Michael D. Williams

Mr. Williams’ Texas roots date back to the founding of the Republic of Texas.  He has defended clients in civil litigation and trial matters in Texas courts for more than 30 years.  His extensive experience and track record of success have made him the preferred legal counsel of many leading domestic and international insurance companies.  Mr. Williams represents clients in various appellate, maritime, oilfield, premises, product, professional, and transportation matters.  He frequently speaks on litigation topics at conferences in the United States and abroad.

Outside the office, he stays active with his family and is involved with local charities. He is a past Board member of The Harmonie Group and is a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Representative Matters

• Represented prime fabrication sub-contractor in $25 million dispute with owner of jack-up drilling rigs over charges incurred by general contractor.  Owner counterclaimed construction delays. Case settled after federal court granted a maritime lien against owner for the amount of client’s claim.
• Obtained dismissal of a drilling company’s $45 million property damage and lost profits claim against a shipyard client on the first day of trial and recovered almost $1 million in defense costs from the Plaintiff under declaratory counterclaim for indemnity.  The Offshore Drilling Co. v. Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corp., 604 F.3d 221 (5th Cir. 2010).
• Defended pipeline construction contractor against a wrongful death claim arising out of explosion that occurred during the construction of interstate pipeline, obtaining a summary judgment dismissal of client.
• Resolved oil and gas downhole loss claim exceeding $8 million with no insurance liability.
• Successful trial and appeal in the defense of excess insurer in suit by primary insurer to recover amounts paid in excess of primary limits in satisfaction of judgment against insured. A federal jury found that the primary insurer was negligent in failing to settle within its policy limits. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the verdict. Westport Ins. Corp. v. Pa. Nat'l Mut. Cas. Ins. Co., 117 F.4th 653 (5^th Cir. 2024).
• Obtained forum non conveniens dismissal of client from U.S. litigation asserting wrongful death and injury claims arising from the Usumacinta Disaster in the Bay of Campeche involving 23 deaths and numerous injuries. Dominguez v. Gulf Coast Marine & Assocs., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42703.
• Obtained a favorable South Texas jury verdict for less than 1% of the jury demand of $40 million by four plaintiffs with no contributory negligence submission.  
• Dismissal of offshore platform injury claim on basis that no duty was owed by platform owner to contractor employee working on platform. Upheld on appeal. Coleman v. BP Expl. & Prod. Inc., 2020 WL 6292491, at *6 (S.D. Tex. Oct. 27, 2020), aff'd, 19 F.4th 720.
• Dismissal of offshore platform injury claim on basis that settlement agreement with Plaintiff’s employer covered platform owner. Bolua v. BP Exploration & Prod., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 84200.
• Obtained $5.8 million recovery of maritime contract claims on behalf of contractor.
• Obtained plaintiff's voluntary dismissal of $1.7 million personal injury lawsuit after plaintiff's deposition and two days before motion to compel discovery.
• Summary judgment of no causation in trucking accident involving multi-vehicle collision.
• Summary judgment in favor of marina owner defending against injury claim by tenant.  Upheld on appeal. Horton v. Walden Marina, 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 9124.
• Dismissal of $8 million civil rights public accommodation claim against restaurant client McLaurin v. Waffle House, Inc., 178 F. Supp. 3d 536.
• Defense of Mexican product manufacturer in US suit for catastrophic injuries, asserting jurisdictional defenses and obtaining release and dismissal under settlement funded entirely by US defendant that sold and marketed product.
• Obtained dismissal of Canadian product manufacturer from US wrongful death litigation on grounds of no personal jurisdiction. Elk River, Inc. v. Garrison Tool & Die, Ltd., 222 S.W.3d 772.
• Dismissal of product manufacturer in wrongful death litigation – expert testimony is required to prove marketing defect. Est. of Dominguez v. Signalisation Ver-Mac, Inc., 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97470.
• Defense counsel for equipment manufacturer in Texas toxic tort claims in claims involving more than 4,000 individual plaintiffs.
• Summary judgment dismissal of international air carrier in a case of first impression.  Claims against the carrier asserted under Texas state law pre-empted by Montreal Convention. Affirmed by Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mbaba v. Societe Air Fr., 457 F.3d 496.

• Martindale-Hubble – AV Preeminent
• Houston’s Top Lawyers
• Super Lawyers
• Texas Top Rated Lawyers
• Texas Bar Foundation - Fellow

Professional

• Defense Research Institute
• Houston Bar Association
• The Harmonie Group – past Board member
• Maritime Law Association of the United States – Proctor in Admiralty
• Texas Association of Defense Counsel

Firm News

• Mr. Williams is frequent speaker at public and private seminars presented by client and professional groups on various issues related to general civil litigation, maritime law, products liability, and personal injury and wrongful death claims.