Ron Simon

Managing Partner

Phone: (713) 335-4900

Fax: (713) 335-4949

Ron was raised in Baytown, Texas. He graduated from Baytown Lee High School in 1986. He was awarded several prestigious college scholarships to attend the University of Texas in Austin, where he received his bachelor’s degree in the Civil Engineering Honors Program in 1990 (graduating #5 in his class), and his J.D. in 1993.

Over the course of his 18-year career, Ron has recovered over $450,000,000 for victims of defective products, professional negligence, chemical explosions, and other major catastrophic events. He has achieved over 55 settlements in excess of one million dollars, including several record-setting recoveries on behalf of his clients in numerous courts across the United States.

Ron’s groundbreaking work on behalf of victims in several recent national food borne illness outbreaks (Peter Pan peanut butter, Castleberry’s chili, Nestle cookie dough, Peanut Corporation of America Peanut products, and Daniele salami, to name a few) have been featured on NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, and virtually all other major television networks and print media. He has represented over 2500 victims of food-borne outbreaks in the past three years alone.

Ron has been voted a “Texas Super Lawyer” by his peers for the past 7 years, and a “Top Lawyer For the People.” He also holds an “AV” Peer Review rating for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability – the highest rating available.

He has also been named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association.

By virtue of his expertise in food-poisoning cases, Ron is routinely interviewed by television and print media, and he frequently serves as an invited speaker at food-borne illness conferences across the United States.

Ron’s articles on ongoing food poisoning outbreaks and litigation – featured at www.myfoodpoisoninglawyer.com – have been viewed by readers in 150 countries.

Ron is married to his college sweetheart, Sarah. They have three children – Jessica, Ashley, and Jordan.

Education

University of Texas at Austin - B.S. Civil Engineering – Honors Program – 1990

Cockrell, Teagle, Conoco, and Goodman Engineering Scholarships
Chi Epsilon, Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Societies
University of Texas Men’s Water Ski Team

University of Texas at Austin – J.D. – 1993

Board of Advocates – 1992-1993

Honors & Distinctions

Voted a Texas Super Lawyer in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011
Named one of H Texas Magazine’s “Top Lawyers For the People”
Awarded the AV Peer Review Rating For Ethical Standards and Legal Ability (Highest Rating)

Professional Affiliations

Texas Bar Foundation – Life Fellow
American Association for Justice
American Bar Association
State of Texas Bar Association
Texas Trial Lawyers Association

Publications

Adopting a Military Approach to Polygraph Evidence Admissibility: Why Federal Evidentiary Protections Will Suffice, 25 Tex. Tech L. Rev Vol 4, 1055 (1994).
The Evidence Wars, Daubert and Other Developments in Evidence and Expert Testimony, SMU School of Law Advanced Civil Trial and Appellate Advocacy Seminar, 1996

Invited Presentations

American Bar Association – Food and Supplements Section Inaugural Workshop – Using Today’s Technology to Identify Food Poisoning Cases, February 17, 2011 – Atlanta, GA
Food-Borne Illness Litigation – Advanced Strategies for Assessing, Managing, and Defending Food Contamination Claims, October 26-27, 2009 – Chicago, IL
Louisiana Bar Association – 9th Annual Symposium, October 16, 2009 - New Orleans, LA
Food-Borne Illness Litigation – Advanced Strategies for Assessing, Managing, and Defending Claims of Food Contamination, December 4-5, 2008 – Scottsdale, AZ
Food-Borne Illness Litigation – Advanced Strategies for Assessing, Managing, and Defending Food Contamination Claims, February 28-29, 2008 – Scottsdale, AZ

Admissions

United States Supreme Court
Fifth Circuit of the United States
Northern District of Texas
Southern District of Texas
Eastern District of Texas
Western District of Texas
All Texas State Courts

Representative Cases

Cargill Salmonella Litigation – 2010 – Current

National lead counsel currently representing 20 victims of salmonella food poisoning across the United Staes who contracted Salmonella Heidelberg after consuming ground turkey produced by Cargill.

Wright County Egg / Hillandale Farms Salmonella Litigation – 2010 – Current

National lead counsel currently representing 150 victims of salmonella food poisoning across the United States who contracted the bacteria after consuming contaminated eggs produced by Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa.

Freshway Foods Romaine Lettuce E. coli O157:H7 Litigation – 2010 – Current

National lead counsel currently representing several victims of E. coli O157:H7 food poisoning across the United States who contracted the bacteria after consuming contaminated romaine lettuce manufactured by Freshway Nestle USA, Inc.

U.F. Union International Food Co. Contaminated White Pepper Salmonella Litigation – 2009 – 2011

National lead counsel for 39 victims of salmonella food poisoning in the northeastern United States who contracted the bacteria after consuming products containing pepper manufactured by U. F. Union International Food Company and imported into the United States by Harris & Freeman. All clients received confidential settlements.

Nestle Cookie Dough E. coli O157:H7 Litigation – 2009 – Current

JBS Swift Beef E. coli O157:H7 Litigation – 2009 – Current

Peanut Corporation of America / Kellogg Company Salmonella Peanut Butter Litigation – 2009 – 2011

National lead counsel currently representing over 70 victims of salmonella food poisoning across the United States and Canada who contracted the bacteria after consuming Austin and Keebler peanut butter crackers manufactured by Kellogg Company. All clients received confidential settlements.

ConAgra Peter Pan Peanut Butter Salmonella Litigation – 2007-2009

National lead counsel for over 750 victims of salmonella food poisoning across the United States who contracted the bacteria after consuming Peter Pan peanut butter manufactured by ConAgra. All clients received confidential settlements.

Hotel Norovirus Outbreak – 2008

Represented 40 victims of norovirus poisoning from contaminated food at a hotel wedding reception. All clients received confidential settlements.

Carter, et al, v. Continental Tire and Ford Motor Company – 2006

Represented 11 members of an Oklahoma City church group who suffered debilitating injuries, when their Continental tire tread delaminated and caused their 15 passenger Ford van to rollover. All clients received confidential settlements.

Evans et al. v. British Petroleum – 2006

Represented over 40 victims of one the deadliest explosions in recent history at the British Petroleum plant in Texas City, Texas. All clients received confidential settlements.

JD v. Foreign Tire Company – 2005

Represented a professional polo player who suffered debilitating injuries and the loss of seven polo ponies when his tire tread delaminated and caused his vehicle to run off the highway into a tree. Recovered the largest (confidential) settlement in history against this foreign tire manufacturer.

Garcia v. Edwards Life Sciences, Inc., et al - 2003

Represented the family of an individual who suffered severe brain damage after a perfusionist failed to properly maintain proper oxygen levels in the patient during heart surgery. Recovered the largest (confidential) settlement in history against Edwards Life Sciences.

Martinez v. U-Haul Corporation – 2002

Represented the family of two individuals who suffered severe 3rd degree burns when an overfilled propane tank exploded. Recovered the largest (confidential) settlement in history against U-Haul Corporation.

Ford / Firestone Litigation – 2001

Served as national lead counsel for over 100 individuals who suffered catastrophic injuries or death as a result of Firestone tire treads delaminating, which caused the drivers lose control of their Ford Explorer vehicles. All clients received confidential settlements.

MD v. The Methodist Hospital – 1997

Represented the family of a 68 year old man who suffered severe brain damage when the hospital failed to defibrillate him after a bout of ventricular fibrillation after heart surgery. Recovered the largest (confidential) settlement in history against The Methodist Hospital.