Dorgan, Walter J.

Terry is a shareholder. Terry is Board Certified in both Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law. Prior to entering the practice of law, Terry was a mechanical engineer and worked for a major oil company in roles as a production and reservior engineer. He has held leadership positions in United Way of Midland, Casa de Amigos, and volunteers in many civic, charitable, and church endeavors.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

Insurance Defense

Terry's formative years as a trial lawyer involved defending automobile liability cases and workers' compensation cases. He now manages and tries all types of complex cases. Today the bulk of Terry's docket consists of oil and gas litigation, wellbore/reservior damages cases, wrongful death claims, explosions, pipeline facility incidents, and other cases arising from catastrophic accidents. Included in Terrys portfolio are many cases involving drilling/workover rig accidents, exposures to hazardous chemicals and wastes arising from process facilities, and oil and gas operations.

Oil and Gas Litigation

Terry handles cases and resolves disputes involving operator/royalty owners, surface use conflicts, underground water contamination and surface pollution claims. He represents oil and gas operators, mineral and royalty owners, and clients in the service company sector. His training and experience is especially helpful in issues involving field operations and downhole equipment failures. Terry utilizes his reservoir engineering training very capably in cases in which damage allegations include reservoir and reserve losses.

Governmental Entity Defense

A strong advocate for law and order, Terry has the privilege of representing governmental entities and police officers throughout West Texas. The technical nature of the defenses to claims involving governmental entities and their employees has resulted in the development of a unique concentration within the firm of trial experience with accompanying successes in the field of civil rights defense.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Terry worked for Amoco Production Company from 1977 until 1979 as a petroleum engineer, which provided him with valuable experience in the oil and gas industry. His engineering foundation, passion for preparedness, and 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer have served his clients well over the years.

EDUCATION

• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1976
• J.D., Texas Tech University, 1982

In law school, Terry was a member of Law Review and founding officer of the Texas Tech University Legal Research Board. He was voted by the faculty and his peers as the student most representative of what a lawyer should be.