Author Biographies: Trial Objections

Trial Objections
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R. Rogge Dunn R. Rogge Dunn is a trial lawyer who loves trying cases. He has litigated lawsuits throughout the country and tried cases to a jury verdict in four different states. His practice involves representing defendants as well as plaintiffs in a variety of cases involving commercial disputes, employment issues, non-compete agreements, trade secrets, severance negotiations, and sizeable tort and product liability matters. Although approximately two-thirds of his practice involves representation of corporate defendants, Mr. Dunn has won more than $140 million in settlements and judgments for his plaintiff clients, including individual jury verdicts of more than $1 million each in Texas and Louisiana. Two of his closing arguments were recorded for the 1999 edition of the Million Dollar Arguments series published by Professional Techniques Library in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Mr. Dunn was the lead attorney for the subrogating insurance carriers in the New Orleans Fairgrounds racetrack disaster. The $58 million verdict won in that case stands as the largest products liability verdict in Louisiana history. Mr. Dunn has tried cases involving wrongful death, employment matters, whistleblowing, industrial property disasters, products liability, construction issues, breach of contract, breach of warranty, and other commercial disputes. In addition, he has obtained 2 TRO’s, injunctions, and other equitable relief in venues throughout the nation. Mr. Dunn received a B.A., cum laude, with Departmental Distinction in English, from Southern Methodist University in 1980. He received a J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas in 1983. At the University of Texas Law School, he served as a Note Editor of the Texas Law Review from 1982-83 and was a member of the Board of Advocates from 1981-83. He clerked for the Honorable Reynaldo Garza of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1983-84. Mr. Dunn is an active author and speaker. He has authored a chapter and the forms for Texas Employment Law, a two-volume series published by James Publishing, and serves on its Editorial Advisory Board. He has written more than twenty articles on a variety of legal issues. He also presents legal seminars four to five times a year. Mr. Dunn has taught at Southern Methodist University as an Adjunct Professor for the last fourteen years. He became Board Certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1993. Mr. Dunn is a partner in the law firm of Matthews, Carlton, Stein, Shiels, Pearce, Dunn & Knott, L.L.P. The firm was formed in the 1930’s. Mr. Dunn dedicates this book “to Mom, whose guidance, encouragement and love enabled me to achieve what I have in life.” E-mail - rdunn@righttowork.com

Karen L. Hirschman Karen L. Hirschman is a partner at the firm of Vinson & Elkins in Dallas Texas, and Co-Chair of the Dallas Litigation Section. She specializes in large complex business disputes. She has tried cases in state courts in Texas, and in federal courts in Texas and other states involving antitrust, patent and trade secret, legal and accounting malpractice, business torts and employment discrimination disputes. Her most recent trial involved defending a $300 million damages claim against Ernst & Young for alleged fraud and accounting malpractice. The jury returned a verdict for the defendant in less than two hours. Ms. Hirschman received a J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1983. She served as Note and Research Editor of the Texas Law Review in 1982-1983. She obtained an M.A. from the University of Texas in 1978, and a B.A. from the University of Delaware with high honors in 1973. She clerked for the Honorable Barefoot Sanders, United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, from 1983-1984. Ms. Hirschman is a frequent lecturer and speaker at ABA and State Bar seminars. She is active in civic affairs, and is currently serving on the program committee for Young Audiences, a nonprofit organization dedicated to arts education. She also co-chairs the Women’s Career Development Council at Vinson & Elkins. E-mail - khirschman@velaw.com