James Michael Ringel

Firms seeking local counsel, businesses and new neighbors: James Ringel aggressively pursued my suit against his former firm offering full contingency; promised to use insider information from that firm; had me sign a conflict waiver he later said he was not sure existed; asked me to dismiss conflict... belonging to previous clients with said firm; identified many winning arguments but didn’t actually use them; “forgot” a directed verdict; let $14,000 in fees stand on ZERO damages; falsely told me no remedy remained except appeal/bond; then left my retrial days away unprepared. You can’t make this up. Ringel and Brymer had both worked for the Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder, whom I was suing. They aggressively solicited me by cause number, offering 100% contingency representation with fees AND expenses only paid from recoveries. Ringel told us he monitored Bastrop filings that would let him sue his former employer. I raised the conflict immediately, he had me sign a conflict waiver even though I suspected that I couldn’t waive conflict for his former firm and its clients. He refused to produce it upon my request. Ringel identified/prepared these grounds for an open and shut case: 1. Abuse of process: no required “special injury”; 2. Libel: no retraction/correction demand under CPRC §73.055; at minimum supported abatement. Exemplary damages specifically barred. 3. Contract-rate overbilling: Contract said Lawyer $390/hour, Paralegal-$125/hour but Van Gilder billed $400/hour/$185/hour. 4. Double-billing. $400 prepaid Consultation billed again at $480. Initial $400 vanished. 5. Defendant admitted assigning my case to Rogers, after Texas Supreme Court canceled his license. 6. Van Gilder’s failure to appear. 7. $14,000 fee award on $0 damages: no valid Chapter 38 basis and no Chapter 9 sanctions predicate; yet Ringel made NO objection, JNOV demand or new-trial motion. What’s bizarre is that Ringel prepared these issues! Then inexplicably never used them for dispositive relief and/or managed to throw the case anyway. While we waited for the jury, I specifically raised JNOV. He assured me he was ready. The jury awarded ZERO DOLLARS in damages, yet the court entered $14,000 in attorney’s fees against me which were specifically barred! Van Gilder pleaded Chapter 38 and CPRC §9.012. Section 38.001 does not list libel or abuse of process and allows fees “only in addition to the amount of a valid claim”; the jury awarded $0. Section 9.012 is a sanctions provision. TRCP 505.1(a) expressly allowed JNOV where a verdict was contrary to law or evidence. All that was needed to remove the $14,000 in fees was a single paragraph, objection or JNOV. Ringel did NOTHING even when prepped before the verdict and questioned immediately afterward. It looked like nothing so much as someone deliberately throwing a case. Eight days later, at dinner I again asked why no directed verdict. He said he FORGOT. I asked if it was too late and how else to undo the improper $14,000 judgment. Ringel said nothing remained except “an appeal, but you’d have to post the bond.” That was false on its face. Rule 505.3 still allowed a new-trial motion within 14 days. James was mostly silent for months, then five days before my appeal subpoenas still weren’t filed and evidence/exhibits were completely unprepared. He said delays were “no fault of yours” and yet left my case unprepared. Jimmy Brymer was there but did nothing to help. I had to fire James for abandonment and file my own emergency continuance. I continue PRO SE. I doubt any lawyer smart enough identify what James did could then damage a case this much accidentally. I’m not asserting sabotage, but I can think of no other explanation. This firm appears to be either comically inept, or to have acted against my interests. Treat this firm like it is radioactive.