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Draft:Michelle Simpson Tuegel

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Michelle Simpson Tuegel is an American lawyer, licensed in Texas, Montana and New York[1][2][3] She is the founder of the Dallas-based Simpson Tuegel Law Firm.[4] Tuegel founded her firm to advance her passion for representing individuals and families in the civil court system who have been injured or lost loved ones because of negligent companies and institutions.[4]

She started her career as a criminal defense attorney with specific experience as a capital defender representing indigent clients in Central Texas.[5]

Tuegel transitioned her practice from representing clients in the criminal justice system toward representing individuals and families in civil personal injury and wrongful death cases.[6]

She is known nationally for her work representing survivors of sexual abuse and assault in some of the most high-profile civil cases in recent years, regularly being called on to share her expertise with the media.[7][8]Notably, Tuegel represented several of the former USA gymnasts who were sexually abused by Larry Nassar, that ultimately resulted in one of the largest settlements for sexual abuse victims in December 2021.[9][8]

That same year, she represented a rape survivor in a case (Dawson v. Hilton Management LLC, et al.) against Hilton Management LLC that resulted in a $44.6 million jury verdict. This was the largest sexual assault verdict in the United States in 2021.[10][11][12]

Outside of sexual abuse cases, Tuegel has also represented families in large and nationally significant wrongful death cases, and she was the first attorney to file a lawsuit against MGM Resorts and Live Nation following the mass shooting in Las Vegas, which lead to an $800 million settlement for victims and their families in 2020.[8][4][13][14][15]

Notable Results and Work

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Tuegel represented a rape survivor in a case against Hilton Hotels, securing a $44 million verdict in November of 2021. The jury awarded the $44 million for medical expenses, lost earnings, and mental anguish after the assault, assigning 90% of the responsibility to Hilton and 10% to the attacker.[11][12]

Tuegel represented over two dozen former USA gymnasts who were sexually abused by Larry Nassar, the former team doctor for USA Gymnastics. She served as one of the lead attorneys that reached a $380 million settlement with USA Gymnastics, the US Olympic & Paralympic committee, and their insurers in December of 2021.[9][8]

Tuegel represented survivors in civil claims against the University of Southern California where hundreds of students were abused by campus gynecologist, Dr. George Tyndall. In March 2021, a $852 million settlement was reached with USC, the largest sexual abuse settlement in higher education history.[16][17]

Tuegel represented student athletes who were abused by the University of Michigan's athletic trainer, Dr. Robert Anderson. In January 2022, the settlement provided $460 million to about 1,050 people, mostly men, who were abused by the doctor over the course of his career starting in 1966 and ending in 2003, and another $30 million towards future claimants.[18][19][20][21]

She was also one of the lead attorneys representing protesters against the City of Dallas who obtained an injunction preventing the use of rubber bullets and tear gas against peaceful protesters in the City of Dallas in May/June 2020 during the George Floyd Protests around the nation.[22]

Legislative Work & Activism

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Tuegel has been actively involved in lobbying in Texas, Washington DC and in other states to drive legislative change for survivors of sexual abuse and assault.

In 2019, she worked on legislation in Texas and prepared and presented her clients to testify before the Texas Senate that resulted in the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims being extended to 30 years.[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][27][excessive citations]

Tuegel worked on legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2021. The legislation, sponsored by Congressman Nadler in the House and Senator Elizabeth Warren in the Senate was drafted to prohibit wealthy companies from using the bankruptcy process as a way to shield themselves from full accountability.

She worked on the substance of the legislation with House Judiciary Committee counsel and assisted in organizing and preparing her client to testify in a House Subcommittee hearing on the bill. Her client, former Olympian Tasha Schwikert Moser, a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, testified at the hearing of the House Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law in July 2021.[33][34]

In 2023 she worked with survivor clients and SNAP to advocate against problematic legislation for survivors in the Texas House.[35][36][37]

In 2023 she, her husband Andrew Tuegel and her father Mike Simpson were recognized by the Texas Trial Lawyers Association along with Mike's former client Molly Freyer and were honored with the "Making a Difference Award" for efforts they made in preparing and bringing client Molly Freyer to the Texas legislature to testify against legislation proposed by rideshare companies that was harmful to consumers.

The award is given to individuals or teams who promote the public good through efforts to expose harmful products or practices and show perseverance and dedication to the cause of improving the lives of others.[38]

[edit]

Tuegel regularly publishes op-eds and other written pieces on advocating for sexual assault and abuse survivors, institutional and corporate responsibility as it relates to sexual violence and gender discrimination and advocating for equal pay for female athletes and choice for women in their reproductive and pregnancy decisions.[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][excessive citations]

Athletic Career

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Before Tuegel became a lawyer, she was a world-ranked athlete in slalom water skiing.[8] She now uses her naturally competitive drive to champion clients' cases and can empathetically relate to athletes, students, and injured people from all walks of life.[7]

She competed around the world for the United States in Women's Slalom and won a bronze medal at the World Championships in 2003 and won the World Cup Women's Slalom Title in 2005.[46][47]

Personal

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Tuegel grew up in Bridgeport Texas, a small community in North Texas's Wise County.

She is the oldest of three daughters of parents Mike and Martine Simpson. Her dad Mike Simpson is a trial lawyer who grew up in Central Texas in a family of ranchers.

Her sisters Mackenzie Simpson Wallace[48] and Maryssa Simpson[49] are also practicing lawyers in Texas. The three Simpson girls grew up watching their dad in jury trials in the Wise County courthouse. They grew up with their dad in trial so much that as little girls they thought because their mom said "your dad is gone to trial" that trial was a town.[50]

Maryssa (the youngest Simpson sister) is her law partner.[51]

She is married to a fellow trial lawyer, Andrew Tuegel[38] who is law partners with her dad and of counsel with her firm.[52]

References

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  1. ^ "State Bar of Texas | Find a Lawyer | Michelle Simpson Tuegel".
  2. ^ "Member Directory".
  3. ^ https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/attorneyservices/wicket/page/DetailsPage?6
  4. ^ a b c "About".
  5. ^ "NACDL - Michelle Simpson Tuegel".
  6. ^ "Waco lawyer is former top women's water skier". 14 March 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Michelle Simpson Tuegel – MTMP – Mass Torts Made Perfect".
  8. ^ a b c d e "How Michelle Simpson Tuegel Fought the Good Fight Against USA Gymnastics". 8 January 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Larry Nassar abuse victims reach $380 million settlement with USA Gymnastics and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee - CBS News". CBS News. 14 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Number 1 Verdicts in the United States in 2021 - TopVerdict.com".
  11. ^ a b "Survivors' Lawyer Says $44M Verdict Could Boost Damages for Future Sex Assault Cases".
  12. ^ a b "Woman wins $44M in suit against Houston Hilton Hotel after alleged sexual assault, lawyers say". 19 November 2021.
  13. ^ Sayre, Katherine; Elinson, Zusha (3 October 2019). "MGM Resorts Reaches Settlement in 2017 Las Vegas Mass Shooting". Wall Street Journal.
  14. ^ "Vegas shooting survivor sues hotel, festival organizer, bump stock maker, Paddock estate". ABC News.
  15. ^ "Why It Will be Tough to Hold Hotel Legally Responsible for the Vegas Shooting". NPR.
  16. ^ Hubler, Shawn; Arango, Tim; Hartocollis, Anemona (25 March 2021). "U.S.C. Agrees to Pay $1.1 Billion to Patients of Gynecologist Accused of Abuse". The New York Times.
  17. ^ "5 More Women Sue USC Alleging Gynecologist Abused Them - CBS Los Angeles". CBS News. 9 January 2019.
  18. ^ "Law firms take varying approaches to holding UM accountable in doctor abuse cases". 19 April 2020.
  19. ^ "U-M, Anderson survivors reach $490M settlement". 19 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Former Michigan wrestlers urge more victims to 'speak up'". Associated Press News. 28 February 2020.
  21. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/02/28/sports/ap-us-university-of-michigan-doctor.html
  22. ^ "Seeking Justice for Protesters Injured by Dallas PD, Attorneys Say Civil Suits May be Only Hope".
  23. ^ "Changes to Texas sex assault bill draw fire from #MeToo activists".
  24. ^ "Don't let Texas House get away with gutting sex abuse bill". 10 May 2019.
  25. ^ "Gymnasts who survived abuse by Larry Nassar urge Texas lawmakers not to water down reform". 13 May 2019.
  26. ^ "Gymnasts testify; lawmakers won't name abuse bill lobbyists". Associated Press News. 13 May 2019.
  27. ^ a b "Survivors of Nassar abuse speak out in favor of Texas statute of limitations bill". 13 May 2019.
  28. ^ "Accountability is critical for change, Nassar survivors tell Texas lawmakers".
  29. ^ "3 USA Gymnasts Testify at Texas State Capitol".
  30. ^ "USA Gymnastics members, survivors of sexual assault testify at Texas Capitol". 13 May 2019.
  31. ^ "Gymnasts testify; lawmakers won't name abuse bill lobbyists". Fox News. 13 May 2019.
  32. ^ "Accountability is critical for change, Nassar survivors tell Texas lawmakers".
  33. ^ "Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law". YouTube. 28 July 2021.
  34. ^ https://docs.house.gov/meetings/JU/JU05/20210728/113996/HHRG-117-JU05-Wstate-SchwikertMoserT-20210728.pdf
  35. ^ "Commentary: 'Telling' not enough for child sex abuse survivors".
  36. ^ "Texas legislators passed new sex assault laws but left out consent".
  37. ^ "Survivors of child sexual abuse rally at Texas Capitol".
  38. ^ a b "Billion dollar battle - Wise County Messenger". 20 December 2023.
  39. ^ "Pay Women Athletes the Compensation They're Due". 19 September 2024.
  40. ^ "How health care systems can protect patients from sexual assault by providers". 7 September 2023.
  41. ^ "Sexual Assault Victims Need to Believe They'll be Heard". 7 April 2021.
  42. ^ "How Texas's S.B. 8 Restricts Sexual Abuse Survivor Advocacy". 4 April 2022.
  43. ^ "Moving Beyond the 'Pink High Heels' Defense Shaming of Survivors". 8 September 2022.
  44. ^ "The (Un)Intended Chilling Effects of the Texas Abortion Law". 30 September 2021.
  45. ^ "Texas's Near-Total Abortion Ban Effectively Guts Roe v. Wade. Here's How Pro-Abortion Advocates Can Fight Back". 8 June 2021.
  46. ^ http://www.iwsfranking.com/skierinfo/mediapage.php?firstname=Michelle&lastname=SIMPSON
  47. ^ "Clermont Hosts 2003 World Water Ski Championships".
  48. ^ "Mackenzie S. Wallace".
  49. ^ "State Bar of Texas | Find a Lawyer | Maryssa Jane Simpson".
  50. ^ "Welcome to the Town of Trial".
  51. ^ "How I Made Partner: 'Make Yourself Indispensable, No Matter Your Skill Set,' Says Maryssa Simpson of the Simpson Tuegel Law Firm".
  52. ^ "Attorneys & Staff".
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