Practice Areas

Business Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Intellectual Property Litigation
Employment Litigation

Practice Emphasis

Eric is a litigator who represents clients in a wide variety of business disputes in federal and state court involving breach of contract, breach of warranty, employment disputes, construction litigation, deceptive trade practices, fraud, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, patent infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, antitrust, and RICO claims. Eric's extensive experience includes drafting pleadings and discovery, conducting and defending depositions, and negotiating settlements. He has briefed and argued dozens of motions including motions for summary judgement, special appearances, motions to compel, motions to transfer venue and motions to dismiss. Eric has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict and worked on appeals to Texas intermediate courts of appeals as well as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Representative Matters

Obtained dismissals for lack of personal jurisdiction of 3 separate lawsuits filed by Texas oil and gas companies against California website operator for defamation and business disparagement. HEI Resources, Inc., et. al. v. Venture Research Institute, et. al., 2009 WL 2634858 (N.D. Tex. Aug.26, 2009); Triple Diamond Energy Corp. v. Venture Research Institute, Inc., 2008 WL 2620351 (N.D. Tex. July 3, 2008); Aspen Exploration, Inc. v. Venture Research Institute, Inc., et. al., No. 3:08-CV-01393 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 23, 2009).

Argued and won summary judgment motion dismissing home buyers’ negligence claims against foundation repair company and its agent in their entirety.  Robert Steven Laboon, et. al. v. Structured Foundation Repairs, Inc., et. al., No. 141-223686-07 (141st District Court, Tarrant County, Texas May 13, 2008).

Successfully represented business-advising firm in a trial for breach of a brokerage agreement against corporation and its president in his individual capacity.  On appeal, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s judgment in favor of the business-advising firm against both the corporation and its president.  EID Corp. d/b/a Come-N-Go and Mohd S. Alhajeid v. Fort Worth-Tarrant Sunbelt, Inc. d/b/a DFW Sunbelt Business Advisors, 2006 WL 1562665 (Tex. App. – Ft. Worth 2006, no pet.).

Successfully represented corporate homebuilder in defense and dismissal of invalid and unenforceable mechanic’s liens filed by two former officers of corporation.  Whitney Homes, LLC v. Randy Brock, No. 96-220610-06 (98th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas Feb. 7, 2007).

Obtained judgment on behalf of a Mississippi casino dismissing Texas corporation’s claims against casino for want of jurisdiction after hearing on casino’s special appearance.  Platinum Air Charters, LLC v. Circus Circus Mississippi, Inc., No. 05-35560-3 (County Court at Law No. 3, Tarrant County, Texas Jan. 26, 2006).

Awarded summary judgement for internet-based film distributor against ex-website designer for breach of contract, conversion, theft and trespass after designer improperly accessed and deleted months of computer data. Briggs Digital Media, LLC v. Harold G. Stringer, No. DC-08-00760 (298th District Court, Dallas County, Texas Jan. 30, 2009).

Obtained summary judgement for president of a New York corporation against allegations of fraud claims to pierce the corporate veil for acts performed on behalf of the corporation. Unified Building Sciences, Inc. v. Stephen Gwertzman et. al., No. DC-03-07728 (68th District Court, Dallas County, Texas Feb. 2005).

Co-chaired jury trial on behalf of insurer in subrogation action against multi-national corporation for property damage to downtown Dallas bar resulting from broken fire sprinkler pipe.  Two Dots, Inc. v. Tyco Fire & Security, et. al., No. DC-03-12145 (101st District Court, Dallas County, Texas April 2005).

Defended a Fortune 500 company against plaintiff uninterruptible power supply company’s claims of copyright infringement of plaintiff’s software, misappropriation of trade secrets, conversion, unfair competition and violation of the Racketeer-Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).  MGE UPS Systems, Inc. v. General Electric Co., et. al., No. 4:04-CV-929-Y (N.D. Tex.).

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of seller and real estate broker involving allegations of breach of contract, fraud in a real estate transaction and violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) arising out of contract for sale of real estate.  Morris Rogers v. Crystal Jordan, et. al., No. 048-217767-06 (48th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas June 8, 2006).

Defended large insurance carrier from first-party claims brought by insured resulting in insured's dismissal of all claims before trial for zero recovery. Roxanne O'Neal v. Allstate Ins. Co., et. al., No. 348-219228-06 (348th District Court, Tarrant County, Texas August, 2007)

Represented popular hotel in defense of a former employee's claims of sexual harrassment, assault and intentional infliction of emotinal distress, resulting in settlement for a nominal amount before trial. Stacey Summer Carrillo v. American Property Management Corp., et. al., No. 318186 (County Court at Law No. 10, Bexas County, Texas Oct. 2007).

Won 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss on behalf of attorney client, whereby court dissmissed every claim by plaintiff including securities fraud, legal malpractice and civil conspiracy. Brian Lehman v. John A. Davis, et. al., No. 3:06-CV-2035-P (N.D. Tex. July 5, 2007).

Education

• J.D., cum laude, St. Mary’s University School of Law, 2002

• B.B.A., Texas Christian University, 1999

Memberships

• Member, State Bar of Texas

• Admitted to practice in United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern Districts of Texas

• Member, Dallas Bar Association

• Member, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers

• Member, Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, (2004-2006)

• Member, John M. Harlan Society

Honors and Awards

• Recognized by Texas Monthly as a "Rising Star," 2009, 2010 and 2011

• Phi Delta Phi


Community Involvement

Eric has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Dallas and Tarrant counties building new homes. He has participated in the NICA/Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association Christmas Toy Drive, purchasing, wrapping, and handing out presents to disadvantaged children. Eric has also volunteered with the T.C.U. Neely School of Business interviewing prospectives students.