#3: Howard Nations, of The Nations Law Firm

What happens when the esteemed godfather of mass torts, Howard Nations, decides to hit the town and shoot the breeze with Mirena? Well, of course, we stutter to a stop, sit mesmerized, and hang onto every perfect doctrine he sends our way!

In The Heart of Law’s third episode, our incisive host, Mirena Umizaj enjoys the riveting, first-hand account of Howard's stint as a US Army intelligence officer commissioned as a Russian translator—intercepting cryptic messages from a Soviet naval base in a northern island off Hokkaido, Japan. After eavesdropping on submarines, fleets, and every bit of water traffic for months, life in the military intelligence pretty much set the tone for the disciplined and purposeful life Howard led throughout his 55+ years practicing law.

Howard gives copious, razor-sharp advice on how to survive in the cutthroat mass tort business. Ironically, resisting avarice and the “absolute disregard for money,”  with “total expulsion” of materialism charts the course to a successful outcome of a case. Dovetailing that ideology with mental fortitude, depositional ingenuity, strategic witness management, and profound procedural patience, he gives us a basic (even banal) formula of an honorable value-system tested by time. During half of the show, their conversation turns on a sober note as Howard and Mirena immerse us into the complex acquisition of mass tort cases, hundreds of millions of dollars depleted, ethical dilemmas, hedge fund controversies, conflict of interests, lead purchasing, and contentions within the industry. They touch on austere issues like gigantic med-tech and pharma companies distributing defective products, as well as disquieting financial games negatively affecting people's lives.

Inversely, we have an awareness about the meaningful life Howard leads. We hear a deep love for his family, his plight for the weak (he is famed for representing over 300 pro bono cases), and three decades of passionately teaching law. We grasp how he fearlessly copes with a family tragedy, endearing us as he flouts every cynicism life thrusts his way. He shares his knowledge freely, exercises systematically, reads voraciously … all the while, managing to disarm us with his stalwart faith. What a testament to us all. People like Howard make living in this not-so-happy world so worthwhile.  

EPISODE SURVEY 

• [00:07:02] In the U.S. Army Military Intelligence as a Russian linguist 
• [00:12:23] once tort reform happened in Texas, Howard adapted and reinvented himself, starting a mass tort firm and changing the entire game.
• [00:16:35] Howard officially declares himself to be a mass tort lawyer.
• [00:16:57] Adventures with Zyprexa and 78 depositions all over the country.
• [00:21:48] "And they said, 'We'll never pay you a thousand cases!' So I said, 'Okay; then pay me on 999.' "
• [00:41:58] On the Trial Lawyer’s Summit and the  Entrepreneurship of Law.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

• " The thing is, you have to have an absolute disregard for money because if you're worried about money, don't get in the mass tort business because [in the industry] there's a complete, total expulsion of money."
• "You have to be fearless because if you're not fearless, you'll worry yourself to death."
• "The outcomes are only as good as what you gather."
• "You have to have skillsets for a trial ... you have to have a lot of skills in depositions because depositions are a crucial part of mass torts."
• You have to be articulate with experts because choosing the right expert [and] getting them prepared … [and] keeping them under control is a major part of mass torts."
• "You have to have the world's greatest patience ... because it's a five-year proposition."
• “I give back by education and by sharing everything.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Check out Howard’s Fully Loaded Bio
• Swing by Howard’s Practice
• Catch Howard’s NTL Interview of Top 100 Lawyers
• Visit Mirena’s Chic Website and  LinkedIn
• Resources Howard recommends: Trial Lawyers College, Trial School 
• Show Notes and content management by Almond Tree Writers' Ink, LLC’s Founder, Caryl Veloso

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Howard Nations

• A trailblazer in personal injury and civil litigation, as well as mass tort for over 55 years.
• Leader of the trial bar
• President of The National Trial Lawyers, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Southern Trial Lawyers Association, the Belli Society, and the Aletheia Institute
• Five years on AAJ’s Executive Committee
• A pioneer in courtroom technology and the first attorney to have computer-generated liability and medical animations admitted into evidence at trial.
• Co-founded AAJ’s National College of Advocacy
• One of the most sought-after educators in the law profession.
• Howard’s Published Papers, Articles, & Editorials
• Howard’s Awards
• Howard’s Acceptance Speech for Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame Award 2012
• Howard’s Superlative Resume’