With over 30 years of experience in trial and appellate law, Stuart Starry is a seasoned attorney committed to achieving justice for his clients. His diverse background spans personal injury suits, high-stakes complex litigation, class actions, stock fraud suits, and appeals. Mr. Starry is a battle-tested warrior. He is a formidable adversary for your opponents and a trusted legal partner for you.
Professional Experience and Background
Stuart Starry has years of experience in trial and appellate law. He has handled many personal injury, wrongful death, and commercial cases. His experience includes trucking accidents, jobsite injuries, industrial accidents, and oil and gas fraud. He is also experienced in cases involving product liability cases, defective drugs, construction defects, securities fraud, breaches of contracts, and probate disputes. He has spent time on both the Plaintiff and Defense side of the Bar, giving him a broad perspective.
He obtained a first-class education:
- Vanderbilt University Law School – Juris Doctor 1986.
- University of Southern California - Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (cum laude)
- Phi Beta Kappa (honors fraternity) (top 10% of class)
- Phi Kappa Phi (honors fraternity) (top 5% of class)
- University of New Mexico Mediation Certification 2010
Admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1986, he joined the aviation section of Beirne, Maynard & Parsons in Houston, Texas, where he devoted a substantial portion of his practice to defending claims brought against commercial airlines. He has also represented several aircraft and aircraft component manufacturers in aviation product liability cases. Mr. Starry represented American Airlines in the preemption cases of O’Carroll v. American Airlines, 863 F.2d 11 (5th Cir. 1989) cert. denied, 409 U.S. 1106 (1989) and Baugh v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 915 F.2d 693 (5th Cir. 1990). While at Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, Mr. Starry also represented certain large corporations in toxic tort cases, mass actions, class actions and commercial fraud cases. He also defended automobile accident and workplace injury cases for a number of insurance companies.
Mr. Starry Represented the following companies as a defense lawyer:
- Continental Airlines
- American Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Cessna Aircraft Company
- United Technologies (Sikorsky Aircraft Division)
- Associated Aviation Underwriters
- Lloyd’s of London (underwriting syndicate)
- Freightliner Trucking Company
- Wild Well Control
In 1991, Mr. Starry joined the Houston firm of Fleming, Hovenkamp & Grayson and until 1997 devoted part of his time to plaintiff’s aviation litigation and appeals for that firm. Mr. Starry argued the landmark case Hodges v. Delta Airlines, 44 F. 3rd 334 (5th Cir. 1995) (en banc) on behalf of the plaintiff, which overruled his previous victory in Baugh v.Trans World Airlines. While at the Fleming Firm, Mr. Starry also represented thousands of investors in mass action and class action securities fraud cases. He successfully argued several complex class action related motions in the polybutylene plumbing litigation. He handled a busy docket which included, automobile accidents, workplace injuries, industrial accidents, toxic torts, pharmaceutical “bad drug” cases, and a host of other civil matters.
Mr. Starry established his own practice in September of 1997 and continued to handle a broad spectrum of cases involving products liability, serious personal injury, commercial disputes, securities fraud, mass torts, and related appeals. In 1998 Mr. Starry won another high profile en banc preemption appeal. See, Charas v. Trans World Airlines, 160 F.3rd 1259 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc). To see a list of other appellate victories, see the page on APPEALS.
Mr. Starry has been a frequent lecturer and writer on federal preemption. His lectures include appearances at the 1992 American Bar Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California (Federal Preemption in Commercial Aviation), and the 1993 SMU Air Law Symposium in Dallas (Impact of Hodges v. Delta Airlines). His writings include “Preemption in the Skies,” Trial, March, 1994; “Federal Preemption in Commercial Aviation: Tort Litigation Under 49 U.S.C. §1305,” Journal of Air Law and Commerce, Spring, 1993; “Torts at Twenty Thousand Feet,” The Brief, Fall, 1993; “Asserting and Avoiding the Preemption Defense,” Chapter 52 of Civil Trial Practice: Winning Techniques of Successful Trial Attorneys, 2000. To see these publications and other accolades go to the “Awards, News, and Published Works” page.
In 2019 he joined the Moravcik Threadgill Law Firmto expand their service to include complex and personal injury litigation. Mr. Starry worked with Mark Threadgill, until it became clear that Mr. Threadgill was going to join the ranks of Midland County’s District Judges. He is now at the Starry Law Firm, PLLC and continues to fight for victims of truck accidents, oil field accidents and aviation disasters.
Mr. Starry is admitted to practice in all Texas courts, the United States Supreme Court; the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Western Districts of Texas. He has been a member of the American Bar Association (Sections on Litigation, Aviation, and Tort and Insurance Practice), the State Bar of Texas, the American Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Stuart Starry is also a “Paul Harris Fellow” of Rotary International.
Comprehensive Legal Experience
Stuart’s legal expertise includes:
Career Highlights
- Represented American Airlines and argued high-profile cases, including Hodges v. Delta Air Lines.
- Skilled in handling mass torts, class actions, and commercial disputes.
- Broad perspective from working on both plaintiff and defense sides.
Aggressive Approach to Cases!
- Don’t let the smile fool you. Stuart Starry is an aggressive lawyer. He knows that only by putting the defendant’s back against the wall can one get maximum compensation.
- Mr. Starry takes a detailed approach to case facts, uncovering what defendants would like to keep hidden.
- Mr. Starry is highly skilled at the art of cross examination – keying in on the demeanor of the witness and extracting the whole truth.
A Real-World Approach
Stuart’s legal strategies are rooted in practical experience gained from careers in:
- Construction: Built award-winning homes recognized by the Greater Houston Homebuilder’s Association.
- Manufacturing: Invented “Quickpoles,” revolutionizing ski equipment with innovative technology.
Academic Excellence & Professional Recognition
Education
- Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies (Cum Laude), University of Southern California.
- Juris Doctor, Vanderbilt Law School.
Bar Admissions
- State Bar of Texas, U.S. Supreme Court, and multiple federal courts.
Honors
- Phi Beta Kappa honors fraternity.
- Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Published Author & Esteemed Lecturer
Stuart is a recognized authority on federal preemption, with numerous articles and lectures, including:
For more information about Mr. Starry’s accolades, publications and news coverage, click below.
Dedicated to Serving West Texas
Now based in Midland, Stuart is passionate about providing accessible legal services to the community. His practice encompasses personal injury, appeals, and a wide range of civil cases.
Your Case Deserves the Best
Whether you’re facing a personal injury claim or a complex appeal, Stuart Starry’s unmatched expertise and dedication ensure you’re in capable hands. Reach out today to start your path toward resolution.