John R. Lively

In Memoriam

1942-2021

 

Mr. Lively was the principal and founding attorney with Lively & Associates, PLLC. Mr. Lively was raised in Navasota, Texas and graduated from Texas A & M University. While at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, he worked in the Texas Legislature for two sessions as a legislative assistant to two former State Senators, as a staff member to the Sergeant at Arms, and on the Legislative Council. He began his legal career in 1968 as an assistant City Attorney for the City of Fort Worth and entered private practice in 1970. Mr. Lively served as Chairman for the Tarrant County Bar Association Fee Arbitration Panel No. 3. His peers recognized Mr. Lively with the highest possible ratings for both the quality of his legal work and his high ethical standards. Mr. Lively held an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell for many years and was voted one of Tarrant County’s Best Attorneys in 2010-2020 by Fort Worth, Texas Magazine. In 2019 Mr. Lively celebrated 50 years as an attorney, recognized by both the Tarrant County Bar and State Bar of Texas.

Education

  • University of Texas, Austin, Texas, L.L.B., 1968 Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity

  • Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, B.A., 1967 History (in residence 1960-64; degree conferred 1967)

  • Navasota High School, Navasota, Texas, 1960

Practice Areas

  • Business Litigation

  • Business/Corporate Law

  • Civil Appellate Litigation

  • Estate Planning and Probate

  • Real Estate

Professional Associations

  • State Bar of Texas

  • Tarrant County Bar Association

  • Tarrant County Fee Arbitration Panel No. 3 - Chairman

    • Member since 1998

Community Involvement

  • Air Power Council

  • Jewel Charity

  • Stock Show Syndicate

  • Boy Scouts of America

Awards and Recognitions

  • Voted one of Tarrant County’s Best Attorneys —Fort Worth, Texas: The City's Magazine, 2010-2020

Admitted to Practice

  • Texas Supreme Court, 1968

  • The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, 1970

  • The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, 1994

  • The United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, 1999

  • The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1974

  • The United States Supreme Court, 1988

Partial List of Published Cases

  • Lipsey v. Lipsey, 983 S.W.2d 345 (Tex.App.— Fort Worth 1998, no pet.).

  • Industrial Indem. Co. v. Texas American Bank – Riverside, 784 S.W.2d 114 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1990, no writ).

  • Allard v. Frech, 754 S.W.2d 111 (Tex. 1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 1006 (1989).

  • Matthews v. Candlewood Builders, Inc., 685 S.W.2d 649 (Tex. 1985, no writ).

  • Hudler-Tye Const., Inc. v. Pettijohn & Pettijohn Plumbing, Inc., 632 S.W.2d 219 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1982, no writ).

  • Catlett v. Catlett, 630 S.W.2d 478 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1982, no writ).

  • Walker v. Walker, 527 S.W.2d 200 (Tex.Civ.App.—Fort Worth 1975, no writ).

Martindale-Hubbell Rating: AV

Mr. Lively is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Legal Ability Ratings take into consideration the standard of professional ability in the area where the lawyer practices, the lawyer's expertise, and other professional qualifications. If a lawyer's practice is limited or specialized, Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review RatingsTM are based on performance in those specific fields of law.

Legal Ability Ratings are:

  • C - Good to High

  • B - High to Very High

  • A - Very High to Preeminent

The General Ethical Standards Rating denotes adherence to professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the discharge of professional responsibilities.

The General Recommendation Rating is: V - Very High