RICHARD J. PLEZIA is the founding member of the firm Richard J. Plezia & Associates. Mr. Plezia has primarily focused on civil trials in both federal and state courts, trying numerous cases to verdict. He was formerly a partner with one of Houston’s oldest plaintiff personal injury firms before establishing his own firm. He is an active advocate of the right to trial by jury and represents victims catastrophically injured or killed because of another’s negligence. His focus has been on civil trials for both personal injury and commercial matters.
Richard J. Plezia was born in Zanesville, Ohio but you might say he got to Texas as quickly as he could. He lived in Taylor, Michigan moving to Little Rock, Arkansas when he was nine years old. After graduating high school from Little Rock Catholic High, he graduated Baylor University and then Baylor Law School in just six years. After finishing school he worked in Dallas as a trial lawyer defending the companies that he now sues. After two and a half years being an insurance defense lawyer, he moved with his wife, a native Houstonian, to Houston to begin his career as a “Lawyer for the People.” He now resides with his wife and four children in Houston Texas.
Although based in Houston, Richard J. Plezia’s practice immediately took him statewide. He has tried cases in 33 different counties throughout the state and has come to understand the devastating effects even a minor personal injury can have to one’s life. Trying work place injuries were especially meaningful. Because of the lawsuits Richard J. Plezia has filed, many different safety procedures are now put in place at many different places to prevent further injuries to others. Every lawsuit is throughly reviewed by Richard J. Plezia to determine if the filing of the lawsuit could help the community of the client to be a safer one. This has resulted in numerous improvements over the years to improve the safety of many different communities and workplaces. Whether it is the change in a trucking company’s safety procedures or the improvement of transferring personnel from ship to shore, many safety measures are still in effect to help protect workers and the persons they may come in contact with.
It was not long before other lawyers in other states recognized Richard J. Plezia. Other lawyers in other states began asking if he could handle their cases too. He was one of the first lawyers to take on Wyeth Ayerst in FenPhen. He was the second lawyer in the country to try a case to verdict against Bayer. He has successfully sued most of the pharmaceutical giants as well as insureds of the major insurance industry. Throughout his twenty one year legal career he has represented individuals from all fifty states who turn to a lawyer that works for his client and stands next to them in trial if need be.
In 1996, Richard J. Plezia became board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He was one of the youngest lawyers to receive their certification that year. This is important because Texas recognizes Board Certification for only a few select areas and requires a rigorous examination in that subject as well as multiple practical requirements that must be completed by the applicant. Although there are over 70,000 lawyers in the Lone Star State, only about 10% have a board certification in their field.
He later was elected in 2002 to the exclusive trial organization American Board of Trial Advocates. This organization is made up of both defense lawyers and plaintiff lawyers. He again, was one of the youngest lawyers to be inducted as a member in the Houston Chapter. During that time only fifteen lawyers were admitted in by vote of the chapter per year. There are over 15,000 lawyers in Houston alone.
Richard J. Plezia is also a commercially rated instrument pilot in both single and multi engine land aircraft. He brings a unique perspective as a current pilot to his aviation cases. He knows his stuff before embarking on any case. Whether it be a case concerning controlled flight into terrain or something complex as the release of environmentally devastating hydrocarbons into the atmosphere, you can rely on him to understand your case to properly represent you.
Richard J. Plezia gained admission to two other states to expand his practice. He was admitted to the Mississippi State Bar in 2004 and to the Georgia State Bar in 2005. Also in 2005 and 2006, he was named one of the top “Lawyers for the People” by H magazine. A title that he is especially proud of. “I think that one of most rewarding things you can do with your life is to help others”, says Plezia, “In a day in which the definition of success seems to have so many meanings, your ability to help others with their lives defines success in my book.”
Richard J. Plezia started his own practice in 2009, after working for 19 years in the legal field. He focuses on cases and clients personally. His motto at his firm is that “We are lawyers for the people.” He makes sure that each client’s case is constantly attended and brought to maximum evidentiary potential to be tried. Although many cases are settled before trial, Richard J. Plezia prepares every case for trial every time.
Below is a further detailed list of Richard J. Plezia curriculum vitae:
Education: Baylor University (B.B.A., 1989; J.D., 1990). Phi Delta Phi. Order of the Barristers. Member, Harvey M. Richey Moot Court Society. Admitted to Texas Bar, 1990; U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, 1991; U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, 1992. Admitted to Mississippi Bar, 2004 and U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, 2004; Admitted to Georgia Bar, 2005.
Honors and Awards: Top Texas Lawyers, 2006, Texas Monthly as published by Thompson Reuters; Life Member, Kingstons National Registry of Who’s Who, 2002 Edition. Elected: Texas Rising Star, 2004 as published by Thompson Reuters; Super Lawyers, 2005 – Present as published by Thompson Reuters; Houston’s Best Lawyers for the People, 2006 also published by Thompson Reuters. Listed: Texas Rising Star 2004, Super Lawyer 2005 – Present published by Thompson Reuters. H Magazine “Lawyer for the People,” March 2005; “Lawyer for the People,” March 2006. Instrument rated commercial pilot for Single and Multi Engine Aircraft.
Author: “Obtaining and Reviewing Medical Records and Working with Medical Experts”, Half Moon LLC, “Texas Personal Injury Practice”, Half Moon LLC; “Current Issues Surrounding Parental Notification Law,” CPCC; “Cross Examination of Experts,” Winning Edge Seminar, Texas Trial Lawyers Association; “Texas Civil Litigation,” Half Moon LLC; “Responsible Third Parties,” Advanced PI Seminar, TTLA, Dallas 2005; “Mediation: Effective Negotiation or Just a Game”, TTLA CLE, April 2006; “Offer of Settlement, Judgment, or Pay My Costs Please”, The Advocate, State Bar of Texas, May 2006. “Protecting Your Clients Through Settlement Options”, TTLA Advanced Personal Injury Seminar, Austin, May 2007; “Biomechanical Experts and Medical Causation”, TTLA Car Wrecks Seminar, Austin November 2007; “Comparative Responsibility and Third Party Practice”, TTLA Mid Year Advanced PI Seminar, April 2008, Austin.
Speaker: “Technology in the Courtroom,” Winning Edge Seminar, TTLA; “Trial on Non-Rhabdo Cases,” Mealey’s Jan. 2004, Baycol Conference; “Deposing a Treating Cardiologist,” Majority Counsel Fen-Phen Seminar, New Orleans, 2004; “Using Technology at Trial to Win Big Verdicts,” Houston Young Lawyers, CLE at Sea, 2005;“Responsible Third Parties,” Advanced PI Seminar, TTLA, Dallas 2005; Admiralty Pointers, TTLA, Key West 2005; “Preparing for the Productive Mediation”, TTLA Maximizing Your Case Recovery in 2006 and Introduction to TTLA CLE, Houston, April 2006. “Protecting Your Clients Through Settlement Options”, TTLA Advanced Personal Injury Seminar, Austin, May 2007; “Biomechanical Experts and Medical Causation”, TTLA Car Wrecks Seminar, Austin November 2007; Co-ModeratorTTLA Mid Year Advanced PI Seminar, April 2008, Austin; “Comparative Responsibility and Third Party Practice”, TTLA Mid Year Advanced PI Seminar, April 2008, Austin.
Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; Past Member of the State Bar Grievance Committee – 4G21, 1998–2004; Houston Trial Lawyers Association (Vice-president, 1999–2004; Director, 1996-1998, 2005-present); Texas Trial Lawyers Association (Associate Director, 1998-1999; Director 1999 – present); The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Section memberships: Aviation, Admiralty, Baycol, Cox 2 Inhibitors); Houston Trial Lawyers Foundation (Director 1997, 2000–2004); American Board of Trial Advocates (Associate Member 2002); Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association; Georgia Trial Lawyers Association; Southern Trial Lawyers Association; San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association; National Italian American Bar Association; Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association (2004-2007); Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum. NTSB Bar Association. The Verdict Club.
Board Certifications: Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization; Board Certified, Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy.
