Practice Description

Mr. Lautin is a commercial litigator representing clients on both sides of the docket. The majority of his practice consists of representing and advising insurance companies and their insureds in a variety of litigation matters, including complex coverage disputes.

Community Involvement, Affiliations and Memberships

Member, Dallas Bar Association

Member, American Bar Association

Member, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers

Practice Description

Mr. Winslett handles complex insurance litigation, professional liability defense (including lawyers, engineers, architects and insurance agents), products liability defense, toxic torts, catastrophic injury and wrongful death, construction/surety cases and first party property claims.

Representative Experience

Representation primarily on defense side, but also represented plaintiff-insurers in complex commercial and insurance litigation.

Chair of the firm’s Professional Liability Practice and Insurance Practice Groups.

Faculty member of numerous NITA-sponsored trial advocacy programs.

Handled virtually every type of insurance based litigation in courts throughout the United States.

Awards & Honors

“Texas Super Lawyers” (Texas Monthly magazine, 2004-2013)

“Texas Top-Rated Lawyers” (Dallas Morning News & The Wallstreet Journal, 2013)

“Top 100 Texas Lawyers” (Texas Monthly magazine, 2006)

AV ® PREEMINENT Martindale-Hubbell rating

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

Frequent lecturer in seminars sponsored by State Bar of Texas including “The Ultimate Insurance Seminar.”

Hanson v. Greystar Development & Const., LP, 317 S.W.3d 850 (Tex. App. — Fort Worth 2010, pet. denied)

Lennar v. Great American et al, 2005 WL 1324833 (Houston [14 Dist] 2005)

Insurance Bad Faith: The Insurer’s Prospective.

Roberts v. Healy, 991 S.W.2d 873 (Tex. App. Houston [14th Dist.] 1999)

Universal Life Ins. Co. v. Giles, 950 S.W.2d 48 (Tex. 1997)

U.S. Fire v. Williams, 955 S.W.2d 267 (Tex. 1997)

Stephen Ferguson v. Mt. Hawley Insurance Co., Civil Action No. 2:03-CV-381 (Eastern District of Texas – Marshall Division) (2004)

Bayou Bend Homes v. Scottsdale Insurance Co., 2006 WL 2037564

TIG Ins. Co. v. North America Van Lines, 170 S.W.3d 264 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2005, no pet.)

RLI Ins. Co. v. Maxxon Southwest, Inc, 265 F. Supp. 727 (N.D. Tex. 2003)

Pierre v. Newman, Davenport & Epstein, 2006 WL 1522613 (Tex. App. – Dallas)

Mt. Hawley Ins. Co. v. Wright Materials, Inc., 2005 WL 2805565 (N.D. Tex. 2005)

West American Ins. Co. v. RLI Ins. Co., 698 F.3d 1069 (8th Cir. 2012)

Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. Mt. Hawly Ins. Co., 2011 WL 9169946 (5th Cir. 2012)

Practice Description

Mr. Sudbury’s practice involves representation of regional and national clients in financial institution litigation involving residential mortgage loans, including loan repurchase, wrongful foreclosure, debt collection and lien priority matters. He also regularly represents clients in construction litigation, health care litigation and insurance disputes.

Representative Experience

Represented national financial institutions in various litigation matters, including loan repurchase related issues.

Represented national health care providers in various litigation matters, including service contract and employment related issues.

Represented regional financial institution in various litigation matters, including insurance disputes and employment related issues.

Represented insurers and insureds in various insurance coverage disputes.

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Classic Home Financial, Inc., 548 Fed.Appx. 205 (5th Cir. 2013)

Home Loan Corp. v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 312 S.W. 3d 199 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, no pet.)

Red Rock Properties 2005, Ltd. v. Chase Home Finance, LLC, No. 14-08-00352-CV, 2009 WL 1795037 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] June 25, 2009, no pet.)

Cuauhtli v. Chase Home Finance LLC, 308 Fed. App. 772 (5th Cir. 2009), cert denied 129 S. Ct. 2447 (2009)

Mitchell v. Chase Home Finance, LLC, No. 3:06-CV-2009-K, 2008 WL 623395 (N.D. Tex. March 4, 2008)

Schuhart v. Chase Home Finance, LLC, No. C-05-385, 2006 WL 1897263 (S.D. Tex. July 10, 2006)

Practice Description

Mr. Smith represents clients in a variety of litigation matters including commercial and personal injury disputes. Primary focus is complex insurance litigation including coverage disputes, insurance “bad faith” litigation and first party property claims as well as the defense of insureds in a variety of business and personal injury disputes.

His practice also includes professional liability cases, including the defense of attorneys, insurance agents/brokers and other professionals. Although primarily on the defense side, practice includes representation of plaintiffs in complex commercial and insurance litigation.

Representative Experience

Has represented clients in a variety of litigation matters, including commercial and personal injury disputes.

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

United National Ins. Co. v. Mundell Terminal Services, Inc., 740 F.3d 1022 (5th Cir. 2014)

Dyess v. Harris — S.W.3d —-, 2009 WL 3462053 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, review denied)

Universal Underwriters Ins. Co. v. New Braunfels Trans, Inc., 2006 WL 2707003 (Tex. App.-Austin, September 20, 2006)

Bergenholtz v. Cannata, 200 S.W.3d 287 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2006)

El Dorado Motors, Inc. v. Koch, 168 S.W.3d 360 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2005)

Prieto v. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, et al., 132 F. Supp. 3D 506. Aff’d 35 Fed Appor. 390 (5th Cr. 2002).

“ Spoliation of Evidence” – Texas Independent Insurance Adjusters’ Association, Annual Meeting (November, 1999).

“ Inverse Condemnation Based on ‘Bad Faith’ Delay”, Defending Governmental Entities symposium (December, 1995).

Awards & Honors

“Texas Super Lawyers” (Texas Monthly magazine, 2004-2010, 2012)

“Texas Top-Rated Lawyers” (Dallas Morning News & The Wallstreet Journal, 2013)

AV ® PREEMINENT Martindale-Hubbell rating

Practice Description

Ms. Schout’s practice focuses primarily on handling many of the firm’s appellate matters for residential lending clients. In addition, Ms. Schout represents residential lending clients in litigation throughout Texas. She also devotes a significant portion of time to insurance coverage disputes involving both liability and first party property issues.

Representative Experience

All aspects of state and federal court litigation, including written discovery, depositions, motion preparation and briefing, hearings, and trial. Cases resolved by dispositive motion whenever possible to ensure efficiency and avoid delay.

Prepared appellate briefs and participated in oral argument before the state and federal Courts of Appeals.

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

Smith v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 14-10555, 2014 WL 5658947 (5th Cir. Nov. 5, 2014)

Morlock, L.L.C. v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 13-20602, 2014 WL 4652902 (5th Cir. Sept. 19, 2014)

Santiago v. Novastar Mortgage, Inc., 443 S.W.3d 462 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2014, pet. filed)

Hicks v. Chase Home Fin., LLC, No. 03-13-00007-CV, 2014 WL 4058958 (Tex. App.–Austin Aug. 13, 2014, no pet.)

Reece v. U.S. Bank Nat. Ass’n, 762 F.3d 422 (5th Cir. 2014)

Emrich v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., 575 Fed. Appx. 502 (5th Cir. 2014)

Morlock, L.L.C. v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., 575 Fed. Appx. 228 (5th Cir. 2014)

Shin v. Chase Home Fin., LLC, No. 05-12-01634-CV, 2014 WL 2993815 (Tex. App.–Dallas June 30, 2014, no pet.)

Kramer v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., 574 Fed. Appx. 370 (5th Cir. 2014)

Daniels v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, 574 Fed. Appx. 337 (5th Cir. 2014)

Johnson v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, 570 Fed. Appx. 404 (5th Cir. 2014)

French v. EMC Mortg. Corp., 566 Fed. Appx. 285, 287 (5th Cir. 2014)

Green v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., 562 Fed. Appx. 238 (5th Cir. 2014), cert. denied, 135 S. Ct. 220 (2014)

Saenz v. U.S. Bank Nat. Ass’n, 02-13-00221-CV, 2014 WL 1096042 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Mar. 20, 2014, pet. dism’d w.o.j.)

Davis v. Citibank, NA, 05-12-01386-CV, 2014 WL 1022326 (Tex. App.—Dallas Mar. 13, 2014, no pet.)

U.S. Bank Nat. Ass’n, v. Bonney, 05-12-01294-CV, 2013 WL 7149055 (Tex. App.—Dallas Dec. 13, 2013, no pet.)

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Classic Home Fin., Inc., 548 Fed. Appx. 205 (5th Cir. 2013) 2009.

Massey v. EMC Mortg. Corp., 546 Fed. Appx. 477 (5th Cir. 2013)

Maxwell v. U.S. Bank Nat. Ass’n, 544 Fed. Appx. 470 (5th Cir. 2013)

JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Dixon, 541 Fed. Appx. 423 (5th Cir. 2013)

Hudson v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., 541 Fed. Appx. 380 (5th Cir. 2013)

Jenkins v. Stewart Title Co., 05-12-00685-CV, 2013 WL 3487741 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 10, 2013, no pet.)

Atchley v. Chase Home Fin. LLC, 02-12-00365-CV, 2013 WL 3064444 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth June 20, 2013, no pet.)

Shatteen v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., 519 Fed. Appx. 320, 321 (5th Cir. 2013)

Deutsche Bank Trust Co., N.A. v. Hall, 400 S.W.3d 668 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2013, pet. denied)

Smith v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 519 Fed. Appx. 861 (5th Cir. 2013)

Puig v. Citibank, N.A., 514 Fed. Appx. 483 (5th Cir. 2013)

Priester v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., 708 F.3d 667 (5th Cir. 2013), cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 196, 187 L. Ed. 2d 256 (2013)

Water Dynamics, Ltd. v. HSBC Bank USA, Nat. Ass’n, 509 Fed. Appx. 367 (5th Cir. 2013)

 

Awards & Honors

SuperLawyers: “Texas Rising Stars” (Texas Monthly magazine, 2006-2013)

Practice Description

A significant portion of Ms. Puckett’s practice is devoted to insurance litigation involving both liability and first party property disputes. Ms. Puckett also provides coverage opinions to insurance carriers regarding property and liability policies, analyzing whether coverage exists under Texas law and other jurisdictions.

Representative Experience

All aspects of state and federal court litigation, including written discovery, depositions, motion preparation and briefing, and hearings. Cases resolved by dispositive motion whenever possible to ensure efficiency and avoid delay.
Law clerk to the Honorable Douglas S. Lang, Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals, Dallas, September 2008 to August 2009.

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

United National Ins. Co. v. Mundell Terminal Services, Inc., et al., 915 F. Supp. 2d 809 (W.D. Tex. 2012), aff’d 740 F.3d 1022 (5th Cir. 2014)

Burlington Ins. Co. v. M-C Production & Drilling Co., et al., Civil Action No. 6:10-CV-00443, 2010 WL 1194925 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 21, 2011)

Comment: The Proper Focus for FDA Regulations: Why the Fundamental Right to Self Preservation Should Allow Terminally Ill Patients with No Treatment Options to Attempt to Save Their Lives, 60 S.M.U. L. Rev. 635 (2007)

Community Involvement

Member, Dallas Bar Association
Associate, Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court 2011-2012