Davis & Wilkerson Attorney Secures Another Legal Victory for Texas University

May 29, 2012 - PRLog -- For the second time in as many years, Katy Andre, a shareholder at Davis & Wilkerson (www.dwlaw.com), has helped her client, a private university based in Central Texas, successfully defend itself against a lawsuit.

The university, which is affiliated with a religious institution, was sued by the family of student, who died after he was struck and killed by an oncoming car on a state highway adjacent to the university.

The family alleged that the university owed a duty to their son to warn and protect against the dangerous adjacent highway, despite the fact that the student did not use a nearby crosswalk.

The court found that there was no duty owed by the university to the student because the university did not control the adjacent state highway or the relevant intersection.

“What happened that night was tragedy,” said Andre. “No one wants to lose a young adult, not his family or the university.”

Andre, along with her partner David A. Wright, helped the same client secure a favorable decision in 2010, when the college was sued for negligence by the parents of a student who committed suicide on campus during the holiday break.  The court found then that there was no special relationship between the school and the student's parents, and therefore no duty owed to the parents to inform them of their son's activities without the student’s authorization to do so pursuant to FERPA.

Andre was assisted in the case by David Wright, firm president and a shareholder, and Grady Williamson, an associate.

About Davis & Wilkerson

Davis & Wilkerson (www.dwlaw.com) was founded in October 1985, in Austin, Texas, with a goal of developing a legal practice built on strong relationships with its clients, employees and other attorneys. Today, the firm of 32 lawyers still adheres to those goals as well as a professional standard of excellence, noteworthy by the fact that three-fourths of the firm's owners are Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law, Personal Injury Trial Law, Health Law, Administrative Law or Appellate Law.

The commitment extends to its charitable work as well. It has regularly contributed funds and expertise to help individuals and families receive cost-free legal assistance through the Volunteer Legal Services (VLS) of Central Texas. This contribution was recognized in 2006 when the firm received the prestigious Joseph P. Hart Award, which is given each year to a firm that demonstrates the integrity and commitment to provide legal assistance for those without the ability to obtain that assistance on their own. In addition to D&W’s involvement with VLS, the firm’s attorneys and staff contribute time and money in service to more than two dozen other charitable Austin organizations.