J Schaad Titus, for over thirty years, has successfully represented many Tulsa area institutions in state and federal court as well as in appellate practice before all courts. Schaad’s regular practice areas include litigation, First Amendment defense work and privacy issues, all aspects of banking and bankruptcy as well as employment defense for many of his regular firm clients. Several of his clients are well recognized Tulsa institutions, including the Tulsa World, Arvest Bank, BancFirst, The F&M Bank & Trust Company (now Prosperity Bank), RCB Bank, Security Bank, other financial institutions, The Rib Crib BBQ, Inc., several auto dealers, and many Tulsa employers.
Schaad’s work has been honored by the Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers for many years in several categories. Schaad was previously a partner at another Tulsa firm for about twenty years when he, Tom Hillis, and Barry Reynolds formed Titus Hillis in 1998.
Schaad has served as Adjunct Professor at the Oral Roberts University School of Law and has lectured on a variety of continuing legal education topics and other panels.
Representative Experience
- Successfully overturned the dismissal of an Open Meetings Act claim and obtained a decision ensuring all Oklahomans have a private right of action for violations of the Act.
- Successfully petitioned the Oklahoma Supreme Court to grant a writ of mandamus and overturn an erroneous district court decision to enforce a multi-million dollar lien on an aircraft.
- Obtained a writ of mandamus from the Oklahoma Supreme Court on behalf of a newspaper, arguing that an adult’s juvenile records were open records under the facts of the case and that the trial court’s refusal to release records was an unauthorized use of judicial force.
- Effectively defended a bank’s security interest in personal property against other creditors and proved the bank had a superior lien — ultimately recovering the property and foreclosing on the lien.
- Represented a client in a complex appellate matter successfully asserting a writ of mandamus to the Oklahoma Supreme Court and winning the issue 9-0.
- Advised a client through a debtor’s bankruptcy obtaining relief from stay, recovering property from the bankruptcy estate, and asserting a creditor's claim on behalf of a financial institution.
- Represented a client in foreclosure proceedings on large commercial real estate transaction with multiple creditors.