Patron Law Firms
Robert L. Collins
| Robert L. Collins, Attorney at Law | |
| MVTLA Executive Committee Member | |
| Robert L. Collins website | |
| Houston, Texas | |
| EXPERIENCE
2011 Executive Board --AAJ Traumatic Brain Injury Group 2011 Secretary of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group 2011 Diplomate of the National College of Advocacy 2010 Treasurer, Interstate Trucking Litigation, Group of the American Asociation for Justice 2008 to 2010 American Bar Association House of Delegates - Alternate Delegate for State Bar of Texas 2007- 2008 Co-Chair, Trial Rules Subcommittee of State Bar of Texas Standing Committee on Court Rules 2007-2008 Treasurer - Toxic Mold Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice. 2006-Present City Attorney - Port Isabel, Texas April 1999 to present Public practice of law – sole practitioner – limited to selected cases with emphasis on public interest and consumer litigation; mass disaster; hurricane and storm damage litigation; refinery and other explosions; pharmaceutical fraud; transportation disaster – plane, truck, bus, train & automobile litigation. Chairman, Board of Directors (elected 1/05) – Harris County Deputies Training Institute August 1992 to March 1999 Internet/E-Commerce Development – principal of SpiMedia Principal counsel in major litigation. June 1982 to August 1992 Collins & Kistler (formerly Robert L. Collins & Associates), Attorneys at Law - Emphasis on Consumer and Public Interest Litigation - including appointment as Class Counsel - Federal Skywalk Litigation - Hyatt Regency Disaster (1981) [In Re Federal Skywalk Cases, 680 F.2d 1175 (8th Cir. 1982)], Kansas City, Missouri, and representation of numerous victims of Houston Westchase Hilton Hotel Fire Disaster. Representation of Class Plaintiffs in Continental Trailways/Graebel Collision (1987). Representation of numerous other bus and vehicle collision victims. Representation of airplane (both private and commercial airline) crash victims. Representation in automobile product liability litigation (including a judgment finding the 1986 Hyundai Excel automobile to be defective in its design and unreasonably dangerous.) The firm also engaged in complex business litigation - representation including individual owners of 2016 Main led by U.S. 5th Circuit Appeals Court Judge Joe Ingraham among other civic leaders, numerous homeowner/property owner associations, developers, lenders (banks and savings associations), builders and title insurance companies, usury and fraud litigation, including a $22 Million judgment against Continental Savings Association (District Court, Bastrop, Texas) in September of 1988. October 1980 to June 1982 Partner - Collins & Steinburg - Emphasis on consumer law and civil litigation. February 1979 to October 1980 Attorney - Sole Practitioner with emphasis on consumer law and civil litigation. November 1977 to January 1979 Associate Attorney – Hoover, Cox & Miller – general civil practice with litigation emphasis REPRESENTATIVE FORMER CLIENTS -Class Counsel - KB Home Arbitration Litigation (2003-2006); Class Counsel – Federal Skywalk Litigation; Class Counsel - Continental Trailways Bus Collision and Graebel Van Lines Litigation; Tan Sahsa Airline Flight No. 414 Crash Litigation; Automobile product liability litigation – Chandler v. Hyundai Motor Company; Audubon Society - wetlands litigation; Cornerstone Savings Association; Heights State Bank; West Belt National Bank; Imperial Title Company; The Development Group, Inc.; Development Mortgage Group, Inc.; Skyways Aviation, Inc.; Power Pak Co., Inc.; Texas Gulf Gas Company; Timberlake Estates Property Owners' Association; Tranquility Lakes Homeowners' Association; 2016 Main Homeowners' Committee; and Rivertree Owners' Association. ADMITTED TO PRACTICE United States Supreme Court; Supreme Court of Texas; United States Courts, Southern District of Texas; United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals; United States 11th Circuit Court of Appeals; Pro Hac Vice before United States District Courts - Western District of Texas, Northern District of Florida, Northern District of Texas, Western District of Missouri and United States 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. BAR MEMBERSHIPS Cameron County Bar Association (Texas); State Bar of Texas; Life Fellow-Texas Bar Foundation; College of the State Bar of Texas. TRIAL AND APPELLATE EXPERIENCE Numerous trials as Lead Counsel in U.S. District Courts, U. S. Bankruptcy Courts, Texas Civil District Courts, Texas Criminal District Courts, Probate Courts, County Civil and Criminal Courts, Justice Courts and Municipal Courts. Appeals handled to United States Supreme Court, Texas Supreme Court, Texas Appeals Courts and numerous U.S. Appeals Courts. GOVERNMENT AFFILIATION City Attorney - Port Isabel, Texas (2006 to present) Texas Turnpike Authority - Member, Board of Directors 1986 to 1990. PERSONAL REFERENCES former Justice Federico Hinojosa – 13th Court of Appeals; former U.S. Congressman Greg Laughlin (14th Congressional District - Texas); former Texas Senator Jon Lindsay, Texas Senator John Whitmire; U.S. Congressman Gene Green; Texas Senator Rodney Ellis; Judge George Risner - Justice of the Peace, Harris County; District Judge Mary Bacon, retired, Constable Dick Moore, Harris County - retired; Hon. Clive Runnells; LAW SCHOOL Member - The Advocates - Moot Court - Appellate Advocacy Board. Member - Order of the Barons - Honorary organization - selection based on scholastic performance – subsequently converted to Order of Coif. Member - University of Houston American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition Team - Placed first in Regional Competition (five states). Member - The Order of the Barristers - National honorary Society recognizing "excellence in oral advocacy." Recipient - George T. Barrow Award - For the "law student most likely to be a success in the practice of law." Recipient - Federal Bar Association Award - For "outstanding academic achievement in Constitutional Law." Recipient - American Jurisprudence Award - For "outstanding academic achievement in Constitutional Law." Recipient - Appellate Advocacy Competition Award - First Place in regional American Bar Association appellate argument competition. Recipient - Judge Shearn Smith Award - For marked improvement and success in the study of law. Recipient - Pasadena Law Wives Award - Awarded to the "most promising Pasadena area law student." Honor Grades (with rank) Constitutional Law (1); Legal Research and Writing (4); Legislation (2); Malpractice (3); and Business Organizations - Agency, Partnerships and Corporations (1). |
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