Education
- Southern Methodist University, JD, 1975
- Texas Tech University, BBA, 1972
Admissions
- Texas, 1975
- Arkansas, 2008
- U.S. District Courts for Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas
- U.S. District Courts for Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas
- U.S. Court of Appeals – Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
In 47 years of practice, David has handled a wide range of litigation across Texas and in states including Louisiana, Arkansas, California, Mississippi, Illinois and Maryland. He has tried as lead counsel business, commercial, construction, toxic tort, premises liability, products liability, maritime, Jones Act and property damage cases. He has defended companies in plant and pipeline explosions and fires, CERCLA actions, medical device cases, trucking accidents, occupational and environmental exposures to radiation, benzene, asbestos, silica, pesticides and other chemicals, maritime accidents, and construction and contract disputes. He is also frequently retained as local counsel in all Beaumont courts. Mr. Ledyard was elected by his peers to membership in The American Board of Trial Advocates and the International Association of Defense Counsel.
Professional Recognition
Important Litigation Involvement
- Lead Texas counsel for several major oil and chemical companies in asbestos litigation
- Tried numerous mesothelioma cases
- Defended a major oil company in all asbestos litigation in Louisiana
- Represented 25 major oil and chemical companies in first premises liability cases alleging asbestos exposure
- Represented rubber companies in toxic exposure suits involving hundreds of workers
- Tried and won the first premises liability meso claim against an oil company
- Tried and won the first household exposure claim against an oil company
- Represented manufacturing facilities in plant fires and explosions resulting in severe burns and death
- Defended companies in accidents resulting in paraplegia and quadriplegia
- Represented oil companies in benzene litigation
- Represented chemical companies in H2S and other chemical exposures resulting in neurologic and mental disorders
- Represented medical device manufacturers
- Defended numerous products in industrial and household accidents
- Defended boat manufacturer in accident involving amputation and disfigurement
- Defended tire manufacturer in tire and rim suits
- Defended product manufacturer in fire damage cases
- Represented paint manufacturers in benzene litigation
- Tried a complex commercial fraud suit that was longest trial in Jefferson County history
- Handled class action and antitrust cases
- Handled property damage and lost profit suits
- Defended CERCLA actions against both generators and transporters
- Defended shipping and drilling companies in Maritime and Jones Act claims
- Defended companies in trucking accidents involving amputations and death
News & Knowledge
- August 21, 2023
45 FormanWatkins Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® Award Recipients
Read More - October 3, 2022
FormanWatkins Expands
Read More
Professional Recognition
- Best Lawyers® (by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners)
- The Best Lawyers in America©
- Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action – Defendants (2013-2022)
- Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2012-2022)
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2012-2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America© (2018) Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont – Personal Injury Litigation
- The Best Lawyers in America© (2016) Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont – Product Liability Litigation
- The Best Lawyers in America© (2015) Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions
- America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators – Southern Texas – 2018
- America’s Top 100 Attorneys™ – Southern Texas – Lifetime Achievement – 2016
- Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters® service), 2005-2021
- “Houston’s Top Lawyers,” Commercial Litigation, H Texas Magazine (2013)
- Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters® service), Corporate Counsel Edition – Civil Litigation Defense (2008-2010)
- “Top Lawyer,” Business Litigation, H Texas Magazine (2009)
- “Houston Top Lawyers For The People,” H Texas Magazine (2008, 2009)
- Outstanding Young Lawyer Award – Jefferson County Bar Association (1985)
- Martindale Hubbell, AV rated
Organization/Committee Memberships
- Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1980
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Texas Bar Foundation – Life Fellow
- Defense Research Institute
- Texas Young Lawyers Association, Former Director
- Jefferson County Bar Association, Former Director
Community Involvement
- Beaumont Chamber of Commerce – Former Director
- Beaumont Planning and Zoning Commission – Former Chairman
- Goals for Beaumont Commission – Steering Committee
- Build, Inc. (Nonprofit Downtown Development Organization) – Former Director
- Beaumont Country Club – Past President
- Beaumont Heritage Society – Former Director
- Leadership Beaumont
- Boy Scouts of America – Eagle Scout – Volunteer