Michael J. Truncale
Partner since 1990
mjt@obt.com

Michael Truncale has defended numerous clients in state courts throughout Texas and in the federal courts in the Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas. He handles cases involving products liability, premises liability, toxic tort, health care liability, governmental liability, transportation, mass tort, insurance coverage, environmental litigation, as well as commercial litigation.  Michael serves as local counsel in Patent Litigation and other types of litigation in the Eastern District of Texas.  Michael is also a certified mediator in the Eastern District of Texas and in all state courts, and he is an arbitrator. 

Michael is a Regent for the Texas State University System, which is the third largest system of higher education in Texas.  He also represents Jefferson, Orange, Chambers, Liberty, Montgomery (The Woodlands), and Northeast Harris Counties on the State Republican Executive Committee.  He serves on the Hutchison-Cornyn Federal Judicial Selection Committee.

Michael is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, is A/V rated in Martindale-Hubbell, and is listed as a “Super Lawyer” in Texas Monthly and was honored by Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition for being a “Super Lawyer in Civil Litigation Defense.” 

Michael successfully defended Texaco Pipeline Company in litigation relating to the 1994 fires and floods on the San Jacinto River that created the largest inland petroleum spill in United States history. The National Law Journal recognized this case as one of the top ten defense verdicts of 1997.

For several years, he has served as a member of the Standing Committee of the State Bar of Texas on Pattern Jury Charges – Malpractice, Premises, and Products Liability. He is a member of the College of the State Bar, and is a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. He also maintains memberships in the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, the Defense Research Institute, and the American Bar Association.

Michael has been selected to become a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society that includes for Fellowship less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers.  Fellows are selected based upon effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation.

Michael is President of the Michelle Mehaffy Inn of Court, and he is a recent President of the Jefferson County Bar Association.  He also served as the President of the Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association, and he was a member of the Alumni Advisory Council to the Southern Methodist University School of Law.  Currently, he is Chair of the Local Bar Services Committee of the State Bar of Texas.  He also served on the Law Focused Education Committee of the Texas Young Lawyers Association. Finally, Michael is widely recognized for his leadership and involvement in civic, cultural, and church organizations in Southeast Texas.

Michael received his law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1985, where he was the President of the Student Bar Association and a Moot Court instructor. He was graduated with high honors from Lamar University in 1978 with a degree in economics, where he was elected to Phi Kappa Phi. He earned a master's degree in Business Administration in Banking and Finance from the University of North Texas in 1980.

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