ATTORNEYS

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ANTHONY A. AVEY
Founder

Tony is a trial lawyer who has handled complex lawsuits throughout Texas in both State and Federal court.  Tony's primary practice areas are products liability, insurance defense, and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on technology and employment related litigation.

Tony's product liability practice has included representing corporations such as General Motors, Ford and Dorel Juvenile Group (Children's products) in their product related litigation.  ln 2007, he successfully defended General Motors in the first known trial of an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) case.  The lawsuit was tried to a Travis County (Austin) jury where after a three week trial, GM obtained a complete defense verdict with regard to the stability and handling design of the vehicle at issue.  In 2013, he successfully defended Dorel in a child safety latch case involving severe and permanent injuries to an infant who ingested Drano.  The lawsuit was tried in Dallas Federal Court where Plaintiffs sought damages in excess of $30 Million.  After a two week trial, the jury returned a complete defense verdict finding no liability on the part of the client.  This case was selected by the Texas Lawyer Magazine as one of the top Defense Verdicts of 2013.

Tony's insurance practice began in the 90's representing insureds in automobile claims. His practice expanded over the years to include representing large insurance carriers in their first party litigation including clams for bad faith and insurance code violations.  With experience at several of the State's leading insurance defense firms, he's represented insurance clients in numerous areas including automobile, property & casualty, commercial, excess, E&O and D&O.  In addition to the typical insurance claims, Tony has handled numerous unique claims including those involving toxic torts, dram shop, defamation, civil rights and false imprisonment.   

Tony's commercial litigation experience has included representing technology-related companies in their litigation matters, as well as in a  consulting role as a legal advisor. As part of this practice, Tony was lead counsel in an lnternational Chamber of Commerce (lCC) arbitration, in which he represented a global software company.  The arbitration hearing was conducted in Brussels, Belgium, was governed by Swiss Law, and resulted in a favorable result for firm's client.  He has also represented various clients in their employment related litigation, including extensive experience in litigating non-compete clauses for employers and employees. 

When not working, he enjoys international travel and salt water fishing and prefers when both of these hobbies are involved at the same time. Tony is as close to being a native "San Antonian" as one can be without being born here, having gone to school from kindergarten through law school in San Antonio.  Although he moved away on occasion, he always came back as soon as he could.
Bar Admissions:
Texas, 1994
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit

Education:
St. Mary's University School of Law,
San Antonio, Texas, 1994
Honors: Magna Cum Laude, Law Journal,
Casenote published    
The University of Texas at San Antonio, 1991
B.A. - Political Science

Professional Associations and Awards:
Texas Association of Defense Counsel
Defense Research Institute, Inc (DRI)
Texas Lawyer's Rising Star, 2009
S.A. Scene's Best of San Antonio Lawyers, General Litigation


Previous Law Firms:
  • Allen, Stein & Durbin (f/k/a Plunkett, Gibson & Allen), San Antonio
  • Prichard, Hawkins, McFarland & Young, San Antonio
  • Brown, McCarroll, Dallas
  • Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, Ft. Worth