Jim M. Perdue

Described as the “king” of Texas medical malpractice lawyers by Forbes magazine in 1989, Jim M. Perdue, Sr. has for the past forty years been a trail blazer in bringing new concepts to the art of jury persuasion. In his first book on trial persuasion, Who Will Speak for the Victim? (1989) he introduced his concept of using a narrative as the basis for the presentation of a case to a jury. That was followed by Winning with Stories (2006) which further expanded the concept that “a trial is not a debate-it is a competition of stories.” Many now recognize him as the “Father of Texas Courtroom Storytelling.”

He also pioneered many of the modern techniques of presenting evidence in the courtroom. Forty years ago, he used an economist to calculate and project personal injury damages and introduced the testimony at trial. Other landmark trial techniques have included the use of working models and multi-dimensional displays in medical malpractice and product liability cases, and the use of health care providers’ advertising literature as a basis for establishing vicarious liability.

Success in securing substantial and in some cases unprecedented multi-million-dollar verdicts and recoveries for his clients have resulted in appearances around the country as a speaker and lecturer. He has spoken before law schools, scientific associations, medical groups, bar associations, trial lawyer organizations and colleges of advocacy, delivering over 400 presentations ranging from the substantive law of malpractice and product liability to the psychology of jury persuasion, trial techniques and strategy.

He has authored texts and treatises on the substantive law of medical malpractice and product liability. The appellate courts of Texas have often cited his books, law review and journal articles. Moreover, numerous appellate opinions in cases he has prosecuted have pioneered the way for today’s victims of negligence, defective products and corporate indifference.

Perdue is a member of a number of prestigious law associations, such as the Inner Circle of Advocates, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the International Society of Barristers.

After an open competition at the 2002 Mid-Winter meeting of the Inner Circle of Advocates he was named “Champion of the Storytellers.” Also, that year he was inducted into the Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In addition to his works provided through Trial Guides, Mr. Perdue has authored chapters in a number of legal works and has published more than fifty journal and law review articles in publications such as Trial and Texas Bar Journal. Mr. Perdue served as adjunct professor, teaching courses on courtroom storytelling at the University of Houston Law Center from 2008 to 2021.

He presently serves Of Counsel to the Houston-based firm of Perdue & Kidd, L.L.P. He is a frequent speaker at legal education conferences around the country. He lives in Houston, Texas.