Willie Lighty - cmlawfirm

ABOUT

Willie Lighty is an associate in the Tampa office of Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Gaston & Zimet and focuses his practice on general liability, including trucking and auto defense, UM/UIM claims, negligent security, and premises liability. He also practices in the areas of products liability, industrial and scaffolding accidents, and medical malpractice.

Willie has significant experience representing clients in various capacities and in the various stages of civil litigation, including pre-suit, examinations under oath, discovery, motion practice, and dispositive motions. He has successfully conducted both expert and fact witness depositions and has effectively mediated and arbitrated numerous cases for clients well under settlement authority. Willie has also argued a case in front of the Texas Ninth Court of Appeals. He zealously advocates for his clients to obtain the best possible resolution.

Willie is licensed to practice law in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. He earned his J.D. and D.C.L. (Degree in Comparative Law) from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center where he was awarded the CALI award of excellence for the highest grade in Legal Research and Writing. Before joining Cruser Mitchell, Willie previously worked at one of America’s largest civil defense firms.

Education

LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D. & D.C.L. (Degree in Comparative Law)
Southern Methodist University, B.A. Economics, minor in History

Areas of practice

Automotive Litigation

,

Employment Practices Liability

,

Industrial and Scaffolding Accidents

,

Landlord/Tenant Disputes

,

Negligent Security

,

Personal Injury Defense

,

Premises Liability

,

Product Liability

,

Trucking Liability

,

UM/UIM and First Party Claims

Litigation Percentage

100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

Florida State Bar
Texas State Bar
Louisiana State Bar

Associations

Jefferson County Young Lawyer’s Association
Texas Association of Defense Counsel
Jefferson County Bar Association

Representative Cases

Drafted appellate brief and conducted appellate oral arguments in front of the Texas Ninth Court of Appeals. (Case: 09-21-00146-CV, TBS Business Solutions USA, Inc. and Tweodros “Teddy” Sahilu v. Allco, LLC)

Obtained a $0 verdict for the defendant in a matter tried in the Justice of the Peace Court in Hardin County, Texas

APPELLATE DECISIONS

Case: 09-21-00146-CV, TBS Business Solutions USA, Inc. and Tweodros “Teddy” Sahilu v. Allco, LLC

AWARDS & PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

CALI award of excellence for the highest grade in Legal Research and Writing