicron Delta Kappa
  • Water Polo (All-State 1971-1973)
  • Distinguished Student Award (University of Virginia 1978)

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States District Courts for the Western, Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas