Biographical Sketch
Henry Giessel has been repeatedly honored for his expertise in litigation. In the June 2000 he was recognized as one of the Legal Legends of the Texas Bar in a Special Commemorative Edition of Texas Lawyer.
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Henry P. Giessel, born in Germany, July 30, 1927; admitted to the State Bar of Texas, 1950. Hank, as he is known to his friends, graduated from the University of Texas Law School (L.L.B. 1950) where he was editor of the University of Texas Law Review. For over four decades, he has distinguished himself as a trial lawyer not only in Texas, but also across the country. Recently, he participated as trial and appellate counsel for the Plaintiff in Mendoza v. Summit Care where the jury returned the 2nd largest nursing home verdict in U.S. history. A list of notable cases where Hank has served as both trial and appellate counsel is included below. His recognition as a “Legal Legend” in the state of Texas is a reflection of his accomplishments in the courtroom.
Not only has Henry been at the forefront of changing tort law through the numerous cases he has argued before Appellate Courts, he has frequently served as an adjunct Professor at the University of Houston Law School. Henry’s counsel and litigation abilities are an integral part of this firm.
Professional Background
SHAREHOLDER, Marks, Balette, Giessel & Young, P.L.L.C., January 2016 to present
SHAREHOLDER, Marks, Balette, & Giessel, P.C., February 2005 to December 2015
OF COUNSEL, The Marks Firm, July 1998 to February 2005
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, Giessel, Barker, Lyman, 1952 to July 1998 (formerly Talbert & Giessel, Talbert, Giessel & Stone, Giessel & Stone, Giessel, Stone Barker & Lyman)
ASSOCIATE, Law Offices of George Red, 1950-1952
Education
University of Texas, School of Law, L.L.B. 1950
Quizmaster, Order of The Coif
Admitted to the Bar 1949
Professional Associations
PAST PRESIDENT, American Board of Trial Advocates, Houston Chapter
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, University of Houston, School of Law, 1975 to 1979
MEMBER, Houston Bar Association, 1970 to present
LECTURER, Texas Judicial Conference, 1966
Professional Activities
SPEAKER: Office of the Attorney General – State of Texas, Houston, April 2, 2001
ASSOCIATE, Law Offices of George Red, 1950-1952
Notable Verdicts and Settlements
Mendoza v. Summit Care Corp., et al. (02/22/2006)
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Senior Living Properties, LLC v. Zurich (04/22/2004)
Bailey v. Senior Living Properties, LLC, et al. (07/23/2003)
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Larson v. Mariner Post-Acute Network, Inc., et al. (10/14/2005)
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Hollins v. Cleaver Memorial Convalescent Center, et al. (11/26/2002)
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David v. Heartway Corporation, et al. ((12/06/1999)
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Gross v. Horizons/CMS Healthcare Corporation (9/13/1999)
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Reed v. Senior Living Properties, LLC, et al. (07/23/2003)
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Pyle v. Telesis/Walnut Place Nursing Home, Inc. (04/19/1999)
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Moore v. Confidential Defendants (12/08/2003)
Lowe v. Summit Care-Texas, Inc. (07/01/2004)
Hughes v. Senior Living Properties, LLC, et al. (07/23/2003)
Parks v. Southwood Nursing Home (02/19/2003)
Smith v. Senior Living Services, Inc., et al. (07/23/2003)
Tenczynski v. Nissi Care Homes, et al. (05/12/2003)
For more information about these cases, click on Our Results.
Other Notable Cases
Casas v. Paradez, 267 S.W.3d 170 (Tex. App.-San Antonio, 2008)
Heritage Housing Development, Inc. v. Carr, 199 S.W.3d 560 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.], 2006)
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In Re Gladewater Healthcare Center, 2009 WL 454352 (Tex. App.-Texarkana)
In Re Gladewater Healthcare Center, 2009 WL 454355 (Tex. App.-Texarkana)
Amwest Sav. Ass’n v. Statewide Capital, Inc., 144 F.3d 885 (5th Cir. 1998)
Benavidez v. Anheuser Busch, Inc., 873 F.2d 102 (5th Cir. 1989)
Continental Cas. Co. v. Hall, 761 S.W.2d 54 (Tex. App. -Houston [14th Dist.], 1988)
Swain v. Johnson, 750 S.W.2d 343 (Tex. App. -Beaumont, 1988)
Kelley v. Atlantic Gulf Stevedores, Inc., 681 S.W.2d 275 (Tex. App. -Houston [14th Dist.], 1984)
General Motors Corp. v. Grizzle, 642 S.W.2d 837 (Tex. App. -Waco, 1982)
Union Carbide Corp. v. Burton, 618 S.W.2d 610 (Tex. App. -Houston [14th Dist.], 1981)