Tom Jacob takes on cases of catastrophic personal injury and medical malpractice. He also focuses on lawsuits under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). Under the FTCA, his clients can hold the U.S. government responsible for their injuries. These injuries are caused by agencies like the VA, the military, the Postal Service, the Department of Health and Human Services, and others.
Most recently, he tried the landmark $230m verdict against the United States brought on behalf of victims in a mass shooting that took place in Sutherland Springs, TX. He’s tried numerous cases against the United States federal government and private companies, holding them accountable for their negligence.
Mr. Jacob graduated first in his class at Baylor Law School. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Baylor Law Review. He won the “Top Gun” Competition, a tough five-day, one-on-one trial contest. And he earned many advocacy awards. He was inducted into the Order of the Barristers. He also claimed championships and finalist spots in major national mock trial competitions like AAJ, the National Trial Advocacy Competition, and the National Ethics Trial Advocacy Competition.
After law school, he clerked on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Then he took on personal injury and medical malpractice cases for plaintiffs. He spoke on these topics to groups like AAJ, Inns of Court, TTLA, and state bar associations. He published works, including a recent article on medical malpractice in the Texas Tech Law Review. Austin Monthly named him a Top Attorney. He’s been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2021, and before that, as a Rising Star since 2016.
Case Results
- $3,122,538.09 surgery malpractice verdict against the Arkansas VA.
- $1,903,961 trial verdict ($1,675,000 settlement on appeal, with clients recovering $1,150,505 after fees and expenses) against Health and Human Services, arising out of the failure to diagnose a septic hip in a child.
- $21,592,643.03 trial verdict ($15,884,511.98 in trust for clients with lifetime benefits) against the Department of Veterans Affairs, arising out of the failure to diagnose a stroke.
- $2.7 million amputation settlement ($1,791,389.31 net to clients with lifetime trust after fees and expenses) against the VA for medical negligence during a knee surgery.
- $3,000,000 settlement for emergency room medical malpractice ($1,955,638.58 to clients after fees and expenses)
- $6,500,000 birth injury settlement ($4,581,969.98 net to clients after attorneys’ fees and expenses) arising out of the use of Pitocin/Oxytocin leading to uterine hyperstimulation.
- $2,150,000 wrongful death settlement ($1,492,813 net to clients after attorneys’ fees and expenses) resulting from the failure to diagnose cancer.
- $8.75 million settlement against the Army when one of its service members caused a car wreck that resulted in the death of his client
- $8 million settlement against an Army Hospital for negligence causing a birth injury.
- $5.9 million settlement for a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a construction accident.
Professional Affiliations
- Texas Bar College, Member
- Calvert Inn of Court
- Austin Bar Association
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association
- American Association for Justice
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Austin Bar Foundation
- Austin Young Lawyers Association
Bar Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- First Circuit Court of Appeals
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Western District of Texas
- Eastern District of Texas
- Southern District of Texas
- Northern District of Texas
- Southern District of Illinois
- Northern District of Florida
- District of Nebraska
Education
- Baylor Law School, JD, summa cum laude
- University of Texas at Austin, BA, Government
Clerkship
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Judge Will Garwood
Publications & Presentations
- Author, Navigating the Rabbit Hole of Audit Trails, Trial Magazine (Oct. 2024)
- Co-presenter, Artificial Intelligence & the Law (April 7, 2023)
- Co-presenter, OSHA & COVID-19 (March 9, 2021)
- Co-Author, Pre- and Post-Suit Notice: Medical Authorizations & the 120-Day Expert Report, 51 Tex. Tech L. Rev. 765 (2019)
- Co-presenter, Driven to Distraction (Apr. 10, 2012), awarded the Lloyd Lochridge Award for Best Presentation.
- Co-presenter, From My Cold, Dead Hands: the Second Amendment (Oct. 9, 2012).
- Presenter, Introduction to Opening Statements (Dec. 3, 2012).
- Presenter,Federal Preemption & Repose (July 20, 2013).
- Co-presenter,50 Ways to Lose Your License (March 4, 2014).
- Presenter, What is a Healthcare Liability Claim? (July 12, 2014).
- Author, Letter from the Chair, Fed. Tort. & Military Advocacy (Nov. 2014).
- Co-presenter, Voter ID & Voting Rights (Jan. 13, 2015).
- Author, Equitable Tolling & the Statute of Limitations in the FTCA, Fed. Tort. & Military Advocacy (Feb. 2014).
- Presenter, E-Filing Basics in Federal Court, Travis County Woman Lawyers Association, A Day in Federal Court (May 15, 2015).
- Presenter, Cases You Gotta Know (2014–15), Texas Trial Lawyers Association Mid-Year Convention (June 4, 2015).
- Presenter, Federal Tort Claims Act, Fed. Tort. & Military Advocacy (July 11, 2015)
