Joe Jamail, Flamboyant Texas Lawyer Who Won Billions for Clients, Dies at 90

Joe Jamail, a Houston trial lawyer who earned billions for his clients and himself with courtroom presentations that drew on jurors’ sympathies and who gave away millions to his alma mater and other causes, died Wednesday at age 90.

In addition to being one of the greatest trial lawyers in American history, Jamail was a major benefactor to the University of Texas, both on the academic side as well as athletics. The Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center is named in his honor. The Longhorns’ football team plays on what’s known as Joe Jamail Field inside Royal-Memorial Stadium.

Both profane and intellectual, Jamail was best known for winning a $10.5 billion verdict against Texaco in a high-stakes corporate takeover dispute. But he strengthened his reputation as the “King of Torts” – referring to the broad area of civil law that includes intentional or negligent wrongdoing by one party against another, long before he took on the high-profile case that set a record for civil damages.

According to his website, he took more than 500 cases to trial in a five-decade career. He left a job at a corporate defense firm early on to represent individuals who were hurt by motor vehicle accidents, defective products and industrial accidents. Mr. Jamail won the minds and hearts of juries.

Texas athletic director Mike Perrin released a statement in which he called Jamail “a giant of a man, who made a huge impact in all facets of life.” “His contributions to the University of Texas are a lasting legacy and testament to his never ending quest to give back and support activities, the law and sports he believed in,” Perrin said. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to Joe’s family. With them, we share grief and a sense of loss in his passing. But, we also share our joy of having had him as a major part of so many lives.

Former athletic director DeLoss Doss also released a statement: “I don’t think the University of Texas has ever had a better friend than Joe Jamail. When something needed to get done on campus, you could count on him to help. Joe wasn’t a guy wanting to give advice or get his way, he just wanted to know what he could do to be part of the solution. Joe was a dear friend of mine and our coaches. He was very close to Darrell and Edith Royal and Mack and Sally Brown. He shared in our national championships and we are proud his name is on our field, it’s very deserving.”

Part of a Lebanese-American family with deep roots in Houston, Jamail spoke with a drawl and had a common touch that endeared him to juries. “He could connect with juries and judges better than anyone I’ve ever seen,” said Houston lawyer Richard Mithoff, a former partner of Jamail’s. “He had great eye contact. He would lock on you with those blue eyes,” Mithoff recalled. “For a witness who was pompous or arrogant, he was devastating.”

“You will never find a better lawyer,” said James A. Baker III, a former U.S. secretary of state and Treasury secretary, and himself an attorney, who became close friends with Jamail after returning from government service in 1993. “If you had Joe on your side, you were going to win.”