RICHARD J. PLEZIA is the founding member of the firm Richard J. Plezia & Associates. Mr. Plezia has primarily focused on civil trials in both federal and state courts, trying numerous cases to verdict.   He was formerly a partner with one of Houston’s oldest plaintiff personal injury firm before creating his own firm. He is an active advocate of the right to trial by jury and representing those victims catastrophically injured or killed because of another’s negligence.  His focus has been on civil trials for both personal injury and commercial matters.  He has tried over 80 jury trials obtaining successful verdicts on behalf of his personal injury and commercial clients.

Education: Baylor University (B.B.A., 1989; J.D., 1990).  Phi Delta Phi.  Order of the Barristers.  Member, Harvey M. Richey Moot Court Society. Admitted to Texas Bar, 1990; U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, 1991; U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, 1992.  Admitted to Mississippi Bar, 2004 and U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, 2004; Admitted to Georgia Bar, 2005. 

Honors and Awards: Top Texas Lawyers, 2006, Texas Monthly; Life Member, Kingstons National Registry of Who’s Who, 2002 Edition.  Elected: Texas Rising Star, 2004; Super Lawyers, 2005 – Present; Houston’s Best Lawyers for the People, 2006.   Listed: Texas Rising Star 2004, Super Lawyer 2005 – Present.  H Magazine “Lawyer for the People,” March 2005; “Lawyer for the People,” March 2006.  Instrument rated commercial pilot for Single and Multi Engine Aircraft.  

Author: “Obtaining and Reviewing Medical Records and Working with Medical Experts”,  Half Moon LLC, “Texas Personal Injury Practice”, Half Moon LLC; “Current Issues Surrounding Parental Notification Law,” CPCC; “Cross Examination of Experts,” Winning Edge Seminar, Texas Trial Lawyers Association; “Texas Civil Litigation,” Half Moon LLC; “Responsible Third Parties,” Advanced PI Seminar, TTLA, Dallas 2005;  “Mediation: Effective Negotiation or Just a Game”, TTLA CLE, April 2006; “Offer of Settlement, Judgment, or Pay My Costs Please”, The Advocate, State Bar of Texas, May 2006.  “Protecting Your Clients Through Settlement Options”, TTLA Advanced Personal Injury Seminar, Austin, May 2007; “Biomechanical Experts and Medical Causation”, TTLA Car Wrecks Seminar, Austin November 2007; “Comparative Responsibility and Third Party Practice”, TTLA Mid Year Advanced PI Seminar, April 2008, Austin. 

Speaker: “Technology in the Courtroom,” Winning Edge Seminar, TTLA; “Trial on Non-Rhabdo Cases,” Mealey’s Jan. 2004, Baycol Conference; “Deposing a Treating Cardiologist,” Majority Counsel Fen-Phen Seminar, New Orleans, 2004; “Using Technology at Trial to Win Big Verdicts,” Houston Young Lawyers, CLE at Sea, 2005;“Responsible Third Parties,” Advanced PI Seminar, TTLA, Dallas 2005;  Admiralty Pointers, TTLA, Key West 2005;  “Preparing for the Productive Mediation”, TTLA Maximizing Your Case Recovery in 2006 and Introduction to TTLA CLE, Houston, April 2006. “Protecting Your Clients Through Settlement Options”, TTLA Advanced Personal Injury Seminar, Austin, May 2007; “Biomechanical Experts and Medical Causation”, TTLA Car Wrecks Seminar, Austin November 2007; Co-ModeratorTTLA Mid Year Advanced PI Seminar, April 2008, Austin; “Comparative Responsibility and Third Party Practice”, TTLA Mid Year Advanced PI Seminar, April 2008, Austin.

Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; Past Member of the State Bar Grievance Committee – 4G21, 1998–2004;  Houston Trial Lawyers Association (Vice-president, 1999–2004; Director, 1996-1998, 2005-present); Texas Trial Lawyers Association (Associate Director, 1998-1999; Director 1999 - present); The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Section memberships: Aviation, Admiralty, Baycol, Cox 2 Inhibitors); Houston Trial Lawyers Foundation (Director 1997, 2000–2004); American Board of Trial Advocates (Associate Member 2002); Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association; Georgia Trial Lawyers Association; Southern Trial Lawyers Association; San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association; National Italian American Bar Association; Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association (2004-2007); Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum. NTSB Bar Association.  The Verdict Club.  

Board Certifications: Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization;  Board Certified, Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Contact information:  Richard J. Plezia, Richard J. Plezia & Associates, 10455 Briar Forest, Suite 130 PMB 119, Houston, Texas 77042.  Tel: (713) 984-4525. eFax (713) 456-2917.