 OverviewTeia's practice focuses on commercial litigation matters, within the construction, energy and surety industries. She routinely handles construction defect and equitable adjustment claims, payment and performance bond claims and breach of contract claims on behalf of owners, general contractors and sureties involved in complex construction projects. Teia also has litigation experience handling commercial matters involving claims for tortious interference and other business torts, anti-trust, products liability, Deceptive Trade Practices Act, breach of contract, non-compete, trade secret and proprietary right, negligence, breach of warranty, toxic tort, creditors’ rights and post judgment enforcement and collection. She has experience with matters in both federal and state courts, as well as domestic and international arbitration. Working closely with her clients, Teia also drafts and negotiates various types of agreements, including oilfield master service agreements (MSAs), construction contracts, corporate formation documents and various commercial agreements, among others. Prior to joining Munsch Hardt, Teia was an associate on the Litigation team of a mid-size Houston-based law firm. Teia received her Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law, graduating magna cum laude. During law school, Teia served as Note & Comment Editor of the South Texas Law Review and clerked as a judicial intern for the Honorable Kathleen Stone in the Harris County Probate Court 1. Upon graduation she received the Transactional Practice Certificate for her achievements and focus in transactional courses. Memberships
- American Bar Association (Litigation Section Member)
- Garland Walker American Inn of Court
- Houston Bar Association
- Houston Better Business Bureau (Volunteer Mediator and Arbitrator)
- Houston Young Lawyers Association
- State Bar of Texas
Clerkships
- The Honorable Kathleen Stone, Harris County Probate Court 1 (Judicial Intern)
OverviewTeia's practice focuses on commercial litigation matters, within the construction, energy and surety industries. She routinely handles construction defect and equitable adjustment claims, payment and performance bond claims and breach of contract claims on behalf of owners, general contractors and sureties involved in complex construction projects. Teia also has litigation experience handling commercial matters involving claims for tortious interference and other business torts, anti-trust, products liability, Deceptive Trade Practices Act, breach of contract, non-compete, trade secret and proprietary right, negligence, breach of warranty, toxic tort, creditors’ rights and post judgment enforcement and collection. She has experience with matters in both federal and state courts, as well as domestic and international arbitration. Working closely with her clients, Teia also drafts and negotiates various types of agreements, including oilfield master service agreements (MSAs), construction contracts, corporate formation documents and various commercial agreements, among others. Prior to joining Munsch Hardt, Teia was an associate on the Litigation team of a mid-size Houston-based law firm. Teia received her Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law, graduating magna cum laude. During law school, Teia served as Note & Comment Editor of the South Texas Law Review and clerked as a judicial intern for the Honorable Kathleen Stone in the Harris County Probate Court 1. Upon graduation she received the Transactional Practice Certificate for her achievements and focus in transactional courses. ExperienceAAA Arbitrations + Meditations Currently prosecuting client’s claims against surety and its principal for failing to honor subcontract and performance bond obligations on a public [more]Currently prosecuting client’s claims against surety and its principal for failing to honor subcontract and performance bond obligations on a public construction project in Houston, Texas. [less]AAA Arbitrations + Meditations Currently defending a general contractor and its surety against a subcontractor’s payment dispute. This matter involves claims and offsets on three different public [more]Currently defending a general contractor and its surety against a subcontractor’s payment dispute. This matter involves claims and offsets on three different public and private construction projects in the greater Houston area. [less]AAA Arbitrations + MediationsServed as lead attorney in pursuit of a subcontractor’s non-payment claim against a general contractor. Achieved client’s settlement goal by applying the right amount [more]Served as lead attorney in pursuit of a subcontractor’s non-payment claim against a general contractor. Achieved client’s settlement goal by applying the right amount of pressure through initiating mediation with the AAA. [less]International ArbitrationDefended a multi-million dollar international arbitration dispute involving the sale of Chinese oilrigs to Venezuelan entities. The Plaintiff sought more than [more]Defended a multi-million dollar international arbitration dispute involving the sale of Chinese oilrigs to Venezuelan entities. The Plaintiff sought more than $100MM as commission related to Defendant’s sale of oil rigs to Venezuela. The Plaintiff argued he was entitled to a commission because his efforts as a consultant for Defendant (3 years earlier) set events in motion that led to the sale. [less]Payment & Performance ClaimsCurrently serving lead counsel in the defense and prosecution of various claims, counterclaims and cross claims in three state court actions initiated by a [more]Currently serving lead counsel in the defense and prosecution of various claims, counterclaims and cross claims in three state court actions initiated by a subcontractor’s suppliers for non-payment on a construction project for the City of Houston. The counterclaims and cross claims involve a declaratory action, breach of contract, promissory estoppel, quia timet, exoneration and indemnity all stemming from issues surrounding competing bond claims. [less]Payment & Performance ClaimsRepresented Plaintiff in affirmative and defensive claims against an owner and subcontractors. This case is a complex multi-party construction dispute [more]Represented Plaintiff in affirmative and defensive claims against an owner and subcontractors. This case is a complex multi-party construction dispute arising from the client’s cost plus contract with the owner to construct multi-million dollar mixed-use development in Houston, Texas. [less]Payment & Performance ClaimsServed as lead counsel in pursuit of Plaintiff’s non-payment claims against the owner. This case involved breach of contract claims by the general [more]Served as lead counsel in pursuit of Plaintiff’s non-payment claims against the owner. This case involved breach of contract claims by the general contractor against the owner for failing to pay amounts due on a job order contract. [less]Construction DefectAssisted as second chair in the prosecution of multi-million dollar construction defect claims involving a commercial building in the CityCentre development [more]Assisted as second chair in the prosecution of multi-million dollar construction defect claims involving a commercial building in the CityCentre development in west Houston. The multi-party case involved claims against the general contractor and architect for defective construction in 2009 which manifested after Hurricane Harvey. [less]Construction DefectAssisted as second chair to prosecute a million dollar construction defect case against an architect and general contractor for constructing a defective care [more]Assisted as second chair to prosecute a million dollar construction defect case against an architect and general contractor for constructing a defective care facility serving adults with severe mental and physical disabilities. [less]Equitable Adjustment Prosecuted a multi-million dollar equitable adjustment claim against the General Service Administration (GSA) in the Court of the Civilian Board of Civil Appeals involving [more]Prosecuted a multi-million dollar equitable adjustment claim against the General Service Administration (GSA) in the Court of the Civilian Board of Civil Appeals involving the construction of the El Paso Court House. The claim was that the GSA’s failure to produce adequate contract documents caused the contractor considerable financial harm, and thus the contractor was entitled to an equitable adjustment. The case was mediated and resulted in a favorable settlement. [less]Equitable Adjustment Assisted in the defense of a breach of contract claim seeking an equitable adjustment and rescission of a contract for the construction of the New Broadway Waste Water [more]Assisted in the defense of a breach of contract claim seeking an equitable adjustment and rescission of a contract for the construction of the New Broadway Waste Water Treatment Plant in Corpus Christi, Texas. Successfully drafted response to Motion for Summary Judgment resulting in complete denial. [less]Insurance Coverage Dispute Participated in the prosecution of an insurance coverage dispute involving the denial of coverage under a builder’s risk policy for loss of a pipeline [more]Participated in the prosecution of an insurance coverage dispute involving the denial of coverage under a builder’s risk policy for loss of a pipeline structure during construction of a gas pipeline. [less]Breach of Contract + Fraud Defended claims by a contractor for breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation and promissory estoppel. This was a steel fabrication dispute. [more]Defended claims by a contractor for breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation and promissory estoppel. This was a steel fabrication dispute. The Plaintiff claimed that the client breached the contract by failing to deliver steel to the project on time; client argued that the Plaintiff’s failure to approve or reject the design drawings prevented them from proceeding with the work. The case ultimately settled for more than half the amount originally sought by Plaintiff. [less]Personal Injury + Wrongful Death Represented three of sixteen oil company defendants in a wrongful death suit resulting from an alleged exposure to benzene during the deceased’s employment with the prime [more]Represented three of sixteen oil company defendants in a wrongful death suit resulting from an alleged exposure to benzene during the deceased’s employment with the prime contractor defendant/indemnitor. [less]Breach of Contract Assisted in the defense of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and negligence claims against the client as the broker for the purchase of a triple net lease property [more]Assisted in the defense of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and negligence claims against the client as the broker for the purchase of a triple net lease property and 1031 exchange. This case was mediated early in the discovery stage and achieved a fair and equitable settlement. [less]Secured TransactionsProsecuted declaratory judgment action involving the client’s right to receive million dollar receivables from a municipal utility district. The petition alleged [more]Prosecuted declaratory judgment action involving the client’s right to receive million dollar receivables from a municipal utility district. The petition alleged the client was entitled to receive development rights in the property it was developing. Defendants claimed ownership to the same receivables by arguing they had a perfected security interest in the collateral. [less]Antitrust Litigation Prosecuted a multi-million dollar tortious interference and anti-trust claims. The case involves anti-competitive acts against the client for supplying a competing [more]Prosecuted a multi-million dollar tortious interference and anti-trust claims. The case involves anti-competitive acts against the client for supplying a competing product in the job order contract market in Texas. [less]Products Liability Defended a million dollar products liability, Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), warranty and breach of contract claim. This case involved an underground blowout [more]Defended a million dollar products liability, Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), warranty and breach of contract claim. This case involved an underground blowout allegedly caused by the failure of a repaired casing patch to withstand the intended pressure. The parties achieved an attractive settlement agreement during mediation. [less]FraudDefended home owner in case involving construction of a residential home on the wrong lot which was discovered 11 years later after Plaintiff, as legal [more]Defended home owner in case involving construction of a residential home on the wrong lot which was discovered 11 years later after Plaintiff, as legal owner, secured a line of credit using the Defendant’s home as collateral. [less]Interim In-House Legal Counsel Selected to act as in-house legal counsel for a three-month interim basis for an international oilfield products company, serving the subsea, drilling, completion, production [more]Selected to act as in-house legal counsel for a three-month interim basis for an international oilfield products company, serving the subsea, drilling, completion, production and infrastructure sectors of the oil and natural gas industry. Responsibilities included contract negotiation for the company’s national and international divisions, and serving as lead negotiator for a multi-million dollar worldwide Master Service Agreement (MSA) with the world's leading provider of technology for reservoir characterization, drilling, production and processing to the oil and gas industry. [less]
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