Overview
James Parish is a commercial litigator out of Dallas, Texas who understands that outstanding courtroom advocacy needs to be balanced with pragmatism and a focus on achieving quick, cost-effective results that allow clients to get back to business. His approach to all matters is geared towards minimizing risk, articulating realistic expectations, and providing superior client service and results. In his practice, James has represented a variety of Fortune 500 companies across the Gulf states in mass tort, class action, and multi-district litigation. James primarily focuses his practice on legal issues and liability involving sexual assault in therapeutic settings and other industries. James is also experienced and enjoys practicing in a wide array of other cases including contact sport injuries, wrongful death/survivor actions, products liability, premises liability, catastrophic injury, and transportation matters.
A cum laude graduate of Southern Methodist University, James earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center. Outside of the office, James enjoys spending time with his ever-expanding family of nieces and nephews.
James is admitted to practice in all Texas state courts.
Experience
- Assisted in the defense of an international driller in a four-month trial arising from the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history, in which thousands of plaintiffs and federal, state, and local governments were seeking damages under the Clean Water Act and Oil Pollution Act. The client was found not grossly negligent under Clean Water Act and the operator of the well was obligated to indemnify the client for all Oil Pollution Act damages.
- Assisted in the defense of a primary manufacturer of drywall in litigation arising out of defective drywall manufactured in China.
- Assisted in the defense of a paper miller in numerous lawsuits arising out of an illegal discharge of black liquor into a river. The matters were favorably settled prior to trial.
- Assisted in the defense a refinery operator and in climate change litigation. Plaintiffs alleged that defendants were liable in tort for allegedly contributing to global warming through excessive greenhouse gas emissions, which damaged the plaintiffs’ property. Following substantial litigation, the court dismissed the case, which was affirmed on appeal.
- Assisted in the defense of a carbon plant in several lawsuits arising out of allegations that the plant causes a nuisance to surrounding properties. After pre-trial motion practice, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their cases with prejudice without a settlement.
- Assisted in the defense of an offshore operator in reaching a plea agreement with the United States after a fatal explosion occurred on a production platform.
Credentials
Clerkships
- Law Clerk for the Honorable Robert G. James, United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana (2009-2011)
Education
- University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 2009, magna cum laude)
- Southern Methodist University (B.S., 2005, cum laude)
Licensed to Practice in
- Texas
Newsroom
News
Publications
- Proposed Regulations Clarify the Meaning of a Safe Drilling Margin in the OCS, Offshore Magazine, July 2015
- The Macondo Litigation in a Nutshell, LOGA Industry Report, June 2015
-
BP Oil Spill Lessons Learned, Energy Executive, April 2015
Community
Memberships
- State Bar of Texas