Michael P. Lyons Attorney

First Admitted: 1999, Texas

Professional Webpage: https://www.lyons-simmons.com/attorney-profiles/michael-p-ly...

Bar/Professional Activity:

U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
US District Court of New Mexico
Member, Texas Young Lawyers Association
Texas State Bar
Fellow, Dallas Bar Foundation, 2008
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
Member, State Bar of Texas
Member, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
Law in the Schools & Community Committee, Dallas Bar Association
Member, College of the State Bar of Texas
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
Board of Directors, Texas Exes, Dallas Chapter, 2001 - 2007
Member, Dallas Bar Association
Member, Texas Association of Defense Counsel
Judiciary Committee, Dallas Bar Association

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

Dallas County Jury Awards $860 Million For Parents And Estate Of Woman Killed In Dallas Crane Collapse What should have been a quiet Sunday at home for Kiersten Smith and her fiancé ended in tragedy when a when Greystar tower crane collapsed, tearing through their Elan City Lights apartment building during a June 9, 2019, storm, killing Kiersten. Nearly four years later, on April 27, 2023, a Dallas jury awarded more than $860 million to the parents and estate of Kiersten Smith, agreeing with lawyers for the family that the negligence of real estate developer Greystar and affiliated companies caused the fatal accident. Michael Lyons of Lyons & Simmons, LLP, and Jason Itkin of Arnold & Itkin represented Plaintiffs Michele Williams and the Estate of Kiersten Smith proving the crane, which Greystar had allowed to fall out of inspection, had not been properly placed out of service prior to the severe weather that had been predicted days in advance of June 9. According to trial testimony, the operator failed to “weathervane” the crane before leaving the day before the accident. Weathervaning allows cranes to move with the wind to avoid the potential of toppling over in bad weather. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph were reported before the collapse. A post-incident inspection of the crane showed the slewing brakes were on, indicating the crane was locked in place instead of being able to swing freely during the storm. The tower crane was located across the street from Elan City Lights on a construction site for the Gabriella apartments, a mid-rise development owned by an entity affiliated with Greystar Development and Construction. Lyons and Houston attorney Jason Itkin of Arnold & Itkin LLP, represented Michelle Williams and the Estate of Kiersten Smith. Her father, James Kirkwood, was represented by Jonathon Clark of Glasheen, Valles & Inderman, LLP., 2023
Recognized among the nation’s Top Verdicts of 2022 as “Most Impressive Plaintiffs Verdicts” by Courtroom View Network (CVN). Also ranked among the Top 100 Verdicts in Texas and 2nd largest medical malpractice verdict, according to VerdictSearch and as published in Texas Lawyer magazine. Adams v. Texas Hospital Partners Flower Mound, LLC d/b/a Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Flower Mound, 2022
Lyons & Simmons Secures $10.1 Million For Client Who Suffered ‘Calamity Of Delays And Institutional Failures’ At Hospital December 16, 2022 When Flower Mound resident Judy “Jessie” Adams visited a pain management physician on March 21, 2019, for an epidural steroid injection, it was with no understanding of how events over the next several hours would forever alter her life. An accidental nick of a blood vessel during the injection sent her to Texas Health Presbyterian Flower Mound for a neurological emergency – an epidural hematoma. But failures to communicate, coordinate and follow hospital policies turned her trip to the ER into a nightmare of delays. Those delays resulted in permanent paralysis to her lower extremities. Lyons led the team that represented Adams at trial, securing a combined verdict of $10.1 million that included past and future medical expenses and physical impairment, as well as pain and suffering and disfigurement. The trial team also included Lyons & Simmons attorneys Christopher W. Carr, Michael Fechner, and Stephen Higdon., 2022
Lyons & Simmons Obtains Confidential Settlement On Behalf Of Family And Estate Of Man Killed In Huey Helicopter Crash July 20, 2022 DALLAS – Lyons & Simmons, LLP secured a significant confidential settlement following a lawsuit filed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on behalf of the family and estate of a man who was killed in a tragic helicopter crash near Raton, New Mexico. On January 17, 2018, Paul Cobb was a passenger onboard a Vietnam-era Bell UH-1H “Huey” Helicopter flying to the Emery Gap Ranch from Raton, New Mexico, when it crashed into terrain on the Blosser Gap Mesa. The crash claimed the life of Mr. Cobb, along with three other passengers and the pilot. One person survived the crash. In December 2020, the family and estate of Mr. Cobb brought a wrongful death lawsuit against the owner of the Huey and the pilot in Santa Fe. The lawsuit asserted that Mr. Cobb lost his life due to the defendants’ negligence. Within a year of filing the lawsuit, the family of Mr. Cobb and his estate resolved the lawsuit against the helicopter’s owner and pilot through a confidential settlement. “Paul Cobb was a wonderful man and a patriot to his country. This was an unimaginable tragedy for the Cobb family. I cannot comprehend the immense pain they have endured,” said Michael Lyons, co-founder of Lyons & Simmons. “We wanted to help the family get answers and find a way to make sense of this terrible loss. Ultimately, our job is to hold the responsible parties accountable for the senseless loss of life.” “This settlement will help the Cobb family direct their focus on healing from this tragedy and enable them to create a lasting legacy to honor their beloved husband, father, and grandfather,” said Chris Simmons, co-founder of Lyons & Simmons., 2022
Lawsuit Filed On Behalf Of Family Of Man Who Died Saving Loved One During Astroworld Festival Crowd Surge November 19, 2021 Attorney Michael Lyons: Concert organizers and producers ‘brazenly courted’ tragedy DALLAS – Texas trial firm Lyons & Simmons, LLP has filed a lawsuit against Live Nation, rapper and producer Travis Scott, and other defendants on behalf of the family of Mirza Danish Baig, Basil Baig, and Olivia Swingle. Danish Baig was killed fighting to save Swingle during the mass casualty crowd surge at the Astroworld Festival. Danish Baig, a resident of Crowley, Texas, was one of 10 who died from injuries sustained during a crowd surge on the opening night of the live music festival organized by Scott and promoted by Live Nation, one of the world’s largest live entertainment companies. Hundreds more were injured, including Baig’s partner, Olivia Swingle and his brother, Basil Baig. Video of Michael Lyons discussing the case is available here. “This tragedy was foreseeable and brazenly courted,” said Michael Lyons, co-founder of Lyons & Simmons. “The Astroworld Festival creators, organizers, promoters, security contractors, and performers failed Danish, Olivia, Basil, and all the other victims. “Each of the responsible parties pushed boundaries of common sense and turned their heads to the dangers, simply for profit,” he said. “And when it was obvious they had lost complete control of the situation, instead of stopping the show, they made the decision to continue. That disregard resulted in one of the worst mass-casualty events at a concert in history. It’s a total disgrace.” According to the lawsuit, the potential dangers presented by this type of venue and by Scott were well documented. Since 2015, Scott has twice been arrested for encouraging fans to bypass security measures and rush the stage. Several fans were injured during a stampede to get into his 2019 Astroworld event. Although the 2021 festival was sold out, the lawsuit points to social media posts by Scott encouraging non-ticketholders to “sneak in” to the event. Prior to Scott taking the stage, organizers already knew that security had lost control of what had become an unmanageable crowd, but allowed the show to continue, even as a chant to stop the show emanated from those being crushed in the audience. As Baig struggled to try to lead Swingle out of the chaos, they were separated from Basil and eventually each other. While Baig’s selfless efforts resulted in Swingle escaping the melee, he was overwhelmed by the crowd, later succumbing to his injuries. Baig died less than two weeks shy of his 28th birthday. “Danish sacrificed his life trying to save Olivia from the mayhem of an over-stimulated, unregulated crush of at least 50,000 people,” said Lyons & Simmons co-founder Chris Simmons. “Olivia and Basil are trying to heal from their physical wounds. But the Baig family and Olivia will never fully recover from the pain of knowing that he suffered such a horrific and preventable death. “Danish will always be remembered as a hero for his actions, but his loved ones want to make sure no one else’s loved one is ever killed in such a needless way simply by attending a concert.” The lawsuit is Mujahid Baig and Farhana Baig, Basil Baig and Olivia Swingle v. Live Nation Worldwide, Scoremore Holdings, ASM Global, Harris County Sports & Convention Corp., Jacques Berman Webster II a/k/a Travis Scott, Cactus Jack Records, and Contemporary Services Corp., 2021

Pro bono/Community Service:

Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas, 2001

Honors/Awards:

Elite Trial Lawyers, NLJ named Lyons & Simmons among the nation’s top firms for catastrophic injury law., National Law Journal, 2023
Best Lawyers in America, 2019-2025, Best Lawyers in America
Recognized among the nation’s top verdicts of 2022, by Courtroom View Network (CVN)
National Law Journal “Trailblazer” award (2020-2021, 2023), National Law Journal
Ranked Tier 1 among the Best Law Firms in Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation, Best Law Firms
Secured one of the Top Verdicts in Texas and 2nd largest medical malpractice verdict, VerdictSearch and Texas Lawyer magazine, 2022
Top 100 Super Lawyers in Texas 2021-2022 (statewide honor), Thomson Reuters
500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America, 2020-2024, Lawdragon
Top 100 Super Lawyers in Dallas/Fort Worth, 2018-2024, Thomson Reuters
Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine (2005, 2011, 2013, 2015-2017, and 2019-2023), D Magazine
Texas Super Lawyers 2013-2024, Thomson Reuters
Texas Rising Stars, 2005, 2008-2013, Thomson Reuters
Best Lawyers in Dallas Under 40, D Magazine, 2006
Cum Laude, South Texas College of Law
Order of the Lytae, South Texas College of Law

Educational Background:

The University of Texas, B.A., 1995
South Texas College of Law, J.D. cum laudeHonors: Order of the Lytae

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Assistant Editor, Corporate Counsel Review
"Character Evidence, Subsequent Remedial Measures, and Offers of Settlement", How to Offer and Exclude Evidence, University of Houston CLE Program, 2008
"Conduct, Character and Remedial Measures–The Article IV Rules of Evidence", Advanced Evidence and Discovery, University of Houston CLE Program, 2008

Industry Groups:

Personal Injury
Products Liability
Wrongful Death

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