Panelist Profile: Specia, Jr., John J

Specia, Jr., John J

San Antonio, TX

Attorney; Arbitrator; Mediator (225th District Court Judge, retired 2006)

St. Mary’s University of Law, Juris Doctor, San Antonio, Texas, 1975; University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Arts Political Science, Austin, Texas, 1972

Judge John Specia retired on December 31, 2006 after having served since May of 1988.  He is currently a Senior District Judge subject to assignment and a partner in the law firm of Plunkett & Gibson, Inc. His practice is limited to mediation, arbitration and private judging. Judge Specia’s life-long dedication to public service includes work in all areas of civil and family law, juvenile programs, with a special commitment to children and the prevention of child abuse. 
 
As Judge of the 225th District Court, he presided over all types of cases (i.e., contract disputes, construction disputes, medical and legal malpractice, personal injury, business litigation), and family law cases (i.e., divorces, custody, visitation, adoptions). 
 
Judge Specia has extensive experience in all aspects of civil trial practice.  Due to the unique Bexar County rotating docket system, on a daily basis he has presided over all types of pre-trial matters, summary judgment hearings, non-jury trials, and jury trials.  These include medical malpractice cases, personal injury cases, and complex business litigation. The following is a sample of complex cases that he has directly presided over while serving as the Judge for the 225th District Court:
 
Cause No. 88-CI-17229; Valero Interstate Transmission vs. John L. Clanton (Take or pay, breach of contract)       
 
Cause No. 89-CI-08568; Stewart Windeler vs. Julio Palmaz, M.D.  (Six-week patent infringement jury trial)

Cause No. 95-CI-12541; Chromalloy Gas Turbine vs. United Technologies Corporation (Three-month anti-trust jury trial)

Cause No. 97-CI-11503; Hall vs. Diamond Shamrock (Six-week refinery explosion jury trial)

Cause No. 97-CI-06922; Charles Messervey vs. Northbrook (Insurance fraud)

Cause No. 98-CI-02840; Wayne Urbanowski vs. Bruce McGovern (Medical malpractice jury trial)

Cause No. 99-CI-12469; TPLP vs. City of San Antonio (Commercial zoning dispute)

Cause No. 99-CI-13471; Robert Salter vs. AH Belo Company (Employment contract dispute)

Cause No. 2003-CI-16587; HM Jr. Auto Sales vs. South Point Pontiac-Cadillac (Breach of contract/commercial fraud)

Cause No. 2003-CI-04424; Tetco, Inc. vs. ExxonMobil Oil Corporation (Four-week breach of contract jury trial) 

Judge Specia was elected Administrative Judge for the District Courts of Bexar County from 1998-2000 and 2002-2004.  Judge Specia has been an adjunct professor at St. Mary’s School of Law since 1995 teaching trial advocacy and advanced trial advocacy.

(1988-Dec. 2006) 225th District Court Judge Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas; (1985-1988) Master, 289th Family and Juvenile District Court Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas;
(1985-1988) John J. Specia, Jr. Attorney at Law, private practice, Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas; (1978-1985) Regional Attorney – Texas Department of Human Resources, Region 9

Judge Specia was elected Administrative Judge for the District Courts of Bexar County from 1998-2000 and 2002-2004. Judge Specia has been an adjunct professor at St. Mary’s School of Law since 1995 teaching trial advocacy and advanced trial advocacy.

(2005) Distinguished Law Graduate (Judicial), St. Mary’s School of Law; (2001) St. Mary’s University – School of Law, Rosewood Gavel Award (Award for outstanding Judicial Service)

Mediation:

Full-Day Mediation:      $1,000.00 Per Party
Half-Day Mediation:     $500.00 Per Party

Arbitration:

Retainer:                      $2,500.00 Per Party
Hourly Rate                 $300.00/Hour