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C. Vance ChristopherShareholder Professional Experience
Representative Civil Trial Experience
(a) Probate Court of Harris County, Texas; Represented Trustee involving alleged breaches of fiduciary duty. Obtained jury verdict in favor of client with Judgment signed for $5.5 million. Opposing parties had offered nothing and instead, demanded payment on their counterclaims for breach of fiduciary duty. (First chair—Jury Trial) 2. Breach of Contract (b) District Court of Galveston County, Texas; Flewellen v. USAA - Represented defendant insurance company against plaintiff's claims for breach of contract, Insurance Code and DTPA violations, and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing. Defense verdict and recovery of portion of client’s attorneys' fees under DTPA counterclaim. (First chair—Jury Trial) (c) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Anthony v. USAA - Defended insurance carrier against claim on insurance policy for neck and TMJ claims supported by plaintiff's two treating doctors. Three other carriers providing coverage to plaintiff paid $65,000. Defendant USAA offered additional $10,000. Defense verdict; no liability. Jury assessed total damages of $14,000, well within the $65,000 paid by other carriers. (First chair—Jury Trial) (d) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Pyles v. USAA, 804 S.W.2d 163 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1991, writ denied) - Prosecuted declaratory judgment action by USAA against insured for breach of contract arising out of plaintiff's roof claim. Plaintiff counter¬claimed for bad faith and violation of DTPA and Insurance Code. Defense verdict; no liability and recovery of attorney’s fees. (First chair—Jury Trial) (e) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Kerboua v. Natesco - Defended insurance company against claim for fire loss. Defense verdict; no liability. (First chair—Bench Trial) (f) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Davis v. CIGNA - Defended HMO against claims by plaintiff that stomach stapling weight loss surgery should have been covered by policy. Defense verdict; no liability. (First chair—Jury Trial) (g) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Fina Oil and Chemical Company vs. Continental Casualty Company, 185 S.W.3d 440 (Tex. 2005) - Pursued coverage for client against insurance company under Additional Insured Section of the policy. Obtained coverage for client at trial court. Affirmed on appeal by Texas Supreme Court. (Second chair—Bench Trial) (h) Arbitration Proceeding; Total Petrochemicals, U.S.A., Inc. v. BASF Fina Petrochemicals, Limited Partnership - Obtained finding denying BASF’s counterclaim. (Second chair) (i) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Underwriters At Lloyds, et al v. United Services Automobile Association - Obtained finding USAA did not owe additional $1 million in coverage. (First chair—Bench Trial) (j) District Court of Harris County, Texas; During trial obtained very favorable settlement of $1.25 million claims for breach of contract claim, theft of trade secrets, and breach of fiduciary duty. Settlement less than 10% of lowest pre-trial demand. (First chair—Jury Trial) 3. Negligence (k) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Represented defendant convicted of DWI in wrongful death case. Verdict 1/5 of plaintiff's lowest demand. (First chair—Jury Trial) (l) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Sesi v. Cleveland - Represented defendant who rearended farm trailer against wrongful death claims of his passenger. Involved com¬plicated medical issues. Verdict below plaintiff's lowest demand. (First chair—Jury Trial) (m) District Court of Brazoria County, Texas; Defended driver of boat who had been drinking alcohol all day, against claims by school teacher passenger that driver’s reckless operation of the boat caused a compression frac¬ture of her spine. Defense verdict; no liability. (First chair—Jury Trial) (n) District Court of Brazoria County, Texas; Matthews v. Grady - Defended against claim that improper place¬ment of brick and concrete mailbox created unreasonable danger and resulted in death of driver and serious injury to passenger of car that ran into mailbox. Defense verdict; no liability. (First chair—Jury Trial) (o) District Court of Galveston County, Texas; Loomis v. Steele - Defended driver of car who veered into opposing traffic and causing death of passenger. Defense verdict; no liability. (Second chair—Jury Trial) (p) Probate Court of Harris County, Texas; Defended owner of pit bull against claims by severely scarred young girl bitten on face by pit bull. Defense verdict; no liability. (First chair—Jury Trial) (q) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Defended teenage driver of car who ran stop light striking plaintiff's van. Plaintiff had surgery for subdural hematoma (brain surgery) and claimed brain damage. Verdict 1/6 of plaintiff's lowest demand. (First chair—Jury Trial) (r) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Dietz v. Lopez - Defended driver who had been drinking all evening against claims by passenger/former girlfriend whose injuries resulted in partial quadriplegia. Defense verdict; no liability. (First chair—Jury Trial) (s) U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; Jin v. Greater Houston Transportation Co. - Defended driver against multiple claims by four plaintiffs in rearend collision. Defense verdict; no liability. (First chair—Jury Trial) (t) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Westerhaus v. Kline - Defended against claim that car wreck necessitated TMJ surgery. Treating surgeon testified for plaintiff. Verdict 1/10 of plaintiff's lowest demand. (First chair—Jury Trial) (u) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Andersen v. Daniel - Defended driver who ran light striking podiatrist’s car. Plaintiff claimed neck injuries which curtailed his lucrative practice ($250,000/year) by 2-3 years. Treating physician testified to causation. Verdict half the plaintiff’s lowest demand. (First chair—Jury Trial) (v) District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas; Hooshang Kamzohreh Rezaie v. Donald Ray Carney, et al - Represented driver of an 18-wheeler and his employer in a disputed red light case. Plaintiff, an engineer for Schlumberger, was struck on the passenger door, and severely injured, incurring $30,000.00 in medical expenses. Plaintiff alleged that 18-wheeler driver ran red light and that driver and employer violated multiple DOT regulations. Defense verdict; no liability. (First chair—Jury Trial) (w) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Park v. Larison, 28 S.W.3d 106 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2000, no pet.) – Minor plaintiff injured while operating 4-wheeler which necessitated brain surgery. Plaintiff claimed severe head injury deficits requiring extensive testimony by neurosurgeon, psychologist, and neuropsychologist. Plaintiff’s human factors expert was struck by court pursuant to my Daubert/Robinson challenge. Defense verdict; no liability. Verdict, including Daubert challenge, affirmed on appeal by Texarkana Court of Appeals. (First chair—Jury Trial) 4. Products Liability (x) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Chandler v. Modrell - Represented defendant driver against wrongful death claim of passenger in this products liability case. Liability placed on product defendant, not on my client. Reversed on appeal and settled. (First chair—Jury Trial) (y) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Neese v. Dietz, 845 S.W.2d 311 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, no writ) - Defended driver who rearended urologist who had multiple neck surgeries and had to shut down his practice. Co-defendant, General Motors, was a products liability defendant. Defense verdict; no liability. (First chair—Jury Trial) 5. Personal Torts (z) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Represented client whose lawyers sued her for non-payment of legal fees, fraud, and defamation. Defended on defamation only, with other firm representing client on fraud and breach of contract claims. Jury found no defamation on my client but awarded over $3,000,000.00 on non-defamation claims controlled and defended by other firm. (First chair—Jury Trial) (aa) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Defended against paternity, stalk¬ing, harassment, and invasion of privacy claims. Defense verdict; no liability, and assessment of Rule 13 attorney's fees against plaintiff and plaintiff's counsel. (First chair—Jury Trial) (bb) District Court of Harris County, Texas; Represented parents of 19 year old who had sex with a 14 year old at the Defendants’ residence. Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant parents failed to supervise the Plaintiff, who was a friend of Defendants’ daughter and was spending the night at the time of the sexual encounter. Defense verdict; no liability. (First chair—Jury Trial) Publications/ Professional Speaking And Related Materials
Speech and paper for Houston Bar Association, HBA Thursday Morning West Loop Area Seminar, “Experts 101: The Who, What, Where, When and Why”; March 30, 2006, 1.50 hours Professional Certifications and Distinctions
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