# Joe Jamail > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Joe_Jamail > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Joe_Jamail.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Jamail > Source revision: 1351492581 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American lawyer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Joseph D. Jamail Jr. | image = | caption = | birth_name = Joseph Dahr Jamail Jr. | birth_date = {{birth date|1925|10|19}} | birth_place = [Houston, Texas](/source/Houston%2C_Texas), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2015|12|23|1925|10|19}} | death_place = Houston, Texas, U.S. | citizenship = | education = [University of Texas at Austin](/source/University_of_Texas_at_Austin) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))
[University of Texas School of Law](/source/University_of_Texas_School_of_Law) ([JD](/source/Juris_Doctor)) | occupation = Attorney }} '''Joseph Dahr Jamail Jr.''' (October 19, 1925 – December 23, 2015) was an American attorney and [billionaire](/source/billionaire). As the wealthiest practicing attorney in America, he was frequently referred to as the "King of [Tort](/source/Tort)s".{{cite web|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202472593027&src=EMC-Email&et=editorial&bu=Law.com&pt=LAWCOM%20Newswire&cn=nw2010928&kw=&slreturn=1&hbxlogin=1|title=Routine Maintenance|website=Law.com|access-date=December 24, 2015}} In 2015, his net worth was estimated by ''[Forbes](/source/Forbes)'' to be $1.7 billion.{{cite news |title=Forbes Billionaires |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/joe-jamail-jr/ |work=[Forbes](/source/Forbes)}} Jamail died on December 23, 2015,{{cite web|title = Texas legendary attorney Joe Jamail dead at 90|url = http://abc13.com/news/texas-legendary-attorney-joe-jamail-dead-at-90/1133583/|website = ABC13 Houston|access-date=December 23, 2015}} in Houston, TX from complications related to pneumonia.{{cite news|access-date=December 23, 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/24/business/joe-jamail-flamboyant-texas-lawyer-dies-at-90-won-pennzoils-10-5-billion-award-against-texaco.html|title=Joe Jamail, Flamboyant Texas Lawyer Who Won Billions for Clients, Dies at 90|author=McFadden, Robert D.|newspaper=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=December 23, 2015}}{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Brian |title=Texas icon Joe Jamail passes away in Houston |url=https://www.hookem.com/2015/12/23/texas-icon-joe-jamail-passes-away-in-houston/ |website=Austin-American Statesmen |publisher=American Statesmen |access-date=January 8, 2019}} ==Early life and education== Jamail was born to a [Lebanese](/source/Lebanese_people) family. He was a graduate of [St. Thomas High School](/source/St._Thomas_High_School_(Houston%2C_Texas)) in [Houston](/source/Houston), [Texas](/source/Texas). He attended the [University of Texas at Austin](/source/University_of_Texas_at_Austin) (UT) for one semester before joining the [United States Marine Corps](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps) in 1943. After serving in the [Pacific](/source/Pacific_War) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II), Jamail returned to UT, where he received his [B.A.](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) in 1950. He then attended the [University of Texas School of Law](/source/University_of_Texas_School_of_Law), where he received his [J.D.](/source/Juris_Doctor) in 1953. In 1986, the University of Texas School of Law created the Joseph D. Jamail Centennial Chair in Law and Advocacy in his honor.[http://www.sths.org/about/hallofhonor/jamailjd.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123182411/http://www.sths.org/about/hallofhonor/jamailjd.html|date=January 23, 2011}} His son is also a practicing lawyer in Texas.{{cite news|last1=Langford|first1=Terry|title=Airline Is Attorney's New Target|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-08-02-fi-19457-story.html|access-date=July 23, 2017|agency=Los Angeles Times|date=August 2, 1993}} ==Career== In 1985, Jamail represented [Pennzoil](/source/Pennzoil), whose CEO Hugh Liedtke was Jamail's close friend,{{cite news|last1=Davidson|first1=John|title=The Man Who Crushed Texaco|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/the-man-who-crushed-texaco|access-date=October 7, 2015|work=Texas Monthly|date=March 1988}} in a lawsuit against [Texaco](/source/Texaco). Pennzoil won the case and his contingency fee was $335 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-11-30/billionaire-prokhorov-touts-gold-as-trump-embraces-foreclosures|title=Billionaire Prokhorov Touts Gold as Trump Embraces Foreclosures|date=November 30, 2011|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=December 24, 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/business/media/27radio-web.html|title=6 Banks Are Sued in Clear Channel Deal|date=March 27, 2008|newspaper=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|access-date=December 24, 2015}} Jamail was known for his passionate, aggressive, sometimes abrasive advocacy on behalf of his clients; a tendency that has been noted in the ''[National Law Journal](/source/National_Law_Journal)'', by the [Delaware Supreme Court](/source/Supreme_Court_of_Delaware)''Paramount Communications Inc. v. QVC Network Inc.'', 637 A.2d 34, 54 (Del. 1994). as well as other sources. On its own motion, having reviewed deposition transcripts in the ''[Paramount Communications, Inc. v. QVC Network, Inc.](/source/Paramount_Communications%2C_Inc._v._QVC_Network%2C_Inc.)'' case, the [Delaware Supreme Court](/source/Delaware_Supreme_Court) wrote that "Mr. Jamail abused the privilege of representing a witness in a Delaware proceeding, in that he: (a) improperly directed the witness not to answer certain questions; (b) was extraordinarily rude, uncivil, and vulgar; and (c) obstructed the ability of the questioner to elicit testimony to assist the Court . . . ."''Paramount'', 637 A.2d 34 (Del. 1993). One of Jamail's statements that the court pointed to, in the deposition transcript, was Jamail's statement to deposing counsel that "you could gag a maggot off a meatwagon."637 A2d. 34, at 54. The court included its admonition of Jamail in an Addendum to its opinion "as a lesson for the future—a lesson of conduct not to be tolerated or repeated."637 A2d. 34, at 52. In April 2006, a particularly sharp exchange, titled "Joe Jamail takes a deposition defended by Edward Carstarphen. Hilarity ensues" or "Texas-Style Deposition," appeared{{cite web|date=April 6, 2006|url=http://www.brainwidth.net/blog/2006/04/06/lawyerin-aint-easy/|title=Lawyerin' Ain't Easy|publisher=Brainwidth.net|access-date=April 16, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060415105238/http://www.brainwidth.net/blog/2006/04/06/lawyerin-aint-easy/ |archive-date = April 15, 2006}} on various [blog](/source/blog)s and internet sites (particularly related to American law). Following a reprimand by the Delaware Supreme Court, Jamail stated in the press "I'd rather have a nose on my ass than go to Delaware for any reason."{{cite web|url=http://www.nixonpeabody.com/publications_detail3.asp?Type=P&PAID=0&ID=303&Bro=&Hot=&NLID=0|title=Under Attack: Professionalism in the Practice of Law|website=Nixonpeabody.com|access-date=December 24, 2015|archive-date=November 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115232306/https://www.nixonpeabody.com/publications_detail3.asp?Type=P&PAID=0&ID=303&Bro=&Hot=&NLID=0|url-status=dead}} ==Charity== Jamail made large donations to [Rice University](/source/Rice_University) and the [University of Texas at Austin](/source/University_of_Texas_at_Austin). The football field at [Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium](/source/Darrell_K_Royal%E2%80%93Texas_Memorial_Stadium) was named Joe Jamail Field in his honor. However, on July 13, 2020, it was announced that the field would be renamed to the Earl Campbell-Ricky Williams Field at the Jamail family's request.{{Cite web|title=University of Texas to Rename Football Field After Ricky Williams, Earl Campbell|url=https://www.tmz.com/2020/07/13/university-of-texas-renaming-football-field-ricky-williams-earl-campbell/|access-date=2020-07-13|website=TMZ|language=en}} The Joseph D. Jamail Jr. Pavilion at the [University of Texas School of Law](/source/University_of_Texas_School_of_Law) is named after him. Also located on the University of Texas campus is the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, named for him and his wife. The university has erected two statues on campus in his honor.{{Cite news|last=Levy|first=Nathan|date=2004-11-26|title=Texas Campus Stirs as One Man Gets a Second Statue (Published 2004)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/26/us/texas-campus-stirs-as-one-man-gets-a-second-statue.html|access-date=2020-12-01|issn=0362-4331}} On May 14, 2008, The University of Texas at Austin announced a $15 million gift from Joe Jamail to support the law school, nursing school, and the college of undergraduate studies. In response to the gift, the university renamed a large meeting room in the tower building to the Lee Hage Jamail Academic Room.{{cite web|url=http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/highereducation/entries/2008/05/12/ut_announces_multimillion_doll.html|title=The lowdown on higher education|website=Statesman.com|access-date=December 24, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225212246/http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/highereducation/entries/2008/05/12/ut_announces_multimillion_doll.html/|archive-date=December 25, 2015}} In 2008, the [Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark](/source/Lee_and_Joe_Jamail_Skatepark) opened near downtown Houston. It was a $2.7 million project, and is open to the public. On April 27, 2011, the [San Marcos Baptist Academy](/source/San_Marcos_Baptist_Academy) announced a $1 million gift from Joe Jamail to help establish a fund to build a special event center on the academy campus in memory of Jamail's wife, Lee, who graduated from San Marcos Academy in 1944. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * Jamail, Joe and Paul Hobby. [http://digital.houstonlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/oralhistory/id/10 Joe Jamail Oral History], Houston Oral History Project, December 11, 2007. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228050346/http://digital.houstonlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/oralhistory/id/10 |date=December 28, 2012 }} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Jamail, Joe}} Category:1925 births Category:2015 deaths Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Texas Category:Texas lawyers Category:Rice University people Category:University of Texas at Austin alumni Category:University of Texas School of Law alumni Category:American billionaires Category:American businesspeople Category:American people of Lebanese descent Category:Middle Eastern Christians Category:Trial lawyers Category:United States Marines Category:St. Thomas High School (Houston) alumni Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joe Jamail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Jamail) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Jamail?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.