John E. Spalding

Overview

John E. Spalding is a principal in the Houston office at Germer. He has been practicing law for almost forty years. He has defended thousands of cases and tried over fifty defense cases to successful jury verdicts. He has also handled dozens of plaintiffs’ cases and tried two plaintiffs’ cases to successful jury verdicts. He has been involved in mass tort litigation, high exposure medical malpractice cases, handling negative media, products liability, pharmaceutical products liability, construction, insurance coverage and commercial litigation.

Practice Areas

Professional Background

Joined Germer in 2025
Previous firms include
- Lewis Brisbois, Bisgaard and Smith, LLP
- Johnson, Spalding, Doyle West & Trent, LLP
- McFall & Sartwelle, LLC
- Andrews & Kurth, LLP

Bar Admission(s)

State Bar of Texas – 1986
Admitted to practice before the following courts:
- The Supreme Court of the United States of America
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western
- Districts of Texas
- Texas state courts

Professional Certifications

American Board of Trial Advocates

Education

Baylor University School of Law
- Juris Doctor 1986
- Phi Delta Phi legal honor society
Undergrad, e.g., Baylor University
- Bachelor of Arts/Business 1983

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

State Bar of Texas Member of a Grievance Committee from 1994-99

Representative Experience

In Bado Equipment Company, Inc. v. Bethlehem Steel Corp. 814 S.W.2d 464 Tex. App. (Hou. 14th), John obtained a summary judgment on a secured transaction issue for Bethlehem Steel and had it affirmed on appeal.
In Petroleo Brasileiro, S.A. v. Atwood Turnkey Drilling, Inc. et al, 875 F. 2d 1174 (5th Cir. 1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1075, 110 S. Ct. 1124 (1990) we obtained jurisdiction over a Brazilian entity that was affirmed by the United States District Court Fifth Circuit and writ denied by The Supreme Court of the United States.
John represented a psychiatrist who treated Andrea Yates, worked with the Bush family around the 2004 election and defended a liposuction death case where his trial consultant was Dr. Phil McGraw.
John also won a two-week trial for a medical center in West Texas that had settled every case filed against it for over forty years before our trial.

Civic Involvement

John has been involved in many charitable organizations in Houston and served on the Associate Vestry and Stewardship Committee of St. John the Divine.

Interests

John is married to Deanna Osborne and they have six children.

Professional Background

Joined Germer in 2025
Previous firms include
- Lewis Brisbois, Bisgaard and Smith, LLP
- Johnson, Spalding, Doyle West & Trent, LLP
- McFall & Sartwelle, LLC
- Andrews & Kurth, LLP

Bar Admission(s)

State Bar of Texas – 1986
Admitted to practice before the following courts:
- The Supreme Court of the United States of America
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western
- Districts of Texas
- Texas state courts

Professional Certifications

American Board of Trial Advocates

Education

Baylor University School of Law
- Juris Doctor 1986
- Phi Delta Phi legal honor society
Undergrad, e.g., Baylor University
- Bachelor of Arts/Business 1983

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

State Bar of Texas Member of a Grievance Committee from 1994-99

Representative Experience

In Bado Equipment Company, Inc. v. Bethlehem Steel Corp. 814 S.W.2d 464 Tex. App. (Hou. 14th), John obtained a summary judgment on a secured transaction issue for Bethlehem Steel and had it affirmed on appeal.
In Petroleo Brasileiro, S.A. v. Atwood Turnkey Drilling, Inc. et al, 875 F. 2d 1174 (5th Cir. 1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1075, 110 S. Ct. 1124 (1990) we obtained jurisdiction over a Brazilian entity that was affirmed by the United States District Court Fifth Circuit and writ denied by The Supreme Court of the United States.
John represented a psychiatrist who treated Andrea Yates, worked with the Bush family around the 2004 election and defended a liposuction death case where his trial consultant was Dr. Phil McGraw.
John also won a two-week trial for a medical center in West Texas that had settled every case filed against it for over forty years before our trial.

Civic Involvement

John has been involved in many charitable organizations in Houston and served on the Associate Vestry and Stewardship Committee of St. John the Divine.

Interests

John is married to Deanna Osborne and they have six children.

Overview

Practice Areas

Professional Background

Bar Admission(s)

Professional Certifications

Education

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

Representative Experience

Civic Involvement

Interests

Professional Background

Bar Admission(s)

Professional Certifications

Education

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

Representative Experience

Civic Involvement

Interests

Practice Areas

Beaumont:

Austin:

Houston:

San Antonio:

Tyler: