 OverviewMark routinely represents clients in complex litigation involving commercial disputes and product liability in both state and federal courts. Mark’s litigation experience covers a broad group of industries, including transportation, oil and gas, brick-and-mortar retail, manufacturing and construction. He counsels owners, contractors and other stakeholders in contract and construction defect matters; recent matters include electrical and mechanical issues in state university dormitories and welding issues in agricultural products handling facilities. Mark also has extensive experience representing a wide range of upstream and midstream oil and gas entities in commercial, title and personal injury disputes from both defense and plaintiff sides. For many years, Mark has represented heavy-equipment manufacturers on a variety of product defect, manufacturing, warning and negligence-related claims. Prior to his legal career, Mark spent more than 15 years managing airline crews in the South of Tokyo, European and Indian markets and designing and delivering onboard security and safety curricula. He is committed to achieving practical business solutions with integrity while maintaining open and authentic communication with clients and colleagues. Having come to the practice of law after a career in the transportation industry, Mark recognizes corporate clients face many pressures in litigation, be they economic, governance, or public perception. Mark strives to provide thoughtful, creative counsel that exceeds the client’s expectations in order to build lasting relationships. Mark currently serves as a member of Munsch Hardt's Diversity Committee and is a Co-Chair of the Firm’s Summer Associate Program. Mark also serves as an Executive Trustee of Houston’s Council on Recovery. Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association
- Houston's Council on Recovery (Executive Trustee)
- State Bar of Texas
OverviewMark routinely represents clients in complex litigation involving commercial disputes and product liability in both state and federal courts. Mark’s litigation experience covers a broad group of industries, including transportation, oil and gas, brick-and-mortar retail, manufacturing and construction. He counsels owners, contractors and other stakeholders in contract and construction defect matters; recent matters include electrical and mechanical issues in state university dormitories and welding issues in agricultural products handling facilities. Mark also has extensive experience representing a wide range of upstream and midstream oil and gas entities in commercial, title and personal injury disputes from both defense and plaintiff sides. For many years, Mark has represented heavy-equipment manufacturers on a variety of product defect, manufacturing, warning and negligence-related claims. Prior to his legal career, Mark spent more than 15 years managing airline crews in the South of Tokyo, European and Indian markets and designing and delivering onboard security and safety curricula. He is committed to achieving practical business solutions with integrity while maintaining open and authentic communication with clients and colleagues. Having come to the practice of law after a career in the transportation industry, Mark recognizes corporate clients face many pressures in litigation, be they economic, governance, or public perception. Mark strives to provide thoughtful, creative counsel that exceeds the client’s expectations in order to build lasting relationships. Mark currently serves as a member of Munsch Hardt's Diversity Committee and is a Co-Chair of the Firm’s Summer Associate Program. Mark also serves as an Executive Trustee of Houston’s Council on Recovery. ExperienceProducts Liability Defense Assisted in successfully defending a leading manufacturer of personnel lifts in a products liability case in which, after a three week jury trial, the general contractor for the Baylor [more]Assisted in successfully defending a leading manufacturer of personnel lifts in a products liability case in which, after a three week jury trial, the general contractor for the Baylor football stadium was charged with negligence and ordered to pay $17 MM in a death case. [less]Products Liability Defense Successfully defended a leading manufacturer of construction lighting equipment in a products liability case, in which, after moving for summary judgment [more]Successfully defended a leading manufacturer of construction lighting equipment in a products liability case, in which, after moving for summary judgment on all design and manufacturing claims, Plaintiff settled for zero dollars from client while obtaining almost $700,000 settlement from co-defendant which negligently operated manufacturer’s equipment. [less]Construction Litigation Successfully defended HVAC subcontractor in condominium tower construction dispute by obtaining summary judgment that plaintiff homeowners were bound to waiver [more]Successfully defended HVAC subcontractor in condominium tower construction dispute by obtaining summary judgment that plaintiff homeowners were bound to waiver provisions in original prime construction contract by virtue of their representations and actions taken in an earlier unrelated dispute. [less]Energy Litigation Assisted in representing a midstream asset company in a dispute with a leading provider of midstream services, in which the service provider ended a facilities-sharing [more]Assisted in representing a midstream asset company in a dispute with a leading provider of midstream services, in which the service provider ended a facilities-sharing agreement between the two companies in an effort to stifle competition in the local market. Munsch Hardt filed a complaint asking for a temporary restraining order (TRO), which alleged the service provider was using its monopoly position as an essential facility to deny the asset company access to the fractionation market. Munsch Hardt alleged that the service provider hoped to capture the asset company’s contracts with offshore producers for its facility at the same location. At the TRO hearing, after strong encouragement by the judge, the service provider agreed to a temporary arrangement to take the asset company’s raw mix natural gas liquids so that a hearing could be held. After expedited discovery the matter was resolved before the temporary injunction hearing. [less]Energy Litigation Assisted in representing a leading provider of mud pulse measurement-while-drilling equipment in a dispute with a large customer, in which the Firm’s client had a [more]Assisted in representing a leading provider of mud pulse measurement-while-drilling equipment in a dispute with a large customer, in which the Firm’s client had a judgment of more than $786,000 against the customer. As a part of the collection effort, Munsch Hardt had a receiver appointed to collect the assets and liquidate them. This led to suits against ten organizations and individuals that received funds from the customer on claims for fraudulent transfer. In April 2015, Munsch Hardt achieved a satisfactory settlement for its client. [less]Energy Litigation Successfully defended a leading oil and gas exploration company in a rights dispute with mineral interest owner and, after interest owner trespassed, destroyed equipment [more]Successfully defended a leading oil and gas exploration company in a rights dispute with mineral interest owner and, after interest owner trespassed, destroyed equipment and interfered with well operation, obtained permanent injunction against interest-owner’s representatives from interfering with proper operation of gas well. [less]Energy Litigation Assisted in defending midstream condensate processor from claims by Mexican state oil company that client had knowingly resold allegedly-stolen Mexican petroleum [more]Assisted in defending midstream condensate processor from claims by Mexican state oil company that client had knowingly resold allegedly-stolen Mexican petroleum products in large multi-party federal litigation. After the filing of motions for summary judgment by multiple parties, client obtained satisfactory settlement and release with no admission of liability. [less]Negligence + Personal Injury Defended a large waste disposal company, whose driver backed his waste truck into another vehicle, resulting in injuries to the other driver. The other driver filed suit, [more]Defended a large waste disposal company, whose driver backed his waste truck into another vehicle, resulting in injuries to the other driver. The other driver filed suit, alleging damages for a double operated back, a complete inability to work, and in excess of $3 MM in damages. The jury found that the plaintiff was at fault and also found that his alleged injuries were not caused by the accident. [less]Construction Litigation Assisted in successfully defended nationwide HVAC company in a construction defect case, in which the university asserted defective construction claims on student [more]Assisted in successfully defended nationwide HVAC company in a construction defect case, in which the university asserted defective construction claims on student dormitory complex almost ten years after construction was complete. Munsch Hardt obtained summary judgment on contract and negligence-based claims based upon proving general contractor waiver and release of claims related to earlier payment dispute. [less]Contract Dispute Successfully asserted client’s breach of contract claims against estate of decedent related to various loans, in which summary judgment was obtained based upon the [more]Successfully asserted client’s breach of contract claims against estate of decedent related to various loans, in which summary judgment was obtained based upon the court finding a valid contract existed based upon multiple correspondence exchanged between the decedent and client. [less]Construction Litigation Successfully leveraged nationwide fast-food restaurant chain against its franchisees in multiple disputes arising from franchisees’ non-payment of remediation costs related to [more]Successfully leveraged nationwide fast-food restaurant chain against its franchisees in multiple disputes arising from franchisees’ non-payment of remediation costs related to Hurricane Sandy storm damage in New York and New Jersey outlets. [less]
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