Derek Potts
Firm Founder Managing Partner
BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Potts is nationally known for his leadership of mass litigations involving environmental disasters such as Hurricane Harvey, the Texas Freeze and Hurricane Ida. He also has been leading complex litigations on behalf of people injured by dangerous medical devices and pharmaceuticals for over a decade and is regularly appointed by judges to lead these mass cases and multi district litigations. As a member of the PSC, he was one of the leaders of the litigation on behalf of all plaintiffs and was one of the lead trial counsel in the first bellwether jury trial that resulted in a finding of defective design of the medical device. Mr. Potts successfully resolved class actions in 2022 in Texas against a power company and a natural gas company for overcharging thousands of Texas businesses related to the Texas freeze. In 2023, Mr. Potts successfully settled a class action with Live Nation and other defendants related to the Astroworld concert disaster.
Throughout his career, Mr. Potts has been lead counsel in jury trials representing catastrophically injured clients. Examples of some of his jury verdicts include the $3.0 million verdict in Novogradac vs. Shirshekan, a nursing home negligence case tried in Platte County Missouri Circuit Court which was appealed and sustained by the Missouri Supreme Court and Millard v. Gard, M.D. a medical malpractice case tried in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas which resulted in a $12.1 million verdict for a minor injured due to medical malpractice.
Mr. Potts began pursuing cases for women injured by transvaginal mesh products in 2009. He was one of a handful of plaintiffs’ lawyers from around the country who spearheaded the establishment of what would become the largest medical device MDL consolidation in history. He would be appointed by the Judge overseeing the litigation as one of 8 members of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Executive Committee and Plaintiffs’ Co Lead Counsel of 3 transvaginal mesh MDLs. He and his partners in the litigation would ultimately resolve over $1,000,000,000 in transvaginal mesh settlements. Mr. Potts has also been involved in numerous mass pharmaceutical litigations including being appointed the Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel of the Los Angeles Country Superior Court’s consolidation related to the drug, Xarelto. Mr. Potts has also been involved in multiple class actions including being class counsel for the states of New York, New Jersey, and Arkansas in the In Re ATT Mobility MDL which resulted in over $1,000,000,000 in settlements nationwide relating to the improper charging of sales tax. Mr. Potts also spearheaded a series of state court consolidations against General Motors related to its ignition switch auto defect in certain model cars. Mr. Potts successfully resolved thousands of personal injury and wrongful death cases with General Motors through his state court consolidations. After Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in August 2017, Mr. Potts spearheaded litigation against the United States Army Corp of Engineers related to its intentional release of water during the storm which flooded tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the City. Mr. Potts was appointed as Plaintiffs’ Class Counsel by the United States Court of Claims to lead the prosecution of the case. In 2020, Mr. Potts spearheaded the formation of the In Re Generali Travel Insurance MDL and was appointed Plaintiffs’ Class Counsel to represent the thousands of individuals who were improperly denied their travel insurance benefits as a result of Covid-19 related travel restrictions. In 2021, Mr. Potts filed a $1 Billion Class Action against the electricity retailer Griddy related to its overcharging of Texas customers during Winter Storm Uri.
BAR ADMISSIONS
Mr. Potts has been admitted to practice in multiple states and in many federal courts across the United States.
COURT APPOINTMENTS
HONORS & AWARDS
Starting in law school, Mr. Potts has been routinely recognized for his achievements inside and outside of the courtroom.
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
Give us a call today at (888) 420-1299 or contact us online to request a free initial consultation and case evaluation. Hablamos español.
IT’S ALL ABOUT OUR POWER
WORK WITH POTTS LAW FIRM
By providing your phone number, you agree to receive text messages from Potts Law Firm. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.
HEAR FROM
ATTORNEY DEREK POTTS
EDUCATION
Mr. Potts attended William Jewell College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in History. His scholarship earned him admittance into Phi Alpha Delta, the largest co-ed professional law fraternity in the country. He was also named a member of Mortar Board, a national honor society recognizing outstanding students. After college, he pursued his Juris Doctor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, where he made the Dean’s List, participated as a member of the National Appellate Advocacy Team, and received the Judge Conrad B. Duberstein Appellate Advocacy Award.
PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE CAREER, MR. POTTS WAS BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK AT EVENTS CONCERNING LITIGATION AND TRIALS AS WELL AS SUBMIT ARTICLES.
CHARITY & VOLUNTEER WORK
Some of the most recent causes include:
Promise for Haiti – Paper City Mag
Crime Stoppers
MJM – Just Keep Livin Foundation
Houston Fire Department Support – COVID-19 – BBQ Event
The Potts Family Foundation
Mr. Potts is as passionate about giving back to the community as he is about representing his clients. He established the Potts Family Foundation, a nonprofit foundation to provide funding for certain charitable causes.
WHY HIRE POTTS LAW FIRM?
Finding the right attorney for your case can be difficult. You need to know that the law firm you choose is one you can trust, one that will protect your rights and best interests while fighting for the best possible outcome on your behalf.
At Potts Law Firm, we do just that.
What’s more, our team goes above and beyond in serving the needs of our clients. Although we are a large, national firm with extensive resources and a long history of success, we remain highly client-focused in our approach. Our attorneys and staff provide personal attention and compassionate counsel throughout the legal process. We know just how important this matter is to you, which is why we treat every case like it is our only one.
When you choose Potts Law Firm, you choose a team that truly cares. We will fight tirelessly for you, your rights, and your future.
For assistance from our experienced legal team, please contact us online or call (888) 420-1299 today.
IT’S ALL ABOUT
YOUR SUCCESS
WORK WITH AN AWARD-WINNING LEGAL TEAM
By providing your phone number, you agree to receive text messages from Potts Law Firm. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.
