News & Awards

Jason Itkin

Jason Itkin earned his Bachelor of Arts with Special Honors in the Plan II Honors Program and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence with Honors from the University of Texas. While at the University of Texas, Jason received numerous honors and awards, including the Dean's Achievement Award in Professional Responsibility, serving on the Liberal Arts Counsel and Student Services Board. He was also elected the President of the Silver Spurs.

Jason's legal career began in the Honors Program at the Office of the Attorney General where he protected the rights of Texans in courthouses across the state. Jason's trial and appellate work helped the state protect the rights of individuals who could not afford a lawyer.

After leaving the Attorney General's office, Jason joined Susman Godfrey LLP. While there, Jason successfully represented plaintiffs and defendants in complex business litigation and product liability cases. Jason worked on several “bet the company” cases and achieved victories inside and outside of the court room.

In 2004, Jason founded his own firm— Arnold & Itkin LLP. Since then, Jason has won victories for partners in high-stakes business disputes, seriously injured people, families of wrongfully killed workers, and numerous other companies and people involved in legal battles.

Jason has tried more than 30 cases, most of which have gone to verdict. He has represented clients in approximately 20 different states in front of juries, judges, and arbitration panels. In the last four years, Jason has helped win hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients.

In a survey of his legal peers, Jason has been named a "Texas Rising Star” several times and has also been repeatedly included in "Top Lawyers for the People" lists. As a fellow of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Jason has made significant contributions to ensure that the law protects individuals who would otherwise not have a voice. When he is not working, Jason is involved in community outreach programs and charities.

Some of Jason’s representative cases include:

• February 2009 - Jason Itkin was lead counsel in a trial against SCI funeral homes. The trial resulted in a $2.9 million verdict for Arnold & Itkin LLP’s client. In that case, a long-term SCI employee fell 10 feet off a parking garage that lacked a guardrail. Before trial, the Defendant offered to settle the case for $200,000. The jury awarded the Plaintiff more than $2.9 million.
• January 2009 - Jason Itkin worked with Kurt Arnold and Mike Pierce to achieve a $14 million settlement for an injured worker. The case settled just 2 days before trial. The settlement will ensure that Arnold & Itkin LLP’s client will have the care and attention he needs for the rest of his life.
• January 2009 - Jason Itkin was lead counsel in a trial against Niche oilfield services. The trial resulted in an $810,000 verdict for the Plaintiff. In addition to the verdict amount, Jason Itkin was also able to negotiate a confidential settlement from another Defendant in the case. Niche’s last offer to settle the case before trial was $11,000.00.
• August 2008 - Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnold settled a case for $2.25 million on behalf of a worker who injured his back and wrist. The case was pending in Hidalgo County, Texas.
• April 2008 - Jason Itkin (along with Kurt Arnold and Cory Itkin) started trial in front of Judge Vanessa Gilmore in a case involving two industrial workers with orthopedic injuries. The case ultimately settled for more than $2 million.
• November 2007 - Jason Itkin, Kurt Arnold, and Jeff Seely won an $11 million verdict on behalf of an injured family resulting from a train collision. The trial lasted nearly four weeks in Beaumont, Texas. The Defendant’s final offer in trial was less than 10% of the trial verdict.
• September 2007 - Jason Itkin represented the family of a mentally disabled woman who was brutally raped by a special needs driver provided by a national transportation company. Arnold & Itkin LLP sued the transportation company for failing to conduct proper background checks on its drivers and failing to train them. Jason Itkin negotiated a substantial, confidential settlement for the family. As part of the settlement, the Defendant agreed to change many of its policies nationwide so that a tragedy like this does not happen again
• May 2007 - Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnold tried a case involving a complex business against one of the nation's largest banks. After weeks of intense trial preparation, the case was tried in Hawaii state court. The jury ultimately awarded Arnold & Itkin LLP’s client more than $40 million-- which is one of the largest verdicts in Hawaii history. The pretrial offer to Plaintiff was less than 5% of the ultimate verdict. The case was successfully resolved in October 2008.
• March 2007 - Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnold tried a personal injury case in Houston federal court in front of Judge David Hittner. The Defendant never offered more than $30,000.00 to settle the case. After a week long trial, the jury awarded Arnold & Itkin LLP’s client $1.2 million. Ultimately, the 5th Circuit affirmed the jury’s verdict.
  
• October 2006 - Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnold won a $3.7 million jury verdict on behalf of a longshoreman who was killed in the port of Houston. Utilizing various experts and computer graphics, the jury confirmed that the Defendant’s ship was improperly maintained. The Defendant’s pretrial settlement offer was less than 10% of the trial verdict.
• October 2006 - Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnold settled an offshore injury case against several Defendants for nearly $9 million on the first day of trial. The settlement ensured that Arnold & Itkin LLP’s clients would be cared for during the rest of their lives.
• July 2006 - Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnold settled a case for 1.75 million during trial. The firm represented an injured maritime worker who needed a lumbar fusion as a result of a fall. The Defendants nearly doubled their pre-trial offer after the first day of evidence.
• May 2006 - Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnold represented a Dallas resident who received injuries to his eye when his hockey mask failed. The case resulted in a substantial, seven figure settlement for the client. More importantly, Arnold & Itkin LLP was able to ensure that the unsafe product was recalled nationwide.
• May 2006 - Jason Itkin & Kurt Arnold resolved a variety of claims arising out of the BP Texas City explosion. The cases were settled for a confidential amount favorable to Plaintiffs.
• October 2005 - Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnold resolved a business case for $2.5 million. The case involved an oral agreement between the firm’s client and a several private equity firms. By taking some hard-hitting depositions, the Plaintiff was able to prove the oral contract existed and was enforceable. Ultimately, the Defendants settled the case rather than face trial.

If you have any questions about our firm or would like to speak with one of our lawyers, please contact our Houston office.