Press Release

Munsch Hardt Welcomes Eight Attorneys from Harrison Bettis McFarland to Houston Office

Nov 1, 2014

Munsch Hardt officially welcomes attorneys from Harrison Bettis McFarland LLP (Harrison Bettis) to the firm’s Houston office today, bolstering the firm’s presence in Texas and expanding its capabilities available to clients.

With the addition of the following experienced business litigation attorneys, Munsch Hardt now encompasses more than 125 attorneys in three Texas offices – Dallas, Houston and Austin.

James M. Bettis, Jr. – Shareholder
Jim’s litigation experience focuses on a myriad of industries, including oil and gas, refinery, insurance, products, toxic tort, construction and transportation. Jim also has built a career on solving complex insurance problems for policy holders, from family owned businesses and individuals to international corporations. His combined litigation experience and insurance practice allows him to successfully represent clients in multi-million dollar coverage litigation and bad faith lawsuits.

Clifford L. Harrison – Shareholder
With more than 30 years of experience, Cliff has earned his stripes as a veteran trial lawyer, having tried more than 170 cases to jury verdict and having handled cases in virtually every corner of the state. Cliff has vast experience in transportation litigation, products liability, premises liability, toxic tort, oil field and refinery accidents, construction litigation and commercial cases. His extensive courtroom experience and reputation have equipped him to achieve quick and efficient pretrial settlements for a variety of clients.

D. Mitch McFarland – Shareholder
With more than 35 years of experience, Mitch has gained a reputation for successfully taking complex business cases to trial. Mitch has extensive experience with disputes in the oil and gas industry representing producers, pipelines and midstream players. His practice covers an array of complex commercial litigation, products liability claims, construction litigation, partnership disputes and personal injury litigation.

B. Lee Wertz, Jr. – Shareholder
Lee is a trial lawyer with broad experience ranging from catastrophic personal injury cases to complex commercial litigation. Lee represents plaintiffs and defendants in all aspects of sophisticated commercial and general civil litigation and arbitrations, focusing on the transportation, construction, oil and gas, insurance and waste industries.These cases involve insurance coverage, breach of contract, fraud, indemnity, trade secrets, non-compete agreements, DTPA and UCC, as well as defense of serious injury and wrongful death claims.

Mark Deaton – Associate
Mark's practice focuses on a variety of complex commercial litigation issues, including civil litigation, oil and gas litigation, breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, employment, and product defect.

Carrie Schadle – Associate
Carrie's practice focuses on an array of general litigation matters, and has included breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, insurance code violations, business interruption, oil and gas, medical device products liability, commercial real estate, RICO, breach of contract, personal injury defense, property damage, and construction defect. She has also been extensively involved in many appellate matters on behalf of her clients.