ADAM T. WHITTEN

Managing Attorney

Adam Whitten was born and raised in Denton. He is proud to practice law with his father as a third-generation Denton attorney. Adam is a 2001 graduate of Denton High School and a 2005 graduate of Texas State University—San Marcos, where he studied psychology and religion studies.

Adam graduated in 2012 from Texas Tech University School of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Tech Administrative Law Journal, earned a Certificate of Excellence in Legal Research, and was inducted into both the Phi Del Phi honor society and the National Order of Scribes for excellence in legal writing.

Adam focuses his trial practice on civil matters related to real property, business, and consumer protection. He prefers to spend his time mediating cases and helping resolve disputes outside the courtroom. Both with attorney Michael J. Whitten and solo, Adam handles all manner of appeals.

Adam serves as a Lecturer of Business Law in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business at the University of North Texas, where he instructs students on business law, contracts, and the nature and functions of the legal system.

EDUCATION

Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock, Texas
Doctor of Jurisprudence, May 2012
• Texas Tech Administrative Law Journal
–Editor-in-Chief, Vol. 13
–Best Comment Award 2010–2011, selected by Vol. 12 Board of Editors
• National Order of Scribes—Inducted Spring 2012 into national honor society for legal writers.
• Certificate of Excellence in Legal Research—Awarded Spring 2012 for outstanding research skills.
• Phi Delta Phi—Inducted March 2010 into legal honor society.

Texas State University—San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas
Bachelor of Arts, December 2005
Major: Psychology | Minor: Religion Studies

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

Mandel v. Lewisville Indep. School Dist., 445 S.W.3d 469 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2014, pet. denied); see Appendix to opinion beginning at page 486
• As co-counsel with Michael J. Whitten, successfully defended a Denton County constable against order to show cause issued by court of appeals for failure to follow court of appeals’ order to stay execution of writ of possession.

Town of Bartonville Planning & Zoning Bd. of Adjustments v. Bartonville Water Supply Corp., 410 S.W.3d 23 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2013, pet. denied)
• As co-counsel with Michael J. Whitten, authored amicus briefing supporting prevailing appellant on issues of jurisdictional limits of trial court and preemption of local ordinances by state statute.

In Re Mizer, 400 S.W.3d 689 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2013, orig. proceeding)
• As co-counsel to Michael J. Whitten, successfully obtained mandamus relief where county criminal court improperly dismissed appeal from municipal court because appellant in criminal case did not file a brief; held that dismissal was an abuse of discretion because the action was not authorized by Tex. Gov't Code ch. 30, the controlling statute, and was against the public policy of Texas as expressed in the Code of Criminal Procedure and Rules of Appellate Procedure.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

• Administrative Case Law Update, Co-Speaker and Contributing Author,
23rd Annual Advanced Administrative Law Course, TexasBar CLE, Austin, Texas, June 30–July 1, 2011.

• Biased? Probably Not: How the Rule in Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co. Affects Texas Administrative Law Judges and the Elected Appellate Judiciary, Legal Scholarship Network: Legal Studies Research Paper Series Texas Tech School of Law, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Apr 28, 2011), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1811050.

• Mental Health and the Capacity to Mediate, Alternative Resolutions: Newsletter of the State Bar of Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Spring 2011 Issue; presented to Lubbock County Mediators Continuing Mediator Education, December 11, 2010.