Joe Jamail
Encyclopedia
Joseph Dahr Jamail, Jr. is a Lebanese
American
attorney and billionaire
. The wealthiest practicing attorney in America, he is frequently referred to as the King of Torts. As of 2011, his net worth was estimated by Forbes
to be $1.5 billion, making him the 833rd richest person in the world.
Jamail is a graduate of St. Thomas High School
in Houston, Texas
and The University of Texas
where he received his B.A.
in 1950 and The University of Texas School of Law
where he received his J.D.
in 1953. In 1986 The University of Texas School of Law created the Joseph D. Jamail Centennial Chair in Law and Advocacy in his honor.
In 1985, Jamail represented Pennzoil
in a lawsuit against Texaco
. Pennzoil won the case and his contingency fee was $335 million. Jamail has given large donations to Rice University
and The University of Texas at Austin
. The football field at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
is named Joe Jamail Field in his honor, and so is the Joseph D. Jamail, Jr. Pavilion at The University of Texas School of Law
. Also located on the University of Texas campus is the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, named for him and his wife. The University has erected two statues on campus in his honor.
On May 14, 2008, The University of Texas announced a $15 million gift from Joe Jamail to support the Law School, Nursing School, and the College of Undergraduate Studies. In response to the gift, the university has renamed a large meeting room in the tower building to the Lee Hage Jamail Academic Room.
On May 29, 2008, the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark
opened near downtown Houston. It was a $2.7 million dollar project. The park is public and covers over 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²).
On April 27, 2011, The San Marcos Baptist Academy
announced a $1 million gift from Joe Jamail to help establish a fund to build a
special event center on the Academy campus in memory of Jamail’s wife, Lee, who graduated from San Marcos Academy in 1944.
Jamail is known for his passionate, aggressive, sometimes abrasive advocacy on behalf of his clients — a tendency that has been noted in the National Law Journal, by the Supreme Court of Delaware as well as other sources. On its own motion, having reviewed deposition transcripts in the Paramount case, the Delaware Supreme Court referred to Mr. Jamail's conduct as "rude, uncivil and vulgar," "abusing the privilege of representing a witness in a Delaware proceeding," 637 A.2d. 34, at 53, as displaying "an astonishing lack of professionalism and civility," and as "outrageous" and as "unacceptable," for statements to deposing counsel such as "you could gag a maggot off a meatwagon." 637 A2d. 34, at 54. The Court included its admonition of Mr. Jamail in an Addendum to its opinion "as a lesson for the future - a lesson of conduct not to be tolerated or repeated." 637 A2d. 34, at 52. In April 2006, a particularly sharp exchange, titled "Joe Jamail takes a deposition defended by Edward Carstarphen. Hilarity ensues" or "Texas-Style Deposition", appeared on various blog
s and internet sites (particularly related to American law). Following a reprimand by the Delaware Supreme Court, Jamail stated in the press "I'd rather have a nose on my ass than go to Delaware for any reason."
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and billionaire
Billionaire
A billionaire, in countries that use the short scale number naming system, is a person who has a net worth of at least one billion units of a given currency, usually the United States dollar, Euro, or Pound sterling. Forbes magazine updates a complete list of U.S. dollar billionaires around the...
. The wealthiest practicing attorney in America, he is frequently referred to as the King of Torts. As of 2011, his net worth was estimated by Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
to be $1.5 billion, making him the 833rd richest person in the world.
Jamail is a graduate of St. Thomas High School
St. Thomas High School
St. Thomas High School is a Roman Catholic university preparatory school for young men in Houston, Texas, United States. Founded in 1900, St. Thomas is the second oldest continuously operating private high school in Houston behind Incarnate Word Academy, which was founded in 1873. The school is...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
and The University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
where he received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1950 and The University of Texas School of Law
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
where he received his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1953. In 1986 The University of Texas School of Law created the Joseph D. Jamail Centennial Chair in Law and Advocacy in his honor.
In 1985, Jamail represented Pennzoil
Pennzoil
Pennzoil is an American oil company founded in Los Angeles, California in 1913. In 1955, it was acquired by Oil City, Pennsylvania company South Penn Oil, a former branch of Standard Oil. In 1963, South Penn Oil merged with Zapata Petroleum; the merged company took the Pennzoil name. During the...
in a lawsuit against Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
. Pennzoil won the case and his contingency fee was $335 million. Jamail has given large donations to Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
and The University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. The football field at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
-Major Expansions and Renovations:*1926 - "Horseshoe" built on the north end for US$125,000 raising capacity to 40,500*1948 - Two L-shaped sections added to the east and west stands, raising seating capacity to 60,130. General contractor for this work was Farnsworth & Chambers Inc...
is named Joe Jamail Field in his honor, and so is the Joseph D. Jamail, Jr. Pavilion at The University of Texas School of Law
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
. Also located on the University of Texas campus is the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, named for him and his wife. The University has erected two statues on campus in his honor.
On May 14, 2008, The University of Texas announced a $15 million gift from Joe Jamail to support the Law School, Nursing School, and the College of Undergraduate Studies. In response to the gift, the university has renamed a large meeting room in the tower building to the Lee Hage Jamail Academic Room.
On May 29, 2008, the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark
Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark
The Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark is a public skatepark in Houston, Texas that opened in June 2008 . was a $2.7 million dollar project...
opened near downtown Houston. It was a $2.7 million dollar project. The park is public and covers over 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²).
On April 27, 2011, The San Marcos Baptist Academy
San Marcos Baptist Academy
San Marcos Baptist Academy is a Baptist, coed prep school that is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Texas Association of Boarding Schools...
announced a $1 million gift from Joe Jamail to help establish a fund to build a
special event center on the Academy campus in memory of Jamail’s wife, Lee, who graduated from San Marcos Academy in 1944.
Jamail is known for his passionate, aggressive, sometimes abrasive advocacy on behalf of his clients — a tendency that has been noted in the National Law Journal, by the Supreme Court of Delaware as well as other sources. On its own motion, having reviewed deposition transcripts in the Paramount case, the Delaware Supreme Court referred to Mr. Jamail's conduct as "rude, uncivil and vulgar," "abusing the privilege of representing a witness in a Delaware proceeding," 637 A.2d. 34, at 53, as displaying "an astonishing lack of professionalism and civility," and as "outrageous" and as "unacceptable," for statements to deposing counsel such as "you could gag a maggot off a meatwagon." 637 A2d. 34, at 54. The Court included its admonition of Mr. Jamail in an Addendum to its opinion "as a lesson for the future - a lesson of conduct not to be tolerated or repeated." 637 A2d. 34, at 52. In April 2006, a particularly sharp exchange, titled "Joe Jamail takes a deposition defended by Edward Carstarphen. Hilarity ensues" or "Texas-Style Deposition", appeared on various blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
s and internet sites (particularly related to American law). Following a reprimand by the Delaware Supreme Court, Jamail stated in the press "I'd rather have a nose on my ass than go to Delaware for any reason."