Richard W. Espey
Contact: respey@lawespey.com
Richard “Rick” Espey was born and raised in Austin, Texas. He received his B.B.A. from Baylor University and his Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law. Rick was admitted to the bar in 1990 and began practicing at Groce, Locke and Hebdon. In 1992 he moved to Davis Adami and Cedillo which later became Davis Cedillo and Mendoza. In 2009 he founded Espey & Associates which has tripled in size over the last 10 years.
Rick has tried more than 150 first chair trials in state and federal courts across the state. His trials have included the successful defense of an international insurance intermediary in the largest civil case to be tried in Harris County at the time, wrongful death cases resulting from construction and trucking accidents and representation of the YMCA in lawsuits resulting from sexual molestation by counselors employed at their summer camps. Rick is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction held by less than 10% of attorneys in the state. He also consistently receives an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell as voted on by his peers as well as numerous other peer nominated and selected awards. Rick is licensed to practice in Texas state courts and U.S. District Court, Southern and Western Districts.
Rick has a common-sense approach to litigation. He knows that clients need a proper evaluation of a case as early as possible. It is important to Rick’s clients that plaintiffs’ counsel recognize we aren’t afraid to take a case to trial. He also knows his clients don’t need a case “lawyered up” for years only to be told the case needs to settle on the eve of trial. In his almost 30 years of practice, Rick has garnered the respect of judges and opposing counsel throughout the state. Rick attributes his trial success record to his trial preparation strategy and the competence of his team.
Rick is a frequent speaker at claims seminars and other professional development events for clients and peers. His presentations are known to be entertaining and often include real life examples from past cases. He has also served on various boards and sub committees of the Texas State Bar Association and the Texas Association of Defense Counsel.
In his free time, Rick serves as an elder and on the leadership counsel of his church and enjoys spending time with his wife, Nancy, and their family. He is happiest on his boat at Lake LBJ and when his grown children are home from out of state.
Preparatory Education: Baylor University (B.B.A., Management, 1985)
Legal Education: South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1990)
Associate Managing Editor, South Texas Law Review 1989-1990
Assistant Editor, South Texas Law Review 1988- 1990
Elected a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation 2007
State Bar of Texas,
American Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
San Antonio Bar Association
Texas Bar Foundation
Texas Association of Defense Counsel
Defense Research Institute
School Board Member of St. Thomas Episcopal Schools, 2005 – 2007, and 2009 – 2012
Christian Legal Society
Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism
Elder – Concordia Lutheran Church
Author: “How Much Are You Worth and Whose Business Is It?,” WOAI Business Weekly, March 2-8, 1992, Vol. #2, No.10
Author: “The Hazards of Serving a Drink” WOAI Business Weekly, May 4-10, 1992, Vol. #2, No.18
Author/Speaker: “Sex and Security How Much is Enough?” Davis, Adami & Cedillo, Inc., Claim Seminar and Conference, March 16, 1995
Author: Davis, Adami & Cedillo, Inc.’s “Workers’ Compensation Newsletter”
Author/Speaker: “Lowering Workers’ Compensation Costs” Straight Solutions to Risk Management, Executive Risk Management Seminar II presented by the Texas Water Conservation Association
Author/Speaker: “Workers’ Compensation in Texas” presented by the National Business Institute, Inc., October 10, 1995
Author/Speaker: “Workers’ Compensation Claims and Loss Control” presented by Barron Risk Management Services, Inc., April 9, 1997
Author/Speaker: “Premises Liability: Criminal Acts Committed by Third Parties”
presented by American Society for Industrial Security, April 13,1999
Speaker: “Legal Issues Involving Camping” presented by Texas Lions Camp, September 28, 2000
Co-Author/Speaker: “Using An Expert Wisely” presented by Anatomy of a Civil Trial Seminar, May 13, 2005
Speaker: “Opening Statements” presented by the San Antonio Mexican-American Bar Association, July 14, 2005
Co-Author/Speaker: “Understanding the Stowers Doctrine and its Application to Texas Claims Handling” Davis, Cedillo & Mendoza, Inc. Claim Seminar, September 13, 2006
Co-Author/Speaker: AIG Claims Services, Inc. Seminar presented by Davis, Cedillo & Mendoza, Inc. July 12, 2007
Co-Author/Speaker: “Handling Claims in Texas: Procedural & Substantive Matters” Davis Cedillo & Mendoza, Inc., Claims Seminar, July 8, 2008
Author/Speaker at Chartis Claims Seminar presented by Espey & Associates, PC, July 2009
Author/Speaker at Colony Insurance Group Claims Seminar presented by Espey & Associates, PC, July 2009
Author/Speaker at Chartis Claims Seminar presented by Espey & Associates, PC, September 2009
Author/Speaker at Colony Insurance Group, Claim Seminar presented by Espey & Associates, PC, July 2010
Author/Speaker at Chartis Claims Seminar presented by Espey & Associates, PC, August 2011
Author/Speaker at Canopius Group (member of Certain Underwriters of Lloyds of London) Claims Seminar presented by Espey & Associates, PC, November 2011
Author/Speaker at San Antonio Claims Association, Claims Seminar presented by San Antonio Claims Association, March 2012
Author/Speaker at Canopius Group (member of Certain Underwriters of Lloyds of London) Claims Seminar presented by Espey & Associates, PC, June 2012
Co-Author/Speaker: “Bias and the Medical Expert”, presented at the Texas Bar Association Advanced Personal Injury Law Course in San Antonio, Texas – July 2018; Dallas, Texas – August 30, 2018 and Houston, Texas – September 6, 2018