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S3 Eps 11 - Receiverships and the Lies Beyond

The Dirty Verdict

Release Date: 04/21/2025

S4 Eps 2: Stephen Boutros Interview show art S4 Eps 2: Stephen Boutros Interview

The Dirty Verdict

Welcome back to The Dirty Verdict—and this week, Peter Taaffe and Kyle Herbert are coming to you Tuesday after Thanksgiving with two things on the agenda: a little post-game storytelling from a wild weekend in Austin, and a masterclass in building a real law practice the right way. Their featured guest is Stephen Boutros, a board-certified personal injury trial lawyer and proud Texas Aggie, who joins the show for an honest conversation about what it takes to sustain a long, successful career without chasing hype. Stephen walks through his path from South Texas College of Law to plaintiff’s...

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S4 Eps 1: Will Moye and Ryan Loya Share Major Verdicts show art S4 Eps 1: Will Moye and Ryan Loya Share Major Verdicts

The Dirty Verdict

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, hosts Peter Taaffe, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert welcome back fan-favorite trial lawyer Will (now with The Counsel Table podcast) alongside Ryan Loya, who’s fresh off launching his own firm. After some classic Dirty Verdict banter—college football pain, unexpected fan shoutouts, and law-firm “launch party” flexes—the conversation pivots into a deep dive on one of the most catastrophic industrial incidents Houston has seen in years: a propylene leak and explosion that devastated a neighborhood in January 2020. Will and Ryan break down how the...

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S3 Eps 30: Sean Teare - Harris County DA show art S3 Eps 30: Sean Teare - Harris County DA

The Dirty Verdict

The Dirty Verdict crew is back with Houston mediator Peter Taaffe and co-host Kyle Herbert—plus producer Amanda—welcoming back Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare for a wide-ranging, candid conversation. Teare breaks down what he’s learned in his first months in office, how he’s rebuilding morale by bringing veteran prosecutors back, and why he’s personally getting back into the courtroom. The discussion also dives into criminal justice priorities, jail population trends, a new diversion concept partnering with trade unions, and how today’s immigration enforcement climate is...

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Trial by Fire: Sammy Ford's Story show art Trial by Fire: Sammy Ford's Story

The Dirty Verdict

On this episode of The Dirty Verdict, Peter Taaffe, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert sit down with Houston trial lawyer Sammy Ford of AZA Law Firm for a wide-ranging conversation about big cases, career pivots, and what it really takes to build a life in the courtroom. Sammy walks us through his journey from growing up in Houston’s Third Ward and dreaming of Wall Street, to Harvard, UT Law, a Fifth Circuit clerkship, and stints at powerhouse firms Sussman Godfrey and Abraham Watkins—before landing at AZA. Along the way, he shares war stories from Enron-era work, hedge fund blow-ups, MDLs, and...

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S3 Eps 28: Imrana Manzanares from Nurse to PI Attorney show art S3 Eps 28: Imrana Manzanares from Nurse to PI Attorney

The Dirty Verdict

Mediator Peter Taaffe and trial lawyer Kyle Herbert host a “diet” edition of The Dirty Verdict with a powerhouse guest: Imrana Manzanares, former ICU nurse turned trial lawyer at Abraham Watkins. Imrana walks through her journey from the Texas Medical Center to the courtroom, what it’s really like doing ICU nursing in Houston, how she pivoted into law school, and how her medical background gives her a serious edge in personal injury cases. She also opens up about raising kids while building a career, surviving floods and tornadoes at the firm’s iconic building, and why yoga and fitness...

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S3 Eps 27:The Dirty Verdict — Halloween Edition 2025 🎃 show art S3 Eps 27:The Dirty Verdict — Halloween Edition 2025 🎃

The Dirty Verdict

The Dirty Verdict — Halloween Edition 2025 🎃 Costumes, bourbon, and big-law war stories collide. Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden welcome fan-favorites Mark Thiessen and Mark Metzger for our annual Halloween bash. It’s part comedy hour, part shop talk: mediation mind games, Stowers tactics, billboard math, PI client-poaching, charging trends in Harris & Galveston County, immigration cross-currents, and why this show is—ironically—a very visual medium. Watch for the costumes; stay for the legal gems. Chapters 00:00 Cold open: “This is a visual medium—watch on...

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S3 Eps 27:The Dirty Verdict — Halloween Edition 2025 🎃 show art S3 Eps 27:The Dirty Verdict — Halloween Edition 2025 🎃

The Dirty Verdict

The Dirty Verdict — Halloween Edition 2025 🎃 Costumes, bourbon, and big-law war stories collide. Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden welcome fan-favorites Mark Thiessen and Mark Metzger for our annual Halloween bash. It’s part comedy hour, part shop talk: mediation mind games, Stowers tactics, billboard math, PI client-poaching, charging trends in Harris & Galveston County, immigration cross-currents, and why this show is—ironically—a very visual medium. Watch for the costumes; stay for the legal gems. Chapters 00:00 Cold open: “This is a visual medium—watch on...

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S3 Eps 26: Marty Lancton Enters the Race: A Firefighter’s Bid for Harris County Judge show art S3 Eps 26: Marty Lancton Enters the Race: A Firefighter’s Bid for Harris County Judge

The Dirty Verdict

In this episode of Dirty Verdict, hosts Peter Taaffe, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert sit down with returning guest Marty Lancton, president of the Houston firefighters’ union and now an announced 2026 candidate for Harris County Judge. Marty opens up about why he’s running, what he’s learned from decades of front-line public service, and how his experience leading Houston’s firefighters has shaped his vision for Harris County’s future. The conversation covers everything from public safety, disaster response, and infrastructure to transparency, county budgets, and rebuilding public...

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S3 Eps 25: Billboards, Boxing & (Very) Venomous Hobbies ft. Anthony Pusch show art S3 Eps 25: Billboards, Boxing & (Very) Venomous Hobbies ft. Anthony Pusch

The Dirty Verdict

Houston PI attorney Anthony Pusch joins Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden for a wild, wide-open conversation about building a law brand that actually cuts through the noise—plus boxing gyms, tasers, and… cobras. Anthony traces the path from seven high schools and a hot-headed teen to launching Pusch & Nguyen, shares the hard lessons behind PPC, TV, radio, and those viral billboards (including the infamous Step Brothers and “Brokeback” creatives), and gets candid about ethics complaints, attribution, and why authentic social content beats canned “10 things after an...

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S3 EPS 24: Jeff Davis on Oilfield Trials, Mentors, and Moshing Gone Wrong show art S3 EPS 24: Jeff Davis on Oilfield Trials, Mentors, and Moshing Gone Wrong

The Dirty Verdict

Defense trial lawyer Jeff Davis joins Peter, Kyle, and Bill for a fast-moving hour that hops from a wild “mosh pit” case at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion to the nuts and bolts of catastrophic oilfield litigation. Jeff shares early-career war stories with Peter, breaks down indemnity and Chapter 95 fights, and explains why stipulating to liability can defang a jury’s anger. You’ll hear candid takes on focus groups, witness prep disasters, New Mexico’s hedonic damages, and how juries “send a message” without blowing up numbers. We wrap on golf: Bandon trips, Pebble magic,...

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More Episodes

This week on The Dirty Verdict, Peter Taaffe and Kyle Herbert (filling in while Bill Ogden mourns the loss of his grandfather—our condolences, Bill) dive into the world of court-appointed receiverships—where judgments get enforced, zebras get seized, and helicopters in backyards are fair game.

Peter and Kyle are joined by two of the most notorious (and effective) receivers in Texas: Robert Berleth and Derek Loetzerich. These legal bounty hunters share jaw-dropping stories of chasing down debtors, collecting everything from luxury cars to exotic animals, and navigating the wild west of fraudulent transfers and business divorces.

Whether you’ve got a judgment to enforce or just want to hear how someone found nearly $1 million in cash in a closet—this one’s for you.

 

🔍 Show Notes:

  • 00:00–01:12 – Opening tributes to Bill Ogden’s grandfather and legendary lawyer Darryl Barger
  • 01:12–02:46 – What is a court-appointed receiver? Legal context and real-world impact
  • 02:46–06:13 – Meet Robert and Derek: how they got into receivership work
  • 06:13–10:34 – From paramedic to collections attorney and the case of the zebras 🦓
  • 10:34–14:11 – How they get paid: contingency fees, judgment stacking, and more
  • 14:11–18:20 – When should lawyers call a receiver? (Spoiler: before it’s too late)
  • 18:20–22:28 – Chapter 64 receiverships explained (aka legal hitmen with court orders)
  • 22:28–27:05 – Powers of a receiver and why they’re way better than garnishment
  • 27:05–30:00 – Yes, they’ve been shot at. Here’s what not to do when you owe money
  • 30:00–34:35 – Famous debtors: Vince Young, Moses Malone Jr., and Adrian Peterson
  • 34:35–38:09 – Liquidating jewelry, boats, and classic cars (some worth far less than expected)
  • 38:09–42:00 – Offshore asset chases and international enforcement
  • 42:00–46:00 – Cold hard cash: $983,000 in a duffel bag + COVID fraud
  • 46:00–50:00 – Why receivers don’t publish addresses and how they protect themselves
  • 50:00–55:00 – The psychology of judgment enforcement: fear, fraud, and fast settlements
  • 55:00–57:12 – Acting as unofficial mediators to help resolve impossible cases
  • 57:12–End – Final thoughts, shoutouts to Suriname, and why you don’t want these guys showing up at your door

 

💼 Takeaway: If you’re a lawyer with a tough judgment to collect, skip the paperwork and call a receiver. These guys get it done.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts. And if you’re in Suriname… we’re sorry.