Black, Norman W. (Norman William), 1931-1997

Norman William Black (1931-1997) was born in Houston, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, receiving a B.B.A. in 1953 and an LL.B. in 1955. After clerking for U.S. District Judge Ben Connally, Black served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for two years, and then practiced law in Houston from 1960-1976. Black served as a U.S. Magistrate for the Southern District of Texas from 1976 to 1979, when President Carter nominated him to a new seat on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Black served as chief judge of the Southern District of Texas from 1992 until 1996, when he assumed senior status. He died in 1997 of heart failure while vacationing in Colorado with his wife. Black taught law at South Texas College of Law, where he served as an adjunct professor from 1977 through 1996, and lectured at law conferences and educational seminars all over the United States. He was president of the Houston Philosophical Society from 1982-1983 and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. Black received frequent press coverage for imposing high-dollar sanctions against attorneys and plaintiffs. He is best known for his record-breaking $18 million attorney fee award and his doubling of actual damages in Exxon v. Lubrizol, 30 USPQ2d 1813 (S.D. Tex. 1994), a patent infringement case. In his opinion, Black criticized the defense attorneys' aggressive trial tactics. (Black's decision was reversed on appeal to the Federal Circuit). In two of his reported opinions, Black summarily dismissed claims of peer-on-peer sexual harassment brought against school districts and school officials, which helped thwart a trend to enlarge the school's duty to protect schoolchildren. In a similar reported case, Black summarily dismissed eight children's claims of physical and verbal abuse by a teacher. Perhaps the most controversial decision of Black's career was his summary dismissal of an employee's claims of discrimination in McGann v. H & H Music Co., 742 F. Supp. 392 (S.D. Tex. 1990), even though the employer reduced its health coverage for AIDS from $1 million to $5 thousand after learning the employee had AIDS.

From the guide to the Norman W. Black Papers, 1953-1997, bulk 1976-1997, (Rare Books & Special Collections, Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin)

Norman William Black (1931-1997) was born in Houston, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, receiving a B.B.A. in 1953 and an LL.B in 1955. After clerking for U.S. District Judge Bean Connally, Black served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for two years, and then practiced law in Houston from 1960-1976. Black served as a U.S. Magistrate for the Southern District of Texas from 1976 to 1979, when President Carter nominated him to a new seat on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Black served as chief judge of the Southern District of Texas from 1992 until 1996, when he assumed senior status. He died in 1997 of heart failure while vacationing in Colorado with his wife. Black taught law at South Texas College of Law, where he served as an adjunct professor from 1977 through 1996, and lectured at law conferences and educational seminars all over the United the States. He was president of the Houston Philosophical Society from 1982-1983 and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. Black received frequent press coverage for imposing high-dollar sanctions against attorneys and plaintiffs. He is best know for his record-breaking $18 million attorney fee award and his doubling of actual damages in Exxon v. Lubrizol, 30 USPQ2d 1813 (S.D. Tex. 1994), a patent infringement case. In his opinion, Black criticized the defense attorney's aggressive trial tactics. (Black's decision was reversed o

n appeal to the Federal Circuit). In two of his reported opinions, Black summarily dismissed claims of peer-on-peer sexual harassment brought against school districts and school officials, which helped thwart a trend to enlarge the school's duty to protect schoolchildren. In a similar reported case, Black summarily dismissed eight children's claims of physical and verbal abuse by a teacher. Perhaps the most controversial decision of Black's career was his summary dismissal of an employee's claims of discrimination in McGann v. H & H Music Co., 742 F. Supp. 392 (S.D. Tex. 1990), even though the employer reduced its health coverage for AIDS from $1 million to $5 thousand after learning the employee had AIDS.

From the description of Norman W. Black papers, ca. 1953-1997. (University of Texas, Tarlton Law Library). WorldCat record id: 83403158