S3 Eps 16 - Justice of the Peace, Explained (with Judge Steve Duble)
Release Date: 06/13/2025
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
S3 Eps 23: Sad Beige Lawsuit Explained w/ Trial Lawyer Thomas Frashier
The Dirty Verdict
Solo-hosting this week, Peter Taaffe welcomes trial lawyer Thomas Frashier of AZA Law to unpack a first-of-its-kind lawsuit between two Austin influencers—the viral “sad beige” copyright/trade dress case. Thomas explains how the Amazon Influencer/Associates ecosystem really works, why “stealing a vibe” isn’t the same as stealing IP, and how his team defended creator Alyssa Scheele to a decisive win. From pleading standards and the DMCA to likeness rights, PR strategy (yes, including a Beyoncé-quoting answer), and the three-month copyright registration rule, this is a masterclass...
info_outline
S3 Eps 22: College Football Kickoff w/ Drew Shirley
The Dirty Verdict
The Dirty Verdict is back after a long summer with a football-packed edition! Hosts Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden are joined by special guest Drew Shirley, who brings a unique journey from Duke basketball glory days to the world of law and sportscasting. From college rivalries and memorable interviews to his transition back into personal injury law, Drew shares stories that are equal parts entertaining and inspiring. Plus, the crew dives into college football kickoff week with predictions, banter, and plenty of laughs. Highlights from this episode: Kicking off the fall...
info_outlineIn this eye-opening episode of The Dirty Verdict, the team welcomes a truly unique guest: Justice of the Peace Judge Steve Duble. With a no-nonsense yet empathetic approach, Judge Duble offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most misunderstood and impactful courts in Texas—JP Court.
From eviction cases and consumer debt to animal seizures and mental health dockets, Judge Duble breaks down what really happens in JP court, why it matters, and how he's working to make it more just and accessible for everyone. Whether you're a litigator, a law student, or a curious citizen, this episode is a must-listen for understanding grassroots justice in action.
Episode Highlights:
- 🎙️ Meet Judge Steve Duble: From pro bono eviction work to the JP bench
- ⚖️ JP Court vs. Civil Court: Different rules, different world
- 🧾 Why traditional legal procedures don’t apply in JP Court—and what does
- 🏘️ Evictions 101: Why even multimillion-dollar cases start in JP court
- 🧠 Mental health dockets, traffic tickets, and dangerous dog cases—yes, really
- 💸 The debt docket: 6,000+ active cases and how Judge Duble handles them
- 📲 How technology (and Zoom court) is changing access to justice
- 📚 Creating a resource center: printed legal forms, free computer access, and more
- 🧑⚖️ Why lawyers don’t need to be lawyers to become a JP in Texas
- 💥 The most bizarre cases, including HOA drama, dog haircuts, and a sorority party gone wrong
- 🏛️ Access to Justice: Working with nonprofits, law schools, and the United Way to help those in need
- 🎓 Advice for young attorneys: Know the 500 Rules and stay flexible
- 🎯 Future plans: Grants, programs, and why Judge Duble has no desire to move up to a “court of record”
Bonus:
Find out why The Dirty Verdict still doesn’t have a live JP court stream, and why Kyle and Bill are considering a field trip to test the limits of hotel eviction law.
📍Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook—and yes, even LinkedIn. Stay tuned for upcoming guests and our next podcast road trip.
👉 Learn more about Judge Duble’s access to justice efforts: www.steveduble.com