In this episode, Ben (https://gideonasen.com/our-team/benjamin-gideon/) speaks with Texas trial lawyer Randy Sorrels about his recent $352 Million verdict returned for the family of a single, injured plaintiff—the largest compensatory damages verdict for a single injured individual ever recorded.  Randy tells the story of this landmark trial against well-known Texas lawyer, Rusty Harden.  Randy also discusses two other multi-million-dollar pandemic verdicts, including one involving former major league baseball great, Roger Clemens.  Randy talks about what it’s like trying cases together with his wife and starting a new law firm during the pandemic.  He also talks about his work as President of the Texas Bar Association.  Randy is a gifted and inspiring lawyer, and you don’t want to miss this episode. 

About Randy Sorrels

Randy Sorrels holds the unique distinction of being the only Texas board certified plaintiffs’ lawyer ever to have been both elected to serve as President of the State Bar of Texas and selected as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the state by Texas Super Lawyers magazine. His passionate representation of clients and lawyers has garnered statewide recognition and numerous prestigious awards – including most recently being named the ALM Media/Texas Lawyer Attorney of the Year Award (2022). Randy and his partner/wife obtained what is believed to be the largest actual damages verdict in United States’ history for an injured worker — $352.7 million – in a fully contested jury trial. In short, whether it is in the courtroom or in the boardroom, Randy has an unparalleled track record of success for his clients and the organizations he leads.  

As a leader, Randy was voted by Texas lawyers to become the 2019-2020 State Bar President by the widest margin of victory in State Bar history. During his presidential service, he traveled Texas solidifying his reputation for helping not only those who hire him, but also helping fellow lawyers. His network of friends and relationships throughout the state is vast, and he is often hired by lawyers who are in need of representation. As a zealot advocate for his clients, Randy holds four board certifications including in Personal Injury Trial Law, Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. And in a peer selection process, for the last 14 years he has been named one of the Top 100 lawyers in the state. He is sought after by the nationwide and local media for legal analysis, commentary and perspective.  

Randy’s success in the courtroom is also well-known throughout Texas and nation. He has taken dozens of cases to trial, securing multi-million-dollar verdicts in personal injury cases, medical malpractice cases, plant explosion cases and business lawsuits. During the time of Covid, Randy and the Sorrels Law team secured two of the largest personal injury jury verdicts in the country in a high-profile cases that received media attention worldwide. In one of the cases, the jury returned an actual damages verdict of $352.7 million for an injured worker who suffered catastrophic injuries, while in the other the jury awarded two minor league baseball players $3.24 million. For 2022, Randy has been named TEX-ABOTA’s Trial Lawyer of the Year, as well as the Best Lawyers® Personal Injury – Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year” in Houston. Previously, he has been named the Best Lawyers’ Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year” in Houston on three separate occasions. He has received some of the highest legal honors in the state, including being awarded the State Bar of Texas’ President’s Award (recognizing the one Texas Lawyer who provided the most outstanding contributions through distinguished service to the lawyers of Texas), the Judge Sam Williams Award (recognizing the Texas lawyer who provides the greatest contribution to both local bars and the State Bar of Texas), and the Houston Bar Association President’s Award (recognizing significant contributions to an HBA program). Early in his career, Randy was honored with the Woodrow B. Seals Outstanding Young Lawyer of Houston Award (recognizing the one young Houston lawyer who exemplified significant professional traits both inside and outside the practice of law). He started his career as a lawyer at the internationally acclaimed Fulbright & Jaworski (now Norton Rose Fulbright).