Michael joined Coats Rose in 2007 as an Of Counsel in the Construction/Surety practice section. In addition to his construction practice, he brings to the firm over 20 years experience in a broad range of complex commercial litigation.
Michael’s practice has in recent years focused primarily on litigation and arbitration of Construction Industry disputes; however, he has experience in a broad range of other areas including Banking, Bankruptcy, Collections, DTPA, Employment Law, Environmental Contamination, ERISA, Fraud, Fraudulent Transfers, Governmental Liability, Legal Malpractice, Oil and Gas, Real Estate and Securities. He has tried and settled multi-million-dollar cases in State and Federal Court and arbitrations involving oil and gas, construction, real estate, securities and business torts.
Michael has advised clients in drafting and negotiating Purchase and Sale Agreements for the sale of large oil and gas interests, real estate, outdoor advertising assets and other properties. He has also assisted clients in forming, modifying and merging corporations and partnerships, as well as negotiating and drafting other incidental agreements.
Texas A&M (B.B.A., 1982)
University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1985)
1985, Texas
U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts, Southern, Western, Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
State Bar of Texas (Litigation and Construction Law Sections)
Houston Bar Association (Litigation and Construction Law Sections)
- Won $1,250,000 in punitive damages and $375,000 in actual damages in a five (5) day jury trial involving a fraud case.
- Won $2,500,000 judgment in a four (4) week jury trial of a construction case involving negligent misrepresentation which was sustained on appeal and collected.
- Won $1,000,000 judgment in a three (3) day jury trial involving breach of contract and fraud claims.
- Successfully defended client in a five (5) day jury trial on a breach of contract action and the associated appeal to the Texas Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
- Negotiated $1,100,000 settlement in a Securities Arbitration.
- Co-counsel in $4,800,000 settlement for contractor and subcontractors against builder’s risk insurance company.
- Recovered $400,000 for general contractor in State Court suit against multiple subcontractors responsible for damages to work of others from defective construction and negligent activities on job site.
- Negotiated $270,000 settlement from Wal-Mart in Federal Court for contractor involving construction change directive litigation.
- Negotiated several settlements in excess of $100,000 in several lien, bond and collection lawsuits.
- Represented general contractor in Federal Court litigation involving the priority of claims to retainage by the I.R.S. as creditor of a subcontractor.
- Represented general contractor in Arbitration by a school district over the alleged defective design or installation of sanitary sewer system.
- Represented general contractor in State Court against a subcontractor for failing to complete electrical work on an air cargo facility and defended counterclaims.
- Represented general contractor, owner and surety a in State Court involving damage to the construction work of others by one or more subcontractors.
- Represented general contractor and suppliers as creditors in various Bankruptcy litigation and claims procedures.
- Represented general contractor in Arbitration where the subcontractor walked off the job before substantial completion.
- Abated lawsuits and enforced arbitration of disputes.
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