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The Dirty Verdict

The Dirty Verdict

By: Kyle Herbert
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 Get all the dirty details and legal insights from Houston Lawyers, Kyle Herbert and Peter Taffe, as they explore exciting cases. Kyle Herbert: https://herberttrial.com Peter Taaffe: https://comeauxmediation.com/attorney/peter-taaffe/ Bill Ogden: https://fbtrial.com/attorneys/bill-ogden/2022 Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • S4 Eps 4: Andrew Cobos Interview

    S4 Eps 4: Andrew Cobos Interview
    Feb 17 2026
    The crew kicks off the holiday episode in peak Dirty Verdict fashion: festive sweaters, friendly roasting, and a proposed "punishment" that somehow turns into high-stakes Trivial Pursuit. Then repeat guest Andrew Cobos jumps in and the conversation shifts from jokes to jaw-dropping: Ironman distances, brutal open-water swims, and why Andrew's next "goal" is somehow even crazier—climbing Mount Everest. From there, the episode turns serious as Andrew breaks down his firm's work in major mass tort litigation, including PFAS "forever chemical" exposure, firefighting foam, and what those cases mean for veterans and industrial firefighters. The hosts also dig into the realities of taking on the government, how these claims are being built, and the bigger idea behind it all: using litigation to force real-world accountability and policy change—then somehow landing the plane back in Dirty Verdict land with talk of lawyer boxing matches and black-tie fight night. Timestamps & Highlights 00:00:15 – Holiday chaos begins — Peter, Kyle, and Bill trade greetings, jokes, and sweater-season banter.00:00:40 – "Punishment" ideas — the crew floats leprechaun makeup and even retaking the SAT as consequences for missing the memo.00:01:14 – High-stakes Trivial Pursuit — $100 per person, teams allowed… and trash talk immediately escalates.00:02:11 – Andrew Cobos returns — repeat guest is back, and the guys immediately notice he's in serious shape.00:02:33 – Ironman résumé revealed — Andrew details completing two half Ironmans and a full (and clarifies the year).00:02:53 – Ironman distances explained — swim/bike/run breakdown, plus the "it's longer than it sounds" reality.00:03:08 – Galveston + Cozumel swim stories — calm water vs brutal open-ocean conditions.00:04:34 – Full Ironman in Florida — Andrew talks Panama City Beach and why "flat" can still feel brutal.00:05:36 – Next goal: Everest — Andrew explains he's transitioning from endurance racing to mountain climbing.00:06:09 – Everest risk talk — crowding, danger, and the harsh reality of summit attempts.00:06:47 – Andrew's practice growth — the hosts talk about how well his firm is doing and why he keeps it lean.00:09:05 – Lean firm philosophy — small team, low overhead, and staying intentional about growth.00:09:45 – Mass tort focus — Andrew gets into the 3M earplug litigation and the scale of bellwether outcomes.00:10:38 – PFAS explained ("forever chemicals") — what it is, where it came from, and why it's a major national litigation front.00:11:15 – Firefighting foam + cancer discussion — exposure pathways, firefighters, and what makes these cases so serious.00:12:16 – C8 vs C6 — the distinction, the "PR shift," and why it still matters in litigation.00:13:23 – Dose + duration challenge — why proving exposure over time becomes a battlefield in these cases.00:15:03 – Legal-movie sidebar — the crew riffs on classic litigation films and how realistic negotiation scenes can be.00:16:12 – 3M earplug case scale — why it's one of the biggest MDLs and what makes it uniquely massive.00:17:08 – Transition to Fort Hood/Cavazos topic — the conversation turns to a major new, troubling set of allegations.00:18:07 – Andrew's military background + context — West Point, Fort Hood experience, and systemic concerns.00:20:15 – "Floodgates opened" moment — the scope expands quickly once the case becomes public.00:22:22 – Power dynamics + policy failures — Andrew explains why structural safeguards matter in military medical settings.00:24:22 – Moving beyond litigation — emphasis on policy reform and conversations with lawmakers.00:26:48 – Volume of clients referenced — Andrew discusses the scale of representation and coordination.00:31:52 – Intake + mental health support — the firm's workflow and why trauma counseling is a priority.00:34:38 – Broader military context — comparisons to other cases and how these situations escalate institutionally.00:36:17 – Andrew's MP deployments — route security, IED reality, and what that job actually looked like.00:41:07 – Army–Navy tradition — library pushups, West Point culture, and Houston's West Point club.00:43:24 – Why Andrew keeps the firm small — travel, retreats, and culture as a deliberate strategy.00:46:55 – Lawyer boxing idea returns — the crew starts fantasy-booking "Dirty Verdict Fight Night."00:48:10 – White-collar boxing memory — black-tie vibe, big money, and how it could work as an event.00:50:32 – Wrap-up — thanks, shout-outs, and where to follow/listen.
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    52 mins
  • S4 Eps 3: Chi Nguyen Interview

    S4 Eps 3: Chi Nguyen Interview
    Feb 6 2026
    In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, Peter Taaffe and Kyle Herbert sit down with Houston branding powerhouse Chi Nguyen to unpack the real story behind one of the most recognizable legal marketing campaigns in the city: "We Push. You Win." Chi shares his Houston roots, the wild origin story that pushed him toward law (yes—he got hit with a Nike cease & desist as a teenager), and how a marketing brain + personal injury law became the foundation for a firm built to scale. Then the conversation turns into a full-blown masterclass on billboards, repetition, commuter psychology, emotional decision-making, and building a brand that stays top-of-mind. They also dive into the less-glamorous side of growth—systems, operations, HR headaches, and maintaining quality while scaling fast—before Chi shares what's next: launching The Nguyen Law Firm and building a legal tech / AI platform designed to help lawyers run leaner and serve clients better. YouTube-style highlights (with timestamps) 00:00:39 — Intro + Chi Nguyen joins the show00:00:53 — Why Chi is one of the most recognizable legal brands in Houston00:02:15 — Chi's Houston upbringing + immigrant family background00:03:13 — "I got sued by Nike for $1,000,000 in 9th grade." 😳00:05:44 — The "Gucci monogram Jordan" moment… and realizing they were fake00:06:23 — How Chi found a China supplier + created a dropship operation00:08:04 — Early Google PPC: "Air Jordan" clicks were $0.1000:08:30 — Scaling from 20 orders/day to 100+ orders/day as a teenager00:08:50 — Nike demand letter hits: fear, panic, and the moment that changed his life00:10:09 — Using the money to help family (not flexing shoes) + why he chose law00:12:40 — U of H marketing + sales program (why it matters)00:14:04 — Why personal injury: watching Jim Adler commercials as a kid00:15:13 — South Texas College of Law + meeting Anthony + starting the firm00:19:04 — The "biggest in Houston" vision + hitting goals early00:22:42 — Spotting a funeral home "For Sale" sign… and turning it into the office00:23:18 — Target audience strategy: why he focused on specific Houston pockets00:25:03 — Billboard strategy begins: planning in 2021, executing in early 202200:26:34 — Google PPC got wrecked: $500–$600 per click for PI terms00:28:00 — Why billboards still work in Houston (if you do it right)00:29:39 — "You don't have to be everywhere—just be undeniable somewhere."00:30:27 — Repetition math: 250,000 cars/day + stacking boards for 100% capture00:31:21 — People buy emotionally, then justify logically (jury + marketing crossover)00:33:06 — "Your logo is your face." Branding with faces > logos00:35:37 — The psychological hack behind We Push / You Win00:37:18 — Early boards were too busy → simplifying to face + website only00:39:03 — Why they went all-in on branding instead of lead-gen00:40:33 — Timeline expectations: committing to a full year with no panic pivot00:41:52 — Starting budget: around $100K/month for the initial billboard run00:43:31 — The iconic "viral" square board location off 45 & Telephone00:43:58 — Scale: ~50 "permed" boards + building the inventory over time00:46:27 — Scaling operations: bringing in a CEO to systematize and streamline00:49:28 — The hardest part of growth: managing people + protecting culture00:51:12 — What's next: The Nguyen Law Firm + launching a legal tech company00:53:32 — AI thesis: the biggest flex is building lean with small teams00:56:17 — AI for law: case management, comms, virtual depos/mediations00:57:22 — Claude vs ChatGPT + "make the AIs argue" strategy00:59:24 — What lawyers should fear: surveillance, not productivity01:00:27 — Wrap-up + where to find Chi + beta testing timeline01:01:28 — Outro + socials
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • S4 Eps 2: Stephen Boutros Interview

    S4 Eps 2: Stephen Boutros Interview
    Jan 20 2026

    Welcome back to The Dirty Verdict—and this week, Peter Taaffe and Kyle Herbert are coming to you Tuesday after Thanksgiving with two things on the agenda: a little post-game storytelling from a wild weekend in Austin, and a masterclass in building a real law practice the right way.

    Their featured guest is Stephen Boutros, a board-certified personal injury trial lawyer and proud Texas Aggie, who joins the show for an honest conversation about what it takes to sustain a long, successful career without chasing hype. Stephen walks through his path from South Texas College of Law to plaintiff's work, how a single early verdict changed everything, and why he intentionally runs a lean firm focused on personalized client care—not volume.

    Along the way, the guys dive into unforgettable war stories (including a dumpster explosion case and a catastrophic workplace injury caught on video), smart trial strategy when liability isn't perfect, and the practical habits Stephen believes separate great lawyers from average ones: show up prepared, care about people, tell the truth, and do the right thing—especially when nobody's watching.

    If you're a young lawyer thinking about going solo (or just trying to build something that lasts), this episode is packed with perspective, tactics, and the kind of wisdom you only get after decades in the arena.

    Guest: Stephen Boutros
    Website: BoutrosLaw.com
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    57 mins
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