Shawn Figari was raised in Beaumont, Texas, and graduated from Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School. Shawn then attended Texas A&M University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science for Economics and a Minor in Business. He then went to law school at the University of Houston Law Center where he was a Case Notes and Comments Editor for the Houston Business and Tax Law Journal.
Shawn is a trial and appellate lawyer that practices in the areas of railroad/transportation litigation, commercial litigation, personal injury defense, and medical malpractice litigation. The issues Shawn works on usually involve complex procedural problems, novel areas of law, or complicated claims surrounding the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR).
Since joining Germer, Shawn has obtained numerous favorable results for the firm’s clients, including:
• Drafting a motion to exclude opinions of an “expert” surgeon designated by a plaintiff in a medical malpractice case. The plaintiff had negligence claims against the treating physician, alleging he violated the standard of care when performing relevant procedures. The trial court granted the physician’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed all the plaintiff’s claims as a result of Shawn’s arguments that the purported expert was not qualified to provide his offered opinions due to the expert’s failure to meet the E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. v. Robinson standards. Harris v. Ordonez, Cause No. B-209376, in the 60th District Court of Jefferson County, Texas. Co-counsel, Toby F. Nash and Laura O’Toole.
• Obtaining, via a special appearance, dismissal of a Federal Employers’ Liability Act claims against a railroad company. The plaintiff sought to prove that the defendant railroad company was subject to personal jurisdiction in Texas for alleged on-the-job injuries that occurred in Louisiana. The defendant railroad company did not have its principal place of business in Texas, nor was it incorporated in Texas. The trial court found that the defendant railroad did not have sufficient minimum contacts with the State to satisfy the requirements for personal jurisdiction and dismissed all the plaintiff’s claims against the railroad. Francis v. The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, et al, Cause No. 2023-06561, previously pending before the 215th District Court of Harris County, Texas. Co-counsel, J. Mitchell Smith.
Outside of the practice of law, Shawn devotes significant time to various charitable causes and organizations. He sits on boards of local charities and is active in his community. For instance, Shawn sits on the Advisory Board of the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. In that role, Shawn helps the museum in a fundraising and advisory capacity. This museum serves a vital role in fostering community, inclusion, and interest in the arts within the region. Shawn also sits on the Executive Committee of United Way of Beaumont & Jefferson County and the executive board of the local Ducks Unlimited chapter.
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
• Allocation Committee of United Way
• Advisory Board for the Art Museum of Southeast Texas
• Co-Chairman CLE Committee, Jefferson County Young Lawyers Committee
• Board Member, Mid-South Ducks Unlimited Chapter
INTERESTS
• Shawn is an avid outdoorsman and passionate about wildlife conservation and the protection of our wild places.
• He also enjoys traveling, trying new food, and spending quality time with his family, friends, and dogs.
