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In December 2025, McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans appointed Arnold Shokouhi as Chief Executive Officer and promoted Stephanie M. Almeter to Managing Partner of the firm’s Dallas headquarters, marking a significant leadership milestone in the firm’s continued growth.

Family Law Associate

McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans is seeking a skilled Family Law Associate with 4–8 years of experience handling all aspects of family law, including litigation, settlement negotiations, and client counseling. The ideal candidate will have a strong ability to manage a full caseload independently, draft pleadings and motions, and represent clients in hearings and mediations. This role […]

McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans expands its Dallas footprint with the addition of Kevin Koudelka and his law firm, strengthening the firm’s capabilities in construction litigation, catastrophic personal injury, product liability, commercial disputes, aviation, and more.

The firm expands their practice portfolio with the addition of White Collar & Government Investigations through a merger with Dallas-based “powerhouse” criminal defense attorney Daniel K. Hagood and his team.

Litigation Paralegal

McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans is seeking a highly experienced Litigation Paralegal with at least seven years of experience supporting attorneys through all phases of complex litigation, from discovery and trial preparation to courtroom assistance and post-trial motions. This role involves managing case files, drafting legal documents, coordinating e-discovery, and maintaining client communication, while ensuring strict compliance […]

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Ty Sheaks and Jesse Showalter were wonderful throughout the entire process of my case.From the beginning they listened intently and provided clear input to help me understand my options, while answering my questions and managing my expectations along the way. I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome, as their efforts resulted in a mid-six-figure […]

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You have a team of dedicated, knowledgeable, and highly competent professionals. McCathern has given us the opportunity to look forward to a better life. Your team is always courteous, patient, and generous with their time and talents where our case is concerned. A special appreciation of ours extends to Arnold. Arnold is the consummate […]

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McCathern Law did a great job with my case. Ty Sheaks along with Asher Miller helped me out of a jam I put myself in and I can not thank them enough. The process took over three years but they stood beside me the entire time.

McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans law firm grows their family law practice in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with the acquisition of Briner Family Law Group.

The firm opens an office in Santa Monica, CA further expanding our presence in the state.

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: Pavel Narodovy