Practice Emphasis
Joann Wilkins provides individuals and companies with advice and solutions to issues that arise in forming and operating a business. She represents small and medium privately held companies and professional associations in the health care, legal, real estate and construction industries. Ms. Wilkins and other members of the firm create a synergy and essentially provide clients with general counsel services relating to corporate and business transactions, contracts and agreements, employment and HR issues and civil litigation and appeals.
With respect to litigation and appeals, Ms. Wilkins has represented clients in the health care, retail, insurance, utility and legal industries before state and federal appellate courts. Her efforts have resulted in several significant decisions. These include application of the discovery rule, inapplicability of the DTPA to premises liability restatement of the attractive nuisance doctrine under Texas law, spoliation of evidence, and extent of an attorney's liability for litigation conduct and to non-clients.
Her experience, however, has not been limited to appellate courts, as she and the firm realize the benefit to their clients of involving an experienced appellate attorney in the trial process. Ms. Wilkins has assisted clients in pre-trial matters, including discovery and summary judgment motions, in trials of cases and in all post verdict matters.
Professional Memberships and Involvement
- Texas State Bar
- Dallas Bar Association
- Life Member, Texas Bar Foundation
Education and Professional Background
- J.D., Southern Methodist University School of Law, 1982
- B.B.A., cum laude, The University of Texas at Arlington, 1978
Significant Reported Cases
- Methodist Charlton Med. Ctr. v. Steele, 274 S.W.3d 47 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2009, pet. filed)
- Mitchell v. Chapman, 10 S.W.3d 810 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2000, pet. denied), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1152 (2001)
- Chenault v. Huie, 989 S.W.2d 474 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1999, no pet.) 989 S.W.2d 474 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1999, no pet.)
- Malone v. Foster, 977 S.W.2d 562 (Tex. 1998)
- Texas Utilities Elec. Co. v. Timmons, 947 S.W.2d 191 (Tex. 1997)
- S. V. v. R. V., 933 S.W.2d 1 (Tex. 1996)
- W. B. Hinton Drilling Co. v. Zuniga, 784 S.W.2d 442 (Tex.App.-Tyler 1989, no writ.)
- Johnson v. Tom Thumb Stores, Inc., 771 S.W.2d 582 (Tex.App.-Tyler 1989, writ denied)
- Plas-Tex, Inc. v. U.S. Steel Corp., 772 S.W.2d 442 (Tex. 1989)
- Trinity Industries, Inc. v. Rivera, 745 S.W.2d 525 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi 1988, no writ.)
- Turner v. Texas Employers' Ins. Ass'n, 715 S.W.2d 52 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1986, writ. ref'd n.r.e.)
- Hendrick Medical Center v. Howell, 690 S.W.2d 42 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1985, orig. proceeding)
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. Supreme Court