2026 TADC Spring Meeting

CLE Approved for: 11.5 hours, including 3.0 hours ethics

Program Co-Chairs: Kristi Kautz, Fletcher, Farley, Shipman & Salinas, LLP, Dallas & Emily Gearhart, Santoyo Wehmeyer P.C., San Antonio 

Wednesday, April 29, 2026
6pm – 8pm Welcome Reception

Thursday, April 30, 2026
7:00 – 9:00am Buffet Breakfast

7:30 – 7:45am Welcome & Announcements
Russell R. Smith, TADC President, Fairchild, Price, Haley & Smith, L.L.P., Nacogdoches
Kristi Kautz, Program Co-Chair, Fletcher, Farley, Shipman & Salinas, LLP, Dallas
Emily Gearhart, Program Co-Chair, MehaffyWeber, PC, San Antonio

7:45 – 8:30am WITNESS PREPARATION FOR DEPOSITION AND TRIAL
Amy Stewart, Stewart Law Group PLLC, Dallas

8:30 – 9:30am CHANGES IN THE COURTHOUSE: NEW EXPECTATIONS FOR TRIALS AND SUMMARY JUDGMENTS (1.0 hrs ethics)
The Honorable Melody Wilkinson, 17th District Court, Fort Worth

9:30 – 10:15am WATCH YOUR STEP: PREMISES LIABILITY UPDATE
DJ Hardy, Fletcher, Farley, Shipman & Salinas, LLP, Dallas & Jeff Smith, Fletcher, Farley, Shipman & Salinas, LLP, Dallas

10:15 – 10:30am B R E A K

10:30 – 11:15am CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION UPDATE
Maria Moffatt, Gerstle Snelson, LLP, Dallas

11:15 – 12:45pm LUNCHEON SPEAKER RIDING THE WAVES OF TRIAL PRACTICE
(1.0 hrs ethics)
Bud Grossman, Craig, Terrill, Hamm, Grossman & Erwin, LLP, Lubbock

12:45 – 1:15pm LESSONS IN LAW: THINGS I LEARNED FROM MY FIRST DEPOSITIONS & DISCOVERY HEARINGS (0.25 hrs ethics)
Jake McClellan, Beck | Redden LLP, Houston

1:15 – 2:00pm EMPLOYEE & INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR LIABILITY
Sarah Nicolas, Cokinos | Young, Austin

2:00 – 2:45pm ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION & BIOMECHANICAL EVIDENCE (0.25 hrs ethics)
Trevor Ewing, SEA Limited, Houston

Thursday Afternoon & Evening Free to Enjoy the Bahamas!

Friday, May 1, 2026
7:00 – 9:00am Buffet Breakfast

7:25-7:30am Welcome & Announcements
Russell R. Smith, TADC President
Kristi Kautz & Emily Gearhart, Program Co-Chair

7:30 – 8:15am COVERAGE TRAPS FOR DEFENSE COUNSEL (0.5 hrs ethics)
Darin Brooks, Gray Reed, Houston

8:15 – 9:15am THE TBI LANDSCAPE ACROSS THE STATE: A PANEL DICUSSION

9:15 – 10:00am FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT AGAINST BAD BILLS
Kurt Paxson, Mounce, Green, Myers, Safi, Paxson & Galatzan, P.C., El Paso

10:00 – 10:15am B R E A K

0:15 – 11:00am UPDATE ON JURY VERDICTS & TRIAL OUTCOMES
Gayla Corley, MehaffyWeber, PC, San Antonio

11:00 – 11:45pm MARITIME LAW UPDATE
Mike Golemi, Liskow & Lewis APLC, Houston

11:45 – 12:30pm ROAD WARRIORS: TRUCKING LIABILITY IN TEXAS
Dan Hernandez, Ray Pena McChristian, P.C.,El Paso

Friday Afternoon & Evening Free to Enjoy the Bahamas!

Saturday, May 2, 2026
7:00-9:00am Buffet Breakfast

Saturday Free to Enjoy the Bahamas

Sunday, May 3, 2026
Depart for Texas

Pricing & Registration Options

Registration fees include Wednesday through Saturday group activities, including the Wednesday evening welcome reception, all breakfasts, CLE Program each day and related expenses. If you would like CLE credit for a state other than Texas, please choose that option on your registration form.

• Registration for Member Only (one person) $ 995.00
• Registration for Member & Spouse/Guest (2 people) $1,425.00
• Registration for Children (per child – 12 yrs and older) $ 175.00

Spouse/Guest CLE Credit

If your spouse/guest is also an attorney and would like to attend the Spring Meeting for CLE credit, there is an additional charge to cover meeting materials, and coffee breaks.

• Spouse/Guest CLE credit for Spring Meeting $75.00

For hotel reservations, CONTACT THE ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND 800/386-4786 and reference the TADC Spring Meeting OR online at our special link https://book.passkey.com/e/49946586 The TADC has secured a block of rooms in the Royal Tower at an EXTREMELY reasonable rate. It is IMPORTANT that you make your reservations as soon as possible as the room block will fill quickly. TADC rates apply 3 days before and after the meeting dates, based on availability. Any room requests after the deadline date, or after the room block is filled, will be on a wait list basis.

— DEADLINE FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS IS APRIL 8, 2026 —

Registration Fees will be refunded ONLY if a written cancellation notice is received at least SEVEN (7) BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR (APRIL 20, 2026) to the meeting date. A $75.00 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE will be deducted from any refund. Any cancellation made after April 20, 2026 IS NON-REFUNDABLE.