Our Attorneys

Meet Our Jail Neglect, Jail Injury, and Jail Death Attorneys

Attorney Jessica Bebawi serves our clients as a civil rights attorney. Jessica graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law, cum laude, where she received several awards. She was selected to represent the law school at a national trial competition, was a mock trial championship finalist, and an advance mock trial championship quarter finalist.  Before law school, Jessica graduated with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and Criminology, cum laude, from the University of Texas at Arlington.  She also spent several years working in commercial real estate as an assistant business manager and certified training assistant.  After law school, when working at a personal injury firm, where she became a team lead attorney, Jessica tried several cases to jury verdict.  One verdict was reported as a top-100 verdict in Texas for that year.  Jessica is still very active in helping law students, including through coaching mock trial teams.

Emily Fitch serves as a paralegal with our firm. Emily graduated with a BBA in Business Administration and Management from the University of Texas at Arlington. Emily serves our clients in a variety of ways, including helping with both filed and unfiled cases, and communicating with and assisting primarily our firm’s new and potential clients.

Melissa Hernandez serves as a paralegal with our firm. Melissa graduated with a BA in political science from the University of Michigan. Before joining our firm, Melissa served with the National Immigration Forum, Immigrant Justice Lab, and National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good. Melissa concentrates on interaction with our firm’s new clients, and she also assists with cases that have not yet been filed. Melissa is bilingual, fluent in both English and Spanish.

Jenny Kingaard serves our clients as a civil rights briefing attorney. Jenny graduated from Baylor University School of Law, in the top 15% of her class. While at Baylor, she served in various roles for the Baylor Law Review. Before law school, Jenny graduated, summa cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Government at Oral Roberts University. Since becoming a lawyer, after clerking for an appellate justice, Jenny worked for two firms practicing civil litigation and appeals for about five years. Jenny then served for approximately twelve years as a staff attorney to two justices in succession at the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston. While at that court, in part, she analyzed appellate briefs and relevant case law, advised justices regarding recommended outcomes, and prepared draft and final opinions by the authoring justices for issuance.

Virginia Lopez has been with our firm for over 10 years. Virginia serves as a senior paralegal and assists in all areas of our practice. Virginia came to our firm with significant law firm experience and is an invaluable member of our team. Virginia helps with drafting motions and complaints, as well as drafting and responding to discovery requests. Virginia also helps with jury trial and arbitration hearing preparation. Virginia is bilingual, fluent in both English and Spanish.

Dean Malone was born and raised in Texas and is the founder of our firm.  Dean earned a bachelor's degree (law and criminal justice concentration) from the University of Texas at Dallas.  Dean graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA.  Dean then graduated from Baylor University School of Law with a concentration in general civil litigation. While at Baylor, Dean served in several staff positions for the Baylor Law Review, including serving as executive editor.  Dean is a trial lawyer, trying a number of cases to jury verdict and also handling arbitrations through final hearing. He heads up the civil rights section of our firm, devoting his practice to serious injury and death resulting from jail neglect and police brutality. Lawyers across Texas frequently refer cases to Dean due to his focus on this very complicated civil rights practice area.

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Michael O'Connor has been with our firm for approximately 20 years. Mike heads up the non-civil rights serious injury portion of our practice. Mike was raised in San Antonio and earned his law degree from Texas Tech School of Law, with the highest distinction of summa cum laude. Mike was ranked 9 out of 205 students in his graduating class. After law school, and before joining our firm, Mike was a law clerk to the Honorable Charles Holcomb, judge on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Mike concentrates his practice on serious work injuries but also handles serious injuries caused by motor vehicle collisions and inadequate security.  Mike has tried significant cases to verdict, and has also been successful in handling arbitration proceedings through final hearing.

Attorney Alexandra Payne serves our clients as a staff attorney. Alex graduated from UNT Dallas College of Law, cum laude, in the top 15% of her class. She received the highest grades in Legal Writing III and Conflicts of Law. Alex served on Law Review and also, with a partner, won a moot court competition. Before law school, Alex graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Jazmari Valdivia serves as the firm’s intake specialist. Jazmari graduated with an Associate of Arts degree at Western Nevada College and is continuing her education at University of Houston with the goal of becoming an attorney. Jazmari is usually the first person to interact with potential and current clients, helping to delegate calls to attorneys and paralegals, and assisting with determining if a possible case is something with which our firm can help. Jazmari is also bilingual, being fluent in both Spanish and English.Jazmari Valdivia serves as the firm’s intake specialist. Jazmari graduated with an Associate of Arts degree at Western Nevada College and is continuing her education at University of Houston with the goal of becoming an attorney. Jazmari is usually the first person to interact with potential and current clients, helping to delegate calls to attorneys and paralegals, and assisting with determining if a possible case is something with which our firm can help. Jazmari is also bilingual, being fluent in both Spanish and English.