About Us
DWAIN DENT
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
The Dent Law Firm
Attorney
- Founder, The Dent Law Firm, 1990
- Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of Texas and the National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Extensive Healthcare Pharmaceutical and General Tort Claims Representation
- Admitted, U. S. District Court, Northern Division
- Admitted, U. S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
- Admitted, U. S. Supreme Court
EDUCATION
- 1973 B.A. Texas Christian University – Fort Worth, Texa
- 1976 L.L.B. St. Mary’s University School of Law – San Antonio, Texas
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES & RECOGNITIONS
Appointed, U. S. Congressional Judiciary Advisory Committee
Northern District of Texas, 2013
Appointed, U. S. Congressional Judiciary Advisory Committee
Northern District of Texas, 1995
St. Mary’s School of Law Distinguished Alumni, 2012
Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist, 2011
Public Justice Foundation, Washington D.C.
State District Advisory Committee for District 90 on State Insurance Law Revision
Speaker to State Bar and various legal and medical groups
Recognized, Texas Monthly Magazine – Super Lawyers 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Recognized, Fort Worth, Texas Magazine – Top Tarrant County Lawyer, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Recognized Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Texas—American Trial Lawyers Association 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Recognized, Preeminent Lawyers of America by Martindale Hubbell, 2000 to present
Recognized, Who’s Who in American Law, 1986 to present
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Civil Courts Building Advisory Committee, Tarrant County, Texas, 2008 – Present
Board of Directors, Texas Trial Lawyers Association 1989-2002
Texas State Delegate, Association of Trial Lawyers of America 1999-2000
Life Membership Designee, Association of Trial Lawyers of America
President’s Club, American Association for Justice
Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Membership limited to trial lawyers who have won a verdict or settlement of One Million Dollars or more.
Member, Tarrant County Bar Association
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Member, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Foundation
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Founder and Board of Director, Spencer B. Dent Memorial Foundation—501(c) dedicated to youth sport activities, 1995 – Present
Board of Director/Little League Coach, West Side Little League
Former Board of Director/Coach, Ridglea Roughnecks Pee Wee Football Association
Historic Preservation Council for Tarrant County, 1992 Recipient Pedestal Award, 2005 Steward Award
Member, United States Supreme Court Historical Society
Weekly Radio Host/Legal Commentator, KRLD 1080AM Radio Dallas-Fort Worth, The Loftin and Dent Show, 1996-2004
Legal Analyst, Fox 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, 2004 – Present
SIGNIFICANT CASE INVOLVEMENT
Pharmaceutical Cases:
Crystal Lutz v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, February 1986, 352nd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Michael Swatsell vs. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, February 1986, 352nd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Jennifer Strittmatter v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, March 1986, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Daniel Sturman v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, March 1986, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Michael D. Tatum v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, March 1988, 352nd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Alice & Joe Hernandez v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, January 1995, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Rose Doskosil v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, January 1995, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Gary and Katherine Mills v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, January 1995, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
David and Lori Nelson v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, January 1995, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Brinkley Eskew v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, January 1995, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Juan and Manuela Coronado v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, December 1997, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Manuela Coronado v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, December 1997, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Christopher Brite v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, June 2002, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Kimberley Dunn v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, June 2002, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Eddie Jackson v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, June 2002, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Bret Lovelady v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, June 2002, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Lanisha Powell v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, June 2002, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
Jacque White v. O’Neal, Jones & Feldman Pharmaceuticals, June 2002, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas
100 S.W.3d 582 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2003), 2-02-373, In re Fort Worth Children’s Hosp.—Hospital ordered to provide the names of all infants who received the vitamin supplement E-Ferol while patients a Cooks in 1984 so parents could be informed
Federal District Court Opinions on Class Action:
Victoria Klein and Ashley Swadley v. O’Neal, Inc., et al., June 2003, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Cause No. 7-03-CV-102-D—E-Ferol class-action lawsuit.
Victoria Klein and Ashley Swadley v. O’Neal, Inc., et al., 705 F. Supp.2d 632, 2010 WL 1435161(N.D. Tex, Apr. 9, 2010)
$110 million class action settlement against the manufacturer of an intravenous vitamin E supplement called E-Ferol that was responsible for the death of 43 infants and causing brain damage to 23 in the class of 369 recipients. E-Ferol was placed on the market in November, 1983, without any FDA approval or testing and was recalled after four months. The parents of the deceased infants and the recipient themselves, who are a part of a medical monitoring class, were not aware that they had received E-Ferol since it was included in the intravenous infant formula that was given to premature infants to prevent visual imparity and blindness. The emulsifier in the product, polysorbate 80, was later discovered to have caused liver damage and the destruction of platelets which resulted in the injuries and death of E-Ferol class members.
Aviation:
856 F.2d 28 (5th Cir. 1988), In re Air Crash at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport on Aug. 2, 87-1855—severe brain damage mother of two in airline crash
Robert Buckingham vs. Mitsubishi, May 1992, 348th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—airplane crash with multiple deaths
Prince v. Helicopter Consultants of Maui, Inc. d/b/a Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, July 2001, Second Circuit Court, State of Hawaii—helicopter crash causing the death of two 14-year-old girls
87 S.W.3d 139 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2002), 2-02-058, In re Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.—helicopter crash with multiple deaths
Actions Involving Death, Significant Injuries or Statewide Judicial Importance:
Patterson v. The City of Arlington, Texas, 1983, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—death of a child due to city negligence.
Burchman v. The City of Arlington, Texas, 1983, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—severe internal injuries due to city negligence.
Shinn v. The City of Arlington, Texas, 1983, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—irrepreable brain damage due to city negligence
Coleman v. GE, Company, September 1986, 348th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—death of spouse due to defective coffee maker
753 S.W. 2d 779 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1988), 2-87-210, Mendoza v. Ranger Ins. Co.—Plaintiff’s right to a fair and impartial trial—constitutional right
854 F.2d 742 (5th Cir. 1988), 88-2238, Northbrook Nat. Ins. Co. v. Brewer—Amicus Brief supporting injured workers right to state court trial
Alley v. Eagle Crest Apartments & Balcor Property Management, Inc., September 1989, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—shooting death of a college student
776 S.W.2d 812 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1989), 2-89-139, City of Bedford v. Schattman—child severely crushed at crosswalk by City of Bedford truck driver
Tennessen v. Resurrection Paint Co., Inc., November 1990, 48th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—significant acid burn at construction site
873 S.W.2d 379 (Tex. 1994), 94-0198, State ex rel. Curry v. Walker—gunshot to Engineer from over pass by minors, bullet logged in spine area
Martha McDonald v. American Home Products Corp., December 1998, 17th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—pharmaceutical litigation regarding Fen-Phen, permanent heart damage
Matt Moore vs. North American Specialty Insurance Co., December 1998, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—insurance carrier’s refusal to provide nursing care to quadraplegic TCU Football player.
Eager v. YMCA, March 1999, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—15-year-old child drowns in pool with lifeguards on duty and inattentive
Debra Welter v. Apollo Transfer Co., et al., March 1999, 48th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—Plaintiff’s husband killed when ejected from vehicle
Ronald Beck v. State Farm Ins. and Allen Wexler, June 1999, 342nd District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—crane struck by vehicle causing paralysis from chest down
Karen Love, et al. vs. The Hammerblow Corporation, March 2002, 18th District Court, Johnson County, Texas—Spouse was killed when a trailer became disengaged and collided with vehicle.
Juana Burton v. Randy J. Henderson, May 2002, 249th District Court, Johnson County, Texas—Plaintiff paralyzed in an intersection collision.
Cynthia Martin, et al. vs. National Bank of Texas at Fort Worth, December 2003, 249th District Court, Johnson County, Texas—Spouse killed in auto/pedestrian incident.
In re Cisneros, 021507 TXCA 11, 11-06-00290, February 2007, Court of Appeals of Texas, Eleventh District, Eastland—Husband and father of 1 killed in interstate trucking collision. Mandamus action against rural county District Judge.
Marshall and Jamie Lowe v. Glenview Quick Mart, et al., August 2008, 236th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—Sale of alcohol to minor children who ultimately died in tragic car incident.
Royce Bunkley v. Camtech Precision Manufacturing Inc., August 2009, 348th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—Metal plant worker crushed beneath steel plate. Employer grossly negligent
Monique Stallworth v. Slumberjay, May 2012, 127th District Court, Harris County, Texas—Death of driver forced to drive overweight truck on rural roads in thunderstorm. Employer grossly negligent
Donnie and Linda Graves v. Ben E. Keith, September 2012, 141st District Court, Tarrant County, Texas—Plaintiffs’ vehicle struck head-on by a truck crossing the center median on Interstate Highway 20.