Tasha L. Barnes
Diversity Committee
Casualty Vice Chair
Austin
512-703-5038
Tasha Barnes has successfully defended hundreds of catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence cases involving significant exposure for more than 25 years. Her experience includes a diverse range of litigation including high exposure personal injury and professional negligence cases.
She frequently represents construction companies, trucking companies, real estate agents, bars and restaurants, premises owners and health care providers. Her health care experience includes defending a Level 1 Trauma Center and teaching hospital, nurses, physicians, dentists, pharmacies, emergency medical service providers, medical spas and radiology clinics. Additionally, her practice includes products liability including medical device litigation, premises liability, liquor liability including fraternities, bars and restaurants, recreational liability including health clubs and adventure sports, as well as claims against non-subscribing employers.
Tasha’s approach to litigation focuses on efficient and cost-effective resolutions to cases either through early settlement or dispositive motion. Through early case evaluations and attempts at resolution, she seeks to minimize costs and promote the best interests of the client. Most recently, Tasha favorably settled a medical malpractice case prior to taking any depositions through informal, cooperative discovery.
Significant Construction Results
In 2011, the Texas Supreme Court affirmed a summary judgment motion authored by Tasha in Foreman v. Allen Keller Co. This opinion represents a significant change in Texas law concerning the duty of a construction contractor. Another summary judgment she authored was affirmed by the Third Court of Appeals in 2011, and is significant with respect to insurance in the construction industry. In 2017, Tasha tried two personal injury jury trials in Travis County and obtained complete defense verdicts in both cases. Both cases involved the construction industry, one involving a construction accident and the other involving a motor vehicle collision with a street sweeper.
Representative Experience
Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of commercial mechanic in catastrophic injury case involving a crush injury to an operator of a bucket lift.
Obtained defense verdict on behalf of construction company for an admitted fault collision between a street sweeper and a parked car.
Authored summary judgment resulting in dismissal for international construction company in a traumatic brain injury case.
Tried and obtained defense verdict in favor of pharmacy in wrongful death case.
Won summary judgment on behalf of health care provider in labor and delivery case with alleged cerebral palsy and claimed economic damages in excess of $25M.
Won summary judgment on behalf of a real estate brokerage firm sued for negligence and breach of contract.
Handled defense of medical device case resulting in defense verdict on behalf of one of America’s largest manufacturers of healthcare supplies.
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a college fraternity in sexual assault and dram shop case.
Obtained summary judgment for a national health club chain by enforcing a pre-injury release of liability.
Resolved a wrongful death suit on behalf of a construction company arising from a major natural gas explosion in Austin, Texas.
Obtained unanimous defense verdict for premises owner/construction company in a trucking accident at a gravel pit.
Negotiated favorable settlement in severe burn injury case on behalf of non-subscribing employer.
Obtained take-nothing judgment in wrongful death products liability case in which jury awarded damages against Co-Defendant for 17 million dollars.
Negotiated favorable settlement in double-fatality products liability action involving allegedly defective wheel.
Defended national motor carrier in triple-fatality trucking accident case.
Professional Recognition
Listed for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Listed in Austin's Top Attorneys
Listed for Personal Injury - General: Defense
Related Resources
Related Services
Publications & Speaking Engagements
Education, Admissions & Activities
Education
University of Oklahoma
J.D., cum laude, 1996
Order of the Coif
Oklahoma State University
B.S., cum laude, 1993
Journalism and Broadcasting
Bar Admissions
Texas
1996
Court Admissions
United States District Court of Texas
Northern, Southern, Western
Professional and Community Activities
Texas Association of Defense Counsel
Chair of Trial Academy, 2011; District Director, 2005-2007