John J. Janssen, J.D., Ph.D.

MANAGING PARTNER

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Phone: 817-385-6404
Location: Arlington
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John J. Janssen, J.D., Ph.D., is a highly respected and effective litigation, employment law, education law, and business attorney. John has completed complex transactions and has helped clients successfully address and resolve disputes across a broad range of practice areas for over 20 years.

John has represented clients in the courtroom cases involving public education law, contracts, premises liability, products liability, oil and gas receiverships, medical malpractice, special education, trade secrets, and construction defects. He routinely provides counsel to clients in a wide variety of areas and has represented school districts in proceedings before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), U.S. Department of Justice—Civil Rights Division (DOJ), U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Texas Workforce Commission—Civil Rights Division (TWC), Texas Education Agency (TEA), and Texas Attorney General’s Office. He is a past member of the State Bar of Texas Administration of the Rules of Evidence Committee.

John also served for five years as the General Counsel for the Office of Legal Services at the Corpus Christi Independent School District, where he managed thousands of matters presented to the Office and provided trainings to school administrators on a variety of topics.

John has published articles in a variety of publications, including The Review of Litigation, Inquiry & Analysis, and the State Bar of Texas School Law Section Newsletter, and has presented at various professional conferences on a variety of topics, including, but not limited to, employment matters, school safety, construction procurement, Title IX, and protecting students from bullying and harassment. He also is the author of a Constitutional Equilibria, published by University Press of America.

PRACTICE AREAS

Labor and Employment Law
Litigation including state and federal court, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings
Grievances, including hearings before Boards and Hearing Officers
Texas Open Meetings Act and Governance
Civil Rights and Discrimination
Special Education and 504 Due Process Hearings and Appeals

EDUCATION

The University of Texas, Ph.D., Government 1996
The University of Texas School of Law, J.D. 1993
Yale University, M.A., Political Science 1989
Southwestern University, B.A., Political Science and Philosophy 1987

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

Texas Council of School Attorneys
National Council of School Attorneys
American Bar Association
State Bar of Texas: Litigation Section, Labor and Employment Section, Government Law Section, and School Law Section

SEMINARS AND PRESENTATIONS

Monitoring and Investigating Student Use of Technology—and the Challenges of Investigating Sexting, (March 2019)
Chapter 37 Compliance Training, Education Service Center—Region 15, February 14, 2019.
Family Law & FERPA Training, Education Service Center—Region 12, February 12, 2019.
Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings, Education Service Center—Region 2, on various topics including, but not limited to, legal “firefighting” tips for administrators, employment law, Chapter 37 compliance, and school finance (2015-present).
Personnel Services Symposium, Education Service Center—Region 2, January 16, 2019 (employee use of social media, terminating the employee relationship, handling grievances).
Employee Use of Social Media, Webinar for Texas Charter School Association, November 27, 2018.
Protecting Students from Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation: Compliance with Federal Civil Rights Laws, Texas Charter School Association Conference, October 25, 2018.
Protecting Students from Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards Convention, September 29, 2018 (Co-Presenter).
Chapter 37 Compliance Training, Education Service Center—Region 12, September 20, 2018.
Chapter 37 Compliance Training, Education Service Center—Region 2, August 6, 2018.
Personnel Services Symposium, Education Service Center—Region 2, January 18, 2017 (topics covered included documenting performance, leaves and absences, grievances, and employment discrimination complaints filed with EEOC or TWC).
Responding Properly to Reports of Discrimination or Harassment of Students with Disabilities, Including Complaints Filed with OCR, Special Education, Discipline, and Dispute Resolution Conference, Education Service Center—Region 2, March 4, 2015.
Supervisor Training: Five Things You Need to Know Right Now, Presentation to Superintendent’s Leadership Team, Corpus Christi Independent School District, February 12, 2014.
Legal Panelist, Student Online Activities and School Discipline, Education Service Center—Region 2, January 25, 2008.
Knowing & Protecting Your Intellectual Property, Protecting Your Company’s Assets, Business Roundtable—Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, July 18, 2006.
Easements & Eminent Domain in Texas, Law of Easements: Legal Issues and Practical Considerations in Texas, Lorman Education Services, Corpus Christi, Texas, June 23, 2006.
Overview of the Texas Workers’ Compensation System, Workers Compensation in Texas, Lorman Education Services, Corpus Christi, Texas, February 3, 2005.

ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS

“Protecting Public School Students from Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation,” School Law Section Newsletter, Vol 14, No. 2, State Bar of Texas, Fall 2017.
“Public School Finance, School Choice, and Equal Education Opportunity in Texas: The Enduring Importance of Background Conditions,” 19 The Review of Litigation 1 (2000).
Constitutional Equilibria: The Partisan Contingency of American Constitutional Law from the Jeffersonian “Revolution” to the Impeachment of Bill Clinton (Lanham: University Press of America, 2000).
“Dualist Constitutional Theory and the Republican Revolution of 1800”, 12 Constitutional Commentary 381 (Winter 1995).

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

Successful representation of clients in state and/or federal court, including appeals, and in administrative proceedings, mediations, and arbitration
Extensive experience defending school districts in proceedings before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Texas Workforce Commission—Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, the U.S. Department of Labor—Wage and Hour Division, and the U.S. Department of Justice—Civil Rights Division
Successful defense of multiple school districts in DGBA and FNG grievance proceedings
Extensive experience in school district employment issues generally, including managing leaves and absences, FMLA, discrimination complaints, performance documentation, FLSA, reassignment, contract issues, and adverse employment decisions
Extensive and successful representation of school districts regarding Public Information Act issues before the Texas Attorney General
Special Education and 504 issues, including extensive experience defending school districts in requests for due process hearings filed with the TEA against school districts and representing school districts in mediations of due process complaints
Extensive experience in reviewing contracts for goods and services, analysis of procurement issues
Experience drafting interlocal agreements and memoranda of understanding
Experienced in Texas Open Meetings Act and Governance matters
Successful representation in registration of trademark with U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Trainings across broad range of school law topics, such as school discipline and safety, human resources concerns, and other topics chosen to help shield school districts from legal liability

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

TL Mechanical v. Corpus Christi ISD (2013). Contractor sued alleging payment for services were owed. Judgment for the school district.
Corpus Christi ISD v. C.C. (2012) Successful appeal of adverse hearing officer decision in special education due process proceeding.
Corpus Christi ISD v. D. Lopez (2011). Suit against former employee for fraud and civil theft. Case resolved upon case being transferred to bankruptcy court.
Castro v. Ford Motor Credit Company (2009). Successful defense against wrongful repossession / breach of contract complaint.
Zertuche v. Price Drilling Company (2004). Successful defense on appeal in negligence case; appellate court reversed and rendered judgment in favor of defendant.

HONORS

Boss-of-the-Year Award, Corpus Christi Association of Legal Professionals, 2006
Hispanic Achievement Award, Gregory-Portland Community Learning Centers, 2005

AFFILIATIONS

Past member, State Bar of Texas Administration of the Rules of Evidence Committee.

BAR ADMISSIONS

State Bar of Texas, May 1994
Member, School Law Section
Member, Litigation Section
Member, Labor and Employment Law Section
Member, Government Law Section

COURT ADMISSIONS

State Bar of Texas – U.S. District Courts Southern, Western, and Eastern Districts of Texas
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

CIVIC & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Brief Judge, 2019 Appellate Advocacy Competition, American Bar Association Law Student Division
Debate Judge, Gregory-Portland High School Speech and Debate Tournament (Nov. 2018)
Member & Musician, St. Christopher’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church

Attorney, Powell & Leon, LLP (Mar. 2016-Mar. 2019; Sept. 2014-Apr. 2015)
General Counsel, Office of Legal Services, Corpus Christi Independent School District (Sept. 2009-Apr. 2014; Apr. 2015-Mr. 2016)
Associate Attorney, Porter, Rogers, Dahlman & Gordon, P.C., Corpus Christi, Texas (2009-Aug. 2014)
Associate Attorney, Brin & Brin, P.C., Edinburg, Texas (1999-2000)
Staff Attorney, Texas Court of Appeals- Thirteenth District, Edinburg and Corpus Christi, Texas (1996-1998)
Assistant County Attorney, Nueces County Attorney’s Office (Aug.-Sept. 1996)
Teaching Appointments, The University of Texas—Pan American, 1997-99; Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi, 1996; Del Mar College, 1988-90, 1992, 1996; Southwestern University, 1995- 96 (undergraduate political science courses)