Charles “Chip” Houssiere, licensed to practice law in both Texas and Colorado, with multifaceted interests and hands-on experience in science and law. During his legal career, he has successfully handled a multitude of scientific law cases, from environmental and product liability to health care and aviation litigation.
Chip is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Board Eligible in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Civil Specialization, and Civil Trial Advocacy by National Board of Trial Advocacy. In addition to his legal practice, he is a private airplane pilot and active member and leader of national engineering societies and chemical societies in addition to state and national legal organizations.
Born in Houston, Chip grew up in a small agrarian south Louisianan town called Jennings. His interest in science and the space program started early within the science fair in Louisiana in the fifth grade with an exhibit on the physics of oil well drilling. He was sent to the University of Texas in the 7th grade for advanced study in science and mathematics in Austin, Texas. He remained in Austin furthering his studies until graduation from the University of Texas with a degree in math, physics and chemistry. Following graduation, Chip worked for NASA Houston in the man space craft program participating with astronauts in Apollo, Skylab and Soviet Soyuz, which developed the docking system used today on the space station. Among many notable achievements was the cardiovascular research study of the effects of weightlessness on the cardiovascular system using the lower body negative pressure device during sky lab, ultimately resulting in the pulse oximeter still used in most hospitals today.
While attending the University of Texas, Chip developed a love for flying, obtaining his private pilot's license with the Long Horn Flying Club and later received high performance training in Houston from M. Aak Aviation whose owner trained with Amelia Earhart.
While at NASA an agreement was reached with the research group that he would work on Sky Lab and go to night school for his law degree. He was anxious to develop his courtroom skills while still in law school, he became a civil court bailiff preparing briefs and analyzing motions for the court's approval, while simultaneously serving as a certified deputy sheriff with civil court bailiff duties.
Chip's deep love and respect for the environment also began in college when he joined the U.S. Parks Service, working in Rocky Mountain National Park and Yosemite National Park as a back country ranger and trail crew member. Since then, the firm has supported many environmental efforts and toxic tort litigation, including the Reforestation of Independence Pass near Aspen, Colorado.
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals – Fifth Circuit
United States District Court – Northern District of Texas
United States District Court – Southern District of Texas
United States District Court – Western District of Texas
All Texas and Colorado State Courts
Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Law – Texas Board of Specialization
Diplomat of Civil Trial Advocacy – National Board of Trial Advocacy
Board Eligible Civil Trial Law – Texas Board of Civil Specialization
B.S., The University of Texas at Austin
J.D., South Texas College of Law
State Bar of Texas
State Bar of Colorado
Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Vice President
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
National Board of Trial Advocacy
American Trial Lawyers Breast Implant Litigation Group, Founder
Houston Medical Legal Society
American Trial Lawyers Association for the State of Texas, Governor 1994-95
500 Limited Club for families of disabled police officers, Founder and President
American Society of Law and Medicine, Diplomat
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Sustaining Member
American Association of Justice, Sustaining Member
Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges
Harris County Dispute Resolution Center
National Health Lawyers Association
Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Director Fellowship Member 1988-Present
Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Vice President 1991-99, Director 1984-91
Rosco Pound Foundation
American College of Legal Medicine
Texas Bar Foundation
Attorneys Information Exchange Group
The Houston, Texas and American Bar Associations
Phi Alpha Delta, Vice President
Who's Who In American Law
Society of Automobile Engineers
Society of American Chemical Engineering
Millionaire Verdict Club
Analysis of the Sport Utility Vehicle Rollover Case, 2000
Mass Tort Litigation . . . A Plaintiff's Perspective, 2000
Hospital, Doctor Aid Subrogated Insurance Claims, Seminar, 1995
Advanced Discovery in Medical Malpractice, St. Mary's University and Texas Tech University Medical Malpractice Conference, 1991
Jury Selection, Opening Statement and Final Argument, ACLM Mid-Winter Convention, 1990
Statutes Governing Texas Medical Malpractice, TTLA Medical Malpractice Seminar, 1990
Malpractice and Legal Ethics, St. Mary's University and Texas Tech University Medical Malpractice Conference, 1990
Threshold Issues: Evaluating Liability, State Bar of Texas Advance Settlement Techniques, 1990
Causation: Legal and Factual, Seminar, 1988
Liability of Hospital Technicians, Seminar, 1987
Preparing the Medical Malpractice Case, TTLA Nuts & Bolts Seminar, 1986
Jury Argument: A Lawyer's Last Chance