|
|
 George Diaz-Arrastia 713-221-2510 gdarrastia@sdablaw.comDownload V-cardAdmissions & Affiliations - State Bar of Texas
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Houston Bar Association (Board Member, Construction Law section (1998-1999)
- Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation,
- Member, Texas Bar Foundation
- Elected to the College of the State Bar of Texas
- Member, American Society of International Law
Education & Professional Background- Schirrmeister Diaz-Arrastia Brem LLP, Houston (2004-present)
- Schirrmeister Ajamie, L.L.P., Houston (2001-2003)
- Gilpin, Paxson & Bersch, L.L.P., Houston (1991-1998)
- Deaton & Briggs (1988-1990)
- Baker & Botts, L.L.P. (1983-1988)
- University of Chicago (J.D., 1983)
- Rice University (B.A. magna cum laude, 1980); Phi Beta Kappa
|
|
GEORGE R. DIAZ-ARRASTIA
PARTNER
George has represented clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to individuals in business disputes for more than thirty years. Experienced in a broad range of civil litigation, at both the trial and appellate level, he has particular expertise in real estate, construction, insurance and consumer law matters. He is admitted to practice in all Texas state and federal courts, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Fifth, District of Columbia, and Federal circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Several of George's cases have been reported in the law books.
Born in Havana, Cuba, George is fluent in Spanish, and has experience handling international matters and representing clients based in Latin America.
Representative Engagements- Represented a Houston commercial property owner in litigation filed by the Foreign Relations Secretariat of Mexico arising from an alleged defect at the building that housed Houston's Consulate of Mexico. The client was absolved of all liability and was awarded its costs and attorney's fees.
- Represented a regional construction company in litigation and appeals in Federal court arising from a contract to substantially remodel the Federal Building in Galveston, Texas. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) terminated the client's contract for alleged defaults. Last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed the GSA's default determination and converted the termination of the contract to a termination for convenience.
- Defended a national home builder in class action litigation involving thousands of claims of misrepresentations in its marketing program. Class certification was successfully resisted. The litigation continued in both Texas and Federal trial courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. The client obtained a final judgment in its favor and paid nothing to the plaintiffs.
- Represented a Houston-based real estate developer in prosecuting claims for fraud in connection with its purchase of a contaminated parcel of land from a Fortune 500 company. The case also involved defending the client from claims by the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission that it should pay to clean up the property. The claims of the Commission were dismissed and the client paid nothing. After a three week trial, the seller of the land settled the fraud claims with a seven figure payment. A legal malpractice claim against the client's prior attorneys was also pursued and settled in the high six figures.
- Represented the Mexican subsidiary of an U.S.-based Fortune 500 company in litigation arising out of an international arbitration award that was entered against Mexican companies that were subsequently acquired by the Mexican subsidiary, which believed that the award had been paid during the course of Mexican bankruptcy proceedings involving the companies against which the award was made. The case has involved coordinated litigation in the U.S. and in Mexico.
- Defended an international manufacturer of high-performance resins that was sued in a third-party action by two molders who had been retained by the client's customer to mold parts for a tank-less water heater. The client's customer had sued the molders claiming that improper molding had caused water heaters to fail in the field, leading to damage to commercial reputation, lost sales and profits and business opportunities exceeding $40 million. The molders asserted third-party claims against our client, claiming that the failures were the result of the properties of the resin or incorrect instructions given by the client's field technical representatives. The molders also asserted statutory causes of action for contribution and indemnity under Chapters 33 and 82 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. The court entered summary judgment for our client on all these claims. The molders were represented by the Houston office of Fulbright & Jaworski and the Dallas office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.
Articles & Seminars- Property Damages," University of Houston Law Foundation, Insurance Law Seminar (1996-1999, 2001)
- Construction Litigation Update," University of Houston Law Foundation, Advanced Business Litigation Seminar (1999)
- Understanding the Residential Construction Liability Act," Houston Bar Association Construction Law Section (June 1998)
- Understanding the Residential Construction Liability Act," Houston Bar Association, Annual Real Estate Law Seminar (1998)
- The New AIA Form A-201," Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Houston (1998)
- Using U.S. Discovery Techniques in Foreign Litigation and Arbitration," Houston Bar Association International Law Section (October 2006)
- Evictions: Residential and Commercial," South Texas College of Law Real Estate Law Conference (2006)
- Importando técnicas de obtención de pruebas, 8 El Mundo del Abogado 50 (Enero 2006)
Reported Cases- International Transactions, Ltd. v. Embotelladora Agral Regiomontana, S.A. de C.V., 347 F.3d 589 (5th Cir. 2003)
- International Transactions, Ltd. v. Embotelladora Agral Regiomontana, S.A. de C.V., 277 F. Supp. 2d 670 (N.D. Tex. 2002) rev'd 347 F.3d 589
- Johns v. Ram Forwarding, Inc., 29 S.W.3d 635 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, no pet.)
- Herman B. Taylor Construction Co. v. Barram, 203 F.3d 808 (Fed. Cir. 2000)
- Milestone Properties, Inc. v. Federated Metals Corporation, 867 S.W.2d 113 (Tex. App.--Austin 1993, no writ)
- Bykowicz v. Pulte Home Corporation, 950 F.2d 1046 (5th Cir. 1992), cert denied, 506 U.S. 822
- Deposit Insurance Bridge Bank v. McQueen, 804 S.W.2d 264 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, no writ).
|
