News & Events
2006 news

November 2006
George R. Diaz-Arrastia has published an article in the November 2006 issue of the Mexican legal journal “El Mundo del Abogado.” Titled “La Ley de Quiebra de los EE UU a plica a personas y propiedades extranjeras” the article deals with the extraterritorial application of U.S. bankruptcy law.

October 2006
George R. Diaz-Arrastia spoke to the International Law Section of the Houston Bar Association on the subject of “Using U.S. Discovery Techniques in Foreign Litigation and Arbitration.”

June 2006
George R. Diaz-Arrastia spoke at the South Texas College of Law annual Real Estate Law Conference held on June 8-9, 2006 on the subject of “Evictions: Residential and Commercial.

May 2006
The firm welcomes Tonya Smits Rodriguez as our newest associate. Tonya graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997 and received her J. D. from the University of Iowa School of Law where she was member of the Order of the Coif and the Journal of Corporation Law. Following graduation Tonya clerked for the Honorable Judge Ewing Werelein, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

May 2006
The firm welcomes Tyler McIntyre as a summer associate. Tyler is currently attending William & Mary School of Law in Williamsburg, Virginia under the Army’s JAG program. Tyler is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and has served in Iraq and Kuwait.

May 2006
Michael L. Brem has been elected to the Governing Council of the International Law Section of the Houston Bar Association.

March 2006
Mike Brem and John Klug obtained a summary judgment in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas in a qui tam action under the False Claims Act brought against a major aerospace contractor in which enhanced damages in excess of $100 million were sought.

February 2006
Andrew Schirrmeister was a featured speaker at the HarrisMartin Benzene 101 Litigation in San Antonio, Texas. Andrew’s panel discussed exposure assessment in the context of Benzene litigation. His presentation included information on the toxicology of benzene, recent Texas law on exposure causation, and an overview of five methods of calculating exposure assessments: empirical assessments, industrial hygiene monitoring, literature review, governmental investigations, and exposure modeling, particularly the Well Mixed Room model...more

February 2006
Andrew Schirrmeister and Ruth Shapiro appeared before the Texas Supreme Court in Response to Plaintiff’s Petition for Review of an opinion from the First Houston Court of Appeals – Pirtle v. Khan, 177 S.W.3d 567 (Tex. App. Houston [1st Dist.], pet. filed.). The appeal to the Texas Supreme Court involves the accrual date of Ms. Pirtle’s personal injury claims arising from her alleged exposure to mold. The specific appellate issue involves when she first associated her ailments: upon learning of a leak in her apartment or after she received definitive diagnoses of toxic encephalopathy following laboratory results identifying mold in samples taken two years earlier.

January 2006
George R. Diaz-Arrastia has published an article in the January 2006 issue of the Mexican legal journal “El Mundo del Abogado.” Titled “Importando técnicas de obtención de pruebas,” the article deals with how 28 U.S.C. § 1782 may be used to obtain discovery in the U.S. for use in foreign or international litigation or arbitration.”

January 2006
After two trips to the Houston Courts of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court, the firm’s client – Hooks Industrial, Inc.– prevailed in its breach of contract case against Fairmont Supply Company.