John L. Dagley handles cases in all aspects of civil litigation. He represents clients and tries cases for plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal trial courts, arbitrations, and on appeal throughout the United States. He is responsible for winning significant multi-million-dollar settlements and judgments for owners, operators, businesses, organizations, shareholders, and individuals in a wide range of practice areas, including fiduciary and probate, oil and gas, insurance, healthcare, partnerships, closely held businesses, and unique family disputes.
John is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a specialty certification held by less than one percent of lawyers in Texas. He is regularly asked to participate in continuing legal education events, including the State Bar of Texas Fiduciary Litigation course, the State Bar of Texas Breaking Boundaries in Custody Litigation course, and the StoneTurn Group Intellectual Property Roundtable.
Selected Experience
Representing Plaintiffs:
- Mutimillion-dollar settlement for client in claims against estate relating to long-term relationship between client and decedent.
- Multi-million dollar settlement for client in claims against estate for common law marriage to decedent..
- Multimillion-dollar settlement for business owner in legal malpractice claim against law firm for failure to advise regarding ERISA controlled group liability issues.
- Multimillion-dollar settlement within 30 days of notice for claim against decedent’s children in favor of decedent’s wife for continuing payments to wife pursuant to will.
- Confidential settlement for client against law firm for failure to disclose adverse impacts of purchase of life insurance policy as part of estate plan.
- Multimillion-dollar settlement for hotelier in claim against insurance company under commercial property policy for coverage and bad faith regarding hail and storm damages.
- $9.2 million arbitration award, including $2.9 million in punitive damages, against a trust company for mismanagement of client’s investment assets.
- Multimillion-dollar settlement for property owners in gas balancing case in which unit operator failed to account to clients for more than 40 years of production attributable to their interest.
- Multimillion-dollar settlement for investment banking firm in suit for breach of contract and fraud for fee earned by firm based on valuation of farm-in agreement obtained by firm for development of oil and gas properties.
- Multimillion-dollar settlement and buyout for minority shareholder in claims against majority shareholder and company directors for shareholder oppression and breach of fiduciary duty.
- Multiple verdicts and judgments in favor of the City of Houston against vendors for fraudulent billing and supply practices.
- Multimillion-dollar arbitration award within 60 days of filing on breach of warranty claim in favor of drilling company, requiring original equipment manufacturer to replace defective frac pumper and reimburse client for costs of arbitration.
- Judgment in favor of offshore drilling rig supplier in claim against exploration company for breach of contract regarding use of offshore rig.
- Multimillion-dollar settlement for recovery of president’s 40 percent share of corporation for remaining shareholders based on president’s breach of fiduciary duty and fraud.
- Confidential recovery for individual claims against financial services company for breach of fiduciary duty and fraud.
- Confidential recovery for patient in claims against surgeon for medical malpractice arising out of eye surgery.
- Confidential recovery for patient’s minor children in wrongful death claims against doctor arising out of failure to diagnose heart attack.
Representing Defendants:
- Favorable settlement of FLSA overtime case against employer excluding current employees and reducing liability by multiples.
- Favorable verdict and judgment for international information technology company in claim by domestic information technology company for breach of contract.
- Verdict and judgment in favor of national manufacturer for trademark infringement claim.
- Take nothing judgment on wrongful foreclosure claim and recovery of approximately $1 million on deficiency counterclaim regarding foreclosure of commercial property.
- Verdict and judgment in favor of insurance carrier in claim by beneficiary alleging bad faith denial of medical benefits.
- Verdict and judgment in favor of insurance carrier in claim by insured alleging breach of medical benefits settlement agreement.
- Verdict and judgment in favor of national manufacturer in catastrophic injury claims by contractor’s employee.
- Verdict and judgment in favor of national environmental company in claim by telecommunications equipment supplier for breach of contract.
- Successful defense of medical professional against injunction and non-compete claims by professional practice group.
- Successful defense of national financial services company against class-action claims by employees alleging Title VII and wage and hour violations.
Appeals:
- Werner v. Colwell, 909 S.W.2d 866 (Tex. 1995) (personal injury; worker’s compensation; procedural).