Text by Rebecca Maitland
Photography: Interior and Exterior by J. Pamela Photography,
Classic Cars by Joe Aker
Legendary litigator John O’Quinn is one of the most successful personal injury and commercial attorneys in
the country, and is known for taking major cases most other attorneys would not
touch. With O
’Quinn at the helm of the law firm, which carries his name, the firm has obtained
impressive verdicts and some of the largest settlements in major oil and gas
disputes, Fen Phen lawsuits, corporate injustices and $17.3 million for the
State of Texas
’ tobacco settlement.
“The tobacco settlement is on-going in Texas, for as long as they sell cigarettes
in Texas, the tobacco industry continues to pay damages,
” O’Quinn says.
O’Quinn is also the only attorney who has won a $10 million judgment in the
wrongful death of a pet, a bull named Superman, who was not even a grand
champion. But the defendants in the case, as well as those who faced him in the
courtroom, forgot to consider the
“O’Quinn Factor,” which sums up the brilliance of this attorney.
For example, in the bull lawsuit, O’Quinn humanized the animal, asking those taking the witness stand about the bull’s personality, his likes, dislikes and his attitude. One witness responded that
the bull enjoyed having his picture taken. As the dialogues continued between O
’Quinn and the witnesses, the case developed as if it were about a friend or
child, or so it seemed to those in the courtroom.
Theodore Roosevelt’s famous quote, “walk softly and carry a big stick,” is one cliché often attributed to O’Quinn, a 6-foot, 4-inch, elegant, good-looking Southern gentleman who speaks
articulately and yes, softly. Most who have had the pleasure of being in his
company say,
“When you talk to him, he pays attention. Plus, when he looks at you with those
gentle brown eyes and you hear his tender voice, coupled with his relaxed
stance, it is not the image of a courtroom barracuda one would expect.
”
The Early Years
However, O’Quinn, the son of a Houston garage owner, had not considered law as a career in
high school.
O’Quinn asked his homeroom teacher what she thought he should do with his life.
She recommended engineering or science, due to his analytical mind, which he
considered.
Although, after three years at Rice University, he spoke with a counselor who
recommended career testing, which he took for eight hours to determine the best
bet for his future and happiness.
“After the test, I was told I was a people person, I liked to help people, fight
for beliefs, punish bullies and that I should be a trial lawyer. The first
minutes of the first class of law school, it was like I was a duck who had
never been allowed in water. I loved it, and I still love it today,
” O’Quinn said.
O’Quinn graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center in
1967. He was State Moot Court champion in 1966 and Editor-In-Chief of the
Houston Law Review 1966-1967. He served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of
Houston, South Texas College of
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