Jeffrey L. DorrellPartner
1955 - 2021
Sadly, Jeffrey L. Dorrell, a board-certified lawyer of distinction with literally hundreds of appeals bearing his name, including a remarkable reversing victory at the United States Supreme Court, left us this week. At Hanszen Laporte, Jeff was our longtime partner, highly regarded colleague, and dear friend. To those who knew him, he was a uniquely brilliant individual for whom the most arcane point of procedure was still worthy of a second look and his library was littered with well-worn reference books full of jurisprudential insight. He also enjoyed a robust sense of humor and, although his television viewership appeared to stop at “Seinfeld,” his shrewd and insightful mind stayed well current as to politics and law, which fascinated him greatly.
Jeff fought the good fight with cancer for the past 3+ years; a fight that may have provided him with some temporary victories but ultimately was unwinnable. The disease is, of course, horribly unfair, but Jeff fought it with ever-present good humor and resilience, always believing that if he kept on fighting, victory and health were right around the corner. Alas, it was not to be. Ultimately, the endless painful fight was too much and, after years of treatments, medications, and hospital stays, Jeff knew it was time to let go. He did so with dignity and graciousness, as he had always lived.
Here at the firm, we will miss Jeff, his intellect, his brilliance, his laughter, and his friendship. We hope there is a more worthy audience at his next trial.
Godspeed.
Fiat justitia, ruat cælum. (“Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”)
ancient Latin legal maxim
Education:
- J.D. — University of Houston, 1991
- B.B.A. — University of Texas, 1977
Credentials:
- Board Certified in Civil Trial Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- AV Preeminent — Martindale–Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
Admissions:
- All Courts of the State of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (New York)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi)
- U.S. Supreme Court
Federal
- Husky Int'l Elecs., Inc. v. Ritz, U.S., 136 S.Ct. 1581, 194 L.Ed.2d 655 (2016).
- Husky Int'l Elecs., Inc. v. Ritz, F.3d (5th Cir. 2016) (On remand from the Supreme Court of the United States).
- FDIC v. Bakkebo, 506 F.3d 286 (4th Cir. 2007).
- Mbaba v. Société Air France, 457 F.3d 496 (5th Cir. 2006), cert. denied, 127 S. Ct. 959, 166 L.Ed.2d 706.
- Renoir v. Hantman's Assocs., 230 Fed. Appx. 357 (5th Cir. 2007).
- Bayway Refining Co. v. Oxygenated Mktg. & Trading, A.G., 215 F.3d 219 (2nd Cir. 2000).
Texas
- Clint Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Marquez, 487 S.W.3d (Tex. 2016).
- In re Does, 337 S.W.3d 862 (Tex. 2011) (orig. proceeding).
- Vasquez v. Legend Nat. Gas III, L.P., 492 S.W.3d 448 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2016, pet. filed).
- Johnson-Todd v. Morgan (Johnson-Todd II), 480 S.W.3d 605 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2015, pet. denied).
- Johnson-Todd v. Morgan (Johnson-Todd I), 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 4904 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2015, pet. denied).
- Grijalva v. Bally Total Fitness Corp., 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 3277 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2015, no pet.).
- Rauhauser v. McGibney, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 13290 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2014, no pet.).
- Palma v. Chribran Company, LLC, 327 S.W.3d 866 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2010, no pet.).
- Ryan v. Rosenthal, 314 S.W.3d 136 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010,pet. denied).
- Galindo v. Prosperity Partners, Inc., 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 1383 (Tex. App.—Austin 2009, no pet.).
- LeJune v. Pow-Sang, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 2740 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.).
- Johnson v. Felts, 140 S.W.3d 702 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, pet. denied).
- Pina v. Connie Ogg—Insight, Inc., 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 4143 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, pet. denied).