Rusty Hardin

Early life

Hardin attended a private military academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, called Baylor School (now a coed, independent day and boarding school). He graduated in 1960 and was influenced by one of his teachers at Baylor, Stan Lewis, to attend Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. Hardin is a 1965 graduate of Wesleyan and went on to earn his J.D. degree in 1975 at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas.

Career

During the Enron scandal, Hardin represented the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen. His efforts resulted in the US Supreme Court unanimously overturning the firm's conviction of obstruction of justice in 2005.

Hardin has represented and won favorable verdicts for athletes such as Rudy Tomjanovich, Warren Moon, Wade Boggs, Rafer Alston, Scottie Pippen, Steve Francis, and Calvin Murphy. Another former client is Roger Clemens, Other clients include Michael Bennett of the New England Patriots; Deshaun Watson formerly of the Houston Texans and currently of the Cleveland Browns; Adrian Peterson, accused of child abuse; and NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, who was accused of domestic abuse against his former girlfriend.

Hardin successfully represented Victoria Osteen, wife of TV evangelist and bestselling author Joel Osteen, in a civil lawsuit filed by a Continental Airlines flight attendant. The flight attendant claimed that she had been pushed by Osteen, and sought civil damages, but a Houston jury acquitted her in 2008. Hardin also won a favorable verdict for the estate of Texas millionaire J. Howard Marshall. A jury found that the estate owed nothing to Marshall's widow, former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith, who married Marshall when he was 89 years old.

Hardin represented the family of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who died on July 1, 2019.

In early June 2023, the Texas House committee investigating Texas attorney general Ken Paxton announced the hiring of Hardin and fellow high-profile attorney Dick DeGuerin as impeachment prosecutors.

References

References

1. "Find a Lawyer: Mr. Russell 'Rusty' Hardin Jr.".
2. Barrionuevo, Alexei. (June 17, 2002). "Hardin Loses Andersen Case But Wins Fans Among Jurors". The Wall Street Journal.
3. Makeig, John. (July 16, 1994). "Rudy T's DWI case is dropped". Houston Chronicle.
4. Nichols, Bruce. (February 23, 1996). "Football Star Acquitted of Spouse-Abuse Charge". Washington Post.
5. Flynn, George. (November 5, 1997). "Flight attendant strikes out in suit against baseball's Boggs". Houston Chronicle.
6. Rogers, Brian. (October 24, 2008). "Rockets guard Alston found not guilty of DWI". Houston Chronicle.
7. Thompson, Jack. (May 15, 1999). "Pippen's DWI Charges Dropped". Chicago Tribune.
8. Rogers, Brian. (August 11, 2017). "Former NBA star Steve Francis star pleads guilty to DWI in Houston court". Houston Chronicle.
9. Tilghman, Andrew. (December 6, 2004). "Calvin Murphy found not guilty". Houston Chronicle.
10. Barron, David. (April 3, 2019). "Charges against Michael Bennett dropped because of insufficient evidence". Houston Chronicle.
11. Whitmer, Michael. (September 12, 2014). "Adrian Peterson booked and released from jail". Boston Globe.
12. Gluck, Jeff. (November 7, 2014). "Kurt Busch smashed ex-girlfriend's head into wall". USA Today.
13. (March 5, 2015). "Kurt Busch will not face charges in domestic abuse case". USA Today.
14. Sunseri, Gina. (August 7, 2008). "Lawyer: Victoria Osteen is Victim of 'Extortion'".
15. Munson, Lester. (July 4, 2011). "Clemens' attorney one of the best".
16. Newby, John. (August 31, 2019). "Tyler Skaggs's Family Hires Famed Attorney Rusty Hardin in Wake of Death".
17. (June 1, 2023). "Texas House announces lawyers who will present case against AG Ken Paxton in Senate impeachment trial".
18. (June 1, 2023). "Houston-based attorneys to represent Texas House in AG Paxton's impeachment trial".