Todd F. Newman

Biography

Mr. Newman has represented clients in both state and federal courts throughout Texas, focusing primarily on first-party and third-party insurance matters, including handling numerous claims on behalf of insurance clients relating to the large bodies of litigation resulting from the impact of Huricanes Rita and Ike in the Southeast Texas area.

Mr. Newman defends against bad-faith and breach of contract claims involving insurance disputes, claim denials, coverage and policy interpretation.  He also has defended clients in premises liability, products liability, general negligence and general breach of contract matters.  In addition, he possesses notable experience in admiralty/maritime (Jones Act), trucking and transportation defense and appellate law.

Education

University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 2001)
Louisiana Tech University (B.S., magna cum laude, 1996)

Legal Memberships

• State Bar of Texas
• Houston Bar Association
• American Bar Association

 

Admissions

• State Bar of Texas
• United States District Court for the Southern, Northern, and Eastern Districts of Texas

Practice Areas and Casework

Practice Areas

• Insurance Coverage
• Insurance Defense
• General Negligency
• Personal Injury
• Premises Liability
• Products Liability

 

Casework

Representative Experience:

• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of insurer in suit by additional insured on duty to defend/duty to indemnify grounds and successfully defended judgment on appeal.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of insurance agent in premises liability case involving criminal activity (upheld on appeal).
• Defeated motion to dismiss in declaratory judgment action with prior-filed state-court action.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of product manufacturer in case involving allegedly defective agricultural equipment.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of settling insurer in claim by claimant's subrogee on limitations grounds.

 

Reported Cases:

• D.R. Horton--Texas, Ltd. v. Markel Intem. Ins. Co., Ltd., 300 S.W.3d 773 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.]