Russell Briggs 

Contact Russ Briggs

(713) 751-0025
(888) 751-7050 (Toll Free)
(713) 751-0030 (Fax)
 

Native Texan, National Lawyer

Russ Briggs is a native of Beaumont, Texas, the son of two teachers. Focusing on athletics in his youth, he received a basketball scholarship from Southwestern University, in Georgetown Texas. Russ graduated from Southwestern with a B.A. in Political Science in 1982, and attended law school at South Texas College of Law in Houston.

Personal Injury Trial Attorney

A lawyer at age 24, Russ began working with the trial firm of Leebron & Robinson, where he concentrated on representing the rights of the injured worker.  Russ became Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1990.  Russ founded The Briggs Law Firm in 1996 and tried many cases with an emphasis on automobile injury litigation. In 2000, he joined Fibich, Hampton, & Leebron as a trial attorney and continued to represent citizens in all areas of personal injury litigation, including pharmaceutical litigation, product liability, admiralty and maritime cases, commercial litigation, automobile litigation, and premises liability cases.

Fibich Hampton’s nationwide specialty in pharmaceutical litigation continues to flourish. Russ was very active in Ephedra Diet Supplement litigation, maintaining memberships on the In Re Nutraquest Plaintiff's Steering Committee; the Twin Lab Plaintiff Liaison Committee; the Metabolife Plaintiff Liaison Committee; the NVE Liaison Committee; and the In Re Ephedra Litigation PCC fee and expense committee. Russ has spoken at seminars concerning his experience in the Ephedra litigation, and is recognized as a leader in the eventual nationwide settlement of the litigation.

Pharmaceutical litigation specialty

Fibich Hampton is currently active in the national Gadolinium based contrast agent products liability litigation. This litigation concerns kidney impaired individuals across the country who received MRI's or MRA's and now suffer from a debilitating disease known as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis ("NSF"). Russ has been appointed by Judge Dan Polster, U.S. District Judge, Northern District of Ohio, to the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee in the nationwide Multi District Litigation which coordinates all Gadolinium litigation across the country.

In addition to being lead trial counsel on his cases, Russ also represents his clients successfully post verdict, and has a number of published opinions sustaining jury verdicts, including: Otis Elevator v. Shows, 822 S.W.2d 59 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st. Dist] 1991, writ denied); Jamar v. Patterson, 910 S.W.2d 118 (Houston [14th Dist.] 1995, writ denied); Harris County v. Smoker, 934 S.W.2d 714 (Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, writ denied); Byrd v. Estate of Nelms, 154 S.W.3d 149 (Tex. App. - Waco 2004, review denied).

Leading trial advocate

As a result of his extensive trial work experience, Russ is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates ("ABOTA"), recognized as one of the nation's premier trial lawyer organizations with the goal of preserving the American jury trial system.  Russ is also a Houston Bar Foundation Fellow as recognized by the Houston Bar Association, a recognized Texas Super Lawyer (by Thomson Reuters) in 2009 and 2010, a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and a member of the American Association for Justice.

Active in family & community

Russ is happily married to Rebekah Briggs, and they live in Katy, Texas.  They have two children, Jessica and Amanda Briggs.  Jessica, age 24, is a third year medical student at The John Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.   Jessica graduated as co-valedictorian from Katy Taylor High School, and then graduated from the  University of Texas Plan II Honors Program prior to attending Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.   She has focused her medical education on public medicine and the daily hands on treatment of patients, and has studied and worked in Kenya and in Thailand to prepare her for her medical career.

Amanda, age 21, is a Junior at Louisiana State University.  She received an academic scholarship to LSU and is enrolled in the Honor’s program.  She has made the Dean’s list in each of her college semesters.   Amanda is majoring in political communications and she minors in Dance.   Amanda graduated from Katy Taylor High School where she was the Colonel and contributing choreographer  of the award winning Taylor Pacesetter’s dance team.  Amanda earned Texas High School All State recognition for her dance abilities and leadership.

Russ is a Deacon and bible study class director at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and enjoys running marathons and half marathons when possible.  He has run races in 18 different states and enjoys the competition.

In trial work and in his personal life, Russ tries to live by the creed: “So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step.” 1 Corinthians 9:26.

    

Areas of Practice:

95% Personal Injury Trial law
5% Commercial Litigation

Litigation Percentage:

95% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Certification/Specialties:

Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1990

Bar Admissions:

Texas, 1985
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1986
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1986
U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1986
U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1986
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1994

Education:

South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, 1985
J.D.
Honors: Dean's List

Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas, 1982
B.A.
Honors: Dean's List
Honors: Blue Key
Major: Political Science

Representative Cases:

In Re Ephedra Products Liability Litigation, 478 F.Supp.2d 624 (S.D. New York 2007)
Harris County v. Smoker, 934 S.W.2d 714 (TX.App. 1st Dist. 1996)

Classes/Seminars Taught:

Ephedra Products Litigation Update, Mealeys, 2005

Honors and Awards:

American Board of Trial Advocates - Rank of Advocate, 2007
Super Lawyer -- by Thomson Reuters, 2009 and 2010

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Houston Bar Association, 1985
HBF Fellow

Texas Trial Lawyers Association, 1985
Member

Past Employment Positions:

Leebron & Robinson, Lawyer, 1985 - 1996
The Briggs Law Firm, Managing Partner, 1996 - 2000

Languages:

English
Spanish

Fraternities/Sororities:

Phi Delta Theta