Jonathan M. Spigel is a Senior Shareholder in and the head of the Negligence & Tort Law Practice Group of Cowles & Thompson. Mr. Spigel's practice consists primarily of general insurance defense litigation, transportation defense litigation, products and premises liability defense, and professional liability defense.
Jonathan M. Spigel is a Shareholder in the Dallas office of Cowles & Thompson. He currently serves as the head of the firm's Negligence & Tort Law Practice Group. Mr. Spigel's practice consists primarily of general insurance defense litigation, transportation defense litigation, products and premises liability defense, and professional liability defense. His clients include a variety of product manufacturers and retailers; national hotel chains, retail stores, and restaurants; national trucking companies; and local law firms and lawyers.
Mr. Spigel is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas Bar Association, and the Transportation Lawyers Association. He is a former member of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers (DAYL) and has served that organization in the capacities of a board director (1996), and co-chair of the Ask-A-Lawyer, Professionalism and Ethics, and High School Involvement Committees (1991-2000). He has also participated in the past with the Dallas Bar Association's Legal Line program where anonymous callers can obtain free legal advice on a variety of subjects.
Mr. Spigel received his B.B.A. degree in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin in 1986. He received his J.D. degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio in 1989, where he served as an editor on the St. Mary's Law Journal. Upon graduating from law school, he served as a briefing attorney for the Honorable John D. Ovard, Justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeals at Dallas, from 1989-1990. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1989 and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Education:
J.D., St. Mary's University School of Law, 1989
B.B.A. in Finance, The University of Texas at Austin, 1986
Admissions:
State Bar of Texas, 1989
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
Memberships & Affiliations:
Member, State Bar of Texas
Member, Transportation Lawyers' Association
Member, Dallas Bar Association
Representative Matters:
Has obtained summary judgments, voluntary dismissals, favorable settlements, and successful trial results for local attorneys defended in a wide variety of legal malpractice suits.
Has obtained summary judgments, voluntary dismissals, and favorable settlements on commercial, employment, food poisoning, negligent security, premises and products liability suits brought against national hospitality, restaurant, and retail-related businesses.
Successfully defended and obtained favorable settlements for national trucking companies in wide variety of trucking accident cases.
Obtained voluntary dismissal for cigarette lighter distributor sued in multiple death case involving minors, where one minor allegedly started apartment fire with cigarette lighter.
Obtained summary judgment for gasoline tanker trailer manufacturer and lessor in products liability suit brought after gasoline tanker trailer rolled over, caught fire, exploded, and resulted in the burn death of tanker trailer driver.
Obtained summary judgment for trailer hitch manufacturer in multiple death SUV/travel trailer rollover accident.
Obtained favorable settlement for mowing equipment manufacturer in suit brought by woman whose legs had to be amputated near her knees when she fell from her riding mower and was cut by mowing implement.
Obtained favorable settlement for servicer of bucket truck/"cherry picker" which allegedly malfunctioned, pinning cable employee against wires, injuring his back and requiring multiple surgeries.
