Stan Perry exemplifies the Haynes and Boone culture of teamwork as section chair for Litigation South, the litigators in the firm’s Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Mexico City offices. Stan is also the national discovery and strategy counsel for a global energy company’s benzene and aromatics litigations. His ability to work with lawyers from other firms and make sure the efforts of many disparate firms remain coordinated demonstrates how Haynes and Boone works not just within the firm, but with others in the industry for the benefit of our clients. As national discovery and strategy counsel, Stan has worked as co-counsel with trial attorneys throughout the United States and he is able to complement their work and ensure that the client's discovery is managed in a comprehensive and complete manner.
Stan's reputation as one of the leading environmental and toxic tort litigation counsels in the state of Texas - one of the first in the state recognized by Super Lawyers for that legal area (2005-2011) - is built on his experience, which includes defending petrochemical companies in toxic tort and chemical exposure lawsuits in the state and federal courts, including Texas, Arizona, California, Louisiana, West Virginia, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Ohio, Nebraska, and Louisiana.
One such example is Stan's experience in Raul Zendejas v. Shell Oil Co., Maricopa County Superior Court, CV-2007-005399. In a case of first impression, the firm successfully defended a gasoline manufacturer in a lawsuit claiming the 32-year-old plaintiff's leukemia was caused by his exposures to benzene in gasoline during 2000-2006. Arizona Attorney Magazine, published by the State Bar of Arizona, named the Zendejas verdict one of Arizona’s significant defense verdicts in 2009.
Stan has extensive experience in applying the standards for the admissibility of expert testimony in state and federal courts, including motions to challenge experts under Daubert, Frye, and other standards.
Stan has also worked closely with industrial hygienists, hematologists, oncologists, toxicologists, and epidemiologists in refuting claims of chemical exposure. He is experienced in the bulk supplier and sophisticated use defenses and effective use of these defenses to rebut product liability and negligence claims.
Professional and Community Involvement
- Co-Founder and Organizer, Benzene Litigation Roundtable, 2006-2009
- Appointment to Standing Committee on Lawyers' Assistance Program, State Bar of Texas, 2011-2014
- Haynes and Boone Relationship Partner for Recruiting, University of Virginia Law School
- Rules Commissioner, Junior Baseball Division, 2005-2008; Director of Senior Baseball, 2009-2010, Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association
- Mentor and volunteer at Landrum Middle School, Spring Branch Independent School District
Recent Publications and Speeches
- Author, "The Intensifying Regulatory Investigation of Formaldehyde and Its Implications," Global Cosmetics Industry Magazine, November 1, 2011.
- Co-author, "An Analysis of the Federal Disease Clusters Act: Pros, Cons, and Legal Implications," Toxics Law Reporter, BNA Insight, June 23, 2011.
- Author, "Formaldehyde: The Next Toxic Tort?" American Funeral Director, May 2011.
- Co-author, "Ethical Witness Preparation: Stepping Back from the Line for the Lecture," The Houston Lawyer, July/August 2010.
- Presenter, "General Causation: Benzene and Multiple Myeloma," HarrisMartin's Benzene Litigation Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 24, 2010
- Author, "Overcoming Judicial Bias," American Bar Association, Litigation News, Vol. 35, No. 4, Summer 2010, and Litigation, Vol. 35, No. 4, Summer 2009
- Co-presenter, "Deposition of the Dying Plaintiff," HarrisMartin Benzene Litigation Seminar, June 2-3, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Co-presenter, "Lawyers Helping Lawyers," Texas Association of Defense Counsel Spring Meeting May 1-2, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois
- Co-author of Chapter 28, Torts in Texas Practice Series – Environmental Law (2nd Ed. 2005)
- Author of "The Bradford Hill Criteria in Toxic Tort Litigation, For The Defense," (August 2001) (co-author)
- Author of "Curtis v. M & S Petroleum: A Paradigm of Critical Toxic Tort Issues," Toxic Torts & Environmental Law Newsletter (Summer 2000)
Selected Representative Experience
Raul Zendejas v. Shell Oil Co., Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona, 2009
In a case of first impression, Haynes and Boone successfully defended a gasoline manufacturer in a lawsuit claiming the 32 year old plaintiff's leukemia was caused by his exposures to gasoline during 2000-2006. After a two-week trial, plaintiffs' counsel asked the jury for $11.4 million in closing. The jury deliberated for two days and returned a 9-1 defense verdict, finding that the gasoline manufacturer was not negligent and that its gasoline was not unreasonably dangerous due to an inadequate warning.
Union Carbide v. Jack Loftin
Union Carbide v. Jack Loftin, No. 09--8-061 CV, opinion issued on June 12, 2008 by the Ninth District Court of Appeals. Plaintiffs' petition for review to the Texas Supreme Court was recently filed.
Shell Oil Company v. Pawel A. Baran
Shell Oil Company v. Pawel A. Baran, No. 09-08062 CV, opinion issued on June 12, 2008 by the Ninth District Court of Appeals. Plaintiffs' petition for review to the Texas Supreme Court was recently filed.
Crown Central LLC v. Patricia Anderson
Crown Central LLC v. Patricia Anderson, 239 S.W.3d 385 (Tex. App - Beaumont 2007), Represented petrochemical companies from the trial level all the way to the Texas Supreme Court in case of first impression regarding jurisdictional issues. Multiple plaintiffs (from Texas and other states) sought to file benzene exposure suit in a plaintiff-friendly district, but failed to establish proper venue. Motions to transfer venue were denied by trial court but 9th Court of Appeals granted an interlocutory appeal, reversed the trial court, and ordered that the plaintiffs lawsuits be transferred to counties where venue was proper. Texas Supreme Court denied petition for review.
Multiple Lawsuit Defense - Energy
Represent numerous energy companies in lawsuits alleging personal injuries from benzene exposure.
Online Publications
11/02/2011 -
Global Cosmetics Industry Magazine Guest Article: The Intensifying Regulatory Investigation of Formaldehyde and Its Implications
In addition to following trends such as emerging markets, changes in distribution channels, consumer preference and the performance of specific beauty segments, there is another trend the industry should be continually monitoring: regulatory oversight and influences from government agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and interest groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
09/07/2011 -
American Funeral Director Guest Article: Government Elevates Concerns of Formaldehyde
In mid-June, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program listed formaldehyde as a "known human carcinogen" in its 12th Report on Carcinogens.
08/03/2011 -
Adhesives & Sealants Industry Magazine Feature Article: Formaldehyde - What You Don't Know May Hurt You
Over the past dozen years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been conducting extensive studies on the toxicity of formaldehyde, a chemical that has been used for decades in everything from adhesives and life-saving medicines to construction, aerospace, and transportation.
07/12/2011 -
Texas Supreme Court Limits Use of Unrecoverable Medical Bills
On July 1, the Texas Supreme Court handed down an opinion that has the potential to impact any case where medical or health expenses are at issue. In the wake of the Court’s ruling, a plaintiff may not recover medical expenses for amounts that the plaintiff’s health providers bill but have no right to be paid. In addition, the Court held that such bills are inadmissible - including to show pain and suffering.
06/23/2011 -
An Analysis of the Federal Disease Clusters Act: Pros, Cons, and Legal Implications
A bill pending before the U.S. Senate could alter the landscape of toxic tort and environmental litigation, say attorneys
Megan Bibb and
Stan Perry in this
BNA Insight.
09/01/2010 -
Ethical Witness Preparation: Stepping Back from the Line for the Lecture
Ask seasoned trial lawyers and they will tell you that witness preparation - whether for deposition or trial - is the hardest part of their job. It is also an important part of the American legal system. Proper witness preparation is truly a fine art.
02/24/2010 -
And the Defense Wins
Stan Perry, a partner at Haynes and Boone, LLP in Houston, Texas was among the attorneys who successfully represented Shell in a product liability case involving inadequate warnings and negligence.
09/30/2009 -
Overcoming Judicial Bias
Most lawyers have encountered judges who appeared to be biased against them, their clients, or their causes. Although the kind of personal animosity described in Judith S. Stainbrook’s partially tongue-in-cheek article “Strategies for Handling a Hostile Judge,”
Litigation, Spring 2007, is fortunately rare, judges are no less human than anyone else, and neither their legal training nor their best intentions can completely eliminate biases and preconceptions from their thinking. Judicial bias may be conscious or unconscious and may take many forms. Over the years, I have learned to recognize various forms of judicial bias and developed some strategies for overcoming them.