Described as the “king” of Texas medical malpractice lawyers by Forbes magazine in 1989, Jim M. Perdue, Sr. has for the past fifty years been a trail blazer in bringing new concepts to the art of jury persuasion. In his first book on trial persuasion, Who Will Speak for the Victim? (1989) he introduced his concept of using a narrative as the basis for the presentation of a case to a jury. That was followed by Winning with Stories (2006) which further expanded the concept that “a trial is not a debate-it is a competition of stories”. Many now recognize him as the “Father of Texas Courtroom Storytelling”.
He also pioneered many of the modern techniques of presenting evidence in the courtroom.
Forty years ago, he used an economist to calculate and project personal injury damages and introduced the testimony at trial. Other landmark trial techniques have included the use of working models and multi-dimensional displays in medical malpractice and product liability cases, and the use of health care providers’ advertising literature as a basis for establishing vicarious liability.
Success in securing substantial and in some cases unprecedented multi-million-dollar verdicts and recoveries for his clients have resulted in appearances around the country as a speaker and lecturer. He has spoken before law schools, scientific associations, medical groups, bar associations, trial lawyer organizations and colleges of advocacy, delivering over 400 presentations ranging from the substantive law of malpractice and product liability to the psychology of jury persuasion, trial techniques and strategy.
He has authored texts and treatises on the substantive law of medical malpractice and product liability. The appellate courts of Texas have often cited his books, law review and journal articles. Moreover, numerous appellate opinions in cases he has prosecuted have pioneered the way for today’s victims of negligence, defective products and corporate indifference.
Perdue is a member of a number of prestigious law associations, such as the Inner Circle of Advocates, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the International Society of Barristers.
After an open competition at the 2002 Mid-Winter meeting of the Inner Circle of Advocates he was named “Champion of the Storytellers”. Also, that year he was inducted into the Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In addition Mr. Perdue has authored chapters in a number of legal works and has published more than fifty journal and law review articles in publications such as Trial and Texas Bar Journal. Mr. Perdue served as adjunct professor, teaching courses on courtroom storytelling at the University of Houston Law Center from 2008 to 2021.
He presently serves Of Counsel to the Houston-based firm of Perdue & Kidd. He is a frequent speaker at legal education conferences around the country. He lives in Houston, Texas.
Education
- Bachelor of Science cum laude, University of Houston, 1961
- Juris Doctorate cum laude, University of Houston School of Law, 1963
- Adjunct Professor 1974-1982, 1989, and 2007 to present, University of Houston School of Law
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1963
- S. Supreme Court
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
Certified Legal Specialties
- Board Certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1978
- Charter Member and Diplomat of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, 1976
- Board Certified in civil trial advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1990
Awards and Honors
- 2022 Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame
- Outstanding Committee Chairman of the Year, Houston Bar Association
- Outstanding Alumnus, Distinguished Alumnus-Order of the Coif, and Distinguished Alumni, University of Houston College of Law
- Gene Cavin Award for outstanding contribution to continuing legal education, The State Bar of Texas
- Clarence Darrow Award, Harris County Democratic Lawyers’ Association
- Lifetime of Excellence in Advocacy Award, The Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists
- The Best Lawyers in America, 1983 to present
- AV Rated 5.0/5.0 by Martindale-Hubbell
- Texas Super Lawyers, 2003-2010
Professional Association Memberships
- A. White Dispute Resolution Institute
- American Association for Justice
- The American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, Diplomat and Founding Member
- The American Board of Trial Advocates, Diplomat and Houston Chapter Past President
- The American College of Legal Medicine
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- Advisory Board to the Health Law and Policy Institute, University of Houston College of Law
- The Civil Justice Foundation
- Gulf Coast Legal Foundation, Former Director
- Houston Bar Association
- Houston Bar Foundation
- Houston Law Review, Director
- Houston Medical/Legal Society, Past President
- Inner Circle of Advocates
- International Society of Barristers, Fellow
- The National Board of Trial Advocacy
- National Health Lawyers Association
- The Law Science Academy
- Texas Bar Association
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Fellowship Member and Director Emeritus
- State Bar of Texas Committees for Pattern Jury Charge, Judicial Qualifications Tenure, and Continuing Legal Education
- College of the State Bar of Texas
- University of Houston Law Alumni Association, Former Secretary/Treasurer
Publications and Speaking Engagements (partial)
- The Law of Strict Tort Liability (1977)
- The Law of Texas Medical Malpractice (2nd ed. 1985)
- Who Will Speak for the Victim?: A Practical Treatise on Plaintiff’s Jury Argument (1989)
- Editor, Who Will Speak For Justice? (1999)
- I Remember Atticus: Inspiring Stories Every Trial Lawyer Should Know (2004)
- Winning With Stories: Using the Narrative to Persuade in Trials, Speeches & Lectures (2006)
- Author of Chapter 37 entitled “Opening Statement” for ATLA’s Litigating Tort Cases, Vol. 3 (2003).
- Courtroom Persuasion, Louisiana Association for Justice, 2012.
