HOUSTON (April 26, 2015) — Partner Geoffrey L. Harrison has been named Litigator of the Week by Texas Lawyer. This marks the third year in a row a Susman Godfrey partner has received this prestigious distinction, with Ophelia Camiña being named in 2014 and Joe Grinstein in 2013.
After a three week jury trial ended in February 2015, Harrison, Alex Kaplan, and Kristen Schlemmer won a headline-grabbing jury verdict for the City of Houston, upholding Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance, HERO, which provides equal rights protections to all Houston’s citizens, including those in the LGBT community. The judge entered judgment for the City in April 2015. Susman Godfrey represented the City pro bono.
“The jury’s verdict and the judge’s ruling are a powerful smack-down against the forces of discrimination and intolerance,” says Harrison. “Winning the HERO case is more than extremely satisfying—it is an important victory for equal rights. We are on the right side of history, and the right side of now.”
Harrison tried, and won, two other lawsuits immediately before and after winning the HERO trial. In December 2014 – one month before the HERO trial began – Harrison, Bill Merrill, and Abby Noebels won a federal court jury verdict for Apache Corporation, defeating a $20 million claim. In February 2015 – two weeks after winning the HERO verdict –Harrison, Alex Kaplan, and Adam Carlis won a $19.4 million award (100% of damages sought, plus interest) in a confidential energy industry arbitration.
In recognition of Harrison’s HEROic win, the Texas Lawyer named Harrison its “Litigator of the Week” and “Houston’s HERO.” Read more about this honor in the Texas Lawyer and read more about Harrison’s accomplishments here.
