Johnny Ward

Having served as a trial attorney in more than 45 jury trials involving a vari­ety of challenging legal issues, Johnny Ward is one of the most distin­guished trial lawyers in East Texas.

The founder of Longview’s Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC, Mr. Ward has suc­cessfully tried numerous complex cases to verdict, including those involv­ing patent infringement, theft of trade secrets, and other complex commercial matters. In the process, Mr. Ward has secured a string of major courtroom victories against some of the world’s most recognizable companies, including Apple, Samsung, Verizon, and Microsoft.

Mr. Ward’s courtroom work has earned him a national reputation in high stakes litigation.  At the age of 41 he became a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.  He also is a fellow in the International Society of Barristers, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and is recognized among the Best Lawyers in America, and as a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters for 15 years in a row.  Each of these honors is the result of the reputation he has built among law firms across the country which frequently call upon him to assist in the trial of complex cases before East Texas juries.

Mr. Ward is admitted to practice before the 5th and 6th Circuit United States Courts of Appeals and the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts. He graduated with distinction from the University of Oklahoma in 1992 and Texas Tech Law School in 1995 (Magna Cum Laude), before clerking for the Hon. Robert M. Parker (Ret.) with the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Representative Cases:

• August 2017 – Co-counsel for Elbit Systems Ltd. in $21.1 million patent infringement verdict against Hughes Network Systems LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division (Elbit Systems of America LLC et al. v. Hughes Network Systems LLC, No. 2:15c-00037)

• March 2017 – Lead trial counsel for Whirlpool Corporation in $7.6 million verdict against TST Water, LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division (Whirlpool Corporation v. TST Water, LLC; No. 2:15cv1528)

• September 2016 – Co-counsel for VirnetX Inc. in $302 million patent infringement verdict against Apple Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division (VirnetX Inc. et al. v. Apple, Inc., No. 6:10cv00417).

• February 2016 – Co-counsel for VirnetX Inc. in $625.6 million patent infringement verdict against Apple Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division (VirnetX Inc., et al. v. Apple Inc., No. 6:12cv00855). 

• June 2015 – Co-counsel for DataQuill Ltd. in $31.5 million patent infringement verdict against China-based ZTE Corp. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division (DataQuill Ltd. v. ZTE USA Inc., No. 2:13-cv00634). 

• February 2015 – Co-counsel for Smartflash LLC in $532.9 million patent infringement verdict against Apple Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division (Smartflash LLC, et al. v. Apple Inc., No. 6:13cv447). 

• March 2013 – Co-counsel for Medallion Foods Inc. and Ralcorp Holdings Inc. in successful defeat of trademark infringement, patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation claims filed by Frito-Lay North America Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division (Frito-Lay North America Inc. v. Medallion Foods, Inc. et al., No. 4:12cv00074).

Key Practice Area:  Intellectual Property



Last Updated 29th August 2017