Joseph Emil Hoffer

Mr. Hoffer’s practice is focused in the areas of (1) civil litigation; (2) labor and employment; (3) board governance including due process hearings and grievances, open meetings act and public information act; (4) business transactions including public procurement and contracting, False Claims Act, trademark and copyright, and interlocal and shared services arrangements; (5) student law including special education, discipline, civil rights and grievances; and (6) administrative law, including appeals of state agency action.  Mr. Hoffer is admitted to practice before all Texas Courts, and is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. District Courts for the Western and Northern Districts of Texas.

Education and Honors
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas and Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos (B.A. summa cum laude 2003); St. Mary’s University School of Law (J.D. 2006); While in law school, Mr. Hoffer served on the Editorial Board of the St. Mary’s Law Journal, serving as Research/Articles Editor his third year and as a staff writer his second year.  Mr. Hoffer was on the law school Dean’s List and graduated in the top 11% of his class.

Affiliations
State Bar of Texas (School Law Section, Administrative and Public Law Section, Labor and Employment Law Section); President, Judson ISD Education Foundation, Inc., 2008-10 (Vice President 2007-08), Randolph Metrocom Chamber of Commerce, Education Law Association, Military Child Education Coalition; Texas Council of School Attorneys, National Council of School Attorneys, Alliance of Public Charter School Attorneys, Texas Municipal League-Texas City Attorneys Association. 

Publications
Joseph E. Hoffer, Qui Tam: Survival of the Action and Fate of the Proceeds Following the Death of the Relator. For the King and For Himself . . . And His Heirs, 37 St. Mary's L.J. 199 (2005) ((cited by United States ex rel. Colucci v. Beth Israel Med. Ctr., 603 F. Supp. 2d 677, 683 (S.D. N.Y 2009)); (quoted by United States ex rel. Lemmon v. Envirocare of Utah, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29619 at *25 (D.C. UT 2007); (cited by Michael Lee, Attorneys' Fees in Environmental Citizen Suits and the Economically Benefited Plaintiff: When are Attorneys' Fees and Costs Appropriate? 26 Pace Envtl. L. Rev. 495 n. 148 (S. 2009); (cited by Dr. Carl Pacini & Michael Bret Hood, the Role of Qui Tam Actions Under the False Claims Act in Preventing and Deterring Fraud Against Government, 15 U. Miami Bus. L. Rev. 273 n. 182 (S. 2007)).

Training

2011

(April 2011) National School Board Association, Council of School Attorneys Annual Convention--upcoming.  Presentation on Federal Whistleblower/False Claims Act.

2010

(Nov. 2010) Education Law Association Annual Convention--upcoming presentation on Federal Whistleblower/False Claims Act.

(May 2010) Texas Charter School Conference, Presenter on Federal Whistleblower/False Claims Act and Impact on Charter Schools.

(February 2010) UT School Law Conference, Presenter on Federal Whistleblower/False Claims Act for School Attorney

2009
Resource Center For Charter Schools, 12th Annual Texas Charter Schools Conference Charter Laws & Rules You May Not be Familiar With – But Should Be) TASBO ‘09 Annual Conference:  Update on Federal Whistleblower Laws (False Claims Act)

2008
Judson ISD:  Purchasing Do’s & Don’ts
Resource Center For Charter Schools, ESC Region II, Corpus Christi Statewide Charter School Board Member & Administrator Training (Co-Author)

2007
Principals’ Summit:  FLSA Update

2006
TASA/TASB Annual Conference, Investigative Techniques (Co-Author)