Donald Francis Lighty - Beaumont, TX
Attorney at Wells Peyton Partain Baldo & Lighty, LLP
Personal Injury Litigation Lawyers in Beaumont, TX
Century Tower 550 Fannin Street Suite 600 Beaumont, TX 77701
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
41
Years
Experience
Beaumont Personal Injury Litigation Lawyer
Updated: 03/02/2026
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury Litigation 40%
- Civil Trial Law 20%
- Workers' Compensation Defense 30%
- Real Estate Professional Liability 10%
- Divorce
- Family Law
- Custody & Visitation
Litigation: 90%
Attorney Information
Overview
I have spent my entire legal career defending people and corporate entities in personal injury, civil, contract, employment, real estate and workers' compensation matters. I have tried over 135 jury cases as the primary trial counsel in state and federal courts throughout the state.
In 1985 I was fortunate enough to begin my legal career handling personal injury claims including automobile wrecks and workers' compensation matters throughout southeast Texas. This allowed me to obtain much needed experience before juries, including in counties known for awarding excessive plaintiffs' verdicts. Over the years clients have retained me to represent them in other parts of the state, and am now statewide counsel for many entities including municipalities, political subdivisions and major corporations.
ln 2022 I became a founding partner of Wells Peyton Partain Baldo & Lighty, LLP. The firm was formed to continue our commitment in defending those who have been sued. l have expanded my practice to include the defense of real estate professional liability claims, as well as representation of clients before administrative law entities such as OSHA, Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Department of Insurance-Division of Workers' Compensation.
I have been married for thirty-five years, raised three sons, two of which have chosen to follow me in the practice of law. I have served in many philanthropic boards including United Way of Beaumont & North Jefferson County and Beaumont Crime Stoppers. have also served on the Board of Directors for the Jefferson County Bar Association and Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association. Currently I am a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, a Fellow of the College of the State Bar of Texas and a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. I am the former Chaim1an of the District 3A Subcommittee of the Unauthorized Practice of Law (1993-2014) and a member of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem."
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Selected to Super Lawyers, 2009 - 2022
Other Sources of Feedback About Donald Francis Lighty
Included on the 2026 Texas Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Texas Super Lawyers list
- 2009 Texas Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
St. Mary's University School of Law,
San Antonio,
Texas, 1985
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
-
St. Mary's University School of Law,
San Antonio,
Texas, 1985
-
Non Legal Education
-
Southern Methodist University,
Dallas,
Texas
B.A.
Major: Business Administration
-
Southern Methodist University,
Dallas,
Texas
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Partner
Past Positions
- Benckenstein Norvell Bernsen & Nathan, LLP, Partner, 1985 - 1998
- Stevens Baldo & Lighty, PLLC, Partner, 1999 - 2021
Classes and Seminars
-
Workers' Compensation Seminars, Texas Bar CLE, 2010 - Present
-
Employment Law updates, Various professional seminars, 1990 - Present
- Litigation topics, Jefferson County Bar Association, 2000 - Present
Representative Clients
City of Beaumont
National Oilwell Varco
Marriott
The Hartford
Texas Association of School Boards
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1985
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1991
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1987
Specialties and Certifications
- Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1992
- Workers' Compensation Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2007
- Civil Trial Advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1996
- Civil Pretrial Advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2012
Other Affiliations
- Texas Bar Foundation, 2015 - Present (Life Fellow)
- College of the State Bar of Texas, 1995 - Present (Fellow)
Photo
Contact
Century Tower
550 Fannin Street
Suite 600
Beaumont, TX 77701
Phone: 409-359-8947
Email: Send a message
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