Buffy K. Martines
Top rated Personal Injury attorney in Houston, Texas
Laminack, Pirtle & Martines, LLP
Practice areas: Personal Injury, Products Liability, Class Action & Mass Torts; view more
Licensed in Texas since: 2003
Education: South Texas College of Law Houston
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2021, 2023 - 2026 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2007 - 2013 Call today:
346-552-9064
Free Consultation Laminack, Pirtle & Martines, LLP
5020 Montrose Blvd9th Floor
Houston, TX 77006 Visit website
Attorney Buffy K. Martines is the managing partner and founder of Laminack, Pirtle & Martines in Houston, Texas. Her legal practice is dedicated to representing clients in personal injury matters, defective products, wrongful deaths and commercial disputes. Additionally, she is appreciated for her adept courtroom strategies and devotion to defending the rights of those injured in the Houston area.
Ms. Martines has secured substantial verdicts and settlements for her clients and is known for her thorough involvement in cases from beginning to end. She is also noted for her ability to work effectively with other attorneys on complex, high-profile cases. After receiving her undergraduate degree in sociology from Lamar University in 1993, she earned a master's degree from the University of Houston in 1997. She attained her Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law Houston in 2002.
During her law studies, Ms. Martines was an active moot court team member, achieving national recognition by winning the national championship of the George Washington University National Security Law Moot Court Competition and the Best Brief Award. Her achievements also include induction into Phi Delta Phi Honor Society and the Order of Barristers, and obtaining the Shea Lynn Maloney Advocacy Award and the T. Gerald Treece “Heart of the South Texas Advocate” Award for her exceptional advocacy skills.
Ms. Martines is licensed to practice law in Texas and before the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd and 5th Circuits and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. She values her engagement with the legal community and holds affiliations with several professional organizations, including the American Association for Justice, the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the Houston Bar Association. Moreover, she is fluent in Spanish, enhancing her ability to serve a broader client base.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff, Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff, Business LitigationFocus areas
Assault, Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Medical Devices, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Motor Vehicle Defects, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Pharmaceutical, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Sexual Abuse - Plaintiff, Slip and Fall, Toxic Mold, Trade Secret, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 40% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 30% Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff
- 20% Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff
- 10% Business Litigation
First Admitted: 2003, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://www.lpm-triallaw.com/attorneys/buffy-martines
Bar / Professional Activity
- United States Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
- Texas, 2002
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Jordan Plant Farm, Ltd, et al vs. Upstream Energy Services, LP, et al Jordan Plant Farm, a small business based in Henderson, Texas, found itself entangled in a commercial dispute against a multi-billion dollar energy company following a devastating loss of their crop. Despite the energy giant's initial reluctance to make any settlement offer throughout most of the litigation, the dedicated LPM team worked tirelessly to diligently prepare the case for presentation to the jury. However, right after the close of evidence, rather than having the case go to a jury, the defendant agreed to a remarkable settlement that was a staggering 660 times greater than their initial offer.
- A Minor, Deceased vs. Jack B. Moore, et al In a heartbreaking incident, a teenager lost his life due to the tragic electrocution resulting from a poorly installed dock light on a homeowner's property. Laminack, Pirtle & Martines provided invaluable support to the grieving parents throughout the trial in Brazoria County, Texas, enabling them to secure a settlement from the homeowner for the wrongful death of their beloved son.
- Susan Mather, et al vs. Parkway Properties, Inc., et al A tragic incident unfolded when a 60-year-old husband and devoted father lost his life due to a catastrophic accident at a poorly designed and maintained parking garage. Just ten days into the trial in Harris County, the owners and operators of the garage chose to settle the case with our firm, providing closure and compensation to the grieving widow and daughter.
- Wellogix, Inc. v Accenture, LLP Plaintiff Wellogix, Inc., a Houston-based software developer, entered into several crucial business agreements to promote its cutting-edge products. These products, encompassing computer software and valuable intellectual property essential for managing drilling processes, were unfortunately misappropriated by Accenture. Laminack, Pirtle & Martines skillfully represented Wellogix in a high-stakes theft of trade secrets case. Following an intensive two-week trial in a Harris County federal court, a twelve-member jury rendered a verdict in favor of Wellogix, awarding damages exceeding $94,000,000.00. This verdict was subsequently upheld in both the 5th Circuit and the Supreme Court.
- Turner v. Basic Energy, et al. Justin Turner, a 26-year-old father of two small children, tragically lost his life in a devastating accident when the workover rig he was working on collapsed, causing him to fall over 60 feet to the ground below. With dedicated efforts, our attorneys skillfully litigated the case against all six companies involved in the incident, leading to pre-trial settlements with five defendants and a remarkable Harris County, Texas jury verdict exceeding $22,000,000.00 against the sixth defendant.
- 3M Combat Arms Earplugs 3M is a multi-billion dollar company responsible for manufacturing and supplying the United States military with Combat Arms earplugs to protect the service members’ ears from the loud sounds associated with military training and combat. LPM has taken on the representation of thousands of plaintiffs who have suffered injuries due to the earplugs' defects. With the help of LPM, these plaintiffs achieved success in holding 3M accountable for prioritizing profits over the safety of those who served our nation.Camarillorazo v. 3M Company et al:A jury in Tallahassee, Florida federal court awarded just over $13 million to the U.S. Army sergeant Camarillorazo who suffered hearing damage as a result of using military-issue earplugs made by 3M.Wilkerson v. 3M Company et al:A jury in Tallahassee, Florida awarded $8 million in compensatory damages to Wilkerson, who argued that using the earplugs while serving in the Army National Guard during training and combat caused him to develop tinnitus and hearing loss.Estes v. 3M Company et al: A jury in Pensacola, Florida awarded $2.8M in damages to Estes, who served in the Army from 2008 to 2017 as a tank platoon commander, where he had exposure to loud noises and regularly wore 3M’s earplugs.
Educational Background
- University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 1997 - M.A., Major: Sociology
- Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, 1993 - B.S., Major: Sociology
- South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, 2002 - J.D., Honors: Best Respondent's Brief Award, Moot Court Competition, Honors: Best Brief Award, George Washington University, Moot Court Competition, Honors: National Championship, George Washington University Moot Court Competition, Honors: Shea Lynn Maloney Advocacy Award, Honors: T. Gerald Treece "Heart of the South Texas Advocate" Award
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Plaintiffs' Steering Committee MDL No. 2004; In re: Mentor Corp. ObTape Transobturator Sling Products Liability Litigation United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- Plaintiffs' Steering Committee MDL No. 3060; In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales and Practices and Products Liability Litigation United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- Plaintiffs' Steering Committee MDL No. 2974; In re: Paragard Products Liability Litigation United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- Plaintiffs Executive Committee MDL No. 2789; In re: Proton-Pump Inhibitor Liability Litigation United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
Honors
- Rising Star Award by Texas Super Lawyers, 2011 - 2017
- Texas Super Lawyers 2019
- Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters Business, 2007 - 2013
Office location for Buffy K. Martines
5020 Montrose Blvd
9th Floor
Houston, TX 77006
Phone: 346-552-9064
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2021, 2023 - 2026
- Rising Stars: 2007 - 2013
