Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

Mr. Ulmer is a trial lawyer who represents a wide variety of clients in wrongful death, general tort litigation, premises liability, products liability, toxic tort, professional liability and commercial litigation matters. Mr. Ulmer has extensive experience litigating in federal and state courts, as well as before arbitration panels.

In addition to his substantial litigation experience, Mr. Ulmer also has primary responsibility for managing mass tort litigation.

Chemical Exposure, Toxic Tort and Premises Liability Litigation

Within the area of premises liability, tort litigation and premises liability, Mr. Ulmer defends prominent chemical and equipment manufacturers, as well as property owners, in cases involving exposure to various alleged hazardous materials, including benzene, asbestos and silica.

Mr. Ulmer currently manages the asbestos premises litigation for a major U.S. company. The toxic tort litigation docket routinely consists of more than 600 individual cases and claims throughout the state of Texas.

Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Litigation

Within the areas of wrongful death and personal injury litigation, Mr. Ulmer has represented numerous companies in a diverse array of disputes involving catastrophic injuries, neurological damage, paralysis, psychological injury and death.

Mr. Ulmer recently led a trial team to a major trial victory on behalf of an international chemical manufacturer. The case involved an explosion at the company’s plant located in the Gulf Coast area. There were 59 plaintiffs in the case and the trial involved two of them. Both of the plaintiffs claimed post-traumatic stress disorder, knee injuries that resulted in surgery and back injuries for which the treating doctors recommended surgery.

The plaintiffs’ lawyers are recognized as some of the top plaintiffs’ lawyers in the United States. The plaintiffs sought $10 million at trial. These two plaintiffs were selected by the plaintiffs’ counsel to be tried first because they evaluated them among their best plaintiffs.

After a hard-fought three-week trial, the jury found for the company against one plaintiff and awarded the other plaintiff less than $50,000. No punitive damages were awarded.

Products Liability Litigation

Mr. Ulmer has defended a wide array of cases involving manufacturers, distributors and retailers of numerous commercial and consumer products, including pool equipment, toilets, copper piping, exterior insulation and finishing systems (EIFS) and petrochemicals and industrial equipment.

Professional Liability and Medical Malpractice Litigation

Within the area of professional liability litigation, Mr. Ulmer has defended hospitals, physicians, nurses and professional healthcare associations in a broad range of cases including catastrophic injury, neurological damages, paralysis, limb loss, death, sexual misconduct and psychological injury.

Commercial Litigation

In the area of commercial litigation, Mr. Ulmer has provided complete trial and appellate representation, as well as alternative dispute resolution, for numerous clients involved in business and contract disputes.

Mr. Ulmer’s commercial litigation experience includes obtaining a victory in a case of first impression in the Fifth Circuit and Texas Supreme Court involving the interpretation of the Home Equity Amendment to the Texas Constitution. These decisions are reported at Doody v. Ameriquest Mortgage Co., 49 S.W.3d 342 (Tex. 2001); Doody v. Ameriquest Mortgage Co., 242 F.3d 286 (5th Cir. 2001).

Mr. Ulmer has been consistently recognized as a “Super Lawyer Rising Star” by Texas Monthly magazine each year since 2004.

In addition to his law practice, Mr. Ulmer has been very active in local and state bar activities. He currently serves on the State Bar of Texas Professionalism Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors for Lone Star Legal Aid, the fourth largest legal aid organization in the United States. In addition, he served as a Board member on the Houston Bar Association’s Board of Directors for eight years. During that time, he chaired numerous committees and task forces, including serving as President of the Houston Lawyers Referral Service, Inc.

Texas Governor Rick Perry recently appointed Mr. Ulmer to the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG). The TBPG oversees the licensing, administration and practice of professional geoscientists in the state of Texas.

In addition, Houston Mayor Bill White appointed Mr. Ulmer to serve as Chair of the Houston Police Officers Civil Service Commission (HPOCSC). The HPOCSC hears and reviews appeals of disciplinary actions and grievances associated with the classification system, promotion system, medical and psychological fitness for duty and the compensation system of classified officers in the Houston Police Department.

Areas of Practice

• Commercial Litigation
• Litigation: Motor Vehicle & Equipment Franchise Practice
• Product Liability and Toxic Tort
• Automotive

Bar Admissions

• Texas, 1995
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Western District of Texas

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists, 2007 - Present (Member)
• Houston Police Officers’ Civil Service Commission, 2005 - Present (Chair)
• Lone Star Legal Aid, 2003 - Present (Board of Directors)
• State Bar of Texas Professionalism Committee, 2006 - Present (Member)
• University of Houston Law Center Alumni, 2007 - Present (Board of Director)
• Houston Bar Association, 1998 - 2006 (Board of Directors)
• Houston Lawyer Referral Service, Inc, 2003 - 2006 (Past President)

Honors and Awards

• Houston Bar Association President’s Award Recognition for Outstanding Service, 2006 - 2007
• Super Lawyer Rising Star, Texas Monthly Magazine, 2004 - 2008

Past Employment Positions

• Honorable Justice Jack Hightower, Texas Supreme Court , Briefing Clerk

Education

• University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas, 1995
  J.D.
• University of Pennsylvania, 1992
  B.A.

Address

1000 Louisiana
Suite 2000
Houston, TX 77002-5009

Phones

(713) 646-1363

Faxes

(713) 751-1717

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.bakerlaw.com