Personal Lives
‘Totally Driven’ Lawyer’s Suicide a Wake-Up Call for Others
Posted May 5, 2008, 03:45 pm CDT
By Martha Neil
To those who knew him, including his best friend, Hermes Villarreal was a successful trial lawyer with a happy family life.
But beneath the surface, the 41-year-old South Texas plaintiffs attorney struggled with anxiety and depression. However, he didn't know at the time that his headaches and other symptoms apparently called for psychiatric treatment, and his family, friends, colleagues and even medical professionals didn't understand the extent of his problems, Texas Lawyer reported in a lengthy feature article.
On April 19, 2005, three days after Villarreal had been admitted to a hospital in McAllen, he committed suicide with a razor given to him by a nurse.
"Just leading up to this hospitalization, he'd go through periods of insomnia where he was awake for days, and at work he had difficulty concentrating. He wasn't picking up on what people were saying, he couldn't focus on his cases and he had a sensation of his heart racing and thought maybe he was having some sort of a heart event. He told the ER doctor and the internist that he felt like he was under tremendous pressure in his legal practice," recounts Mary Wilson, a partner in Rhodes & Vela in San Antonio who represented Villarreal's family. "He was an alpha male, an A-type personality and totally driven—independent in every way and providing for everyone very well—who had an acute psychiatric condition, and he needed care."
Earlier this year, a tort claim brought against the hospital by Villarreal's family resulted in a $9 million jury award, although the amount is subject to change by the trial judge and is expected to be substantially less, based on post-verdict motions and statutory damage caps.
But the case isn't just about the money, whatever the amount of the final award may be, says Raymond Thomas. A partner at Kittleman, Thomas & Gonzales in McAllen who helped win the case before a Hidalgo County jury, he also was Villarreal's best friend.
"If it causes one lawyer to look in the mirror and say, 'That's happening to me,' or, 'That's happening to one of my colleagues,' it will all have been worth it," says Thomas. "It's too bad it takes a tragedy like this for people to become self-aware, but perhaps this tragedy will prevent some others."
Read the full article.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: "Renowned Criminal Defense Lawyer Gary Proctor Commits Suicide"
ABAJournal.com: "ABA OKs Conditional Admission to Bar for Would-Be Lawyers with Addiction, Mental Problems"
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Comments
Posted by Okra Owkwe - 1 month, 3 weeks, 5 days, 21 hours, 59 minutes ago
It is true. Legal job not worth killing yourself over. Clients are demanding, many have bad breath, too. The lure of a few extra dinero should not lead to suicide. This fellow will rot away, and be forgotten, and for what? Some sloppy ungrateful non-paying clients? When will we learn that work must be put behind leisure and good times.
Posted by Rick - 1 month, 3 weeks, 5 days, 20 hours, 8 minutes ago
Panic attack was one of the things this guy was having. It’s a klaxon alarm from your body to see a doctor.
Posted by Marc H - 1 month, 3 weeks, 5 days, 19 hours, 8 minutes ago
The loss of this individual is a terrible tragedy that shouldn’t happen to anyone.
However, it seems disingenuous to say that a negligence lawsuit against the HOSPITAL is partly to make lawyers more self-aware and make them seek treatment.
Posted by stan - 1 month, 3 weeks, 5 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes ago
this selfish nutcase kills himself because he wants to be an overacheiver and the hospital has to pay out 9m?
Posted by Pat - 1 month, 3 weeks, 5 days, 16 hours, 7 minutes ago
RIP Mr. Villarreal. But for Thomas to say “the case isn’t about the money” is a joke. I’m sure he donated his firm’s share to the groups involved in suicide prevention.
Posted by Lynne - 1 month, 3 weeks, 5 days, 14 hours, 36 minutes ago
There but for the grace of God .... Stan, your response is appalling.
Posted by ncn - 1 month, 3 weeks, 5 days, 14 hours, 28 minutes ago
I don’t like the way Stan phrased his comment but I have to agree that the hospital should not shoulder the blame. Any patient could have brought their own razor with them - he was not admitted as a psyc patient to be watched.