Kevin F. Risley

Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law

Kevin Risley has first-chair trial experience in more than 25 cases, running the gamut from insurance coverage to product liability and personal injury to banking and commercial litigation, and constitutional law. He has been lead appellate counsel on more than 150 cases including more than 50 cases that have resulted in written opinions.

On both the trial and appellate level, Kevin has substantial experience not only in multiple substantive areas of the law as well as a broad variety of procedural issues including jury charge preparation and objections, personal and subject matter jurisdiction, mandamus, injunctive and other extraordinary relief, setting aside default judgments, and appellate jurisdiction. Kevin also regularly serves as an expert witness on the issues of the reasonableness and necessity of attorney’s fees.

Representative Experience

Prevailed in Eleventh Court of Appeals in breach of contract suit.

Lead trial counsel and lead appellate counsel for all defendants in upholding the 1997 asbestos reform litigation against a variety of constitutional challenges.

Represented major American insurance company in appeal from trial court ruling imposing a duty to defend international cell phone manufacturer in potential class action litigation involving claims of cellular injury caused by exposure to radiation waves.

Represented building materials company in mandamus proceeding in which the Texas Supreme Court held that the work-product privilege is perpetual and survives the conclusion of the case in which a privileged document was created.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of general liability insurer and obtained affirmance of judgment on appeal in one of the first cases in Texas involving the pollution exclusion clause.

Reduced judgment against general liability insurer arising out of nursing home claims by $1 million.

United States Fire Ins. Co. v. Scottsdale Ins. Co., 264 S.W.3d 160 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2008, no pet.)

Obtained reversal of $24 million dollar default judgment against a non-resident product manufacturer in two mesothelioma cases.

Combustion Engineering Co. v. Vukich, No. 13-01-00750-CV (Tex. App. – Corpus Christi 2002, no pet.)

Obtained dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction of claims against out-of-state lawyers who had represented Texas residents.

Weldon-Francke v. Fisher, 237 S.W.3d 789 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, no pet.)

Represented Lloyds of London entities in obtaining reversal of anti-suit injunction which had prohibited the continuation of an insurance coverage suit filed by the insurers in Louisiana.

Travelers Ins. Co. v. J. Ray McDermott, Inc., No. 09-05-00110-CV (Tex. App. – Beaumont 2005, no writ)

Significantly reduced judgment against pipeline company in property damage claims arising out of explosion of underground gas storage dome.

Seminole Pipeline Co. v. Broad Leaf Partners, 979 S.W.2d 738 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist. 1998], no writ)