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

Practice Description

Mr. Pickelman advises clients in complex commercial litigation, in addition to the defense and prosecution of cases involving professional negligence, catastrophic injury, transportation, premises liability, construction, products liability and insurance, both coverage and bad faith on behalf of insurers and policyholders.

Representative Experience

Successfully handled numerous matters ranging from personal injury to complex commercial disputes on behalf of both defendants and plaintiffs, in state, federal and bankruptcy courts in Texas and states throughout the United States.

Diverse practice has led to success in representing clients at both trial and appeal, as well as in arbitrations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

Warsaw Convention Revisited for the Last Time? 64 J. AIR L. & COM. 273 (1998)

Evett v. Consolidated Freightways Corp., 110 F.Supp.2d 510 (E.D.Tex. 2000)

Mt. Hawley Ins. Co. v. Lexington Ins. Co., 110 Fed. Appx. 371 (5th Cir. 2004)

Ferguson v. Mt. Hawley Insurance Co., Civil Action No. 2:03-CV-381 (E.D.Tex. 2004)

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

Universal Insurance Exchange v. Overland Underwriting Managers, Case No. 04-82393-bjh7 (N.D.Tex. Bank. 2005)(Opinion March 28, 2005)

Connaway v. Village Farms, L.P., 200 S.W.3d 353 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2006, no pet.)

Bergenholtz v. Cannata, 200 S.W.3d 287, (Tex.App.-Dallas 2006, no pet.)

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

Diamond H. Recognition LP v. King of Fans, Inc., 589 F.Supp.2d 772 (N.D. Tex. 2008)

West American Ins. Co. v. RLI Ins. Co., 2009 WL 3327203 (W.D. Mo. 2009)

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

Awards & Honors

“Top Lawyers in Dallas under 40” (D Magazine 2006)
“Texas Super Lawyers — Rising Stars” (2004-2013)
“Texas Top-Rated Lawyers” (Dallas Morning News & The Wallstreet Journal, 2013)
Order of the Coif — NOTE — top 10 in SMU law graduation class
Beta Gamma Sigma — NOTE — business degree equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa
SMU Law Review

Practice Description

Mr. Moody advises insurance companies and their insureds. He has successfully tried tort and contract actions ranging in length from one day to six weeks. He also counsels clients on insurance coverage matters, frequently speaks on insurance topics, and has developed a growing mediation practice that focuses on insurance coverage disputes.

Representative Experience

Over 36 years of experience handling a broad range of tort, contract and business disputes. He has represented primary and secondary domestic insurance carriers in high exposure first- and third-party coverage, class actions, and extra contractual “bad faith” litigation. He also has experience representing London and other European carriers in primary, excess and reinsurance disputes.

Through representation of insureds, has represented product manufacturers and suppliers in both business and tort litigation. He also has experience in representing contractors in defective construction and jobsite accident cases, as well as representation of professionals in errors and omissions claims.

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

Fortuity Doctrine: Trying to make sense of the concepts of “Known Loss”and” Loss in Progress”, presented at 2012 University of Texas Insurance Law Institute, Oct. 2012, Austin, Texas

Subrogation and Liens – Maximizing Your Client’s Recovery, unpublished paper presented to the University of Houston’s Advanced Insurance and Tort Claims seminar (Houston and Dallas, March 2007)

Coverage Issues in Construction Defect Claims, unpublished paper presented to the University of Houston’s Advanced Insurance and Tort Claims seminar (Houston and Dallas, April 2008)

Duty to Defend and the Right to Control the Defense, unpublished paper presented at the Defense Research Institute’s Annual Symposium on Excess and Reinsurance (1991)

Hartford Fire Insurance Co. v. C. Springs 300, Ltd., 287 S.W.3d 771 (Tex. App. — Houston 2009, writ denied)

Ethics Jeopardy, Council on Litigation Management, Annual Convention (2009 and 2010)

Diamond H. Recognition, L.P. v. King of Fans, Inc., 589 F.Supp.2d 772 (N.D.Tex. 2008)

Compelling Receivers to Arbitrate Under the Federal Arbitration Act, unpublished paper presented as part of the Mealey’s Insurance Insolvency and Reinsurance

Roundtable discussion on “Flirting With Disaster: Insolvency” (April 1999)

The Issues and Problems Presented by “Following Form” Excess Coverage, unpublished paper presented at the Defense Research Institute’s Annual Symposium on Excess and Reinsurance (1990)

TIG Insurance Co. v. Dallas Basketball, Ltd., 129 S.W.3d 232 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2004, writ denied)

Environmental Coverage Under First-Party Policies, unpublished paper presented at the Texas-Louisiana Oil and Gas Symposium (1992)

Maintenance v. ITT Hartford Group, 895 S.W.2d 816 (Tex. Civ. App. — Texarkana 1994, writ denied)

Nutmeg Insurance Company v. Pro-Line Corp., 836 F.Supp. 385 (N.D. Tex. 1993)

Hamm v. Allstate Ins. Co., 286 F.Supp.2d 790 (N.D. Tex. 2003)

Everest Reinsurance Company v. Howard, 950 S.W.2d 800 (Tex. Civ. App. — Austin 1997, writ denied) (lead counsel at trial court level)

Extra-contractual Claims in the Third-Party Context: Dead or Alive, unpublished presentation to the Dallas Bar Association Tort and Insurance Practice Section (May 2005)

Separating the Wheat from the Chaff: The Difference Between Breach of Insurance Contract and Bad-Faith Actions, unpublished paper presented to the University of Texas 9th Annual Insurance Law Institute (November 2004)

Insurance Coverage for Punitive Damages, Texas Association of Defense Counsel
Seminar (Las Vegas, Nevada, April 2001)

Hartford Lloyd’s Ins. Co. v. Yarbrough, 2006 WL 1469705 (S.D. Tex. 2006)

Reinsurance — What Is It?, unpublished paper presented at the University of Texas
Insurance Law Institute (September 1996)

The Advice of Counsel Defense — Its Parameters and Drawbacks, unpublished paper presented at the Defense Research Institute’s Annual Symposium on Excess and Reinsurance (1992)

Hartford Casualty Insurance Company v. Powell, 19 F.Supp.2d 678 (N.D. Tex. 1998)

Awards & Honors

“Texas Super Lawyers” (Texas Monthly magazine, 2006-2014)

“Best Lawyers in America” (U.S. News & World Report,
2006 -2015)

“Texas Top-Rated Lawyers” (Dallas Morning News & The Wall Street Journal, 2012-2014)

AV ® PREEMINENT Martindale-Hubbell rating

Practice Description

Mr. Lewis is the managing shareholder of the financial products litigation team, handling complex litigation arising from commercial and residential loans, consumer loans, insurance and annuity policies. With a firm belief that each case demands individualized attention from the outset, Mr. Lewis works to identify the most efficient and effective means to achieve the desired result, avoiding unnecessary cost and delay. If the suit can only be resolved through a trial on the merits, he offers a proven record of successful trials based on over 20 years in practice.

Representative Experience

Multiple trials of loan origination and servicing issues

Trial of suit opposing request to invalidate home equity lien

Trial of bankruptcy action opposing sanctions for alleged stay violations

Trial of partition of commercial real property

Multiple trials of insurance claims handling issues

Trial of complex injury and joint enterprise claims

Trial of bankruptcy action opposing sanctions for alleged wrongful credit reporting

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

Issues in Mold Related Coverage Disputes: The Insurance Company’s Perspective, ALFA’s Mold Litigation Seminar
Key Issues in Liability Coverage for Property Damage and Bodily Injury Claims, Mealey’s Asbestos and Mold Insurance Conference

Liability of Insurance Agents and Brokers, Annual Insurance Law Institute

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

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)

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.)

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)

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

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)

Home Loan Corp. v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 312 S.W. 3d 199 (Tex App – Houston [14th Dist.] 2010)

The Burlington Ins. Co. v. Superior Nationwide Logistics, Ltd., 2010 WL 3155916 (S.D. Tex. Aug. 10, 2010)

Red Rock Properties 2005, Ltd. v. Chase Home Finance LLC, 2009 WL 1795037 (Tex App. – Houston [14th Dist.], June 25, 2009)

Morgan v. Chase Home Finance LLC, 306 Fed. App. 49 (5th Cir. 2008)

Caddell v. Travelers Lloyds of Texas Ins. Co., 2007 WL 1574244 (Tex. App. – Texarkana June 1, 2007).

Awards & Honors

Texas Super Lawyers, 2006-2010, published by Texas Monthly magazine

AV ® PREEMINENT Martindale-Hubbell rating

Best Attorneys under 40 – D Magazine, 2004