James H. Holmes, III
Partner
Practice Emphasis
For the clients, Blackie Holmes has successfully obtained numerous defense verdicts, jury verdicts, summary judgments, and when appropriate, negotiated favorable settlements. His returns have been in his long-term and highly loyal relationships with clients, having represented most of his clients for over 20 years.
Professional Memberships and Involvement
- President, Dallas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, 2000
- Defense Research Institute, State Chairman 1994-95
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel, President 1992-93
- Dallas Association of Defense Counsel, Chairman 1975
- City Councilman, City of University Park, 1994-2000
- Mayor Pro-Tem, City of University Park, 1998-2000
- City Councilman, City of University Park, 2002-2004
- Mayor, City of University Park, 2004-2010
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Co-Chair, Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Professionalism, 1989 - 1990
- Co-authored the Texas Lawyers Creed, 1988-1989
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Dallas Bar Foundation
- Phi Alpha Delta
- The Center for American and International Law
- Texas Bar Association
- Dallas Bar Association
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Association of Defendant Trial Attorneys
Honors and Awards
- Super Lawyer by Law and Politics and published in Texas Monthly 2003-2008
- Texas Trial Lawyer of the Year 2004, Dallas and Texas Chapters of ABOTA
- SMU Dedman School of Law, Distinguished Alumni, Private Practice 2004 - 2005
- Joanna Moreland Award, Outstanding Committee Chairman, Dallas Bar Association, 2003
- Master Emeritus of the American Inns of Court
- Lola Wright Foundation Award, 2002
- Judge Sam William's Local Bar Leadership Award, State Bar of Texas, 2001
- Morris Harrell Professionalism Award, 2000
- Professionalism Award, State Bar College, 1999
- Presidential Citation from the State Bar of Texas, 1995
Publications and Speeches
- Insurance Counsel Journal
- Southwestern Law Journal
- Trial Lawyers Guide
- Personal Injury Annual
- The Review of Litigation
- The University of Texas Law School Publications, Inc.
Education and Professional Background
- Southern Methodist University (B.B.A., 1957) (L.L.B., 1959)
Significant Reported Cases
- City of Dallas v. Jackson, 450 S.W.2d 6d (Tex. 1970)
- Employers Cas. Co. v. Transport Ins. Co., 444 S.W.2d 606 (Tex. 1969)
- Fleming v. Baylor University Medical Center, 554 S.W.2d 263 (Tex. Civ. App. - Waco 1977, writ ref'd n.r.e. per curiam, 561 S.W.2d 797 (Tex. 1977)).
- Mitchell v. Chapman, 10 S.W.3d 810 (Tex. App. - Dallas 2000, pet. denied), cert denied, 531 U.S. 1152 (2001)
- Hubbard v. Texas Employers Insurance Association, 518 S.W.2d 529 (Tex. 1974)
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Texas Supreme Court
- 5th and 11th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. Court of Military Appeals