Overview
With over fifteen years of broad-based litigation and appellate experience, Partner J. Robert (Rob) Skeels is a seasoned trial lawyer who believes that the best defense takes into consideration the clients’ goals and expectations. He considers timely, clear, and actionable responses to client questions to be of paramount importance, and early, regular, and honest evaluations to be the key to developing successful litigation strategies and assessing early resolution potential.
Rob has represented some of the largest and most well-known businesses in the engineering, geotechnical, healthcare, commercial transportation, hospitality, and insurance industries. He has extensive experience in healthcare liability matters, the defense of design professionals, construction, premises liability, commercial transportation, and appellate law.
A 1997 graduate of Baylor University, Rob worked as an environmental consultant in Dallas for several years before attending the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California.
While in law school, Rob attended summer international law courses taught by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy in Salzburg, Austria, where he met his future wife. Rob also worked with the Juvenile Division of the Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office while in school. After earning his law degree, Rob successfully passed both the California and Texas bar exams.
Rob lives in the Arlington area with his wife and three young boys. He used to have hobbies but now spends his time away from work as a full-time youth soccer and basketball spectator. He is licensed to practice law in all Texas state courts, and the Federal Eastern, Northern, and Southern District Courts.
Practice Areas
Professional Liability Defense, Healthcare Liability Defense, Commercial Litigation, and Design Professional Defense- Obtained voluntary dismissal before Answer based on statute of limitations defense. (01/16/26).
- Obtained take-nothing summary judgment in wrongful death healthcare liability case. (09/17/25). 40th Judicial District Court of Ellis County, Texas. Successfully defended Motion for Reconsideration and won opposed Motion to Sever claims. (11/18/25).
- Obtained early voluntary dismissal following Chapter 150 Motion to Dismiss on behalf of MEP engineer in wrongful death claim at apartment complex. 162nd Judicial District of Dallas County. (09/18/25).
- Obtained take-nothing Summary Judgment on all claims against professional engineering firm and individual professional engineer from Owner on the basis that tort claims were barred by the economic loss rule. 439th Judicial District Court of Rockwall County, Texas (04/24/24). Subsequently, obtained full dismissal with prejudice of all claims asserted by Contractor against same design firm and professional engineering firm and individual professional engineer under Tex. R. Civ. P. 91a – Motion to Dismiss Baseless Claims. 95th Judicial District of Dallas County. (08/29/25).
- Obtained Dismissal with Prejudice of Hospital District and private skilled nursing facility following plea to the jurisdiction for failure to comply with notice requirements applicable to local units of government. Deann Anderson, on Behalf of the Estate ot Carolyn Hersman; and Jimmy Hersman, Individually v. Sweeny Hospital District dba Village Creek rehabilitation and Nursing Cener; and Nexion Health at Lumberton, Inc. Cause No, 65154, In the 88th Judicial District Court of Hardin County, Texas. (03/19/25).
- Obtained take-nothing summary judgment on all claims on breach of contract claim against business client, and subsequently settled counterclaims in favor of client. 236th District Court of Tarrant County, Texas. (03/06/25).
- Obtained voluntary nonsuit following early Summary Judgment Motion on dangerous condition, control of premises, and lack of duty in heavy equipment-related personal injury in premises liability cause of action against healthcare facility. 105th Judicial District of Kleberg County, Texas. (04/25/24).
- Obtained take-nothing Summary Judgment on all claims against professional engineering firm and individual professional engineer on the basis that tort claims were barred by the economic loss rule. 439th Judicial District Court of Rockwall County, Texas (04/24/24).
- Total Defense Verdict – Professional Asbestos Consulting client involved in Port of Corpus Christi Voluntary Acquisition and Relocation Program. District Court of Nueces County, Texas. (Jury Verdict – November 2023).
- Obtained dismissal with prejudice of Plaintiff’s survival claim under Tex. R. Civ. P. 91a Motion to Dismiss Baseless Claims. 14th Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas. (05/22/23)
- Obtained early dismissal following filing of Chapter 150 Motion to Dismiss on behalf of MEP engineer. 142nd Judicial District Court of Midland County, Texas. (2023).
- Obtained partial summary judgment in favor of structural engineer on causation grounds relating to allegations of design deficiencies in “issued for permit” engineering plans in condominium construction case. Subsequently obtained dismissal of all remaining claims pursuant to Certificate of Merit statute, Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Chapter 150. 401st Judicial District Court of Collin County, Texas. (2022-2023).
- Obtained take-nothing Summary Judgment for lack of medical causation following motion and order excluding Plaintiff’s retained physician in healthcare liability survival and wrongful death case. 14th Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas. (2022).
- Obtained dismissal and take-nothing judgment on nine separate causes of action via a combination of Motions to Dismiss and Summary Judgment in condominium construction project and subsequently recovered attorney’s fees incurred by client. 401st Judicial District Court of Collin County, Texas (2022).
- Obtained early summary judgment and take-nothing judgment in personal injury case alleging severe injuries sustained during the construction of a restaurant. 80th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas. (2022).
- Obtained early, full dismissal pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 91a, dismissing Plaintiff’s claims negligence, RCLA, and implied warranty claims against professional engineering firm in residential defective design and construction case. 431st Judicial District Court of Denton County, Defendants. (09/22/22)
- Obtained early voluntary dismissal of geotechnical engineer following Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 150 in construction of the Eagle Pass Independent School District Student Activity Center. 293rd Judicial District of Maverick County, Texas. (2022)
- Successfully vacated $2.5 million default judgment and subsequently obtained summary judgment and take-nothing judgment on two separate cases related to alleged healthcare liability. 14th Judicial District Court of Dallas County. (2022)
- Successfully obtained take-nothing judgment on summary judgment for lack of standing and capacity in healthcare liability case. 40th District Court of Ellis County, Texas. (2021)
- Obtained early dismissal of third-party defendant structural engineer via Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 150 in case alleging construction and design defects in residential home construction. 362nd Judicial District Court of Denton County, Texas. (2022)
- Obtained summary judgment and take-nothing judgment in favor of geotechnical engineer in commercial construction case involving allegations of deficient foundation pending in Thibodeaux Parish, Louisiana. 17th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana appearing pro hac vice. (2022)
- Represented healthcare management company in breach of contract case against another healthcare company and obtained seven-figure settlement in a business dispute. 48th Judicial District Court of Tarrant County, Texas. (2022)
- Represented business owner and obtained seven-figure settlement in case involving loss of medical equipment. (2022)
- Successfully obtained take-nothing summary judgment in healthcare liability case. 160th Judicial District of Dallas County, Texas (2021)
- Obtained early dismissal of structural engineer in arbitration proceeding alleging construction and design defects in residential home constriction pursuant to Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 150. In Arbitration before the American Arbitration Association. (2021).
- University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2003
- Baylor University, Bachelor of Arts, 1997
- State Bar of Texas, 2005
- Texas, 2005
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas