Dallas' Tom Melsheimer Honored as One of Texas' Top Commercial Litigators in 2012

DALLAS, Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Once every five years, the publishers of Texas' oldest independent legal newspaper name the state's top five attorneys in specific practice areas, and Tom Melsheimer of Fish & Richardson is being recognized in 2012 as one of the top commercial litigation attorneys in Texas.

Honorees in Texas Lawyer's upcoming "Go-To Guide" are chosen through an online balloting process followed by months of research from the publication's reporters and editors, including interviews with judges, clients and competing lawyers. Attorneys cannot buy a position on the list, and no one is permitted to nominate themselves. The final "Go-To Guide" attorneys will be announced in December following an awards program in Dallas.

"I am very proud to be listed alongside the excellent lawyers named as finalists for this year's 'Go-To Guide,'" says Mr. Melsheimer, Managing Principal of Fish & Richardson's Dallas office. "My entire career has been devoted to jury trials, and despite the constant attacks on our jury system by special interests, I've been fortunate to try many cases here in Texas and across the country."

Mr. Melsheimer's trial wins are numerous, including five different courtroom verdicts recognized by The National Law Journal among the tops in the nation in 1998, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009.

Earlier this year, he successfully defended a group of airlines and online ticketing companies in a patent infringement lawsuit where the plaintiff alleged past and future damages of nearly $300 million but ended up getting nothing after an East Texas jury found the contested patents to be invalid.

In March, Mr. Melsheimer represented whistleblower Allen Jones in his claims that Johnson & Johnson and its Janssen subsidiary used improper marketing tactics to convince Texas officials to spend millions on the anti-psychotic drug Risperdal. The drug makers agreed to pay a $158 million settlement – more than double the largest Medicaid fraud settlement in Texas history.

Fish & Richardson is a global law firm providing strategic counseling and litigation services to innovative clients who seek to protect and maximize the value of their intellectual property (IP). With more than 375 attorneys and technology specialists practicing IP strategy and counseling, IP litigation, and business litigation, Fish is known for its superior technical expertise. Fish has been named top patent litigation firm in the country for eight straight years, a premier IP firm for America's biggest companies, and an elite top tier law practice. For more information, visit www.fr.com or follow @fishrichardson on Twitter.

For more information on Mr. Melsheimer's selection as a "Go-To Guide" finalist, please contact Bruce Vincent at 800-559-4534 or [email protected].

SOURCE Fish & Richardson