Christopher Farmer

Biography

Mr. Farmer is a member of the firm's Death Care Law, Labor and Employment, Commercial Litigation and General Litigation sections.  He has considerable experience with litigated and arbitrated matters.  He has prepared briefing before several Texas Courts of Appeals and to the Texas Supreme Court.  Mr. Farmer has managed EEOC, OSHA and State Regulatory EEO investigations for employers throughout the United States including in front of numerous state funeral and banking boards.

Education

University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 2001)
Purdue University (B.A., 1998)

Legal Memberships

• State Bar of Texas
• Houston Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• The Cremation Association of North America
• Texas Funeral Director's Association

Honors and Awards

• Vice-Chair, Business Litigation General Committee, American Bar Association, (2008-2010)
• Interscholastic Mock Trial Team
• Quarterfinalist Hippard Mock Trial Competition
• Research Assistant to Professor Seth J. Chandler

Admissions

State Bar of Texas

Practice Areas and Casework

Practice Areas

• Funeral and Cemetery Law
• Labor and Employment Law
• Commercial Litigation
• General Litigation

Casework

Funeral Home and Cemetery Law:

• Managed a large, international docket of state and federal funeral home and cemetery matters including professional liability, negligence, intentional acts, and deceptive trade practice claims.
• Advised, counseled and drafted policies and procedures for funeral homes and cemeteries across North America.
• Assisted in negotiating and closing deals for the acquisition of funeral homes and cemeteries.
• Conducted due diligence for a large acquisition of a funeral home and cemetery consolidator.

Labor/Employment Law:

• Managed a large docket of state and federal labor and employment matters including EEOC and wage/hour/overtime (FLSA) matters for a large, international, publicly traded company.
• Advised, counseled and drafted policies and procedures for a large HR department with responsibility for 25,000+ employees for a large, international, publicly traded company.
• Defend employers' liability for gross negligence lawsuits concerning workplace safety/health and employee fatality claims arising under Tex. Labor Code, Sec. 408.001(b) in state and federal courts.
• Represented industrial employers during OSHA--DOL inspections and litigation from the initial inspection through formal hearings and appeals to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
• Defend non-subscribing Texas corporations from claims alleging injuries and fatalities to employees.
• Provided on-site training and advice to clients nationwide on issues of ADA, ADEA, FLSA, Title VII, USERRA, and various state employment laws.

Commercial Litigation:

• Managed a large docket of commercial claims including contract, professional liability, premises liability, negligence, products' liability, slips and falls, auto liability, DTPA, and intentional tort claims for a large, international, publicly traded company.
• Regularly provide counsel to licensed funeral directors, funeral home operators, cemeteries, crematoriums and licensed embalmers from professional liability claims and licensure claims brought against them by the state regulatory agencies.

Publications

• Your Brother's Keeper:  When Can Your Company Be Responsible for the Acts of Employees? -- The Cremationist (March 2013)
• Cremation and Recycling: A Legal Perspective -- The Cremationist (2013)
• 10 Tips to Know About Insurance -- American Funeral Director (January 2013)
• How to Handle a Regulatory Investigation -- The Cremationist (2012)
• Knowledge Is Power:  Educate the Families You Serve to Protect Your Business -- The Cremationist (Summer 2012)
• Navigating the Sometimes Cloudy Social Media Waters -- The Cremationist (Spring 2012)
• The Funeral Rule:  Why It Should Rest In Peace -- Funeral Business Advisor (May/June 2011)
• The Future of Cremation Law -- The Cremationist (2011)
• What to Do in Case of a Lawsuit-Your Insurance Company's Duty to Defend and Your Right to Select Your Own Counsel -- Funeral Business Advisor (March/April 2011)
• Feature Article in Funeral Service Insider (September 26, 2011)
• Cremation Law Closing the Gaps -- The Cremationist (Winter 2011)
• Cremation Litigation Prevention and Preparation:  How To Keep from Getting Sued and What to Do If You Do -- The Cremationist (Winter 2010)
• What to Do If You Are Sued -- The Cremationist (Summer 2010)
• What to Do When the Media Comes Calling:  Your Media Preparedness Plan -- Funeral Business Advisor (July/August 2010)
• Indemnification Agreements:  What They Are and Why You Need Them -- Funeral Business Advisor (March/April 2010)
• OSHA's New Multi Employer Citation Policy Directive:  What is on the Horizon for Texas General Contractors and Subcontractors? -- With Steven O. Grubbs (November 9, 2005)

Lectures Presented

2013

• National Funeral Directors' Association Professional Women's Conference (Greenville, SC)
• Cremation Association of North America/National Funeral Directors' Association Cremation Symposium (Las Vegas, NV)
• Cremation Association of North America's Crematory Operations Certification Program
  • Charleston, SC
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Birmingham, AL

2012

• Cremation Association of North America Annual Convention (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
• International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association Convention & Exposition (Las Vegas, NV)
• Cremation Association of North America/National Funeral Directors' Association Cremation Symposium (Las Vegas, NV)
• Cremation Association of North America's Crematory Operations Certification Program
  • International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association Convention & Exposition (Las Vegas, NV)
  • Hartford, CT
  • Queens, NY
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Jeffersonville, IN
  • Chicago, IL
  • Virginia Funeral Directors' Association Annual Convention (Virginia Beach, VA)
  • Decatur, GA
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Dallas, TX
  • Houston, TX
• Funeral Directors' Association of Kentucky 130th State Convention (Louisville, KY)

2011

• Cremation Association of North America/National Funeral Directors' Association Joint Convention & Expo (Chicago, IL)
• Cremation Association of North America/National Funeral Directors' Association Cremation Symposium (Las Vegas, NV)
• Cremation Litigation & Preparation:  How To Keep From Getting Sued and What to Do If It Happens To You -- National Funeral Director's Webinar
• Troubleshooting Legal Problems at Funeral Homes and Cemeteries -- Kates-Boylston Webinar
• Cremation Association of North America's Crematory Operations Certification Program
  • Cremation Association of North America/National Funeral Directors' Association Joint Convention & Expo (Chicago, IL)
  • Nashville, TN
• Kates-Boylston Crematory Operators Certification Conference (Philadelphia, PA)
• Texas Funeral Directors' Association Annual Convention (Arlington, TX)
• Houston Metropolitan Funeral Directors' Association (Houston, TX)

2010

• Cremation Association of North America Annual Convention (Honolulu, HI)
• National Funeral Directors' Association Convention & Expo (New Orleans, LA)
• Cremation Association of North America/National Funeral Directors' Association Cremation Symposium (Las Vegas, NV)
• Colorado Funeral Directors' Association & Colorado Association of Funerals Combined Convention (Loveland, CO)
• Utah Funeral Directors' Association Winter Meeting (St. George, UT)
• 5th Annual Kates-Boylston Funeral Service Business Forum (Las Vegas, NV)
• Texas Funeral Directors' Association Annual Convention (Austin, TX)

Community Activities

• Appointed to the Houston Humane Society's Advisory Board (2004-2008)
• Head Coach Texas Elite 12s Girls Volleyball Club (2012-2013)
• Volunteer Head Coach Annunciation Orthodox School's Boys Volleyball Teams (7th and 8th Grades; 2007-2009)
• Volunteer Coach Gulf Coast Volleyball Association's Boys' Volleyball Teams (2008-2010)