Biography

I am a trial attorney in BoyarMiller's Litigation Group licensed in both Texas and Louisiana. I serve clients with integrity and with a proactive approach, always striving to develop creative, practical and value-driven solutions to complex problems and disputes both before and after litigation has commenced.

My practice involves the representation of a wide range of clients from individuals to large corporations. I am responsible for a multifaceted docket of cases involving general commercial litigation, products liability litigation, consumer law disputes, employment litigation and construction litigation.

Representative Matters

• Won a jury verdict for an owner of a hotel against a large group customer who cancelled a series of contracts claiming the hotel's service has diminished. The customer preemptively filed suit. Although we began the trial as the Defendant, we were able to obtain a directed verdict on all of the Plaintiff's claims and then obtain an unanimous jury verdict on the counter-claim after less than one hour of jury deliberations.
• Successfully defended a nationwide manufacturer in a lawsuit brought under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act in front of Judge Wayne J. Mallia in Galveston County, Texas.  After a two-day trial, the jury rendered a unanimous verdict in favor of the client in less than 15 minutes.
• Successfully defended two employees in the oil and gas industry in a Preliminary Injunction hearing in Federal Court in the Southern District of Texas. The employees' former employer sought to enforce non-compete agreements and immediately restrain the employees from competing with their prior employer. The Honorable Gray H. Miller denied the former employer's request for injunctive relief.
  

Education

• JD, South Texas College of Law
• BA, Indiana State University

Affiliations

• Texas Bar Foundation (Fellow)
• Houston Bar Association
• Texas Bar Association
• Louisiana Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Bar Association of the Fifth Circuit

Community

• Greater Houston Partnership

Representative Matters

• Handled a securities litigation action against an international energy company including deposing the chief executives of the company. Obtained a settlement for the client recovering 100% of clients' total loss, plus an additional $380,000 in attorney's fees.
• Won a summary judgment on behalf of the owner of a large oilfield pipe threading company in Harris County, Texas. The client was alleged to have contributed to the securement of a driver's load of pipe which the Plaintiffs' claimed shifted during a motor vehicle accident causing or contributing to cause the accident and resulting in the death of a mother and child.
• Obtained a take-nothing arbitration award against a plaintiff who brought a breach of contract action against a company specializing in investment training for the stock index futures market.
• Represented the owner of a 10,000-acre master planned residential community in Harris County, Texas to successfully obtain a bill of review vacating a $187,000 default judgment obtained against the client.
• Won a summary judgment on behalf of the owner of a 10,000-acre master planned residential community in Harris County, Texas. The client contracted with a construction company to perform "cut and fill" and grading work. The contractor sued for approximately $4.5 million for alleged failure to pay for extra work and delay damages. Summary judgment was awarded when it was shown that the contractor had signed a series of lien waivers and releases, which released their claims for additional compensation as a matter of law.

Press Releases

February 11, 2010

December 21, 2009

June 01, 2009

Other News

How to Offer and Exclude Evidence - UH CLE (July 2009)
BoyarMiller underwrote this University of Houston CLE program, presented July 9-10, 2009 (Houston) and July 16-17, 2009 (Dallas). Chris Hanslik, the firm's Vice Chairman, served as the Course Director with Litigation Group Chairman David Bond and Sr. Associate Craig Dillard both serving on the CLE faculty.

Boyar & Miller Successfully Defends Forest River, Inc. in Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act Litigation (June 2009)
On June 1, 2009, Craig Dillard successfully defended Forest River in trial against alleged violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act in front of the Honorable Wayne J. Mallia in Galveston County, Texas. The unanimous verdict was reached after less than 15 minutes of jury deliberation.

Publications

Electronic Evidence and Discovery: The Law
How to Offer and Exclude Evidence Program sponsored by
University of Houston Law Foundation Continuing Legal Education 
July 9-10 and 16-17, 2009

Overcoming the Fear of E-Filing!
South Texas College of Law 22nd Annual Family Law Conference
March 6-7, 2008

Investigating the Maritime Incident - Applicable Privileges and Considerations
Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association 
2007 River and Marine Industry Seminar, April 25 - 27, 2007

Presentations

Electronic Evidence and Discovery: The Law
How to Offer and Exclude Evidence Program sponsored by
University of Houston Law Foundation Continuing Legal Education, July 9-10, 2009

Overcoming the Fear of E-Filing!
South Texas College of Law 22nd Annual Family Law Conference, March 6-7, 2008

Awards and Recognitions

• Order of Barristers
• Board of Advocates