ATTORNEY

Debra “Ann” Comerio

I was born and raised in New Orleans, La. and lived in numerous states throughout the US and in Nicaragua. I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English and Education from Tulane University in 1978 and a Juris Doctor degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1990. Before law school, I taught high school English, History, and Math and coached the high school track team. During law school, I clerked for a reputable mid-size firm and became an associate and then a full equity partner and eventually opened my own firm.

I have three awesome children, two of which are adopted, one from Ukraine and the other from Nicaragua. All are thriving says this proud mama, and I have two tremendous grandchildren.

I love my Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Astros!! In my spare time, I binge-watch whatever the latest hot series is running, one of favorite being Suits.

Contact  

  • Personal Injury

  • Commercial Trucking

  • Insurance Defense

  • Nursing Home and Medical Malpractice

  • Drugs and Medical Device Litigation

  • Appellate Law

  • Defamation

  • Premises Liability

  • DTPA

  • Defense of Physicians before the Texas Medical Board

Represented individual and corporate clients in litigation involving numerous causes of action including, but not limited to, nursing home and medical malpractice, premises liability, products liability, automobile and trucking accidents, breach of contract, Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, defamation, and dram shop.

Through the appellate process, I made the vast majority of post tort reform medical malpractice case law on the books, including two opinions from the Texas Supreme Court. I handled and assisted in briefing and arguing a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit which resulted in the Court issuing a ground-breaking opinion on what constitutes a settlement.

I have vast experience taking and defending depositions, attending hearings, mediating cases, drafting and arguing Motions for Summary Judgment and obtaining favorable defense verdicts, even in the most pro-plaintiff Texas venues.

Expertise in retaining, communicating with, and prepping experts and expert reports.

  • State Bar of Texas 1990

  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

  • Tulane University 1978

  • St. Mary’s University School of Law 1990

Author and Speaker:

  • EMTALA: Saying What You Mean and Meaning What You Say

  • HIPAA: Texas new HIPAA Laws and Reconciling them with the existing Federal Laws

Author:

  • Procedural Technicalities, Filing Suit and Discovery in Medical Malpractice

  • Tracking the Law and Your Experts

  • The Too Many Defendants Problem, Comparative and Proportionate Responsibility among Defendants

  • Summary Judgment Affidavits and Their Role in Medical Malpractice Cases

  • The Right to Die and Informed Consent

  • Ethics-It’s Legal, But is it Right?

Presentation:

  • Medical Malpractice Conference-St. Mary’s University, Texas Tech University

Speaker:

  • CME for Physicians; Santa Rosa Hospital; New Developments: The Law and Other Considerations When Deciding to Pull the Plug

  • CME for Risk Managers and Administrators; The Effects of Medical Malpractice Tort Reform House Bill 4

  • CLE for Bexar County Judges re: HIPAA

  • San Antonio Bar Association

  • American Bar Association

  • Defense Counsel of San Antonio

  • Texas Association of Defense

  • Counsel Defense Research Institute

  • International Association of Defense

  • Counsel South Texas Risk Managers Association

I believe I may be the only lawyer in the history of law whose expert witness was given a standing ovation by the jury when he left the stand.

I love to sing the French version of Edith Piaf’s song, No Regrets – but never in public.