I am a native of Frederick, Oklahoma. I received a Bachelor of Science and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Oklahoma where I was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and elected its President in my senior year. I proudly served on active duty with the 101st Airborne Division. I am designated a Senior Trial Lawyer by the Department of the Army.
In my private law practice, I have served as a City Councilman, a City Attorney and a District Attorney. I understand municipal and local law.
Always continuing my education, I was accepted for advance law degree studies by the Dedman School of Law, Southern Methodist University and, in 1988, received the Master of Laws degree in Labor.
In addition to being instrumental in numerous hard-fought union campaigns, I have been lead trial counsel in many complex disputes across the country. I was privileged to be a partner in “big-law” for many years.
I am married and the father of six children-whom joyfully occupy what little free time I have. My wife, Elizabeth, and I are certified instructors in Tai Chi.
I am yet to be perfectly polished.
Community Involvement
Adjunct Professor of Law.
• Member – Highland Park United Methodist Church.
• Former Member of the Board of Directors, Fossil Rim and Dallas Challenge.
• Greater Dallas Asian Chamber of Commerce [former “Member of the Year”].
• Life Member, Military Order of the World Wars.
• Life Member, 101st Airborne Division Association [HHC Vietnam].
Biggest Influences
• My Father, Rex Curtis. For years a retail merchant, he adopted the Pelican as his logo because, he said, the Pelican feeds its young with its own blood when there is nothing else to eat. The Pelican, he said, exemplifies customer service – so, he always told me “give it all you have.” Thank you Pop for teaching me that the customer comes first. In my practice, the client (my customer) comes first.
• Our High School Coach, Dean Wild, who during the 50’s and 60’s, among many other accomplishments, single-handedly integrated innumerable cafes and restaurants – because he believed that all students should have a chance to work together, eat together and enjoy sports together without regard to their race or national origin. I was pleased to attend Coach Wild’s induction into the Jim Thorpe Hall of Fame. Thank you Coach Wild for teaching me that each of us deserve a chance.
Representative Sample of Publications and Speeches
“Women in the Workplace,” Junior League of Dallas.
• “Employment Rights and Benefits,” TEXPERS, Houston, Texas.
• “OSHA Practice and Procedure,” National Business Institute, Dallas, Texas.
• “Labor Relations Law,” Texas Wesleyan School of Law.
• “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace,” NAEP, Dallas, Texas.
• “Causes of Action and the FLSA,” NBI, Dallas, Texas.
• “Skirting the Coercion Land Mine,” Dynamic Manager.
• “Appearance Policies,” KRLD Business Law Brief.
• “Marginal Employees,” Managing Workplace Conflict.
• “White Collar Addictions,” USA Today.
• “When Employees Sue Customers,” HRWire.
• “Getting an Employee to Shape Up or Ship Out,” bCentral.com.
• “Talk Ain’t Cheap,” Managing Workplace Conflict.
• “FMLA in Court,” Ft. Worth Business Press.
• “Discipline for Off-Duty Misconduct,” Managing Workplace Conflict.
• “Recognize, Respond to Signs of Sinking Supervisor,” Managing Workplace Conflict.
• “Differentiate Independent Contractors from Employees,” Managing Workplace Conflict.
• “Don’t Cross The Legal Line During Employee Interviews,” Managing Workplace Conflict.
• “Independent Contractor? Beware the Eye of the Beholder,” Ft. Worth Business Press.
• “Successfully Engage and Emerge From Union Negotiations,” Managing Workplace Conflict.
• “Learning Lessons From Jayson Blair,” Ft. Worth Business Press.
Distinctions
MEMBER (by election), American Law Institute [http://www.ali.org] FELLOW (by election), College of Labor & Employment Law [http://www.laborandemploymentcollege.org] BOARD CERTIFIED, Labor and Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Certified Senior Professional (by examination), in Human Resources (SPHR) The Society of Human Resources Management
Peer-Rated “ AV-Preeminent ” [Highest rating by Martindale Hubble] Consistently recognized as a TEXAS SUPER LAWYER and a TOP LAWYER IN TEXAS by Texas Monthly
Professional Memberships
• Member, Texas, Oklahoma and Dallas Bar Associations
• Member, College of the State Bar of Texas
• Member, State of Texas Pro Bono College
• Member, Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism
• Elected Member, American Law Institute,
• Advisory Committee Member, Restatement of the Law Third, Employment Law
• Elected Member, College of Labor & Employment Law
