Attorney David P. Matthews

Attorney David Matthews has been chosen through US News & World Report as one of the Best Lawyers in America from 2016-2023. He has been repeatedly voted by his peers as one of the top trial lawyers in the country. His firm handles several types of cases for plaintiffs, including:

More than 150 Cases tried to Verdict

Mr. Matthews has tried more than 150 cases to verdict. He developed insurance coverage opinions straight out of law school, defended carriers in court, handled major subrogation claims ranging from $5 million to $500 million. For the last 33 years, he has worked solely for injured plaintiffs.

Best US Law Firms

Selected among the best plaintiff’s firms in the country by US News & World Report in 2023, Matthews & Associates Law Firm has secured compensation for thousands of clients nationwide. With offices in Houston, Texas; Chico, Calif.; Salinas, Calif.; and New York City, the firm has long been recognized as a nationwide leader in civil litigation for plaintiffs.

Nationwide Legal Experience

Mr. Matthews is licensed to practice law in Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Mississippi; but he also prosecutes cases nationwide through pro hac vice arrangements with different attorneys licensed in virtually every state.

Broad Litigation Experience

David Matthews has, for decades, represented victims of dangerous medical devices such as IVC filters, and those injured by drugs such as Zantac. He also represented plaintiffs in Roundup cancer cases, as well as children and their parents injured by pesticides like Paraquat. He also represents Houston Car Accident victims.

Personal Courtroom Experience

“When the judge read the verdict in Martha Salazar’s case ($73 Million), and we learned the jury ordered [the medical device maker] to pay Martha, (we) knew they believed every word she said. We realized they knew the defendant was truly reckless in selling an untested and defective medical device, and they believed in us and believed in our case. Martha and I both cried. She won’t entirely have her health back, but some healing had begun.” — David Matthews

Peer Recognition

Mr. Matthews has received the premier rating in 2023 from Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™. Martindale.com proclaims on its web site: “The Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are an objective indicator of a lawyer’s high ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States and Canada. . . .”

Mr. Matthews has been voted in 2022 one of the Top 100 National Trial Lawyers in Texas. The National Trial Lawyers web site reports: “The National Trial Lawyers is a professional organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from across the country who exemplify superior qualifications as civil plaintiff or criminal defense trial lawyers. . . “

Mr. Matthews has also been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer – a Thomson Reuters designation – from 2003-2004 and 2006-2022. SuperLawyers.com web site reports, “Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.”

Nationwide Representation

Nationwide Mr. Matthews has helped injured people across the country attain some of the largest verdicts or settlements in pharmaceutical litigation against the makers of such drugs as Phen-Fen, Rezulin, Vioxx and Bextra-Celebrex. He worked 18 years as a partner in the oldest personal injury firm in Texas, the last 15 years as head of Matthews & Associates, with offices in Houston; New York City; Chico, Calif; Salinas, Calif.

Other Litigation

Mr. Matthews has also handled employment and civil rights cases, environmental lawsuits, toxic torts, premises liability, plant explosions, class actions (such as the hot fuel litigation), nursing home abuse, priest molestation, car and truck accidents, mesothelioma and more.

In the News

Attorney David Matthews been featured in Mother Jones Magazine, on CNN and Dateline MSNBC, and interviewed on National Public Radio (NPR) and several other nationwide outlets. His legal expertise has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Houston Chronicle, the UK’s Daily Mail and many other publications. Married for 25 years, he is a father of five who contributes to several local, national, and international charities, including Human Rights First, where he also serves on the board. He loves music and counts Texas legend Willie Nelson a friend.

Certification/Specialties

Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Bar Admissions

Texas, 1988; Mississippi, 2004; New York, 2004; Pennsylvania, 2009; U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 2007; U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1996; U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1993; U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1990; U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 2005; U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1990

Education

South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, 1988 J.D.
Honors: Recipient, American Jurisprudence Awards: Property, Civil Procedure
Law Review: South Texas College Law Review, Assistant Editor, 1988
Law Review: South Texas Law Review, Comment Editor
University of Wisconsin at Madison, 1984 B.A.

Published Works

“Self Insureds and Non-Subscribing Suing and Defending,” Damage Control Institute, 1997
“New Horizons in Damages,” Damage Control Institute, 1997

Classes/Seminars Taught

Adjunct Professor, South Texas College of Law

Professional Associations and Memberships

Texas Bar Foundation Member
Houston Bar Association Member
American Bar Association Member
State Bar of Texas Member
Houston Young Lawyers Association Member
Texas Trial Lawyers Association Associate Director
American Board of Trial Advocates Member
American Association of Justice

Language

Spanish

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