Areas of Practice
Bar Admissions
- Texas
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas
Education
St. Mary's University School of Law, J.D., 1979
- St. Mary's Law Journal, Associate Editor
Southern Methodist University, B.A., History, 1974
Jane Bockus is a trial lawyer. For 40 years, companies and their national counsel have counted on Jane's regional knowledge, experience and collaborative approach to complement their national strategies for litigation involving mass torts and claims of serious injuries. She has tried more than 30 cases to verdict in a variety of complex matters. Jane has also defended products liability cases involving automobiles, asbestos, road grading equipment, power tools and electronic appliances. She has also tried numerous professional malpractice and insurance bad faith cases.
Experience
A team leader who has tried many cases to verdict, Jane develops the strategies and identifies and develops the expert witnesses critical to defending product manufacturers.
Jane has developed her own style; she is engaging, friendly and disarming — so disarming that adverse witnesses let their guard down, and then in her very easygoing and charming way, Jane scores major points. Juries like her, and they can tell that she is genuine.
--Lawyer Leslie A. Benitez, quoted in Law360, June 14, 2014
Jane’s clients and team members appreciate her responsiveness, her understanding of regional and local differences as well as her ability to simplify complex scientific information in the creation of jury-friendly trial themes.
While Jane has been successful in front of juries, her gusto and readiness for trial also produce results for clients at the settlement table.
Her experience includes:
Norplant
Jane was on the trial team for the first bellwether trial in the federal court MDL in a case involving five consolidated plaintiffs. Summary judgment was granted the day jury selection was to begin based on the learned intermediary doctrine. The ruling was confirmed by the Fifth Circuit. In Re Norplant Contraceptive Products Liability Lit., 165 F. 3rd374 (5th Cir. 1999).
She was also on the trial teams for the first three Norplant cases tried in state court in Texas – all in traditionally plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions. The first case (in Edinburg) resulted in a mistrial (after one plaintiff’s lawyer accused another of suborning perjury), the second (in Brownsville) a defense verdict and the third (in Beaumont) a defense verdict for 3 of 4 plaintiffs. The verdict for the remaining plaintiff was reversed on appeal. Wyeth Ayerst v. Medrano, 28 S.W. 3rd 87 (Tex App. 2000).
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Jane was on the trial teams that tried the first two MDL cases to verdict in the hormone replacement litigation in Little Rock, Arkansas. Both trials resulted in defense verdicts.
She was also on the teams that opposed three attempts to certify classes for “fear of harm” from use of HRT in Miami, Philadelphia and Little Rock. Those teams successfully defeated all attempts to certify a class.
Medical Devices
Jane has defended manufacturers of therapeutic beds, surgical instruments, optic lenses and pelvic mesh in both state and national mass tort litigation.
Asbestos
Jane was on the trial team that tried five consolidated asbestos cases in federal court in Laredo, Texas. The trial resulted in a verdict that was a fraction of the amount that had been offered in settlement and the plaintiff asked for a new trial. The request was denied.
Talc
Jane was on two trial teams defending a talc mining company in the City of St. Louis in which the plaintiffs claimed use of body powder caused their ovarian cancer. The jury in the first trial found that the mining company was 1% responsible for the plaintiff’s injury. The second trial resulted in a mistrial when a U.S. Supreme Court opinion was handed down during the trial which clearly established that the court did not have jurisdiction over the out-of-state plaintiffs.
Other Products and Trials
Jane has tried cases involving claims of defective design of motorboats, road construction equipment, and computer equipment.
In addition, Jane has tried numerous medical malpractice cases and cases alleging violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act in state and federal court in Texas, Missouri and Arkansas. She has also represented insurance companies in high exposure bad-faith cases arising from catastrophic weather events, as well as coverage disputes and complaints against agents.
Seminars & Speeches
- "State MDL: To Seek or Not to Seek," State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Trial Course, San Antonio, TexasJuly 17, 2019
- Precision Contracts: Advanced Principles for Drafters, CLE Presentation, Association of Corporate Counsel of South/Central TexasMarch 7, 2018
- Jane Bockus to Speak at the 18th Annual Drug and Medical Device Litigation Conference in New YorkDecember 6, 2013
- October 17, 2013
Publications
- July 24, 2014
- November 1, 2013http://www.fdli.org/products-services/~/resources/resources-order-box-detail-view/how-should-fda-and-generic-drug-manufacturers-respond-to-fda-s-proposed-changes-to-generic-drug-labeling-rules-
- Making Law Firm TransitionsJune 26, 2012For the Defense, June 2012
News
- March 1, 2021
- November 16, 2020
- July 9, 2017
- April 11, 2017
Press Releases
- March 8, 2021
- 18 Attorneys Earn “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 20, 2020
- 18 Attorneys Earn “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 15, 2019
- September 10, 2018
- November 6, 2014
- May 3, 2011
Memberships & Involvement
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- American Bar Association
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel
- San Antonio Bar Association
- San Antonio Bar Foundation, Life Member, Former Chair
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Former President of San Antonio Chapter
- Defense Research Institute
- International Association of Defense Counsel
Community/Civic Activities
- San Antonio River Foundation, Board Member
- Bexar County Family Justice Center Foundation, Board Member
Jane has proven that it’s possible to be an excellent attorney who focuses on winning trials while retaining a great sense of humor. In her spare time, she accomplishes feats outside of the courtroom such as competing in sprint triathlons and swimming from Alcatraz to San Francisco!
Awards & Recognition
- Recognized by San Antonio Magazine in "San Antonio's Top Attorneys" for Product Liability, 2019 and 2020
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2020. Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC
- Recipient, Belva Lockwood Outstanding Lawyer Award from the Bexar County Women's Bar Association
- S.A. Scene, "San Antonio's Best Lawyers," 2011-2014, 2016