Matthew J. Kolodoski
Dallas
214-880-2808
Matthew Kolodoski is a litigation attorney who has successfully represented clients through all phases of trial and appellate proceedings in state and federal courts throughout Texas. His practice focuses primarily on the representation of insurance carriers in all aspects of insurance coverage and extra-contractual litigation.
Matthew’s diverse experience includes successful litigation of complex insurance coverage actions involving bad faith claims handling disputes, loss of business income, duty to defend, and additional insured coverage. He also regularly advises and defends employee welfare benefit plans, insurers, and third-party administrators on accidental death and dismemberment ERISA claims.
After graduating from SMU Dedman School of Law, Matthew served as a law clerk for the Honorable Irma C. Ramirez on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. Matthew is also active in the local and statewide legal communities. He currently serves on the State Bar of Texas Professionalism Committee and as a trustee of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas and on the State Bar of Texas’s Pattern Jury Charge Oversight Committee and as Chair of the Civil Liberties & Civil Rights Section of the State Bar of Texas. He is also a frequent speaker at legal seminars, where he speaks on a variety of litigation, insurance law, and constitutional law topics.
Representative Experience
Obtained dismissal of a $1.6 million insurance coverage case based on a construction company’s voluntary payment to a property owner prior to liability being established.
Tex. Dist. – Harris
Obtained dismissal and affirmance of dismissal of an accidental death ERISA claim under a plan’s medical or surgical treatment exclusion.
5th Cir., S.D. Tex.
Obtained dismissal and affirmance of dismissal for lack of standing on a breach of contract claim arising from a force-placed insurance policy.
Tex. App. – Fort Worth; Tex. Dist. – Wise
Obtained dismissal of an accidental death ERISA claim under a plan’s contractual limitations provision.
W.D. Tex.
Obtained dismissal of extra-contractual claims involving commercial property insurance following completion of appraisal
Tex. Dist. – Dallas
Obtained dismissal of breach of contract and quasi-contract claims brought by a crime scene decontamination company against an insurance company following denial of benefits to the deceased’s estate.
Tex. Dist. – Montgomery
Litigated in numerous federal and state trial courts on behalf of insurance companies in cases involving weather-related catastrophe commercial and residential property claims, life insurance benefits, accidental death and dismemberment benefits, loss of business income, and additional insured coverage.
Handled examinations under oath for insurance companies in matters involving suspected arson or insurance fraud.
Drafted numerous coverage opinions for insurance carriers on issues involving construction defects litigation, personal injury litigation, and accidental death and dismemberment ERISA claims in various jurisdictions across the United States.
Professional Recognition
Appellate Practice
Listed for Insurance Law
Board Certified in Insurance Law
Board Certified in Consumer and Commercial Law
Listed for Insurance Law
Listed for Insurance Coverage
Leadership Class
Franklin Jones Best CLE Article Award
Fellow
Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/ US)
Life Fellow
Related Resources
Insurance Agents’ Duty to Report a Claim & the Carrier’s Duty to Defend
Michael S. Cedillo, Matthew J. Kolodoski, Tandis Taghavi
Related Services
Publications & Speaking Engagements
Education, Admissions & Activities
Education
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
J.D., 2013
University of Houston
B.S., 2010
Bar Admissions
Minnesota
2014
Texas
2013
Court Admissions
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
United States District Court of Texas
Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western
Professional and Community Activities
State Bar of Texas
Secretary/Treasurer of the Civil Liberties & Civil Rights Section, 2023-2024; Professionalism Committee, 2021-present; Section Representative, 2018-2021; Pattern Jury Charge Oversight Committee, 2018-2021; Civil Liberties & Civil Rights Section: Chair, 2021-2022, 2016-2017; Secretary/Treasurer, 2019-2020, 2015-2016; Insurance Law Section, Consumer and Commercial Law Section
Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
Dallas Bar Association
The Texas Supreme Court Historical Society
Scribes - The American Society of Legal Writers
William "Mac" Taylor American Inn of Court
Vice-Chair, Programming Committee, 2021-present; Barrister, 2019-present; Associate member, 2015-2019
Texas Bar College
State Bar of Texas
Pro Bono College