The Foundation of Our Practice

The identity of our law firm derives primarily from four things:

• Its philosophy;
• The background and experience of the people who make up
   the firm;
• Its accomplishments; and
• Concern for public issues.

Our Core Philosophy

Although Marks Balette & Giessel does not restrict the geographic location of the cases it accepts, it does limit the number of cases it handles. We are not a high volume law firm. We purposely limit our
caseload to a select number of catastrophic injury, wrongful death
and disastrous loss cases.

Our selectivity is rooted in the belief that each case we accept requires a level of attention, legal experience and resource commitment, which cannot be achieved in a high volume law practice. We believe that a practice premised on high case intake and quick insurance settlement is not compatible with the interest of our clients nor our concern for promoting higher quality care in long-term care facilities or improvements in public safety.

Our Background, Experience, and Accomplishments

Our intense and unremitting approach to litigation in conjunction with our trial experience and record for winning big cases are defining characteristics of Marks Balette & Giessel. Our lawyers have tried cases from Florida to California. David Marks, founder of the firm, is regarded as a pioneer in the field of nursing home litigation and is nationally recognized in this area of practice. Ken Connor is also nationally recognized for his advocacy in nursing home and other catastrophic injury cases. Mr. Marks and Mr. Connor have both lectured across the country and written extensively on the subject of trial strategy, jury arguments, and the prosecution of nursing home abuse and neglect cases. Our record of success also derives from the fact that we understand how our adversaries think. Two of our lawyers, Henry Giessel and Jacques Balette, had distinguished careers as defense attorneys before joining the firm. Mr. Giessel has been honored by the Texas Lawyer for his accomplishments as a trial lawyer for over four decades, being named one of the Legal Legends of the Texas Bar. Mr. Balette served as an adjunct professor of law for trial advocacy for over six years at the South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas and has lectured both law students and lawyers on trial strategies and tactics.

Our Concern for Public Issues

Not only does Marks Balette & Giessel have a long record of winning significant cases, it is also dedicated to improving the quality of care for nursing home residents and protecting public health and safety. The firm’s advocacy inside and outside of the courtroom have resulted in the adoption and implementation of significant remedial measures by long-term care facilities designed to protect residents from future harm. Members of the firm have testified before Congress, state legislative bodies and other venues in order to protect and promote public health and safety. To learn more about our activities click here.