Sample results from
more than 600 cases.

• Music Industry

  Won a summary judgment dismissing a copyright infringement lawsuit brought against Beyoncé, Sony BMG and the co-writers and publishers of “Baby Boy.” The court found that Beyoncé’s Grammy Award-winning song “Baby Boy” did not infringe the plaintiff’s copyright. The decision was affirmed on appeal in all respects. Armour v. Knowles, 2006 WL 2713787 (S.D. Tex. filed Sep 21, 2006), aff’d, 512 F.3d 147 (5th Cir. 2007) (per curiam).

• Civil Rights

  Won the dismissal of a client from a $30 million Civil Rights Act race discrimination suit when federal court granted the client’s motion to dismiss.

• Music Industry

  Represented Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Philthy Rich Records, Inc. against claims by a recording artist alleging tortious interference with prospective recording contracts at Interscope Records, G Unit Records, and Shady Records. The plaintiff claimed Mayweather told Curtis Jackson (50 Cent) that the artist was under an existing obligation to Philthy Rich, causing all three labels to abandon negotiations. Obtained a temporary injunction, then resolved through settlement on terms favorable to the client.

• Music Industry

  Represented the defendants in a $15 million action brought by members of the rap group The Fifth Ward Boyz, who alleged breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and unfair business practices arising from a multi-album recording agreement. The plaintiffs claimed they received little or no royalties on four albums that collectively sold more than 500,000 copies, and sought injunctive relief blocking release of a fifth album. Obtained dismissal of all claims with zero payment to the plaintiffs.

• Music Industry

  Represented Rap-A-Lot 2K Records, Inc. in federal litigation against the Chapter 11 Trustee of Death Row Records, Inc. over joint venture rights to master recordings by Tupac Shakur and Scarface. The dispute arose from a $300,000 joint venture agreement for two compilation albums that Death Row's former management diverted before the trustee's appointment. Successfully defeated the Trustee's motion to transfer venue to California. Case resolved on jurisdictional grounds without reaching the merits. Rap-A-Lot 2K Records, Inc. v. Neilson, No. H-07-0859 (S.D. Tex. 2007).

• Music Industry

  Represented Hakeem Seriki in a copyright infringement action brought by a music production company alleging unauthorized use of two songs, "Weatherman" and "Back Up Plan," on mixtape compilations released through a third-party record label. Asserted eleven affirmative defenses, including that Seriki had no ownership interest in or control over the third-party label's conduct, invalid copyright, and license. Procured payment of all unpaid royalties owed by the label to the client. Paid In Full Entm't, Inc. v. Seriki, No. 4:05-CV-03549 (S.D. Tex. 2005).

• Defamation Jurisdiction

  Defeated an Australian company's motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction in a cross-border defamation action. Gateway's joint venture partner falsely told a shared client that Gateway planned to violate hazardous materials shipping regulations, aiming to steal the contract. The court held the Australian defendant purposefully availed itself of Texas through a joint venture agreement with a Texas choice-of-law provision and Houston arbitration clause. Gateway Logistics Group, Inc. v. Dangerous Goods Management Australia Pty, Ltd., No. H-05-2742 (S.D. Tex. 2006).

• Personal Jurisdiction

  Represented MedBridge Development Company, a California-based biotech investor, against claims by a Texas CPA firm seeking to hold MedBridge liable for unpaid audit fees owed by VG Life Sciences, a portfolio company with shared investors and management. The plaintiff alleged an oral promise by an unidentified MedBridge employee to guarantee VGLS's debts under the main purpose doctrine. Obtained dismissal of all claims for lack of personal jurisdiction. KWCO, PC v. MedBridge Dev. Co., No. 7:17-CV-116 (W.D. Tex. 2018).

• Real Estate

  Obtained reversal of trial court's ruling cancelling client's lis pendens against commercial real property in a dispute over the enforceability of a letter of intent for the purchase of two parcels. The court of appeals granted a writ of mandamus, holding that the client's underlying claims for breach of contract and specific performance asserted a sufficient interest in real property to support the filing of a lis pendens. In re Mousa, 2004 WL 2823172 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] filed Dec 9, 2004).

• Energy Industry

  Represented Aban Offshore Limited in a published Fifth Circuit appeal addressing whether corporate officers can be compelled to arbitrate under their employer's agreement. The case arose from a contract to refurbish a self-elevating offshore drilling rig. Won the motion to compel arbitration at the district court, but the Fifth Circuit reversed, holding that non-signatory agents aren't personally bound by their principal's arbitration clause. Covington v. Aban Offshore Ltd., 650 F.3d 556 (5th Cir. 2011).

• Construction Industry

  Won partial summary judgment establishing that four successive CGL insurers owed a duty to defend a masonry contractor in four underlying construction defect lawsuits alleging property damage from moisture infiltration into South Carolina condominium buildings. The court rejected every coverage defense raised, including the fortuity doctrine, the claims-in-process exclusion, and business risk exclusions j(5), j(6), k, and l, and ordered the non-defending insurers to contribute proportionate defense costs. Boss Mgmt. Servs. v. Acceptance Ins. Co., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69666 (S.D. Tex. Sep. 19, 2007).

• Governmental Immunity

  Represented Mark M. Richard, Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice, in a Bivens damages action brought by Edwin P. Wilson, a former CIA operative convicted of shipping 20 tons of C-4 plastic explosives to Libya's Qaddafi regime. After his Houston conviction was vacated for prosecutorial misconduct, Wilson sued seven DOJ officials alleging suppression of exculpatory evidence and use of false testimony. Obtained dismissal on absolute prosecutorial immunity, affirmed by the Fifth Circuit. Wilson v. Barcella, No. H-05-3646 (S.D. Tex. 2005), aff'd, No. 07-20345 (5th Cir. 2008).

• Insurance Industry

  Representation of Stanford Financial Group executive in an insurance coverage dispute seeking advancement of defense costs under Directors and Officers liability policies in connection with related criminal charges and civil litigation arising from one of the largest financial fraud cases in U.S. history. The case involved complex issues surrounding the scope, applicability, and priority of D&O coverage across multiple policy periods and insurers. Pendergest-Holt v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's of London, 751 F.Supp.2d 876 (S.D. Tex. 2010).

• Insurance Litigation

  Represented Richard Henry, contingent beneficiary of a $500,000 accidental death policy, in an interpleader action filed by Life Insurance Company of North America. The insured, Dale Henry, was murdered by his wife in Thailand; she was convicted of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. After the court struck all filings by Maneerat Henry's unlicensed Thai representatives, obtained default judgment and a court order releasing all proceeds to Richard Henry under the Texas slayer statute. Life Ins. Co. of N. Am. v. Henry, No. 4:10-CV-02966 (S.D. Tex. 2012).

• Commodities Fraud

  Representation of defendant in an enforcement action brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission alleging violations of the Commodity Exchange Act through the delivery of false and misleading pricing and volume information concerning natural gas transactions in an attempt to manipulate natural gas prices. The case was among the first wave of federal enforcement actions arising from the natural gas price manipulation investigations of the early 2000s. US Commodity Futures Trading Com'n v. Johnson, 408 F. Supp. 2d 259 (S.D. Tex. 2005).

• Music Industry

  Won the dismissal of music publisher client in a copyright infringement in a Tennessee case involving allegations of music sampling. In a per curiam opinion adopting the “stream of commerce plus” test for personal jurisdiction (the position advocated on behalf of my client), the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the trial court’s decision. Bridgeport Music, Inc. v. Still N-The Water Publishing, 327 F.3d 472 (6th Cir.) (per curiam), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 948 (2003).

• Real Estate

  Case involving a dispute over restrictive covenants affecting commercial real property, including claims of conspiracy in connection with the preparation of amended covenants, conditions, and restrictions, and the enforceability of a right of first refusal. The appeal raised questions of standing, the validity of amendments to existing property restrictions, and the liability of parties involved in the drafting of the amended covenants. Southwest Invs. Diversified, Inc. v. Estate of Mieszkuc, 171 S.W.3d 461 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005).

• Construction Industry

  Won summary judgment on behalf of a construction equipment manufacturer and dealer in a products liability and breach of contract dispute arising from the sale of a tractor. The court of appeals affirmed the no-evidence summary judgment after the plaintiffs failed to present evidence on at least one essential element of each of their five causes of action, including breach of warranty and DTPA claims. Duke v. Caterpillar, Inc., 2005 WL 568071 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] filed Mar 10, 2005).

• Construction Industry

  Won summary judgment on a sworn account claim on behalf of a construction equipment dealer against a customer who failed to pay for tractor repairs provided on credit. The court of appeals affirmed, rejecting challenges to the competency of the summary judgment evidence, the capacity in which the defendant was sued, and the statute of limitations defense. Hartney v. Mustang Tractor & Equip. Co., 2004 WL 86140 (Tex. App.—San Antonio filed Jan. 21, 2004).

• Civil Procedure

  Represented appellant in a published restricted appeal challenging a default judgment on three grounds, including whether a single failed attempt to serve a corporation's registered agent constitutes "reasonable diligence" under the Texas Business Corporations Act before resorting to substituted service on the Secretary of State. The opinion addressed the interplay between article 2.11(B) and Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 106 and clarified the diligence standard for substituted service on Texas corporations. Ingram Industries, Inc. v. U.S. Bolt Mfg., Inc., 121 S.W.3d 31 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist] 2003).

• Music Industry

  Defended music publisher client in the largest copyright infringement action ever filed, asserting nearly 500 claims against approximately 800 defendants in the rap and hip-hop music industry involving allegations of unauthorized sampling of copyrighted recordings and musical compositions owned by George Clinton. Obtained dismissal of client in 11 of the 476 related cases on personal jurisdiction and other grounds. This case was the original Bridgeport Music mass complaint that spawned the related appellate decisions. Bridgeport Music, Inc. v. 11C Music, 202 F.R.D. 229 (M.D. Tenn. 2002).

• Telecom Industry

  Obtained a precedent-setting ruling on behalf of an Internet service provider client against Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. in a telecommunications dispute involving the interpretation of interconnection agreements and the classification of Internet-bound calls as local traffic subject to reciprocal compensation under the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. The ruling addressed issues of first impression regarding ISP-bound traffic in the emerging broadband era. Taylor Communications Group, Inc. v. Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., 172 F.3d 385 (5th Cir. 1999).

• Domain Name Disputes

  Won a WIPO arbitration compelling transfer of <valeroenergy.com> from a serial cybersquatter who'd registered domains for roughly 7% of Fortune 500 companies and over 100 major law firms, openly admitting he was on a "rampage" against corporate America. The panel found bad faith registration and use, and rejected his First Amendment parody defense, holding that free speech principles may protect website content but can't shield the domain name itself from transfer. Valero Energy Corp. v. American Distribution Systems, Inc., WIPO Case No. D2001-0581 (2001).

• Music Industry

  Represented Destiny's Child, Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Blackwood, McDonald's Corporation, and the songwriters' publishing companies in a case filed by a plaintiff who alleged that Destiny's Child's hit song 'Cater 2 U' infringed the plaintiff's song by a similar name. Disposed of all but one of the plaintiff's claims on summary judgment with the case later resolving before trial. Allen v. Destiny's Child, No. 06 C 6606 (N.D. Ill. July 21, 2009).

• Copyright Litigation

  Represented Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen, and Victoria Osteen in copyright infringement where plaintiff alleged that Lakewood used a licensed musical composition entitled "Signaling Through the Flames" in televised promotional broadcasts and DVD marketing materials in a manner that exceeded the scope of a limited license agreement. The case raised significant questions regarding the interpretation of music licensing terms and the scope of permitted use under limited license agreements. Yesh Music v. Lakewood Church, 727 F.3d 356, 107 U.S.P.Q.2d 1954 (5th Cir. 2013).

• Copyright Litigation

  Represented the Aquarian Foundation, a Seattle-based church, in a copyright and trademark infringement action against a former church member in Tasmania, Australia, who uploaded 177 copyrighted manuscripts, sermons, and recordings to various websites. The defendant claimed an unrestricted 1985 license from the church's deceased founder, who bequeathed his copyrights to the church by will. After a bench trial, obtained a published Ninth Circuit opinion holding that § 203's termination requirements don't apply to non-statutory heirs and that the church lawfully terminated the license at will. Aquarian Foundation, Inc. v. Lowndes, No. 22-35704 (9th Cir. 2025).

• Telecom Industry

  Represented Sugar Land Telephone Company, a competitive local exchange carrier, when an incumbent local exchange carrier threatened to terminate the client's telecommunications and Internet lines in violation of the parties' interconnection agreement. Obtained a temporary restraining order in Fort Bend County district court preventing the ILEC from disconnecting service, preserving the client's network and customer base. The case settled on terms favorable to the client within 14 days of the TRO being signed.

• Aviation Industry

  Represented the second largest aviation obstruction lighting company in the United States in a Lanham Act, trade secret, and unfair competition action against the company's founder and his competing domestic and Mexican entities. The defendants adopted the client's trade name and trademarks, manufactured knock-off products using misappropriated designs and proprietary components, and registered a confusingly similar domain name. Obtained a final judgment and worldwide permanent injunction barring all defendants from using the marks and requiring transfer of the infringing domain. TWR Lighting, Inc. v. TWR Family of Cos., L.L.C., No. 4:05-CV-01188 (S.D. Tex. 2005).

• Telecom Industry

  Represented Arch Telecom, Inc. in a breach of contract action brought by the sole shareholder of a dissolved Illinois corporation claiming wrongful termination of a telecommunications sales and distribution agreement. Established that the plaintiff lacked standing because the corporation had been dissolved under Illinois law, the contract's anti-assignment clause barred the purported transfer, and a sole shareholder can't sue individually on a corporate right. Obtained summary judgment. Friedlander v. Arch Telecom, Inc., No. H-99-2256 (S.D. Tex. 2000).

• Trademark Litigation

  Represented the Aquamarine Pools entities in a Lanham Act trademark infringement and cybersquatting action brought by Leisure Pools after a dealership agreement ended. Leisure Pools alleged clients registered 26 confusingly similar domain names incorporating its mark to redirect consumers to Aquamarine's competing fiberglass pool websites. Filed counterclaims for cancellation of the federal trademark registration on fraud grounds and tortious interference. Secured dismissal of several claims on standing and limitations grounds, case settled favorably for the client. Horizon Mktg. Int'l, Ltd. v. Naras, No. 4:17-CV-03749 (S.D. Tex. 2017).

• Trademark Litigation

  Represented defendant in a Lanham Act trademark infringement, unfair competition, and breach of contract action involving 10 federally registered marks for dietary supplements. Filed a motion to dismiss challenging standing (plaintiff had assigned all mark rights to a nonparty before filing suit), personal jurisdiction over the Michigan-based client, venue, and failure to state a claim on five marks not in commercial use. The case resolved favorably with a confidential settlement after the motion was filed. Dynamic Sports Nutrition, LLC v. CrazyMass, LLC, No. 4:15-CV-01681 (S.D. Tex. 2015).

• Trademark Litigation

  Represented beverage client in a TTAB cancellation proceeding challenging the META WINE trademark registration. Filed a petition for cancellation and moved for summary judgment on behalf of a hard seltzer producer whose META-branded product line was blocked by the existing registration. The Board granted summary judgment in the client's favor and ordered the cancellation of the META WINE registration under Section 18 of the Trademark Act. MetaBev LLC v. VSWC LLC, Cancellation No. 92083154 (T.T.A.B. 2024).

• Trademark Litigation

  Represented the Hilco family of companies in a Lanham Act trademark infringement and cybersquatting action against competitors who adopted the "Hilco Group" mark and registered the hilcogroup.com domain to market virtually identical industrial machinery liquidation services. The defendants continued infringing after multiple cease-and-desist demands despite actual knowledge of Hilco's nine federal trademark registrations. Obtained a default judgment, permanent injunction barring all use of the infringing marks, transfer of the domain, and attorneys' fees. Hilco Trading, LLC v. Melendez-Cotto, No. 4:12-CV-00382 (S.D. Tex. 2012).

• Music Industry

  Represented the founder of Swishahouse, the Houston rap and hip-hop label that launched Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, and Slim Thug, in a trademark infringement, copyright infringement, cybersquatting, and breach of fiduciary duty action against his former business partner. The defendant continued exploiting the SWISHA HOUSE® marks after all licenses were terminated, fraudulently removed Watts as co-managing member of their joint venture, and diverted company funds. Obtained favorable settlement for the client. Watts v. Guidry, No. 4:24-cv-03862 (S.D. Tex. 2024).

• Telecom Industry

  Obtained a precedent-setting ruling on behalf of an Internet service provider client against Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., Inc., in a case in which the Texas Public Utility Commission interpreted the Public Utility Regulatory Act’s Customer Disconnect Rules in a case of first impression. Information Broker Systems v. Southwestern Bell Tel. Co., 2000 WL 33599091 (Tex. P.U.C. 2000).

• Visual Artists Rights Act

  In a case of first impression in Texas under the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990, represented sculptor in copyright infringement and VARA counterclaims involving cast glass sculptures. Forced the entry of a consent decree, judgment, and permanent injunction declaring the client the sole author and copyright owner and permanently enjoining the opposing party from claiming authorship or distributing the works. Koffler v. Reichert, No. A-04-CA-011 SS (W.D. Tex. 2004).

• Maritime Foreclosure

  Represented national bank in an admiralty action to foreclose a preferred ship mortgage on a commercial shrimping vessel in the Eastern District of Texas. Obtained a maritime arrest warrant, and the court confirmed the interlocutory sale of the vessel to the client on a credit bid, discharging all liens and transferring title free of all liens and claims. Sabine Offshore Servs., Inc. v. F/V Saint Mary Seven, No. 1:03-CV-41 (E.D. Tex. 2003).

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.