Dean, Michael K.
E-mail: mdean@raylaw.com
Phone: (817) 333-2823
Office Location: Ft. Worth, TX
Download Curriculum Vitae
Mr. Dean is a seasoned attorney with specialized expertise in a broad range of complex areas, including medical malpractice, construction accidents, commercial litigation, railroad litigation, trucking accidents, premises liability, and products liability. He also handles civil rights claims against institutional defendants, leveraging his knowledge of both law and litigation strategy. With a strong background in general insurance defense, Mr. Dean provides comprehensive representation to clients across various industries, skillfully navigating the intricacies of each case to deliver effective defense strategies and achieve favorable outcomes.
After graduating from law school, Mr. Dean accepted a position with the Amarillo Court of Appeals as a briefing attorney for the Honorable Carlton B. Dodson. Since leaving that position with the court, he has acted as both trial and appellate counsel trying multiple cases to verdict and presenting oral arguments in state and federal court.
• Texas Seventh Court of Appeals (Amarillo), 1993-1995.
• Ray, McChristian & Jeans, P.C. (El Paso), 1995-2000.
• Beaugureau, Zukowski & Hancock, P.C. (Phoenix), 2000-2001.
• Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C. (Phoenix), 2001-2003.
• Ray, McChristian & Jeans, P.C. (Ft. Worth), 2003-2019.
• Ray, Peña, McChristian, P.C. (Ft. Worth), 2019-present.
- AV Rated Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
- Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
- Top Rated Lawyers in Insurance Law
- Shareholder
Curriculum Vitae
Areas of Practice
Professional Experience
After graduating from law school, Mr. Dean accepted a position with the Amarillo Court of Appeals as a briefing attorney for the Honorable Carlton B. Dodson. Since leaving that position with the court, he has acted as both trial and appellate counsel trying multiple cases to verdict and presenting oral arguments in state and federal court.
• Texas Seventh Court of Appeals (Amarillo), 1993-1995.
• Ray, McChristian & Jeans, P.C. (El Paso), 1995-2000.
• Beaugureau, Zukowski & Hancock, P.C. (Phoenix), 2000-2001.
• Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C. (Phoenix), 2001-2003.
• Ray, McChristian & Jeans, P.C. (Ft. Worth), 2003-2019.
• Ray, Peña, McChristian, P.C. (Ft. Worth), 2019-present.
• Texas Seventh Court of Appeals (Amarillo), 1993-1995.
• Ray, McChristian & Jeans, P.C. (El Paso), 1995-2000.
• Beaugureau, Zukowski & Hancock, P.C. (Phoenix), 2000-2001.
• Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C. (Phoenix), 2001-2003.
• Ray, McChristian & Jeans, P.C. (Ft. Worth), 2003-2019.
• Ray, Peña, McChristian, P.C. (Ft. Worth), 2019-present.
Education
- Brigham Young University, 1990 (BA).
- Baylor University School of Law, 1993 (JD).
Member of the Order of Barristers.
Honors list.
- Baylor University School of Law, 1993 (JD).
Member of the Order of Barristers.
Honors list.
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, AV rated since 2004.
- Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.
- Top Rated Lawyers in Insurance Law, 2019.
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel.
2016 Nominating Committee Member.
2020 Nominating Committee Member.
- Defense Research Institute.
- National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel.
- Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM).
- Tarrant County Bar Association.
- J. Reuben Clark Law Society.
- Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.
- Top Rated Lawyers in Insurance Law, 2019.
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel.
2016 Nominating Committee Member.
2020 Nominating Committee Member.
- Defense Research Institute.
- National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel.
- Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM).
- Tarrant County Bar Association.
- J. Reuben Clark Law Society.
Court Admissions
- Texas, 1993.
- Utah, 1999.
- Arizona, 2000.
- Oklahoma, 2015.
- U.S. Dist. Court, Western Dist. of Texas, 1995.
- U.S. Dist. Court, Dist. of Arizona, 2000.
- U.S. Dist. Court Northern Dist. of Texas, 2004.
- U.S. Dist. Court Eastern Dist. of Texas, 2014.
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1999.
- Utah, 1999.
- Arizona, 2000.
- Oklahoma, 2015.
- U.S. Dist. Court, Western Dist. of Texas, 1995.
- U.S. Dist. Court, Dist. of Arizona, 2000.
- U.S. Dist. Court Northern Dist. of Texas, 2004.
- U.S. Dist. Court Eastern Dist. of Texas, 2014.
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1999.
Publications & Presentations
- Michael K. Dean & Theresa J. Puleo, Spoliation of Evidence, The Third Revised Railroad Litigator’s Notebook, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, p. 708-21 (2002).
- Michael K. Dean & Theresa J. Puleo, Spoliation of Evidence, The Fourth Revised Railroad Litigator’s Notebook, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, p. 921-44 (2010).
- Michael K. Dean, Liens: What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You, Lecture at the Fort Worth Claims Association Seminar (April 17, 2008).
- Deena Buchanan, Michael K. Dean, Dan Hernandez, Litigating Like a Hometowner, Lecture at TADC/NMDLA West Texas Seminar (July 30, 2016).
- Deena Buchanan, Michael K. Dean, Dan Hernandez, Litigating Like a Hometowner—Highlights of New Mexico and Texas Law for Litigators, Lecture at TACD/NMDLA West Texas Seminar (August 11, 2018).
- William R. Anderson, Michael K. Dean, Dan Hernandez, Christopher J. Tebo, Litigating Like a Hometowner, Lecture at TADC/NMDLA West Texas Seminar (August 10, 2019).
- William R. Anderson, Michael K. Dean, Dan Hernandez, Litigating like a Hometowner - Highlights of New Mexico and Texas Law for Cross State Litigators, Lecture at TADC/NMDLA West Texas Seminar ( August 14, 2021).
- Michael K. Dean & Theresa J. Puleo, Spoliation of Evidence, The Fourth Revised Railroad Litigator’s Notebook, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, p. 921-44 (2010).
- Michael K. Dean, Liens: What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You, Lecture at the Fort Worth Claims Association Seminar (April 17, 2008).
- Deena Buchanan, Michael K. Dean, Dan Hernandez, Litigating Like a Hometowner, Lecture at TADC/NMDLA West Texas Seminar (July 30, 2016).
- Deena Buchanan, Michael K. Dean, Dan Hernandez, Litigating Like a Hometowner—Highlights of New Mexico and Texas Law for Litigators, Lecture at TACD/NMDLA West Texas Seminar (August 11, 2018).
- William R. Anderson, Michael K. Dean, Dan Hernandez, Christopher J. Tebo, Litigating Like a Hometowner, Lecture at TADC/NMDLA West Texas Seminar (August 10, 2019).
- William R. Anderson, Michael K. Dean, Dan Hernandez, Litigating like a Hometowner - Highlights of New Mexico and Texas Law for Cross State Litigators, Lecture at TADC/NMDLA West Texas Seminar ( August 14, 2021).
Appellate Cases
- Maddox v. City of El Paso, Texas, No. 08-98-00409-CV, 2000 WL 799070 (Tex. App.—El Paso June 22, 2000, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
- Yellow R.R. Transit Corp. v. Southern Pacific Transp. Co., No. 08-98-00408-CV, 2000 WL 976790 (Tex. App.—El Paso July 17, 2000, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
- Medina v. Ramsey Steel Co., Inc., 238 F.3d 674 (5th Cir. 2001).
- Brogan, Ltd. v. Brogan, No. 07-05-0290-CV, 2007 WL 2962996 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Oct. 11, 2007, no pet.) (mem. op.).
- Dews v. Palo Pinto Nursing Center, L.P., No. 11-07-00274-CV, 2009 WL 1636019 (Tex. App.—Eastland June 11, 2009, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
- McAlpine v. Porsche Cars North America, Inc., 428 Fed Appx. 261 (5th Cir. 2010).
- Slagle v. Prickett, 345 S.W.3d 693 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2011, no pet.).
- TOKA General Contractors v. Wm. Rigg Co., No. 04-12-00474-CV, 2014 WL 1390448 (Tex. App.—San Antonio April 9, 2014, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
- McQuagge v. Heil Trailer Int'l Co., 602 Fed. Appx. 977 (5th Cir. 2015).
- Howell v. Collin County Detention Facility, 600 Fed. Appx. 298 (5th Cir. 2015).
- ACC Holding, Inc. v. Vielma, No. 08-14-00169-CV, 2015 WL 3406484 (Tex. App.—El Paso May 27, 2015, no pet.) (mem. op.).
- Chambers v. Serrano, 667 Fed. Appx. 848 (5th Cir. 2016).
- Chambers v. A-Avalon Corrections Services, Inc., 667 Fed. Appx. (5th Cir. 2016).
- New Hampshire Ins. Co. v. Rodriguez, 569 S.W. 275 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2019, pet. filed).
- Coci v. Dower, 585 S.W.3d 652 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2019, pet. denied).
- Miller v. Conformis, Inc., No. 02-19-00282-CV, 2020 WL 4360671 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth July 30, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op,).
- Ayer v. Wilson, No. 11-19-00067-CV, 2020 WL 6108189 (Tex. App.—Eastland Oct. 16, 2020, no pet.) (mem.op.).
- Yellow R.R. Transit Corp. v. Southern Pacific Transp. Co., No. 08-98-00408-CV, 2000 WL 976790 (Tex. App.—El Paso July 17, 2000, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
- Medina v. Ramsey Steel Co., Inc., 238 F.3d 674 (5th Cir. 2001).
- Brogan, Ltd. v. Brogan, No. 07-05-0290-CV, 2007 WL 2962996 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Oct. 11, 2007, no pet.) (mem. op.).
- Dews v. Palo Pinto Nursing Center, L.P., No. 11-07-00274-CV, 2009 WL 1636019 (Tex. App.—Eastland June 11, 2009, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
- McAlpine v. Porsche Cars North America, Inc., 428 Fed Appx. 261 (5th Cir. 2010).
- Slagle v. Prickett, 345 S.W.3d 693 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2011, no pet.).
- TOKA General Contractors v. Wm. Rigg Co., No. 04-12-00474-CV, 2014 WL 1390448 (Tex. App.—San Antonio April 9, 2014, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
- McQuagge v. Heil Trailer Int'l Co., 602 Fed. Appx. 977 (5th Cir. 2015).
- Howell v. Collin County Detention Facility, 600 Fed. Appx. 298 (5th Cir. 2015).
- ACC Holding, Inc. v. Vielma, No. 08-14-00169-CV, 2015 WL 3406484 (Tex. App.—El Paso May 27, 2015, no pet.) (mem. op.).
- Chambers v. Serrano, 667 Fed. Appx. 848 (5th Cir. 2016).
- Chambers v. A-Avalon Corrections Services, Inc., 667 Fed. Appx. (5th Cir. 2016).
- New Hampshire Ins. Co. v. Rodriguez, 569 S.W. 275 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2019, pet. filed).
- Coci v. Dower, 585 S.W.3d 652 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2019, pet. denied).
- Miller v. Conformis, Inc., No. 02-19-00282-CV, 2020 WL 4360671 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth July 30, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op,).
- Ayer v. Wilson, No. 11-19-00067-CV, 2020 WL 6108189 (Tex. App.—Eastland Oct. 16, 2020, no pet.) (mem.op.).
Personal
- Married for 33 years / three children.
- Proficient in spoken and written Spanish.
- Private Pilot since 1985, single and multi-engine rated.
- Enjoys golf, flying, water and snow skiing, reading, and playing the guitar.
- Proficient in spoken and written Spanish.
- Private Pilot since 1985, single and multi-engine rated.
- Enjoys golf, flying, water and snow skiing, reading, and playing the guitar.
- General Civil Trial
- Commercial Litigation
- Medical Malpractice
- Premises Liability
- Construction Litigation
- Product Liability
- Transportation
- Civil Litigation Defense
- Appellate Law