First Admitted: 1992, Texas

Professional Webpage: https://www.martinwalkerlaw.com/firm-personal-injury-lawyers...

Bar/Professional Activity:

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice: 1992 – Texas; 1993 – U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; 1994 – U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1998 – U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas; 2008 – U.S. District Court, State of Colorado
East Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Executive Committee 2015; Board of Directors 2012 – 2013
State Bar of Texas
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA): Past President, East Texas Chapter 2015; Past President, East Texas Chapter 2014; Executive Committee 2011 – 2015
Smith County Bar Association

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

Won a $43.32 million medical malpractice verdict against Tyler, Texas-based East Texas Medical Center and one of its doctors. VerdictSearch ranked it as the largest medical malpractice verdict in Texas, 2018
Jury awards contractor $4.3 Million in lawsuit against Walmart. A Smith County jury has awarded $4.3 million to a worker injured when a Walmart shoplifter rammed him with his car upon fleeing the scene. The trial lawyers of Martin Walker represented Scott Lacy in the lawsuit against Walmart. In July 2020, Arkansas native Mr. Lacy was working as a subcontractor at Walmart in Tyler. He was in the lawn and garden center when multiple Walmart employees yelled for help in apprehending a shoplifter. The employees and Mr. Lacy chased the shoplifter into the parking lot to retrieve the stolen merchandise, and then one employee instructed Mr. Lacy to release the suspect. Mr. Lacy was walking back toward the Walmart store when the shoplifter struck him with his vehicle and catapulted him into a pole, shattering his ankle, which later required multiple surgeries to repair. Mr. Lacy also suffered a traumatic brain injury. The jury was shown evidence of negligence on Walmart’s part for inadequate training and understanding of the company’s shoplifting policy, commonly referred to as AP-09, which details the serious risks involved with approaching, detaining, restraining and pursuing shoplifters. “If the Walmart staff were properly trained, this whole incident would have been preventable,” said renowned personal injury attorney Jack Walker. “We hope this verdict sends a message to major companies that employee and guest safety should be a priority over profit and merchandise.” Jurors ordered Walmart to pay $4.3 million to Mr. Lacy for the incident, the largest local verdict against a major retail company in recent memory. The suspect, Herbert Vanderkinter, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and property theft. He was later convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 40 years in prison. Mr. Lacy was represented by Jack Walker and Marisa Allen of Martin Walker PC. The case is Scott A. Lacy v. Walmart Stores et al., Cause no. 21-2858-B in the 114th Judicial District Court in Smith County, Texas., 2023
Obtained a $1.9 million verdict against a hospital and a doctor for medical malpractice. The family of a truck driver who was killed during an EGD procedure sued the anesthesia care team involved in his medical care.
Obtained a $603,000 verdict involving an auto collision case in Athens, Texas, 2015
Obtained a verdict against the manufacturer of a platform fire truck in the amount of $800,750.00 for the family of a firefighter killed in the line of duty. Jack and the firm sued the manufacturer alleging a design defect, a marketing defect, negligence, and gross negligence. The jury found in favor of the family and held the company responsible under all four causes of action. Gregg County, Texas
Obtained a judgment in excess of $4 million as a result of a commercial dispute for losses caused by a subcontractor

Special Licenses/Certifications:

Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Pro bono/Community Service:

Charitable donations given to the local Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth community in support of the physical well-being of the seven nuns who live in a convent on the grounds of Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas who attend to the spiritual and emotional needs of the hospital’s patients and staff., 2019
Martin Walker PC provides gift to chapel at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital. The Martin Walker law firm has donated an electric piano for use in the recently renovated chapel at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler. The piano, a Yamaha CLP-675R Rosewood Clavinova Digital Piano, will be used by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and will provide music for masses at the chapel. “We are excited to be able to provide this as a gift that will be something the sisters will benefit from, as will anyone using the chapel,” says firm co-founder Reid Martin. “We have longstanding ties – given the medical people in our families – to the hospital and to the sisters, so this was just a natural thing for us to do.” The Yamaha CLP-675R is described as “a stunning instrument that will impress the most discerning and demanding pianists,” as well as one that provides “an immersive concert grand experience.” “The chapel is such an important place,” says firm co-founder Jack Walker. “If you come to the hospital and you want to pray for someone here, this is where you come. To play a small part in that and to help provide the music, which is so important when people pray, is something very special to us.” Previously, the firm donated a NordicTrack Grand Tour iFit Exercise Bike to the sisters, who live in a convent on the grounds of the hospital and who minister to the spiritual needs of the patients there., 2023
Martin Walker Law Kicks Off Christus Trinity Fundraisers. Martin Walker has partnered with CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Foundation Women’s Board to help sponsor the purchase of a Trident Radiography & Guidance System which will be instrumental in aiding breast cancer surgeries. The device provides real-time imaging, allowing doctors to verify they’ve successfully removed all cancerous cells during surgery. Necessary procedures can be completed in a single session, lessening patients’ time under anesthesia and reducing the chance of patient recall for further surgery. Additionally, the Foundation Women’s Board will also raise funds to support a new Breast Cancer Survivorship Program. This program is designed to address long-term effects of cancer treatment and ensure survivors are leading healthy and fulfilling lives. Martin Walker hosted the first of these events, “A Toast to East Texas”, on Thursday, July 21 at the Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler. It was a great night in service of a great cause. , 2023

Honors/Awards:

Inducted into the Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame in 2020, Texas Lawyer, 2020
Martin Walker PC Named to list of Fastest-Growing Businesses in the inaugural 2023 Longhorn 100 awards, recognizing the 100 fastest-growing Longhorn-run businesses in the world , by the University of Texas at Austin’s alumni organization, Texas Exes,
Ranked Tier 1 among the Best Law Firms in Plaintiffs Personal Injury, 2022-2025, Best Lawyers in America
Texas' Top Verdicts in 2018 – Largest Medical Malpractice Verdict statewide, as published by Texas Lawyer, VerdictSearch
500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers by Lawdragon, 2020-2023, Lawdragon
Best Lawyers in America, Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation, 2020-2025, Best Lawyers
Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2019-2024, Super Lawyers
Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL), 2015
Distinguished Rating by Martindale-Hubbell for High Professional Achievement
Reich Chandler Outstanding Advocate Award, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, 2014
Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Educational Background:

South Texas College of Law, 1992

John F. (Jack) Walker, III