For over 30 years, Randy Roach and his appellate team at Roach Newton have drafted, solicited, or consulted in scores of amicus curiae briefs.These briefs have been filed by the Internationhal Assn of Defense Counse, the Product Liability Advisory Council, numerous trade groups such as the US Chamber of Commerce, and industry groups such as the American Petroleum Inbsutturte, and many of the very largest international oil companies. These amicus briefs have been filed in the Texas Supreme Court, the Fifth circuit federal court of appeals, and the United States Supreme Court, as well as intermediate appellate courts across the country. Randy Roach is the current Chair of the IADC Amicus Committee. Just a few representative examples of those amicus efforts follow below.
Selected Representations:
- Earlier in 2024, RN filed an amicus brief in the Texas Supreme Court on behalf of the International Assn of Defense Counsel that supported Honda’s successful appeal of a major product liability trial verdict.
- In December 2024, RN filed an amicus brief in its own name to the Texas Supreme Court in support of trucking companies seeking a no-duty rule when cars jump a divided highway into oncoming traffic. A copy of that brief is attached.
- RN filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the International Association of Defense Counsel and the National Association of Manufacturers highlighting the due process concerns implicated when punitive awards are not limited by the ratio of punitive damages to actual damages. Petitioning for review of Hebble v. Shell Western E & P, Inc.
- RN represented the Product Liability Advisory Council, Inc. as amicus curiae before the Supreme Court of Texas in 12-0124 In re Continental Tires the Americas, LLC, opposing the broad use of shared discovery and describing the special problems with shared discovery in cases involving confidential information or trade secrets.
- RN represented the Association of Global Automaker and the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers as amicus curiae before the Supreme Court of Texas in No. 11-0709, Kia Motors Corp. v. Ruiz, in its successful appeal on the proper application of the government-standards defense.
- RN represented the Product Liability Advisory Council, Inc. in a certified question appeal to the Texas Supreme Court from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on the issue of the insurability of punitive damages in Fairfield Ins. Co. v. Stephens Martin Paving, LP.
