SCOTT H PALMER - Key Persons
Bio
David earned his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, focusing most of his coursework and experiences in criminal law. Additionally, David served as a Student Mentor to first-year law students throughout his time in law school. Prior to obtaining his J.D. at OU Law, David attended TCU in Fort Worth, Texas where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Business.
As a native Texan raised in Georgetown, Texas, David was excited to return to Texas upon graduating from law school. He worked as a prosecutor for the Hays County District Attorney's office in San Marcos, Texas, gaining valuable trial experience as well as additional insight into navigating the Texas criminal justice system. After a year with the Hays County District Attorney's office, David and his wife moved to Dallas where he began working at the Collin County District Attorney's office. He spent several years in Collin County, handling cases ranging from Class C Misdemeanors to First Degree Felonies.
David's diverse educational background rooted in psychology, business, and criminal law, uniquely situates him to advocate for his clients on a personal level and in a variety of capacities. Particularly, his experience working in multiple District Attorney's offices has prepared him to handle all criminal matters. David has spent many years building relationships within the North Texas legal community and upholds a commitment to both fairness and compassion in all he does.
Awards
Bio
Grant Gerleman grew up working on a beef cattle farm outside of Ridgeway, Iowa (pop. 400). He was a two-sport athlete and graduated from Crestwood High School in Cresco, Iowa at the top of his class. Following high school he attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a B.B.A. in Marketing in only three years, becoming the first person from his family to graduate from college in the process. Following undergrad, Grant attended law school at the University of Arkansas and moved to Dallas shortly thereafter. At the beginning of his legal career, Grant worked for one of the largest and busiest Plaintiff personal injury law firms in the State of Texas and established a reputation for arguing and winning challenging cases at trial. Within a few years, he became the lead trial attorney at the firm and tried a total of 88 jury trials. After moving to one of the oldest and most prestigious law firms in the state, Grant focused his attention on litigating and settling complex personal injury cases involving wrongful death, brain injuries, and catastrophic injuries. In 2019 Grant joined Scott H. Palmer P.C. and continues to advocate for the rights of individuals and families who have been harmed by the negligent acts of corporations.
Grant is a board certified as a specialist in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, he has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for the last four years, and he has been selected as a top lawyer under 40 by various legal publications. In addition to working on his clients' cases, Grant serves as a mentor to several young lawyers in the DFW area and has presented as a speaker at continuing legal education courses.
Bio
Prior to joining Scott H. Palmer, P.C., Michelle worked as an attorney with the Public Defender's Office in both Los Angeles County and Maricopa County for approximately twelve years. Throughout her career, she has worked with both juveniles and adults.
While Michelle spent much of her career as a trial attorney defending cases ranging from misdemeanor DUIs and robberies to felony sex crimes and kidnappings, she eventually focused her efforts on both pre and post-conviction work involving pre-trial resolution of cases, and post-conviction follow through. Throughout her career, Michelle collaborated with school facilitators, families, and mental health counselors to assist clients in their criminal matters and subsequent release from confinement.
While working in Phoenix, Arizona, Michelle Supervised the Specialty Courts Unit of the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office where she oversaw the Juveniles in Adult Court, Criminal Mental Health, and Problem Solving Court Units. In her role as Supervisor, Michelle worked with the Adult Probation Office, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and various Judicial Officers on court structure, policy, and innovative ideas related to the County's problem solving and therapeutic courts such as Drug Court, Veteran's Court, DUI Court, Domestic Violence Court, Mental Health Court, Juvenile Transfer Offender Program, and Youthful Sex Offenders.
Working in this environment afforded Michelle the opportunity to zealously advocate for her clients while witnessing the real-life impacts of Probation terms, thus developing a respect and understanding for her clients' entire path through the criminal justice system.
Michelle is licensed to practice law in California, Arizona, and Texas. She has spent her entire career as a criminal defense attorney. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family, reading, and volunteering with various organizations throughout the Dallas area.
Bio
Nancee is a zealous advocate for her clients and brings a passionate belief in justice and the presumption of innocence. She understands the unique challenges that a criminal conviction may pose to one's future. With this in mind, Nancee is dedicated to protecting her clients' rights and freedoms along the way and helping them seek the best possible outcome.
Nancee earned her B.A. in Criminology with a minor in Constitutional Studies from the University of Oklahoma in 2016. Her interest in criminal law grew when she interned for a criminal defense attorney, researching applications and constitutional limitations of searches and seizures. She went on to graduate from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2020. While pursuing her Juris Doctor, she interned for the Oklahoma City Municipal Counselor's Office, where she reviewed and processed tort claims filed against the City. She also interned for a solo attorney, working on both family and criminal cases. In addition, Nancee participated in several research projects throughout her time in university and law school, focusing on the impact of incarceration on offenders, their families, and their communities.
Shortly after receiving her law degree, Nancee joined the Scott H. Palmer, P.C. criminal team working on cases ranging from DWIs to sexual assaults and murders. Additionally, Nancee's experiences growing up in a Vietnamese-speaking household and traveling to Vietnam helps her communicate with Vietnamese-speaking clients.
In her spare time, Nancee enjoys traveling and trying new foods.
Bio
Paul represents large and small companies and individuals in various complex litigation matters. His practice primarily focuses on commercial litigation disputes involving fraud, breach of contract, business torts and various statutory and common law claims. Paul has vigorously and successfully represented clients in both federal and Texas state courts in cases involving the agribusiness, construction, personal injury, and real estate, among others. Past clients include Fortune 500 companies, small business owners, and start-up companies. Paul has extensive trial experience, including having tried over 20 cases to jury.
Paul graduated from Baylor Law School and was a member of the Order of the Barristers. While at Baylor, he was also a member of Baylor's National Trial Competition Team that won the national championship in 2012. Additionally, Paul was a two-time finalist in the Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee Intrascholastic Client Counseling Competition. He was an ABA Client Counseling National Qualifier in 2011, after winning the Regional Competition that same year. Prior to attending Baylor, Paul was an Academic All-American at Saint Xavier University as a member of the Men's Soccer team. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Business and Accounting.
Paul was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. He is an active member of the Dallas community and is a member of the Dallas Bar Association and Dallas Association of Young Lawyers. Paul was recognized as a Texas Rising Star for the last three years by Super Lawyers and has presented at continuing legal education courses.
Awards
Bio
Attorney Russell Turkel brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique skill set to the practice of federal criminal defense law. Russell is a native of Southeast Texas, where his mother was a college English professor and his father worked for a petrochemical plant before opening a successful law practice. He was inspired by their passion for learning, and he carries his hometown's blue-collar work ethic to complement twenty years of experience working for the federal judiciary.
Russell graduated from Lamar University with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, and he later returned to Lamar, where he earned a master's degree in public administration. While at Lamar, he was a member of the university's criminal justice association, and he was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.
Russell started his professional career in Orange County, Texas, as a probation officer, and he later accepted a position as a federal presentence investigation officer with the United States Probation Office in the Eastern District of Texas. He served various roles with the United States Probation Office, including those of team leader, sentencing guidelines specialist, and supervisor of a pretrial/presentence unit in Plano, Texas. He prepared and reviewed countless presentence reports for federal cases involving high-profile individual, complex criminal enterprise, and large-scale organizational crimes. He earned achievement awards for his outstanding work performance, and the district twice awarded him with the coveted Distinguished Service Award. In addition to his many in-district successes, Russell made many contributions on a national scale through his work as the Probation Officers' Advisory Group representative for the Eastern District of Texas and Central Region Vice President for the Federal Probation and Pretrial Officers Association.
Russell put himself through law school at UNT Dallas College of Law while working full-time for the United States Probation Office. Working during the day and going to school at night, Russell earned Dean's Lists honors throughout law school, was awarded the CALI Excellence for the Future Award (Torts), was inducted into the Phi Delta Phi International Honor Society, and served on the Board of Advocates, where he was vice president. In addition to his regular law school courses, he participated in the Joyce Ann Brown Innocence Clinic, and he studied abroad at a program hosted by Baylor Law School in St. Andrews, Scotland, where he found a passion for trial advocacy. Russell's hard work paid off, and in May 2021, he graduated cum laude from his law school.
In his free time, Russell loves spending time with his two daughters, traveling, running, and hiking.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Founding Attorney
Wes Sackrule has spent his time as an attorney exclusively working for Criminal Defense firms, advocating for his clients around the Metroplex and in jurisdictions throughout Texas. Wes' style tirelessly holds the State accountable to satisfying its burden with sufficient objective evidence. With a legal philosophy involving meticulous discovery review, Wes ensures the best outcome for his clients.
Wes earned his J.D. from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2021. Throughout his time there, Wes pursued opportunities in the SMU Criminal Clinic, working as a student attorney and eventually in a supervisory role as a Chief Student Attorney. This experience allowed him to work through all phases of the criminal justice process and develop a rapport with the legal community in Dallas County. Prior to obtaining his J.D. at SMU Law, Wes attended Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science.
Amid a successful career in the hospitality industry, Wes opted to pursue a lifelong dream of being an attorney advocating for justice. Wes' international upbringing and multicultural heritage drew his focus to the achievements as well as the pitfalls of the unique American legal process. The adversarial and deliberative method of the judicial system paired well with his own natural strengths of critical thinking and public speaking. Wes epitomizes passionate advocacy for those in need with his dogged work ethic and an emphasis on communication and client satisfaction.
Outside of work, Wes loves to spend time with his wife and four children, traveling to visit family across the globe and experiencing different cultures.