Molly Higgins

Molly Higgins

Staff Attorney

Molly Higgins loves the law. For close to 40 years, she has consistently delivered results, integrity and professionalism to her clients. Molly’s law practice has spanned the geographical area of South Texas; she has managed a diverse realm of cases on both sides of the bar.

Her legal journey began in 1985 in Seguin, with the Guadalupe County Attorney’s Office, where she successfully prosecuted misdemeanor cases. She subsequently segued to insurance defense law defending worker’s compensation and personal injury cases in San Antonio. In 1989 she opened her private practice, representing Plaintiffs in worker’s compensation, personal injury, employment and administrative law cases involving social security disability hearings.

Eventually, Molly’s legal journey took her to Laredo, Texas. Two events occurred which determined Molly’s fate in Laredo. In 1989, the Texas Legislature adopted a new Texas Worker’s Compensation Act (SB1) which eliminated the IAB and decimated attorney’s fees and in 1994, the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) was passed. The passage of NAFTA opened borders, increased trucking traffic and trucking accidents. In 1994, Molly and her family moved to Laredo where she raised four small children and continued her Plaintiffs’ personal injury practice. After she won her first disability hearing in Laredo, from an Administrative Law Judge who had a reputation for granting only unfavorable decisions, the impoverished and sick older gentleman she represented exclaimed “You are an angel sent from God!”. In Laredo jargon, Molly “drank the Rio Bravo”.  For fifteen years, from 2009 through 2023, she has enjoyed defending a variety of cases for Webb County, including defending 42 U.S.C.S. 1983 excessive force cases in Federal Court, the Southern District and representing the Department of Family and Protective Services involving parental termination of rights of abused and neglected children.

More meaningful than any jury verdict victory are her successful and exceptional adult children:

  • Joseph Santos, 33, based in Los Angeles, who is employed as an Actor and Assistant Video Editor for the Emmy nominated television show, The Voice
  • Jerome Santos, 33, based in Laredo, who is employed as a Physical Therapist, practicing at Doctors Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Center and will soon receive his Certification in Cervical and Spinal Manipulation, of which only 2% of the Physical Therapists in the nation have achieved and will also be Peer Reviewed published
  • Nick Santos, 31, based in Austin, who is employed as an Associate with Alliance Berstein NAV Lending, a private equity firm
  • Claire Santos, 28, based in Austin, CPA, who is employed as a Senior Consultant with Deloitte, one of the Big Four accounting firms

In addition to the law, Molly loves music and art, the ethereal languages of the soul. She finds solace in the truth that music and art remain steadfast among the ebb and flow of life’s transient moments. They weave into the fabric of memories, emotions, and experiences, offering a timeless refuge that endures long after people and circumstances have passed. Molly’s creative outlets encompass completing her first faith-based screenplay, which has received positive reviews in the entertainment industry, singing as a Soprano 2, for the Diocesan of Laredo Choir and Laredo Philharmonic, a 65- piece orchestra and learning to play the piano. Molly’s essence is her unwavering faith and commitment to God.

 

Representative Experience

Trial Victories and Verdicts

  • Teresa White, et al v. Cesar Mascorro, Jr.; Cause No. 90-CI-01832; Lead Counsel for defendant driver in a personal injury case. Jury verdict rendered for defendant on April 22, 1992 in the 144th Judicial District of Bexar County.
  • Hoff v. Yacenda; Cause No. 90-CI-12354; Lead Counsel for plaintiff driver in a personal injury case. Jury verdict rendered for plaintiff on June 15, 1992 in the 73rd Judicial District Court of Bexar County;
  • Reina v. Macy; Cause No.90-CI-17853; Lead Counsel for plaintiff driver in a personal injury case. Jury verdict rendered for plaintiff on June 29, 1992 in the 45th Judicial District of Bexar County;
  • Sanchez v. Transit Management Co. of Laredo; Cause No. 89-998-CI; Lead Counsel for plaintiff, a wheelchair bound passenger who suffered burn injuries and skin discoloration as a result of defendant’s failure to inspect hydraulic hose that ruptured. Jury verdict rendered for plaintiff on January 25, 1993, before the Honorable Raul Vasquez. Case affirmed on appeal in Transit Management Co. v. Sanchez; 886 S.W.2d 823(Tex. App.- San Antonio, September 7, 1994). Molly tried this case when she was two months pregnant with her second born son, Nick Santos.
  • Jay Casey v. Jus Country, ; Cause No. 206389; Lead Counsel for plaintiff in a personal injury action involving inadequate security resulting in the plaintiff assaulted by a random bully, while casually sitting at a bar, drinking a beer, causing a broken jaw to the plaintiff which had to be wired shut. Jury verdict rendered for plaintiff on May 26, 1993. Molly tried this case when she was six months pregnant with her son, Nick Santos. The jury verdict moved the plaintiff to tears.
  • Callaghan Ranch LTD, v. Killam v. Webb County; Cause No. C-92-00009-D3; Lead Counsel for Webb County in a case that involved the determination of the status of San Ignacio Road, which is adjacent to the Callaghan Ranch and traverses through the Killam Ranch. On May 19, 2010, the jury rendered a favorable verdict for Webb County, that the road was private, not public, under the following theories of law: not established by common law dedication, implied dedication or acquiescence of defendants or waiver, thus relieving the Webb County taxpayers of having to pay millions of dollars to improve and maintain the road.
  • In the Interest of M.X.R. and M.S.R., Children; Cause No. 2018-FLD-000964-D1; Lead Counsel for the Department of Family and Protective Services. Termination of parental rights case in which one of the children received permanent head trauma from unexplained injuries. In October 2019, Molly successfully proved to a jury by clear and convincing evidence, three of the statutory predicate grounds for termination and that termination was in the best interests of the children. The case was affirmed on appeal, of which Molly was lead counsel and wrote the appeal. Case No. 04-20-00042-CV; In the Interest of M.X. R., 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 4063, May 27, 2020.

Representative Experience

  • Campos, et al v Webb County et al.; Cause No. 5:12-CV-7, United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Laredo Division; Lead Counsel for defendant, Webb County. 42 U.S.C.S.1983 case where plaintiff, an inmate at the Webb County jail, alleged he was sexually assaulted due to defendant’s actions and policies. Summary Judgment for defendant, Webb County granted on April 3, 2014. Molly also wrote the appellate brief, and the case was affirmed on appeal in Campos Webb County; Case No. 14-40480, 597 Fed. Appx. 787, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 1213, 2015 WL 327734, January 27, 2015.
  • Gonzalez v. Lichtenberger, et. Al; Cause No. 2015 CVT 00371401; Lead Counsel for defendants, Pepe Salinas, Jail Commander, Martin Cuellar, Sheriff and Webb County. Plaintiff, an inmate, alleged that defendants were grossly negligent in failing to warn him of a threat made against his life by the Mexican Mafia. Case dismissed on March 11, 2016, based on Tex.Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 14.003(b)(1). Dismissal was affirmed on appeal in Gonzalez v. Lichenberger; 04-16-00192-CV, 2017 Tex.App. LEXIS 5404(Tex. App.—San Antonio June 14, 2017).
  • In The Matter of D.G.N.; Cause No. 2017 JV1000229-L1; Lead Counsel for defendant, Webb County and wrote the appellate brief: In re D.G.-N., No.04-18-00146-CV, 2018 Tex. App. LEXIS 5010(Tex. App.—San Antonio July 5, 2018). Case involved the tragic death of a young, female, undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, who walked for hours under the hot South Texas sun and was left for dead in the brush near El Cenizo, by Appellant, a human trafficker. The issue was whether federal immigration law preempts state law, ousting the Webb County prosecutor from their statutory authority to prosecute a juvenile who violates a state criminal statute resulting in the juvenile being certified as an adult for trial. The appellate court affirmed the lower court’s Certification hearing and determined that Appellee had established probable cause that the Appellant was competent to stand trial as an adult.
  • Texas State Bar
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Laredo Division
  • 1995 – Board Certification in Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of Texas.
  • 1984 – J.D., The University of Houston College of Law
  • 1980 – B.A., Deans List, Senior Year, The University of Texas at San Antonio
  • The Laredo Philharmonic, Board Member
  • “Meet two dynamic achievers who contribute to the development of both Laredos,” Cream Magazine of Laredo, June/July 2019, No.55. Listed in The Profiles