This is a part in our series of Q&A’a with Rob Henry, an Fort Worth attorney.
Rob On Results
Are results guaranteed?
Absolutely not, no. I always try to tell people I can’t guarantee what I want to get done with regards to their case but I am going to do my best. That’s what you have to understand. It’s the client’s call. I can just tell you what I do and how I want to go about doing it.
You can never, never guarantee the results. And to be honest with you, if there’s a lawyer who’s going to guarantee results to you, I think he’s lying, and I’ll just be upfront with that. You want somebody who can guarantee they’re going to work hard for you and do what they can, but when it comes to results, you just can’t guarantee that. I don’t do that, and that’s not fair on the client to put those kinds of expectations on them.
So, what can you guarantee?
You can guarantee that you’re going to work hard for them. You can guarantee that you’re always going to be upfront with them about what’s going on and what the situation is. You can guarantee stuff like that, but the bottom line is you never know how things are going to play out in a courtroom, you never know how things are going to play out with the jury.
Jury selection is so random, particularly in Tarrant County. Tarrant County is a lot bigger county than I think people realize, and you really never know what you’re going to get. Whether it’s a district court where you’re talking about 12 random people or it’s a county court with six random people, you just never know how those personalities are going to co-mingle.
You always guarantee that you’re going to work hard and do your best for them, and I absolutely 100% do that. I am always going to be upfront with you. The toughest thing in this business is having to tell somebody something that they don’t want to hear, but if that’s the truth and that’s what the current situation is, I am going to do that.
You mentioned jury selection. When you’re faced with going to trial and looking at a jury, you can’t control who’s put in front of you. What is it that you do when you’re kind of fighting through that process?
It depends on the case. In a business breach of contract-type case, what you’re looking for is people who own their own business and can relate to the situation that’s going on. That’s the main thing you’re looking for there.
In a personal injury case, you want more people who have been out in the real world and they experience stuff and can relate to people who are going through a tough situation and who understand that somebody who’s been seriously injured needs the help. Those are the type of people you’re looking for in that case.
It’s real diverse, and lots of times, you don’t know what you’re getting. It all depends on the case, and you have to fight through the stereotypes and you can’t judge people on that. That’s one thing you always have to be very careful about.
Jury selection is the toughest part and the most important part of a lawsuit. A lot of times, it’ll always just come down to the jury. You can have the best lawyer arguing one side, but if the jury doesn’t like them, they’re going to rule the other way.
There are many factors that play into the outcome of any case and each case in unique. My guarantee is to be honest and upfront with each of my clients about their case and the legal process and to work my hardest for them.
