There Is No Second Place In A Courtroom

R. Jack Ayres, Jr.

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Practice Areas

  • Commercial Trials & Appeals
  • Personal Injury Trial & Appeals
  • Representation of Professionals
  • Crisis Management

Bar Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Texas
  • Supreme Court of the United States of America
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas

Biography

Jack Ayres is a legendary, "go-to" Texas trial lawyer, battle tested for over 50 years. His concept has and is success-driven: what does my client need and how will I use all of my skills to go get it? During his practice, he has tried over 500 cases and handled over 150 appeals, including major commercial litigation and major personal injury cases.

Beyond his legal background, Mr. Ayres has experience and expertise in the areas of health care and law enforcement. He is a licensed peace officer and paramedic in the State of Texas. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical and Health Science Centers in Dallas and maintains a position on the faculty at Parkland Hospital. Mr. Ayres serves as a national consultant and expert witness for plaintiffs and defendants in emergency medical service protocol and procedure.

His unique blend of knowledge has resulted in 23 public service appointments, including selection by Governor Mark White to the Texas Board of Health and various healthcare task forces, as well as appointment as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas. He has authored five books, many articles and presentations, and made television appearances, including an interview on 60 Minutes.

His "Certified Legal Specialties" needs to be changed to "Certified Legal, Medical & Law Enforcement Specialties." Also all dates should be in a parenthetical and go from initial date to present, for example "Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Civil Trial Law (1993-present)."

Certified Legal, Medical & Law Enforcement Specialties

  • Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Civil Trial Law, 1993
  • Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Personal Injury Trial Law, 1993
  • Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Civil Appellate Law, 1993
  • National Board of Trial Advocacy, Civil Trial Advocacy, 1996
  • Certified Master Peace Officer, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, 2005
  • Permanent License as Texas Peace Officer, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, 1969
  • Lieutenant, Dallas County Hospital District Police Department, Dallas, Texas, 1998

Honors

  • “AV Preeminent” rating by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly Magazine (2002 to Present)
  • National Trial Lawyers, “Top 100 Texas Attorneys” (2012 to Present)
  • America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators (2022 to Present)
  • “Champion of Justice,” Texas Watch (2005 to Present)
  • Named Honorary Fire Chief, Dallas Fire-Rescue Department (2005 to Present)
  • Appointed Member of Advisory Commission on Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Appointed Member of Exam Commission on Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Education

  • Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas
    • J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence - 1971
    • Honors: Dean’s Distinguished List
    • Honors: Harris Honor Society
    • Honors: Order of Barristers
    • Honors: Captain, State and National Moot Court Teams
  • Baylor University, Waco, Texas
    • B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 1970
    • Honors: Dean’s List
    • Honors: Attorney General of the University
    • Honors: Academic/Athletic Scholarship
    • Major: English
    • Major: Oral Communications
    • Major: Psychology

Professional Associations

  • Elected Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates, 1990
  • Elected Fellow and Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 1979
  • Elected Member, The College of the State Bar of Texas, 1995
  • Elected Member, American College of Legal Medicine, 1977
  • Elected Member, American Society of Law and Medicine, 1976
  • Life Member, Baylor Law Review Association
  • Life Member, Baylor Law School Alumni Association
  • Charter Life Fellow, Dallas Bar Foundation, 1991
  • Past President and Director, Baylor Law School Alumni Association
  • Dallas Bar Association, Member
  • Bar Association for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • Baylor Law Review Association, Life Member
  • Baylor Law School Alumni Association, Life Member

Published Works

  • “Legal Aspects of the Care and Treatment of the Critically Ill Patient.” In Critical Care Nursing: Body-Mind-Spirit, 3d Edition. Edited by Camellia Kenner, Cathie Guzzetta and Barbara Dossey. Boston: Little Brown and Company, 1992.
  • “Legal Aspects of the Care and Treatment of the Critically Ill Patient.” In Critical Care Nursing: Body-Mind-Spirit, 2d Edition. Edited by Cornelia Kenner, Cathie Guzzetta and Barbara Dossey. Boston: Little Brown and Company, 1985.
  • “Legal Considerations in Pre-hospital Care.” In Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. Vol. No. 4. Edited by Col. Matthew M. Rice, M.D., Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 1993.
  • “Representing the Seller in a Products Liability Context.” In 1980 SMU Products Liability Institute. Edited by Vincent S. Walkowiak. New York: Matthew Bender & Co., 1980.
  • “Synopsis of Legal Considerations in Pre-hospital Care.” In Emergency Medical Care: A Manual for the Paramedic in the Field. Edited by Leo Schwartz. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Transportation, 1983.
  • “Legal Guide to Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Community Paramedicine for Texas EMS Providers,” April, 2015.
  • “Consent and Confidentiality in EMS: Mistakes that You Shouldn’t Make”; “Don’t be Guilty of Showing Negligence”; Don’t Confuse Roles in the EMS,” In Avoiding Common Prehospital Errors, First Edition, Edited by Benjamin J. Lawner, DO, Corey M. Slovis, MD, Ray Fowler, MD, Paul Pepe, MD, Amal Mattu, MD, and Lisa Marcucci, MD, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2013.
  • Legal Considerations for Texas Emergency Medical Service Providers, University of Texas Southwestern School of Health Professionals (2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2005)
  • “Judicial Nullification of the Right to Trial by Jury by “Evolving” Standards of Appellate Review,” 60 Baylor Law Review 339-489 (2008).
  • “Constructive Fraud and Non-Negligent Misrepresentation,” published by the Southern Methodist University School of Law for the Business Torts and Litigation Institute Seminar, Dallas, Texas, October, 1990.
  • “Current Controversies in Pre-hospital Resuscitation of the Terminally Ill Patient, “ Pre-hospital and Disaster Medicine.” January-March, 1990.
  • “Current Issues and Controversies in Texas Products Liability Litigation,” published by the State Bar of Texas for the Advanced Personal Injury Law Course 2002, Dallas and San Antonio, Texas, July 2002, Houston, August 2002, South Padre Island and Houston, October 2002
  • “Damages in Survival, Wrongful Death and Bystander Claims,” published by the State Bar of Texas for the Thirteenth Annual Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, San Antonio, Texas, July 18, 1997, and Dallas, Texas, July 25, 1997.
  • “Finding the Twelve Without Divine Intervention,” published by the Baylor University School of Law for the Ninth Annual Litigation Institute, Waco, Texas, Houston, Texas, 1997
  • “Practical Perspectives on Cross Examination of the Expert Witness,” published by the Baylor University School of Law for the Eighth Annual Litigation Institute, Waco, Texas, 1995
  • “To Live and Die in Arizona,” Annals of Emergency Medicine, ed. Vol. 22, No. 11, 1993
  • “Litigation of Wrongful Death and Survival Claims in Texas,” published by the Baylor University School of Law for the Fifth Annual Litigation Institute, Waco, Texas, 1992
  • Delta 191: The Dallas Experience,” Emergency Medical Services, 1992
  • “The Practical Use of a Pathologist as an Expert Witness,” Voice for the Defense. Part I (Spring 1992) and Part II, 1992
  • “Litigation of Death and Dying in Texas: Survival, Wrongful Death, and Related Claims,” published by the State Bar of Texas for the Institute Series on Personal Injury and Wrongful Death, Dallas, Texas, 1987
  • “Patient Consent and the Law; Part 1: General Principles,” Journal of Emergency Medical Services. Vol. 5, p. 33, 1980
  • “Law, Psychotherapy and the Duty to Warn: A Tragic Trilogy?” Baylor Law Review. Vol. 27, p. 677, 1975
  • “Removing Another Set of Judicial Blinders: The Case for Increased Information to the Criminal Jury in Sentence Deliberations,” Baylor Law Review. Vol. 22, p. 544, 1970
  • Legal Considerations of Opioid Toxicity for the Toxicologist and the Clinician,” presented to the American College of Medical Toxicology 2018 Seminar in Forensic Toxicology in Dallas, Texas, 2018
  • “Law Versus the Ethical Imperative: When They Are Not the Same,” “Case Histories in EMS Ethics,” and “Drugs, Guns, and Public Policy,” presented to the National Association of EMS Physicians, Winter Meeting, Naples, Florida, 1994
  • “Legal Risks in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care,” “Current Controversies in Pre-Hospital Resuscitation,” and “The Legal Aspects of EMS,” presented to the Emergency Medical Services Association, Fifteenth Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1991
  • “Pre-Hospital and Emergency Department Issues During Cardiac Arrest,” presented to the National Association of EMS Physicians, Sixth Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas, 1990
  • “Current Controversies in Pre-Hospital Emergency Resuscitation of the Terminally Ill Patient,” presented to the Scientific Assembly of the American College of Emergency Physicians, Washington, D.C., 1989
  • “Medical/Legal Aspects of Emergency Resuscitation,” presented to the National Association of EMS Physicians, Seattle, Washington, 1987
  • “The Student’s Legal Rights”; “Weathering the Insurance Crisis” and “Legal and Ethical Implications of Resuscitation,” delivered at the EMS Today Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1986
  • “Handling On-the-Scene Medical Intervener: Avoiding Confrontation and Understanding Risks,” delivered at the EMS Today ‘84 Seminar, San Diego, California, 1984
  • “Liability and Patient Consent,” presented to the National Conference on Legal Aspects of Pre-Hospital Emergency Care, Orlando, Florida, 1981
  • “Liability Aspects of Airport Medical Emergencies,” presented to the American Association of Airport Executives, Annual Conference, Dallas, Texas, 1980
  • “Using Local Legal Counsel on an ‘On Call’ Basis for Dealing with Emergency Field Problems and Other Matters,” delivered at the National Health, Education and Welfare – EMS Symposium and Workshop, Anaheim, California, 1979
  • “Current Medicolegal Issues in EMS,” Texas State Fire Chiefs’ Association, San Marcos, Texas, Via Virtual Meeting, 2020
  • Rescue Me: A Texas Fire Officer’s Guide to Legal Issues in Fire and EMS Operations and Administration,” Flower Mound EMS, 2015
  • “Medical/Legal Aspects of Tactical Operations,” delivered at the Tactical Medic School, DFW Airport, Department of Public Safety, Ft. Worth, Texas, 1996
  • “Current Medical/Legal Issues in Trauma,” “Current Controversies in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care,” and “Trauma Trends ‘92,” delivered at St. Joseph, Missouri, 1992
  • “Senior Panelist for Whistler Mountain Pre-Hospital Care Symposium,” presented to the British Columbia Ambulance Service, delivered at Whistler, British Columbia, 1991
  • “Current Controversies in Pre-Hospital Care,” for the George Washington School of Medicine, delivered at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., 1991
  • “Be Prepared – It’s the 90’s,” delivered at the Fourth Annual Memorial Hospital EMS Conference, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1990
  • “Disaster ‘89: Learning from the Big Ones,” presented to the University of California School of Medicine at San Francisco, Third Annual Emergency Medical Services Conference, San Francisco, California, 1990
  • “Pre-Hospital Resuscitation,” presented to the EMS Association, “Teamwork ‘87” Seminar of the Florida, Pensacola, Florida, 1987
  • “Resuscitation in the Pre-Hospital Setting: Should We Resuscitate Everyone?” delivered at the Gulf Coast Educational Conference, Mobile, Alabama, 1986
  • “Legal Aspects of Immediate Care of the Sick and Injured,” presented to the Washington State Medical Association, Harborview Medical Trauma Center and the Seattle Fire Department, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1983
  • “Legal Aspects of Emergency Medical Services,” presented to the Western Ohio Emergency Medical Services Council, Dayton, Ohio, 1983
  • “Practical Considerations of State Legislation for Emergency Medical Services,” presented to the United States Department of Health, Regional Conference, Education and Welfare, Charleston, West Virginia, 1978
  • “Legal Aspects of Emergency Department Care,” presented to the North Alabama Emergency Medical Services Agency, Southern Regional Conference on Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Huntsville, Alabama, 1981

Legal & Medical Faculty Teaching

  • Jaworski Fellow, Distinguished Instructor in Trial Advocacy, Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas
  • Adjunct Faculty, Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas
  • Faculty, State Bar of Texas Professional Development and Continuing Legal Education Program
  • Faculty, “Masters in Trial” Series, American Board of Trial Advocates
  • Faculty, Dallas Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Program
  • Clinical Professor of Hospital Administration and Emergency Medical Education, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
  • Clinical Professor of the Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
  • Continuing Education Faculty, Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas
  • Faculty, Regional Disaster Nurse Cadre Training, American Red Cross, Dallas, Texas
  • Instructor, American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support Series, Medical City Dallas Hospital, Dallas, Texas
  • Guest Lecturer, Texas Woman’s University School of Nursing, Dallas, Texas
  • Continuing Education Faculty, Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, Dallas, Texas
  • National Faculty on Advanced Cardiac Life Support Subcommittee on Emergency Cardiac Care, American Heart Association
  • Guest Lecturer, Southwestern Medical School, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
  • Director, Emergency Legal Assistance Program, Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas
  • Legal Advisor, UT Southwestern BioTel EMS System, Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas
  • Member, Board of Directors, University Emergency Medical Response Program, University of Texas at Dallas
  • Editorial Board, Pre-Hospital and Disaster Medicine (Medicine Pre-Hospital ere Medicine de Catastrophe)
  • Special Counsel, National Association of EMS Physicians

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Secretary, General Counsel, and Member, Executive Board of Directors, Friends of the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department, Inc. (1994 to Present)
  • Member, Citizens for a Qualified Judiciary, Dallas, Texas. (1992 to Present)
  • Member, Greater Dallas Crime Commission. (1991 to Present)
  • Elected Charter Member, I Stand for Parkland Chevron Society (2017 to Present)
  • Member, Advisory Board, Friends of Wednesday’s Child (2008 to 2012)
  • Senior Warden and Member of the Vestry, Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Dallas, Texas (1991 to 1994)
  • Member, Board of Directors, Homeward Inc., AIDS/ARMS Network, Dallas, Texas (1988 to 1992)
  • Member, Legal/Ethical Task Force, Dallas County Commission on AIDS (1987 to 1992)
  • Member, Texas Board of Health, Appointed by Governor Mark White (1985 to 1989)
  • Chairman, Emergency and Disaster Committee, Texas Board of Health (1985 to 1989)
  • Member, Governor’s Task Force on Aero-Medical Transportation and Treatment of the Critically Ill (1986 to 1989)
  • Consultant in Law and Medicine, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Fire Academy, Emittsville, Maryland (1983 to 1988)
  • Chairman, Joint Committee on Inter-Professional Relations, Dallas County Medical Society and Dallas Bar Association (1977 to 1980)

Current Employment Positions

  • Shareholder