John Michael Frick

John has been representing businesses and business people in the North Texas area for more than thirty years. He has tried numerous cases at various levels of the judicial system, including federal district court and state district court. He has presented appeals to the Supreme Court of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and ten of the fourteen intermediate courts of appeal in Texas. He has arbitrated cases before the American Arbitration Association and JAMS, Inc. In addition to his trial practice, John is a trained mediator and summary jury trial judge. As a result of displaying a high degree of skill, competence, and professionalism, he has earned an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

John received his law degree from SMU School of Law in 1988, where he served as an Associate Editor for the Southwestern Law Journal. While still in law school, he successfully presented an appeal to the Supreme Court of Texas through the school’s civil clinic program, resulting in a published opinion reversing the lower court. He also completed his first jury trial through the school’s clinic program.

After graduating from law school, John served a judicial clerkship as briefing attorney for the Honorable Gordon H. Rowe, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas at Dallas. There, John had the pleasure of working with future Supreme Court of Texas Justices Nathan Hecht, Craig Enoch, and James Baker.

As a seasoned trial lawyer, John continues to maintain a high level of practice. He has represented clients in cases reported in the Wall Street Journal and Dallas Morning News, as well as ones featured on local news broadcasts and the national news program, Nightline. His civil trial practice includes representation in both state and federal court and encompasses a wide range of areas.

• Civil Litigation
• Contract Litigation
• Commercial Litigation
• Real Estate Litigation
• Professional Liability

• Credit Cards Accepted
  Visa & Mastercard Only
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  Provides 90-minute initial consultation for a flat fee of $500. Does not typically work on a contingency fee. Usually requires a retainer.

Texas

State Bar of Texas

ID Number: 07455200

Since 1988

5th Circuit

Since 1992

Partner

Reid, Dennis & Frick, PC

2022 - Current

Member

Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC

2021 - 2021

Partner

Bennett, Weston LaJone & Turner, P.C.

2017 - 2021

Senior Attorney

Reid & Dennis, PC

2010 - 2017

Solo Practitioner

Law Offices of John M. Frick

2001 - 2010

Partner

Mills, Presby & Associates, L.L.P.

1995 - 2001

Associate

Godwin & Carlton, P.C.

1989 - 1995

Briefing Attorney

Court of Appeals, Fifth District of Texas at Dallas

1988 - 1989

SMU Dedman School of Law

Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.)

1988

Southern Methodist University

B.S. (1985) | Political Science

1981 - 1985

Honors: Summa Cum Laude

Southern Methodist University

B.A. (1985) | Psychology

1981 - 1985

Honors: Summa Cum Laude

AV-Preeminent

Martindale-Hubbell

2004

For over 100 years, the Bar Register has been a unique guide to the legal community's most eminent professionals. It includes only those select law practices that have earned the highest rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and have been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field. The 2022 Bar Register contains over 14,000 member listings out of more than 1.3 million attorneys in the United States.

Texas State Bar  # 07455200

Member

1988 - Current

Board-Certified, Civil Trial Law

Texas Board of Legal Specialization

2010

Q. I have a child support/custody case through Denton County, TX. The custodial parent hasnt been allowing me to see my son

January 24, 2025

A: A lawyer with experience in family law is who can help you fix it. As with anything else, such a lawyer will expect to be paid for his/her services at the usual and customary rate for the time it takes to fix it. Just like a plumber is going to want to be paid to help you fix your plumbing or an automobile mechanic is going to want to be paid to help you fix your car.

You state "he states since he doesn't see us as married we aren't" which suggests you maybe believe you are married. Without a valid marriage certificate (which would be dispositive), you would have to assert a common law marriage within two years of the date that you last lived together. Otherwise, your claim of common law marriage is barred by the statute of limitations.

That doesn't mean you cannot file suit to enforce the possession rights granted to you in your custody order that he is denying you. You might even be able to recoup attorney fees. But you will have to prove that you showed up where and when you were supposed to show up at the beginning of the period of possession awarded to you in the order. ... Read More

Q. My ex and landlord had a verbal agreement he would work for him in exchange for rent no lease was signed no receipts

January 24, 2025

A: As long as the title to the RV is in your name and you didn't sign anything, your ex's landlord does not have a legal leg to stand on.

That being said, move your RV ASAP. Your continuing to live there after your ex (the tenant) left could be evidence of the existence of a landlord-tenant relationship in which you are the tenant, especially if you were to claim that he can;t make you leave without evicting you. If you are a tenant and haven't paid rent, the landlord may have a valid lien against your property, including the RV, for unpaid rent.

Q. What is the best way to file for a child custody order?

January 24, 2025

A: Tell your daughter to hire an attorney who practices in "family law" or "child custody" (which is really a subset of family law) in or near the county where the parties live.

Your daughter can seek temporary orders, including temporary child support, during the pendency of the case and permanent child support in the final order.