J.P. Farris, 65; Judge in Pennzoil-Texaco Suit

The judge who presided over the major portion of the Pennzoil-Texaco trial in which a jury awarded a record $10.53-billion judgment to Pennzoil, has died at age 65.

J.P. Farris, a former federal prosecutor, died of cancer at his Houston home Monday.

However, his death will not affect Texaco Inc.’s appeal of the judgment, now pending before an appellate court, a court spokesman said.

The case was perhaps the most widely publicized in Farris’ long career. Last November, the jury in his state district court ruled against Texaco, awarding Pennzoil the largest judgment in U.S. history for its actions in acquiring Getty Oil in 1984.

The trial began in July, 1985, but controversy erupted beforehand when it was reported that Pennzoil Co.’s lead attorney, Joe Jamail, had given a $10,000 campaign contribution to Farris. A visiting judge turned down a motion contending that Farris would rule favorably for Jamail.

Farris was forced by illness to step down 15 weeks after the trial began. Retired State District Judge Solomon Casseb of San Antonio was appointed to preside over the remainder of the trial.

“I’m sorry he didn’t live to see the outcome of the case, especially since his integrity was disparaged repeatedly by the defendant,” said Jim Shannon, one the jurors in the trial.