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Benjamin Ritz handles complex commercial insurance litigation and appeals. He focuses primarily on insurance coverage and defense for primary and excess insurers, including complex, multi-party insurance coverage and bad-faith litigation involving general liability, environmental pollution, construction defects, directors and officers coverage, errors and omissions coverage, and property insurance. His experience includes pre-suit resolution and litigation of residential and commercial property damage and design defects, auto coverage, attorney’s fee disputes, chemical compound liability, and bodily injury to employees.


Background

Prior to joining the firm, Benjamin served as a law clerk at the Southern District of Texas and as a briefing attorney at the First Court of Appeals in Houston, Texas. Benjamin has extensive court experience, including the Supreme Court of Texas, the Supreme Court of Ireland, the First and Fourteenth Court of Appeals, the Southern District of Texas and Harris County Civil District Court.

Ben is on the Board of the Houston Young Lawyer Association where he organizes lawyer education and leadership programs. As a member of the Garland Walker Inn of Court, he works with sitting judges to produce programs from Plymouth Rocks! The Mayflower Compact at 400 to Star Laws: The Final Legal Frontier. He also enjoys volunteering with his son at the Houston Food Bank and Extra-Life. He is an Eagle Scout.

Representative Experience

Defended client’s contractual rights while structuring winning bankruptcy bid and later enforcement of 76,000 solar renewable credit rights for $7.5M.

No. 19-10303 (KJC), In re 1515-GEEnergy Holding Co. LLC, Et Al., U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of Delaware

Obtained take-nothing summary judgment in favor of defendant insurer on cost of insurance litigation in federal trial court.

Obtained full reversal on appeal to misclassification and double-taxation home warranty insurer in Washington State.

Obtained large class action settlement for insurer allowing insurer to retain the majority of future profits for at issue policies.

Lead appellate counsel in successful appeal regarding claims asserted against client under the Fair Credit Reporting Act 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.

Okwo v. Houston Methodist, No. 22-20457 (5th. Circ. 2023)

Advised insurer on revisions to assignability and other policy provisions to United States policy template.

Defeated plaintiff’s joinder to challenge defendant insurer’s removal to federal court.

Guiding coverage and bad-faith matters through every phase of resolution from pre-litigation coverage analysis, to strategic discovery, pre-trial judgments, alternative dispute resolution, and trial strategy.

Efficient resolution of residential and commercial property claims through pre-suit negotiation, appraisal, mediation, and litigation, as appropriate for the case.

Obtained complete denial of the plaintiff’s “independent” injuries, pre-judgment interest, and attorney’s fees claims on summary judgment following prior appraisal and statutory interest payment.

Professional Recognition

Super Lawyers: Texas Rising Stars

Listed for Insurance Coverage

Houston Bar Foundation

Fellow

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Listed for Commercial Litigation

Texas Bar Foundation

Fellow

Related Resources

Related Services

Publications & Speaking Engagements

Education, Admissions & Activities

Education

South Texas College of Law

J.D., 2015
Salutatorian
South Texas Law Review

Colby College

B.A., 2000
National Psychology Honor Society

Bar Admissions

Texas

2016

Court Admissions

United States District Court of Texas

Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western

Professional and Community Activities

Houston Young Lawyer’s Foundation

Trustee Board, 2022-2024

Houston Bar Association

Appellate Section Outreach Committee, 2017-2018; Newsletter, 2018-2019

Houston Young Lawyers Association

Foundation Fellow, 2019; Leadership Academy, 2018-2019; Lunchtime CLE co-chair, 2019-2020; Board Member, 2020-2024; President's Award Winner for Outstanding Committee chair, 2020-2021; Secretary, 2021-2022; Family Engagement Co-Chair 2023-2024

American Bar Association

Forum for Air and Space, 2019-2020; Insurance Coverage Litigation Journal, 2022-2023; Property Subcommittee, 2023-2024

Garland R. Walker Inn of Court

Outstanding Participation Award, 2017

Hobby Elementary School

Eagle Scout

Extra-Life Charity

Volunteer