History

Our Founding Partners

Our four founding partners Will C. Thompson, R. Vernon Coe, Robert B. Cousins, III and David B. Irons were among the principal architects of the modern insurance industry in Texas, shaping the laws that govern it and the organizations that serve it.

It all started in 1951 when, instead of retiring, Thompson joined Coe to create a firm that quickly built a reputation of unparalleled excellence and experience in the areas unique to insurance. Before joining, Thompson, who had been practicing for 39 years, was already a highly recognized insurance attorney. Coe had worked for the Attorney General of Texas and became the First Assistant City Attorney of Houston before creating the firm.

Joining the firm in 1953, Cousins was, quite literally, raised in the insurance industry. His father was the life insurance commissioner for Governor Dan Moody. After graduating law school and leaving the Army, Cousins worked in the Texas Attorney General’s office before joining Thompson Coe.

After serving in the Army, Irons also worked in the Attorney General’s office with Cousins. Irons then went to Washington to work in Eisenhower’s Justice Department. Irons returned to Texas and eventually wound up at Thompson Coe in 1959.

By 1960, the firm had changed its name to Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP. From that time, we have evolved beyond our original expertise to expand our capabilities and our offices, while remaining true to our core as trial lawyers.

• 1947 explosion of the cargo ship the S.S. Grandcamp Thompson Coe successfully defended some of the companies that had insured port property, winning a 1955 ruling in a federal appellate court that the policies did not apply because the fire originated on a French-operated ship.
• Alexander v. Fireman’s Insurance – 1958, sonic boom Founding partner Robert Cousins tried the case in 1958, which involved a sonic boom and the collapse of a building shortly thereafter. The judge ruled that he did not believe that a sonic boom fell within the aircraft cover provision (in the extended coverage section) of the policy. This was the first decision of any court in the country on this question.
• Hurricane Carla, 1961 Founding partner Robert Cousins represented Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company in a case related to damage from Hurricane Carla and a 1965 appeal, which found that the insured has failed to prove that their damages were caused by an insured peril.

Recent Legal Results

• Appellate attorney Cassie Dallas brought a successful Mandamus proceeding before the Texas Supreme Court in In re Allstate Indemnity Company, which provided needed and crucial clarification as to counter affidavits under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 18.001. This opinion will have long-reaching effects for everyone handling personal injury cases.
• Commercial litigation attorneys Michael Cedillo and Tom Annis recently prevailed in an in-person arbitration—claimant was awarded nothing against their client.
• Insurance litigators Matthew Kolodoski, Gino Rossini, and Harrison Yoss recently prevailed on behalf of their clients, an appellee insurer and claims administrator for an ERISA plan, before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
• Partner Zandra E. Foley won a defense verdict for a major respirator manufacturer against product liability claims brought by the estate and family of an asbestos worker who died of mesothelioma.
• Austin partner Stephanie Rojo and Houston partner Zandra Foley obtained a unanimous take-nothing defense verdict for a client in a race discrimination case.