DART EXECUTIVE STAFF BIOGRAPHIES
General Counsel
DART attorney Hyattye O. Simmons was named General Counsel by the Board of Directors in March 2007. As General Counsel, Mr. Simmons duties include:
- Legal advice and legal representation to the agency, the Board of Directors, the President/Executive Director of the agency, agency vice presidents, assistant vice presidents, and other agency representatives and direct reports on all areas of law;
- Overseeing and managing the Legal Department;
- Developing and implementing legal strategies that facilitate the accomplishment of agency goals and mission;
- Serving as the agency's primary legal representative in all matters of litigation at all levels of federal, state, and administrative courts.
In his 21 years at DART, Simmons has been involved in a wide variety of legal matters, concentrating on local governmental litigation defense:
Prior DART Positions:
- Interim General Counsel, January 2007 - March 2007
- Senior Assistant General Counsel IV, August 1998 - December 2006
- Chief Counsel, Tort Litigation Division (Assistant General Counsel III), January 1992 - August 1998
- Assistant General Counsel II, February 1988 - January 1992
Prior Legal Experience:
- Assistant City Attorney, City of Dallas, February 1987 - February 1988
- General Counsel, Texas Secretary of State's Office, February 1986 - February 1987
- Assistant General Counsel, Texas Secretary of State's Office, November 1984 - February 1986
- Legal Assistant to the General Counsel, Texas Secretary of State's Office, February 1984 - November 1984
Education
Mr. Simmons is a graduate of the University of Texas and Lamar University:
- Legal: University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas - J.D., May 1984
- Pre-Legal: Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas - B.S., December 1979*
Major: Government, Minor: Criminal Justice
Mr. Simmons has been a licensed attorney in the State of Texas since 1984 and has numerous published appellate decisions.
