Employment Litigation

Successfully defended five employees against claims brought by former employer alleging breaches of fiduciary duties, conspiracy, and misappropriation of trade secret claims.

Represents popular Houston restaurant group in various business disputes and employment matters.

Represents a privately owned hospital group in various business disputes and employment matters.

Represented a title company in defense of a claim under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The plaintiffs were assistant escrow officers claiming unpaid overtime. The case was settled on favorable terms to the client after minimal discovery and briefing on key legal issues.

Won a unanimous jury verdict of $1.3 million on behalf of two former partners of an accounting firm based on the accounting firm’s failure to pay amounts owed to the partners following their separation from the firm, including amounts owed to them for the repurchase of their shares of stock in the accounting firm.   The jury also unanimously rejected a counterclaim filed by the accounting firm in which the firm sought more than $750,000 in damages based on alleged breaches of non-compete provisions, confidentiality provisions, and buy-sell provisions of the partner’s employment agreements which would have required the former partners to pay the firm for any clients that left with the former partners.

Successfully defended a manufacturer in a lawsuit brought by former employee claiming sexual harassment, hostile work environment and negligent hiring based on allegations that former employee’s supervisor made sexually explicit comments to her. The former employee’s claim of negligent hiring was premised on the allegation that the employer hired the supervisor who had a criminal record. The lawsuit raised novel issues relating to the exclusivity provision of the Texas Workers Compensation Act.

Successfully defended a national manufacturer-distributor in an EEOC proceeding brought by former employee claiming sexual harassment and gender discrimination relating to a manager’s sex based comments. The matter settled on very favorable terms for the employer after an extensive EEOC investigation that included multiple on-site interviews of employees and review of company records.

Won a unanimous arbitration award on behalf of a former senior executive officer and director of a privately held bank with over $1.0 billion in assets. Our client was sued by the bank in state district court for breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation of trade secrets, and conversion following his resignation from the bank. In the state court proceeding, we successfully dissolved an ex parte restraining order and compelled the lawsuit to arbitration. In the arbitration, the bank sought over $20,000,000 in damages and we asserted counterclaims against the bank for tortious interference with contract and failure to pay wages. After a five day arbitration and significant post-hearing briefing, the three member arbitration panel ruled in favor of our client on all claims and awarded all damages sought pursuant to our counterclaims.

Won an arbitration award on behalf of two senior level employees of a manufacturing facility against their former employer due to the former employer’s failure to make profit sharing and bonus payments under two separate agreements. Counterclaims were asserted against our client. After a five day arbitration, the arbitration panel ruled in favor of our clients and awarded our clients all of the damages sought and attorneys fees.

Defended clients operating a start-up oil field services company in a lawsuit brought by an established competitor alleging claims against our clients for misappropriation of trade secrets, breach fiduciary duty, and conspiracy and seeking to completely shut down our client’s business. After a six day temporary injunction trial, the lawsuit settled on terms that allowed our clients to continue their business in competition with former employer.

Successfully obtained injunction on behalf of client against former employee. The client was a refinery maintenance contractor who brought suit alleging the former employee breached non-compete and non-solicitation covenants, and the former employee asserted counterclaims for damages arising out of termination of employment. After securing a Temporary Injunction that prohibited the former employee from competing and soliciting clients, the matter ultimately settled with entry of Permanent Injunction and no payment to employee for alleged damages.

Represented a dentist and her practice against claims by another dentistry practice for tortious interference. The plaintiff alleged the defendant tortiously interfered with a noncompetition agreement it had with another local dentist by conspiring to solicit patients in violation of the agreement. Successfully obtained an early dismissal in exchange for a nominal settlement payment.

Successfully defended a restaurant group in a lawsuit brought by a former employee claiming sexual harassment based on allegations that manager made sexual advances towards the employee and sent sexually explicit photographs to the employee. The lawsuit centered almost entirely on alleged conduct that occurred outside the workplace during non-working hours and presented unique issues relating to the employer’s affirmative defense under the Faragher/Ellerth line of cases.

Represented an offshore drilling service company in a proceeding brought by former employee claiming race discrimination based on the employer’s alleged failure to provide the employee with the same employment opportunities it provided to other employees outside the protected class. This lawsuit raised unique issues regarding the employer’s obligation to provide offshore work opportunities where it was also providing onshore work.

Represented a residential real estate company in a proceeding brought by a former employee claiming disability discrimination after the employee was terminated for being absent from work for a number of days in excess of the company’s stated policy. The matter tested the interplay between the employer’s absence control policy and the reasonable accommodation requirements of the ADA and leave requirements under the FMLA.

Represented executive bankers in state court lawsuit asserting claims for violations of non-competition agreement and breach of fiduciary duty and related week-long arbitration before the American Arbitration Association in which over $15,000,000 in damages was in controversy.

Represented a manufacturer of large industrial equipment in an EEOC proceeding brought by an employee claiming the termination of his employment was national origin discrimination. The matter involved the employer’s decision to convert the employee’s pay structure from hourly to salary resulting in the potential for employees to make less money when overtime was factored into the hourly rate.

Represented group of employees in week-long arbitration seeking recovery of unpaid bonuses, commissions, and severance payments in which approximately $1,000,000 was in controversy.

Represented a national property management company in an EEOC proceeding brought by former employee claiming that the termination of her employment was race and gender discrimination. This proceeding arose out of events that occurred outside of the workplace during the company’s holiday party.

Represented executive and equipment manufacturer in multi-day injunction trial in state court lawsuit asserting claims for for breach of non-compete agreement and misappropriation of trade secrets.  

Represented Professional Services providers in a week-long trial in state court lawsuit involving affirmative claims and counterclaims for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary in which over $5,000,000 was in controversy.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a local retailer in a lawsuit filed by retailer’s former agent seeking recovery of commissions that agent claimed were not paid pursuant to the terms of written agreement. The matter concerned an interpretation of the agent’s duties and responsibilities under the commission agreement and Texas. The trial court ultimately granted summary judgment on all claims.

Represented insurance agency in breach of fiduciary duty and misappropriation of trust funds state court lawsuit and related one-week arbitration proceeding before the American Arbitration Association in which over $10,000,000 in damages was in controversy.

Successfully briefed and defended against dispositive motion in age discrimination claim in federal court

Represented a restaurant and bar in defense of a claim under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The plaintiffs were former waitresses and bartenders claiming tip pool violations. The case was settled on favorable terms to the client after minimal discovery.

Obtained a temporary restraining order enjoining two former employees from doing business under a substantially similar business name as that of their former employer as well as from using their former employer’s confidential information. Two defecting, former employees formed a competing company selling power-generation equipment to both commercial and industrial clients. Prior to filing suit, conducted an electronic, forensic review of the former employees computers, and discovered evidence of theft of confidential information. This evidence was subsequently used at the emergency hearing. The case was successfully settled within a month of obtaining the emergency relief.

Won a bench trial for a manufacturing company against a national accountant placement agency. The client sued when it discovered that the controller it hired from the agency had a criminal record relating to theft by hot check. The agency refused to refund the placement fee. The verdict included a violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act resulting in the client receiving a doubling of its damages and the recovery of attorney’s fees.

Represented an offshore drilling service company in a proceeding brought by former employee claiming race discrimination based on the employer’s alleged failure to provide the employee with the same employment opportunities it provided to other employees outside the protected class. This lawsuit raised unique issues regarding the employer’s obligation to provide offshore work opportunities where it was also providing onshore work.

Represented a residential real estate company in a proceeding brought by a former employee claiming disability discrimination after the employee was terminated for being absent from work for a number of days in excess of the company’s stated policy. The matter tested the interplay between the employer’s absence control policy and the reasonable accommodation requirements of the ADA and leave requirements under the FMLA.

Represented executive bankers in state court lawsuit asserting claims for violations of non-competition agreement and breach of fiduciary duty and related week-long arbitration before the American Arbitration Association in which over $15,000,000 in damages was in controversy.

Represented a manufacturer of large industrial equipment in an EEOC proceeding brought by an employee claiming the termination of his employment was national origin discrimination. The matter involved the employer’s decision to convert the employee’s pay structure from hourly to salary resulting in the potential for employees to make less money when overtime was factored into the hourly rate.

Represented group of employees in week-long arbitration seeking recovery of unpaid bonuses, commissions, and severance payments in which approximately $1,000,000 was in controversy.

Represented a national property management company in an EEOC proceeding brought by former employee claiming that the termination of her employment was race and gender discrimination. This proceeding arose out of events that occurred outside of the workplace during the company’s holiday party.

Represented executive and equipment manufacturer in multi-day injunction trial in state court lawsuit asserting claims for for breach of non-compete agreement and misappropriation of trade secrets.  

Represented Professional Services providers in a week-long trial in state court lawsuit involving affirmative claims and counterclaims for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary in which over $5,000,000 was in controversy.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a local retailer in a lawsuit filed by retailer’s former agent seeking recovery of commissions that agent claimed were not paid pursuant to the terms of written agreement. The matter concerned an interpretation of the agent’s duties and responsibilities under the commission agreement and Texas. The trial court ultimately granted summary judgment on all claims.

Represented insurance agency in breach of fiduciary duty and misappropriation of trust funds state court lawsuit and related one-week arbitration proceeding before the American Arbitration Association in which over $10,000,000 in damages was in controversy.

Successfully briefed and defended against dispositive motion in age discrimination claim in federal court

Represented a restaurant and bar in defense of a claim under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The plaintiffs were former waitresses and bartenders claiming tip pool violations. The case was settled on favorable terms to the client after minimal discovery.

Obtained a temporary restraining order enjoining two former employees from doing business under a substantially similar business name as that of their former employer as well as from using their former employer’s confidential information. Two defecting, former employees formed a competing company selling power-generation equipment to both commercial and industrial clients. Prior to filing suit, conducted an electronic, forensic review of the former employees computers, and discovered evidence of theft of confidential information. This evidence was subsequently used at the emergency hearing. The case was successfully settled within a month of obtaining the emergency relief.