Robert C. Hilliard (attorney)

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Robert C. Hilliard
Robert Hilliard in front of a court house
Other namesBob Hilliard
Education
OccupationAttorney
Years active1983–present
Known forMotor vehicle liability litigation
Websitehttps://hmglawfirm.com/

Robert C. Hilliard is an American civil rights and personal injury attorney notable for his United States Supreme Court argument in Hernandez vs. Mesa seeking to hold a border patrol agent accountable for the cross border shooting of a Mexican national, Sergio Hernandez. He also was appointed and served as the nation's lead lawyer for personal injury victims in the General Motors ignition switch recalls litigation, one of the largest civil litigations in the country's history.

Early life[edit]

Hilliard grew up in Newton, Texas, the youngest of three children.[1] His father, Delmar Shelley Hilliard, was an Air Force A-1 Skyraider fighter pilot who flew 175 missions in Vietnam,[2] and later became Newton's county attorney for 25 years. His mother, Bobbye Clifton Hilliard, was an artist, newspaper reporter, homemaker, and office manager for her husband's law office.

Robert C. Hilliard attended St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, where he enrolled on a tennis scholarship, graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English literature in 1980.[3] While at St. Edwards, Hilliard was a four-year letterman in tennis and St. Edward's Athlete of the Year for 1979–1980. In 2016, he was given St. Edward's Distinguished Alumni Award.[4] He went on to attend St. Mary's University School of Law, in San Antonio, Texas, graduating with honors in 1983.[5]

Career[edit]

In 1985, Hilliard founded The Law Offices of Robert C. Hilliard. It later became Hilliard Muñoz, until 2010 when Rudy Gonzales joined and the law firm became Hilliard Muñoz Gonzales, LLP, all based in Corpus Christi, Texas.[6] Hilliard received his certification from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law in 1990 and Civil Trial Law in 1992.[7]

In 2012, Hilliard and Steve Shadowen co-founded Hilliard & Shadowen, LLP, in Austin, Texas, a law firm that engages in antitrust and civil rights litigation.[8]

In 2017, the firm Hilliard Muñoz Gonzales, LLP became Hilliard Martinez Gonzales, LLP in when founding partner Jacobo Munoz retired, and John Martinez was made managing partner. In 2020, they opened an office in Chicago, IL.

In 2023, Hilliard Martinez Gonzales became Hilliard Law.

Notable cases[edit]

Icon Park/Tyre Sampson[edit]

On March 24, 2022, Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old boy, fell from a ride at Icon Park amusement park in Orlando, Florida. His parents hired attorneys Ben Crump and Bob Hilliard after their son fell to his death.[citation needed] On February 6, 2023, the Orlando FreeFall owner reached a settlement[9] to begin dismantling ride after Sampson’s death. In May, 2023, the Florida Legislature passed the "Tyre Sampson Act".[10]

Hernández vs. Mesa[edit]

Hilliard speaks to reporters outside the Supreme Court

Hilliard represented the family of Sergio Hernández, an unarmed 15-year-old Mexican citizen who was shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in 2010. The court found in favor of Mesa. Hernández was standing on Mexican soil when shot.[11] The cases led a confrontation between former Mexican President Felipe Calderón and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Philanthropy[edit]

In May 2017, the Hilliard's donated $1 million to Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus Christi, Texas for a new, 14,000-square-foot elementary level Montessori building.[12]

Awards[edit]

  • Corpus Christi Bar Association 2020 "Lawyer of the Year" [13]
  • Elite Trial Lawyer of the Year - National Law Journal, 2016: Awarded title in Products Liability category[14]
  • Elite Trial Lawyer of the Year - National Law Journal, 2015: Awarded title in Motor Vehicles category[14]
  • Texas Super Lawyers - Thomson Reuters, 20-Year Award, 2003, 2004, 2006-2023[15]
  • Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America[16][better source needed]
  • Innocence Project of Minnesota, 2010: Honored with first “Never Forgotten” award[17]
  • St. Edward’s University, 2016: Distinguished Alumni Award[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Corpus Christi Caller-Times Obituary Notices". obits.caller.com. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  2. ^ "Hilliard Pics". www.skyraider.org. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  3. ^ Carlyle, Erin (October 2011). "The Bulldog: Bob Hilliard Takes on the Cases Other Lawyers Won't Touch–and Wins" (PDF). Texas Super Lawyers. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-07-20. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Alumni Award Honorees 2016 | St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas". www.stedwards.edu. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  5. ^ "Lawyer takes argument from Supreme Court to Law Commencement". St. Mary's University. 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  6. ^ "Attorney Profile". Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Texas Board of Legal Specialization". www.tbls.org. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  8. ^ Lipkin, Michael. "Border Agent Has Immunity for Teen's Shooting: 5th Cir". Law 360. Law 360. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  9. ^ "Orlando FreeFall owner reaches settlement to begin dismantling ride after Tyre Sampson's death". www.fox35orlando.com. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  10. ^ "Tyre Sampson Act passes through Florida senate, heads to Governor DeSantis next". www.fox35orlando.com. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  11. ^ Bennett, Brian; Tanfani, Joseph (2014-10-18). "A family outing, then a deadly Border Patrol shooting". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  12. ^ Sabawi, Fares. "IWA holds groundbreaking ceremony for new elementary building". Caller-Times. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  13. ^ "Robert C. Hilliard Of Hilliard Martinez Gonzales Named Corpus Christi's "Lawyer Of The Year"". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  14. ^ a b "Lawyer takes argument from Supreme Court to Law Commencement". St. Mary's University. 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  15. ^ "Top Rated Corpus Christi, TX Personal Injury Attorney | Robert Hilliard". Super Lawyers. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  16. ^ "Directory". Litigation Counsel of America. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  17. ^ "Unlikely twosome unlocked cell door". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
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