The History of National Trial Law

We have obtained trial judgments and settlements across the country. In Tennessee, our lawyers obtained a trial judgment of $13,690,648 for a Navy family in a medical malpractice birth injury case, with the family recovering $9,183,752 and lifetime benefits after attorneys’ fees and expenses following an appeal. In Washington state, our lawyers obtained a settlement of $10,000,000 for an Army family in another medical malpractice birth injury case with the family recovering $7,384,854 after attorneys’ fees and expenses. From California to Florida, Texas to Minnesota, Oregon to Maine, our results span the United States.

Whitehurst, Harkness, Brees, Cheng, Alsaffar, Higginbotham, and Jacob, PLLC, has twice obtained trial verdicts against Ford Motor Company, in both Texas and Colorado. Both cases were settled for a confidential amount following an appeal affirming the verdicts. Our firm also obtained one of the largest civil rights violation settlements ever under Section 1983, with our clients receiving $6.8 million after attorneys’ fees and expenses.

Our firm has a rich history of public service. Lawyers at the firm have gone on to become a Texas Supreme Court Justice, a Texas Court of Appeals Justice, a U.S. Congressman, a State Senator, and a Mayor of Austin. Our attorneys have served as President of the State Bar of Texas, President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, President of the National American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Foundation, President of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA), President of the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA), President of the Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA), President of the Travis County Women Lawyers Association (TCWLA), and Chair of the Federal Tort Liability and Military Advocacy Section of the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

Coaching the University of Texas Mock Trial Team

National Trial Law has a long history of coaching the University of Texas Mock Trial Team. Currently, Attorney Steven Haspel is the head coach, having succeeded Attorney Tom Jacob several years ago, who in turn succeeded Attorney Jamal Alsaffar.

Founded in 1991, Texas Mock Trial (TMT) is considered “one of the most competitive” mock trial programs in the country. It is nationally famous for creating a unique, hands-on learning environment to empower upcoming generations of litigators on both sides of the courtroom. The Texas Mock Trial Team has brought home numerous trophies throughout the decades and is currently on track to secure another major win in the 2023 American Mock Trial Association tournament under the coaching of Attorney Haspel.

To learn more about Texas Mock Trial, visit https://texasmocktrial.com/. For more information about the American Mock Trial Association competition, which is considered the legal equivalent to the NCAA, visit https://www.collegemocktrial.org/.