Ethel J Johnson

Practice Areas

Litigation

Products Liability & Mass Torts

Pharmaceutical, Medical Device & Health Care Litigation

Labor & Employment

Career

Ethel J. Johnson is a trial lawyer with more than 31 years of experience and notable victories for clients. She has tried upwards of 35 civil cases (jury and bench trials) in state and federal courts across the United States related to products liability/life sciences, mass torts, employment law, commercial/business disputes, personal injury, ADA Accessibility, and tax matters. She has arbitrated more than 75 additional cases related to labor disputes. Ethel holds the distinction of being Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Since early in her legal career, Ethel focused on employment law matters and regularly litigated single and multi-plaintiff discrimination, retaliation, harassment, disability, FMLA, defamation, ERISA, breach of contract, wage and hour, TRO/injunctive relief, trade secret, and non-competition disputes. Her practice also includes EEOC administrative matters (including Commissioner’s Charges), employment law advice and counsel, training, workplace investigations, and drafting employment policies, practices, procedures, and employee handbooks. In the last several years, Ethel’s practice has pivoted and expanded significantly to focus on pharmaceutical/life sciences, products liability, mass torts, and complex business disputes. She has been co-lead counsel in several multiweek pharmaceutical/products liability trials in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals involving the antipsychotic medication, Risperdal. She has also been co-lead counsel in a major vehicle rollover trial defending Toyota Motor Sales, North America in Phoenix, Arizona.

Professional Memberships

Adjunct Professor, Howard University School of Law

Member, American Bar Association; Member, Section of Labor and Employment Law

Member, Houston Bar Association

Member, National Order of Barristers

Member, State Bar of Texas; Member, Section of Labor and Employment Law

Past Board Member, Houston Area Women’s Center

Publications

Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2005-2011, 2021-2022

Personal

J.D., University of Texas School of Law, 1991

B.S., Siena Heights College, 1987