The Dirty Verdict

You spent years doing a dangerous job. On base. At the airport. In industrial facilities or on the trucks in your city. You trained with firefighting foam. You used it in live fires and drills. You got it on your skin, on your gear, in the air you breathed. Now you have a cancer diagnosis—and… Continue reading From Foam to Diagnosis: How Herbert Trial Law Connects the Dots in Your Exposure Story

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden sit down with former Judge Mike Engelhart for a lively conversation that mixes courtroom insight, legal war stories, and a look at life on and off the bench. Judge Engelhart shares how he approached judging with patience, preparation, and practicality, while also reflecting on some of the memorable moments that defined his time in Harris County. The conversation touches on his path from New Jersey to Michigan to Houston, his legal beginnings working for John O’Quinn, and the decision to leave private practice for the bench. Judge Engelhart also opens up about losing his judicial primary, returning to private practice at Kherkher Garcia, and why he does not see another run for office in his future. Along the way, the episode delivers one of the most entertaining stories of the show: the famous case of Wilbur the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, a homeowner’s association dispute that turned into a viral courtroom moment. Add in practical advice for trial lawyers, thoughts on litigation funding, and reflections on how lawyers should carry themselves in court, and this episode delivers both substance and personality. Timestamps & Highlights 00:00 – Judge Mike Engelhart joins the show The hosts welcome former Judge Mike Engelhart and kick things off with humor and stories from lawyers who appeared in his courtroom. 00:01:42 – Favorite Judge Engelhart courtroom moments Peter, Kyle, and Bill share memorable examples of Judge Engelhart’s patience, wit, and style from the bench. 00:04:06 – The Wilbur the pig story Judge Engelhart tells the now-legendary story of ruling that Wilbur, a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, qualified as a pet and could stay in a neighborhood despite HOA objections. 00:11:07 – His background: Jersey, Michigan, and Houston Judge Engelhart talks about growing up in New Jersey, attending the University of Michigan, and eventually making Houston his long-term home. 00:15:27 – Spanish studies and studying abroad in Seville He shares how Spanish became a major part of his academic journey and led to a semester abroad in Spain. 00:19:48 – Why he chose the University of Houston Law Center Judge Engelhart explains why Houston was the right place to build a legal career and personal life. 00:20:38 – Family, marriage, and life in Houston He reflects on meeting his wife in law school, raising a family, and building a life in the city. 00:25:35 – Litigation funding and legal industry trends The group dives into a substantive discussion about disclosure of litigation funding and broader changes in the business of law. 00:29:04 – Early legal career and working for John O’Quinn Judge Engelhart discusses his first years in practice, learning procedure and evidence, and doing legal research the old-school way. 00:34:26 – Why he ran for judge He explains what drew him to the bench and how he navigated Harris County’s political and legal landscape. 00:40:10 – Best and worst things lawyers can do in trial Judge Engelhart offers practical advice for lawyers on preparation, credibility, courtroom demeanor, and what turns judges off. 00:47:58 – Do judges really read the briefing? He gives a candid answer about how he prepared for hearings and what made written advocacy more effective. 00:48:40 – Leaving the bench and joining Kherkher Garcia Judge Engelhart talks about losing his 2024 primary, transitioning back into private practice, and what he enjoys about his current role. 00:50:07 – Will he ever run for office again? He shares why he believes that chapter is closed and what comes next professionally. 00:51:34 – The cases he’s handling now From catastrophic injury matters to national litigation, Judge Engelhart describes the serious cases he is working on today.

You’ve been hurt in a wreck or serious accident in Houston. The hospital bills are starting to land in your mailbox. Your paycheck is smaller than it used to be—or it’s not coming at all. And now the insurance company has finally made an offer and sent over a stack of forms to sign. On… Continue reading Before You Sign Anything: What Herbert Trial Law Sees in Your Case That You Don’t

Spring Break in Texas is supposed to be simple. Kids out of school. College students heading to the beach. Bags in the trunk. Snacks, playlists, and a drive down I-10, 59, or 45 for a few days away. Then, in a split second, everything changes. A distracted driver drifts into your lane. Traffic slams to… Continue reading Spring Break Crashes: What Insurance Won’t Tell You After a Serious Houston Road Trip Accident

Hosts Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden sit down with Houston trial lawyer Cordt Akers, who lives at the intersection of criminal defense, white collar, and a bit of PI—all while carrying one of the more unusual origin stories you’ll hear on the show. Cordt walks through growing up in Houston, heading to Tulane (where Hurricane Katrina hit on his first day), and spending his early years as a working musician—until a brutal moment of “natural talent vs. hard work” forced a career pivot. That pivot led to South Texas College of Law, mock trial, and a fast, intense run through the Harris County DA’s Office, where a terrifying in-flight emergency and an unexpected moment of humanity reshaped how he viewed prosecution—and ultimately why he left. From there, Cordt breaks down his path into the Dan Cogdell orbit, building a reputation in federal white collar, and what it’s like to carry the emotional weight of trial work—especially when the outcome is literally life-changing. He also shares two major acquittals from the year, including a high-emotion murder trial in San Jacinto County and a public corruption case that went sideways for the prosecution in the best way possible. Funny, serious, and very “Dirty Verdict”—this one moves from My Little Pony headgear to murder trials to the reality of justice, ego, and what makes a great trial lawyer. Episode Highlights (with timestamps) 00:00:41 – 00:01:36 — Christmas edition energy, jokes flying, and Bill’s back in the studio 00:01:36 – 00:03:14 — Meet Cordt Akers: criminal defense + some PI, and the “multiple practice areas” intro 00:03:14 – 00:06:16 — The legend of Brock Akers (Cordt’s dad): verdict history, reputation, and the TLA membership banter 00:06:16 – 00:11:08 — Houston → Saint Michael’s/Jesuit → Tulane… and the jazz musician era (plus Katrina on day one) 00:11:08 – 00:12:46 — South Texas Law: dreams of entertainment law die in Contracts I 00:12:46 – 00:15:29 — Mock trial war stories: Golden Gate tandem bike terror + “they changed the rules after us” 00:15:29 – 00:18:02 — The mock trial culture: training under pressure (and sometimes with a hangover) 00:18:02 – 00:20:06 — DA’s Office stint (about 20 months) + the brutal elevator moment with Rusty Hardin 00:20:06 – 00:22:23 — Working for Dan Cogdell: mentorship, white collar exposure, and leveling up fast 00:22:23 – 00:27:14 — The turning point: in-flight engine fire, a stranger’s prayer, and Cordt’s realization about prosecutorial impact 00:27:14 – 00:29:22 — “How do you teach young prosecutors emotional intelligence?” + the ego vs. justice conflict 00:29:22 – 00:33:51 — Leaving Dan’s shop: taking the “take over the muffler repair center” option and building his own lane 00:36:01 – 00:37:08 — Two major acquittals this year: murder case + public corruption case 00:37:08 – 00:41:53 — San Jacinto County murder trial breakdown: alleged facts, accident defense, and the emotional verdict moment 00:42:10 – 00:44:12 — The “weird” public corruption case: daring the State to call the defendant first… and it backfiring on them 00:44:12 – 00:45:24 — Why he usually doesn’t talk to juries afterward (and a wild “we thought you were fake” jury comment) 00:47:44 – 00:50:34 — Where the DA’s office and federal prosecution are headed + why white collar cases feel like they’re dwindling 00:52:16 – 00:55:30 — Wrap-up: possible Father’s Day episode with Brock, where to find Cordt (acresfirm.com), and final laughs

(Recorded 12/16/25) The crew kicks off the holiday episode in peak Dirty Verdict fashion: festive sweaters, friendly roasting, and a proposed “punishment” that somehow turns into high-stakes Trivial Pursuit. Then repeat guest Andrew Cobos jumps in and the conversation shifts from jokes to jaw-dropping: Ironman distances, brutal open-water swims, and why Andrew’s next “goal” is somehow even crazier—climbing Mount Everest. From there, the episode turns serious as Andrew breaks down his firm’s work in major mass tort litigation, including PFAS “forever chemical” exposure, firefighting foam, and what those cases mean for veterans and industrial firefighters. The hosts also dig into the realities of taking on the government, how these claims are being built, and the bigger idea behind it all: using litigation to force real-world accountability and policy change—then somehow landing the plane back in Dirty Verdict land with talk of lawyer boxing matches and black-tie fight night. Timestamps & Highlights • 00:00:15 – Holiday chaos begins — Peter, Kyle, and Bill trade greetings, jokes, and sweater-season banter. • 00:00:40 – “Punishment” ideas — the crew floats leprechaun makeup and even retaking the SAT as consequences for missing the memo. • 00:01:14 – High-stakes Trivial Pursuit — $100 per person, teams allowed… and trash talk immediately escalates. • 00:02:11 – Andrew Cobos returns — repeat guest is back, and the guys immediately notice he’s in serious shape. • 00:02:33 – Ironman résumé revealed — Andrew details completing two half Ironmans and a full (and clarifies the year). • 00:02:53 – Ironman distances explained — swim/bike/run breakdown, plus the “it’s longer than it sounds” reality. • 00:03:08 – Galveston + Cozumel swim stories — calm water vs brutal open-ocean conditions. • 00:04:34 – Full Ironman in Florida — Andrew talks Panama City Beach and why “flat” can still feel brutal. • 00:05:36 – Next goal: Everest — Andrew explains he’s transitioning from endurance racing to mountain climbing. • 00:06:09 – Everest risk talk — crowding, danger, and the harsh reality of summit attempts. • 00:06:47 – Andrew’s practice growth — the hosts talk about how well his firm is doing and why he keeps it lean. • 00:09:05 – Lean firm philosophy — small team, low overhead, and staying intentional about growth. • 00:09:45 – Mass tort focus — Andrew gets into the 3M earplug litigation and the scale of bellwether outcomes. • 00:10:38 – PFAS explained (“forever chemicals”) — what it is, where it came from, and why it’s a major national litigation front. • 00:11:15 – Firefighting foam + cancer discussion — exposure pathways, firefighters, and what makes these cases so serious. • 00:12:16 – C8 vs C6 — the distinction, the “PR shift,” and why it still matters in litigation. • 00:13:23 – Dose + duration challenge — why proving exposure over time becomes a battlefield in these cases. • 00:15:03 – Legal-movie sidebar — the crew riffs on classic litigation films and how realistic negotiation scenes can be. • 00:16:12 – 3M earplug case scale — why it’s one of the biggest MDLs and what makes it uniquely massive. • 00:17:08 – Transition to Fort Hood/Cavazos topic — the conversation turns to a major new, troubling set of allegations. • 00:18:07 – Andrew’s military background + context — West Point, Fort Hood experience, and systemic concerns. • 00:20:15 – “Floodgates opened” moment — the scope expands quickly once the case becomes public. • 00:22:22 – Power dynamics + policy failures — Andrew explains why structural safeguards matter in military medical settings. • 00:24:22 – Moving beyond litigation — emphasis on policy reform and conversations with lawmakers. • 00:26:48 – Volume of clients referenced — Andrew discusses the scale of representation and coordination. • 00:31:52 – Intake + mental health support — the firm’s workflow and why trauma counseling is a priority. • 00:34:38 – Broader military context — comparisons to other cases and how these situations escalate institutionally. • 00:36:17 – Andrew’s MP deployments — route security, IED reality, and what that job actually looked like. • 00:41:07 – Army–Navy tradition — library pushups, West Point culture, and Houston’s West Point club. • 00:43:24 – Why Andrew keeps the firm small — travel, retreats, and culture as a deliberate strategy. • 00:46:55 – Lawyer boxing idea returns — the crew starts fantasy-booking “Dirty Verdict Fight Night.” • 00:48:10 – White-collar boxing memory — black-tie vibe, big money, and how it could work as an event. • 00:50:32 – Wrap-up — thanks, shout-outs, and where to follow/listen.