As I was growing up, I watched the every day people around me often struggling to be heard. I remember as a teenager sitting with my sister in court for her criminal charges. She wanted to explain the circumstances, to have someone listen. But we sat and looked silently at the floor. I watched as people there were treated indifferently, as if they didn’t matter at all, including my sister. We were nobodies and I felt powerless. I decided right then that I would change that-I would become a voice for the voiceless-and decided to go to law school.

At the time I decided to go to law school, I didn’t know any lawyers-had never even met any lawyers (we surely couldn’t afford one). I just knew that it would give me at least the opportunity to stand up for the rights of regular citizens. I have spent the last twenty-nine years representing people who have been harmed or wronged. It is amazing how many times, while waiting on a jury verdict, my client has turned to me and said “Susan, regardless of how this turns out, you told my story and I got my day in court. I was heard and I thank you.” Each time has been a great gift to me. In each case, I learn not only about my client, but about myself. Sometimes I am frustrated with the process, but I have great faith in our jury system and am grateful for the chance to be a part of it. Everyone matters.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”-we can all step into each other’s shoes, even if for a moment.

Certified Legal Specialties:
Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1992

Current Employment Position
Attorney

Past Positions
Fielding, Barrett & Taylor, LLP, Associate/Partner, 1988 to 1994
Shannon, Gracery, Ratliff & Miller, Associate, 1987 to 1988

Practice Areas:
Civil Rights
Discrimination
Non-Subscriber Claims
Personal Injury
Retaliation
Sexual Harassment
Truck Wrecks
Whistleblower
Wrongful Termination

Classes & Seminars
Tort Law for Legal Assistants, Texas Wesleyan University, 1996 to 1996

Fraternities or Sororities
Phi Alpha Delta

Representative Clients
Bell Helicopter/Textron, Inc.
Waste Management, Inc.

Professional Associations
American Bar Association, Member
Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association, Member
Tarrant County Civil Trial Lawyers Association, Member
Tarrant County Women's Bar Association, Member

Honors
Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters
AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
Top Car Accident Attorney, Avvo Rating 10.0 Superb
Fort Worth Top Attorney, Fort Worth Texas Magazine
Recipient, Disability Rights of Texas

Education
Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock, Texas
J.D. - 1987
Honors: Recipient, Judge Meade F. Griffin Award
West Texas State University, Canyon, Texas
B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 00/1983
Honors: cum laude
Major: Literature
Trial Lawyers College, Wyoming

Bar Admissions
Texas, 1987
U.S. Federal Courts, 1987
U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
Supreme Court of the United States of America
U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, pro hac vice
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, pro hac vice
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, pro hac vice
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, pro hac vice
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, pro hac vice
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, pro hac vice
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, pro hac vice
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, pro hac vice
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, pro hac vice
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, pro hac vice
U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, pro hac vice