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Seven McCathern Attorneys Named 2015 “Rising Stars” by Texas Super Lawyers

Texas Rising Stars list of up-and-coming lawyers. This is an exclusive list, recognizing no more than 2.5% of lawyers in the state. Law firm McCathern, PLLC is pleased to announce that seven attorneys from the firm’s Dallas and Houston offices have been named to the 2015 Texas Rising Stars list of exceptional young lawyers. McCathern’s 2015 Texas […]

Improving People’s Lives: A Growing Year

The year of 2014 was an exciting one for McCathern, PLLC with expansions and growth geographically, internally, and personally, including: a new location, new section, new Partners, and giving back to our communities. On March 17th we were proud to announce the opening of a new office in Los Angeles, California. The merge with Los Angeles-based law […]

McCathern Promotes Dallas Attorneys Joseph Sampson and Ty Sheaks to Partners

McCathern, PLLC is pleased to announce that attorneys Joseph E. Sampson and Ty M. Sheaks have been named Partners of the firm. Both attorneys are experienced litigators who have worked to achieve the best possible results for each client, and their promotions strengthen McCathern’s practice as leaders in civil and business litigation cases. What Does […]

Judge tosses sexual assault lawsuit against Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

DallasNews.com By Kevin Krause and Robert Wilonsky / 16 October 2014 11:19 PM A Dallas County district judge on Thursday dismissed a sexual assault and conspiracy lawsuit filed by a former stripper from Oklahoma against Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Jana Weckerly filed the suit in Dallas County district court in September, alleging that Jones sexually […]

Dunhill Can Pursue Damages In $6M Hail Insurance Lawsuit

Dunhill is represented by Brett M. Chisum and Levi G. McCathern, II of McCathern, PLLC. Law360, Los Angeles (September 2, 2014, 7:52 PM ET; by Jeff Sistrunk): A Texas federal judge on Thursday refused to rule that Dunhill Partners Inc. can’t recover damages in a $6.2 million dispute with State Automobile Mutual Insurance Co. over […]

Thank You for Your Support for One Mission’s Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off

This past Sunday three of McCathern’s very own attorneys participated in One Mission’s Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off. Joey Sampson, Arnold Shokouhi, and Greg Kline (pictured from left to right) shaved their heads along with 208 other people at AT&T Stadium to support children battling cancer. See the before and after pictures below – our attorneys are […]

McCathern Attorneys Named “Best Lawyers in Dallas” by D Magazine

Partners Levi McCathern, Paul Grinke, Arnold Shokouhi, and Jennette DePonte represent the excellence of McCathern Law’s diverse practice areas and are deservedly recognized for the Best Lawyers in Dallas 2014 honor Congratulations to McCathern Law Firm Partners Levi G. McCathern, II, Paul A. Grinke, Arnold Shokouhi, Jennette E. DePonte, and Of Counsel Jonathan L. Howell on being […]

Five McCathern Attorneys Selected to D Magazine’s 2014 Best Lawyers in Dallas List

Congratulations to McCathern partners Levi McCathern, Paul Grinke, Arnold Shokouhi, and Jennette DePonte, and of counsel, Jonathan Howell, on being selected to D Magazine’s 2014 Best Lawyers in Dallas List. Only 502 lawyers in Dallas received D Magazine’s “Best Lawyer” honor this year. The 2014 listing of the top attorneys in Dallas was determined through […]

Twelve McCathern Attorneys Named Texas Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for 2014

Twelve attorneys from McCathern law firm have been selected to the 2014 Texas Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists Twelve attorneys from McCathern law firm have been selected to the 2014 Texas Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. Less than 5% of all lawyers in Texas are selected for this honor. Super Lawyers include: Levi G. McCathern, […]

Levi McCathern Defends Dallas Cowboys and the National Football League in Dallas Super Bowl Injury Trial

“Sampson Takes Stand in Super Bowl XLV Trial.” NBCDFW.com. 4 March 2014. “Falling ice ‘shocked’ stadium manager.” dallasnews.com. 28 February 2014. “In trial, doctors describe setbacks for man hit by ice falling from stadium.” WFAA.com. 26 February 2014. “Testimony begins in Cowboys Stadium falling ice case.” WFAA.com. 25 February 2014. “Cowboys Stadium Falling Ice Civil […]

PROSPER ISD PARENTS QUESTION DISTRICT RESPONSE TO BUS DRIVER ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING STUDENTS

December 15, 2025

Author: Rebecca Lopez with WFAA Watch the interview here. PROSPER, Texas — Parents of two young girls who say they were repeatedly sexually assaulted by a Prosper ISD school bus driver are speaking out about what they describe as serious failures by the district — including delayed notification to families and promised safety changes they say were never fully implemented. The parents asked that they not be identified to protect their children, who were just elementary school age at the time of the abuse. In a lawsuit filed in 2023, the girls — identified only as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 — allege former bus driver Frank Paniagua assaulted them repeatedly during the 2021–2022 school year. According to the lawsuit, Paniagua would wait until other students exited the bus, then assault the girls, sometimes holding one child back so he could take her to the rear of the bus. Attorneys say the abuse occurred over several months and was captured on bus surveillance video. How the abuse was discovered The girls’ mother said the abuse came to light after their grandmother noticed troubling comments about gift cards offered by the bus driver. When the mother later questioned the girls again, they disclosed what had been happening. Prosper ISD police reviewed surveillance video from the bus in May 2022. Paniagua was arrested two days later and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and indecency with a child. Paniagua later died after jumping from the second floor of the Collin County Jail while awaiting trial. Concerns about delayed notifications Attorneys for the family say more than 100 days passed after Paniagua’s arrest before Prosper ISD publicly acknowledged the allegations — a delay parents say may have prevented other potential victims from being identified. At a packed school board meeting, Prosper ISD parent Morgan Grahovec, a child psychologist whose daughter attended the same school as the victims, told trustees that delays in notifying parents can have serious consequences. “Children who are victims of abuse need to be identified and interviewed as soon as possible because memory fades over time,” Grahovec said. “The longer you wait, it’s harder to get a child to report abuse accurately.” Parents at those meetings called for Superintendent Holly Ferguson’s resignation, arguing district leaders should have acted sooner and communicated more transparently. Ferguson did not step down, instead promising changes to safety protocols. District response and former statement In an earlier written statement to WFAA, Prosper ISD said it took appropriate action once allegations surfaced: “We are horrified that an employee violated the trust of our families and students, as Prosper ISD’s foremost priority is to protect our students’ safety and well-being at all times. We strongly condemn the actions of any adult who would cause mental or physical harm to a child, and we do not tolerate such behavior.” The district has declined additional comment, citing pending litigation. Disputed claims about safety changes Prosper ISD previously told parents it would implement additional safeguards, including increased supervision during bus drop-offs, a volunteer “bus buddy” program, and improved monitoring of bus surveillance video. But the parents and their attorneys say those changes were not consistently put in place. Attorney Levi McCathern says the district does not regularly review bus surveillance footage — even though video captured the alleged abuse in this case. “You would think the first thing you would do after this happens is change your monitoring program,” McCathern said. “They don’t monitor them at all.” McCathern and co-counsel Kristin Hecker say the lawsuit is aimed at forcing policy changes rather than seeking financial gain. Questions about oversight and leadership The case has also raised broader concerns about district leadership and oversight. Prosper ISD’s school board president later resigned in an unrelated child abuse case, further shaking confidence among some parents. Families have also questioned the independence of the district’s internal review, noting that the law firm hired to investigate the district’s response is also defending Prosper ISD in the lawsuit. “All we want is an independent investigation,” McCathern said. Parents push for accountability and change The parents say their children remain enrolled in Prosper ISD, but they continue to press for reforms they believe could prevent similar abuse. “We want justice for our kids,” the girls’ mother said. “But we also want changes to happen at the district so that this doesn’t happen to other children.”

Author: McCathern Law