Our Attorneys

Albert M. Hassler III

Albert M. Hassler is a board certified personal injury lawyer and name partner of Smith & Hassler, which he co-founded in 1989.His passion for representing accident victims and their families was fueled when his sister was killed by an over-weight 18 wheeler in November 1988. Since that time, Al has worked tirelessly to help his clients cope with the many issues facing families impacted by the negligence of others.

A graduate of Boston University School of Law, Mr. Hassler is licensed to practice in four states: Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma , and New Hampshire. Mr. Hassler has handled litigation in several different states around the country.

In 1990, the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1990 certified Mr. Hassler as a specialist in personal injury trial law. Mr. Hassler also served on the faculty of the University of Houston Law School as adjunct professor of Civil Trial Advocacy from 1989 to 1992, and is a member of numerous legal organizations including the Houston Trial Lawyers Association and ATLA.

Mr. Hassler attended the United States Naval Academy from 1970-1974 and served in the United States Navy from 1970-1976. Mr. Hassler has received numerous awards for service to the legal profession and the community including a Special Achievement Award from the Texas Head Injury Foundation for his work with head injury clients.

In his personal time, Al enjoys biking and backpacking with Jan, his wife of twenty five years. Al and Jan are also active in their church as teachers and mentors to young couples.

Michael Smith

Michael Smith is a personal injury lawyer and co-founder of Smith & Hassler. Mr. Smith has a J.D. from the University of Houston College of Law (1982). He is licensed by Supreme Court of the State of Texas (1980) and is licensed by the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma (2004).

Mr. Smith was voted by his peers as one of Texas' Super Lawyers for 2002 and 2003 and represents the top 5% of the practicing attorneys in Texas. He has tried numerous personal injury cases to a jury verdict.

Daragh John M. Carter

Daragh John M. Carter graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Houston Law Center. At graduation Daragh was ranked 20th in a graduating class of over 380 students. Daragh also has a master’s degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Ulster and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Queens University of Belfast, both universities being located in his native Northern Ireland. Prior to joining Smith & Hassler, Daragh was a litigation associate for Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. in their Houston office. Daragh's practice is focused on personal injury law, insurance bad faith and consumer law, and he is admitted to practice law in the State of Texas. Daragh has tried a number of cases to a jury verdict, including taking an excess verdict (a verdict for an amount above the defendant’s insurance policy limit) in an automobile accident injury case. Daragh takes a particular interest in representing clients injured by drunk drivers and also in representing children. When not advocating for his clients, Daragh enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 young children at his in-laws’ cattle ranch in Breckenridge, Texas. Daragh is an adjunct professor who teaches trial advocacy skills to future attorneys at his alma mater, the University of Houston Law Center. He is a member of the Houston Trial Lawyer's Association (HTLA). Daragh is board certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Fletcher F. Cockrell

Fletcher F. Cockrell received his Bachelor of Science from East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas and obtained his Master’s Degree in Administration from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He received his Jurisprudence Doctorate from Michigan State University College of Law in Lansing, Michigan. Prior to completing his J.D., Mr. Cockrell was also a collegiate basketball coach for 15 years. Mr. Cockrell was born in Orange, Texas.

Mr. Cockrell practices exclusively in the area of personal injury. His areas of practice include 18-wheeler trucking and automobile accidents, wrongful death, maritime law, premises liability, products liability, oil/gas royalty disputes, wrongful termination, and sexual harassment/retaliation. As a trial attorney and experienced litigator, Fletcher has tried numerous cases to jury verdicts. In addition to Mr. Cockrell’s responsibilities at the firm, he has devoted considerable time to pro bono and charitable work serving as the Chief Legal Counsel for the (TABC) Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.

Mr. Cockrell is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Mr. Cockrell is licensed and admitted to practice law in the State of Texas as well as the United States District Courts for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas.

Brent Cordell

Brent Cordell practices exclusively in the area of personal injury law. His number one focus is helping people with severe injuries get the legal representation they desire. Throughout his career, Mr. Cordell has helped thousands of injured people get the just compensation they deserve.

"My job is to level the playing field so to speak. I want the average man to have the same rights, privileges and legal representation as the big insurance companies and corporations do," Mr. Cordell says. "Our civil justice system is designed to make the injured party whole again. How can this be accomplished if you don’t have the same access to the courthouse as the insurance companies do?"

Mr. Cordell handles all types of personal injury cases, including automobile accidents, trucking accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, premises liability, insurance bad faith and work related accidents. Brent Cordell is board certified in Personal Injury Law, an impressive feat that requires that each lawyer has:

• Been licensed to practice law for at least five years;
• Devoted a required percentage of practice to personal injury trial law for at least three years;
• Handled a wide variety of personal injury trial law matters to demonstrate experience and involvement;
• Attended personal injury trial law continuing education seminars regularly to keep legal training up to date;
• Been evaluated by fellow lawyers and judges;
• Passed a day-long written examination.

The attorney must also have extensive knowledge of the law of evidence, procedure, and other substantive law involved in the trial of personal injury cases.

Brent Cordell received his Juris Doctorate degree from South Texas College of Law in 1999. He graduated from law school as a member of the Order of Barristers, a national honor society for courtroom advocates. While at South Texas he received the following honors: Dean's Outstanding Advocate Award; Finalist, American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition, 1999; Champion, National Moot Court Competition (Association of the Bar of New York), 1999; Champion, Texas Young Lawyers Association State Moot Court Competition, 1998. Prior to attending law school, he obtained his B.A. in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin in 1995.

Mr. Cordell handles cases all over the country and is admitted to practice law in the state of Texas as well as the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas. He is an active member of the American, Texas and Houston Bar Associations, is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the Christian Trial Lawyers Association.

Kimberly J. Samman

Kimberly J. Samman graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Tyler with a degree in Criminal Justice. She then received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center where she served as the Honor Court Chief Magistrate and as an Associate Board Member of the Advocates. She has been admitted to practice in the state of Texas and before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Kimberly’s primary practice is in criminal defense. In addition to her firsthand trial and courtroom experience, Kimberly received extensive training with renowned trial attorney Gerry Spence at the Trial Lawyers College Regional Seminar in Estes Park, Colorado. Kimberly is also actively involved in the Houston Young Lawyers Association and is the Committee Chair of the Criminal Bar Outreach Committee.

Roger A. Sullivan

Roger A. Sullivan was born and raised outside of Chicago in Northwest Indiana where he attended Wabash College. While in college, Mr. Sullivan excelled academically and athletically as a 3-year varsity tennis player. Mr. Sullivan moved to Texas in 1998 to attend Texas Tech University School of Law. During law school he competed in numerous negotiation, moot court and mock trial competitions earning enough points to be invited to join the Board of Barristers where he was elected to the position of Vice Chair of Judges. He obtained his Juris Doctorate degree in 2001 and became licensed to practice law in the state of Texas in November 2001. Since law school Mr. Sullivan has practiced almost exclusively in area of personal injury litigation. He has tried numerous cases to verdict with great success. Mr. Sullivan is a member of many prestigious professional organizations including the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and Houston Trial Lawyers Association which are both dedicated to protecting the rights of the “little guy” in pursuit of justice for the injuries caused by the negligence of others. Mr. Sullivan has also taken a step further in the legal profession by agreeing to prepare a Continuing Legal Education paper and presenting at the 2011 Car Crash Seminar in Austin Texas.

Mr. Sullivan is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Such prestigious honor required Mr. Sullivan to meet certain stringent criteria including have tried numerous cases to verdict, attending continuing legal education seminars in the realm of personal injury, being evaluated by Judges and opposing lawyers, and passing a grueling day long test to demonstrate competence and experience in personal injury litigation.