Profile

Earl Walker is a litigation attorney with over two decades of experience handling complex commercial disputes, arbitration matters, and multi-party litigation. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated particular skill in case preparation, motion practice, and alternative dispute resolution for a variety of industries including residential construction, commercial construction, and oil and gas.

At Chamberlain Hrdlicka, Earl focuses on commercial litigation, where he guides clients through all phases of dispute resolution, from initial case strategy development through trial preparation and settlement negotiations.

Earl has experience handling cases involving contract disputes, fraud claims, wrongful death actions, and construction-related matters. His experience extends to managing large-scale litigation, including multi-plaintiff personal injury cases and extensive document review projects.

Notable Representations

Major Cases Taken To Trial

• FINRA Arbitration; 2014
  In charge of FINRA arbitration in which client sought $1,400,000 in damages
  caused by the defamatory remarks made by her former employer on her Form U5.
• National Commodities Company v. American Seafood Imports, Inc.; 2013
  (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division)
  Sat second chair to attorney-in-charge, Elaine Howard, in this bench trial in which
  a wholesaler of commodities sued client, American Seafood, an importer and
  national distributor of frozen shrimp, claiming breach of contract. Client asserted
  numerous counterclaims. Case settled after two days of trial.
• IF Management v. Vince Cotroneo; 2010
  (New York arbitration)
  Worked closely with and prepared attorney-in-charge, Chip Babcock, for this
  New York arbitration proceeding in which a sports management company sued
  client, Vince Cotroneo, the radio broadcaster for the Oakland Athletics, claiming
  that the management company was entitled to an income stream even after its
  contract with Cotroneo was terminated. The claim was denied by the arbitrator
  after a trial.
• Albemarle Corp. v. MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.; 2010
  (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division)
  Sat second chair to attorney-in-charge, Richard Griffin, in this bench trial in
  which a specialty chemical manufacturing company sued client, MEMC, a
  manufacturer and seller of polysilicon wafers, for $6,000,000 claiming breach of a
  royalty agreement. Case settled after verdict.
• Metro Properties, LLC, et al. v. Bay Area Blvd., Ltd., et al.; 2008
  (Harris County District Court)
  Sat second chair to attorney-in-charge, Lonnie Schooler, in this jury trial in which
  client, Metro, brought claims for breach of contract and fraud stemming from
  Metro’s purchase of an office building from defendant. Case settled at mediation
  after mistrial.
• Jefferson v. Holman Street Baptist Church; 2008
  (Harris County District Court)
  Sat second chair to attorney-in-charge, Richard Griffin, in this jury trial in which
  client, Baptist Church, was sued for declaratory judgment and return of stock used
  as collateral in connection with security agreement and unpaid promissory note
  executed many years prior by plaintiff. Baptist Church counterclaimed on note
  pursuant to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.069. Jury returned verdict in favor
  of Baptist Church, judge granted plaintiff’s JNOV, and Fourteenth Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s judgment and reinstated jury’s verdict. After
  plaintiff filed bankruptcy and Baptist Church responded by filing an adversary
  proceeding, all claims were settled.

Major Cases Resolved Prior To Trial

• Switch (Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors), LLC v. ixmation, Inc.; 2016
  (U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, San Francisco Division)
  Worked alongside attorney-in-charge, Bill Helfand, prosecuting client, Switch’s,
  breach of contract claim and defending counterclaim for breach of contract.
  Prepared Mr. Helfand for mediation in San Francisco, after which the case settled.
• Coote, et al. v. Cone; 2012
  (Harris County District Court)
  Worked alongside attorney-in-charge, Richard Griffin, prosecuting client,
  Coote’s, wrongful death, dram shop claim against defendant restaurant/bar.
  Performed extensive legal research into the safe-harbor provision of the Texas
  Dram Shop Act. Case settled prior to trial.
• Deyaar Development Corp. v. Antar & Co., et al.; 2011
  (Harris County District Court)
  Worked closely with attorney-in-charge, Elaine Howard, defending client, Antar,
  against plaintiff’s declaratory judgment action and claims to quiet title, while
  prosecuting Antar’s cross-claims for fraud and under the Uniform Fraudulent
  Transfer Act. Case involved the cross-defendants’ procurement of an $8,000,000
  loan secured by a lien on undeveloped land in the Galleria area of Houston
  through a series of fraudulent and unauthorized transactions. Took several
  depositions of plaintiff’s officers in Dubai, U.A.E. Prevailed on summary
  judgment, whereby cross-defendants were ordered to pay in excess of $9,000,000
  to client.
• Gonzalez, et al. v. MEMC Pasadena, Inc., et al.; 2011
  (Harris County District Court)
  Worked alongside attorney-in-charge, Richard Griffin, and researched and drafted
  no-evidence and traditional motion for summary judgment grounded in Chapter
  95 of Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code in this personal injury lawsuit brought by 18
  injured contractors stemming from a ruptured hose at client, MEMC’s, industrial
  facility. Favorable settlement reached with all plaintiffs days before their response
  to said motion was due. Also performed extensive legal research in connection
  with MEMC’s related claims for indemnification against co-defendant.
• Cenote Resources Mgmt. Co., L.P., et al. v. IBC Enterprises, Inc., et al.; 2010
  (Nueces County District Court)
  In this dispute over oil and gas leases located in an Area of Mutual Interest,
  worked closely with attorney-in-charge, Peter Hosey, prosecuting client,
  Cenote’s, claims for declaratory judgment, breach of contract, tortious interference and conspiracy against numerous defendants, while defending
  counterclaims for declaratory judgment, slander of title, tortious interference and
  fraud. Settlement reached between all parties after five years of protracted
  litigation.
• Gray, et al. v. Derderian, et al.; 2010
  (U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island, Providence Division)
  Worked closely with attorney-in-charge, Chip Babcock, defending claims against
  clients (news station cameraman and his employer) in wake of the catastrophic
  Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI. All claims settled at mediation.
• Laserweld Investments, LP v. Atrium Companies, Inc.; 2009
  (Tyler County District Court)
  Worked alongside attorney-in-charge, Richard Griffin, defending this breach of
  contract case involving client, Atrium’s, lease of a 283,000 square foot building
  from plaintiff. All claims settled at mediation.
• Heidelberg Print Finance Americas, Inc. v. Absolute Color, Ltd., et al.; 2008
  (Harris County District Court)
  Worked closely with attorney-in-charge, Wade Cooper, in this breach of contract
  case brought by client, Heidelberg, which involved organizing and managing the
  actual sequestration of a large printing press from defendant’s place of business.
  All claims settled at mediation.
• Martinez v. Marathon Oil Company, et al.; 2005
  (Jim Wells County District Court)
  Defended client, a manufacturer of industrial markers, in this alleged benzene
  exposure / wrongful death case. Drafted pleadings, deposed witnesses, argued
  motions and represented client at mediation. Case settled at mediation.
• Exterior Insulation Finishing System (“EIFS”) Litigation; 2002 to 2007
  (District Courts throughout Texas)
  Worked closely with attorney-in-charge, Lisa Powell, defending clients
  (manufacturer and distributor of EIFS) named in a dozen residential constructionrelated
  lawsuits, as well as prosecuting related third-party claims. Deposed
  numerous plaintiffs and fact witnesses over a 5-year span.
• Asbestos Litigation; 2000 to 2012
  (District Courts throughout Texas)
  Worked closely with attorney-in-charge, Lisa Powell, defending multiple clients
  named in hundreds of asbestos-related lawsuits. Deposed hundreds of plaintiffs
  and fact witnesses over a 12-year span.