As a shareholder in the Negligence and Tort and Insurance and the Commercial Litigation Practice Groups of Cowles & Thompson, Greg focuses his practice in the areas of product liability, commercial litigation and transportation. He has sixteen years of experience representing corporate clients in a broad array of matters, including aviation product liability defense, coordination of the national defense in product liability claims, defending wrongful death actions, prosecuting and defending contractual disputes, contract negotiations and federal civil/seizure and forfeiture cases. In doing so, he has successfully represented clients at trial in both state and federal courts throughout Texas. He also provides general business counsel to national product manufacturers and local aviation-related enterprises (e.g., airframe and engine manufacturers, flight schools and FAA certificated air carriers and repair stations).
Greg currently serves as Chair of the Aviation Specialized Litigation Group of the Defense Research Institute's Product Liability Committee and will be Vice-Chair of DRI's Aerospace Committee beginning in Fall 2009. He is also a panel attorney for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
After graduating from Bucknell University in 1983 with a B.A. in Economics, Greg worked in the international trade practice of Baker & McKenzie's Washington, D.C. office. While working full time with Baker & McKenzie, he attended The American University, Washington College of Law, earning his J.D. in 1989. Greg began his practice with Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine and Huber in Wilmington, Del. where he represented institutional clients in the firm's transactional and credit practices. In 1991, he took a year sabbatical to attend a professional pilot training program in Fort Worth, Texas. After obtaining his commercial and instructor licenses, Greg then joined Cowles & Thompson as a member of the firm's aviation and general tort liability practices.
Greg was admitted to the Bar of Pennsylvania in 1990 and the State Bar of Texas in 1992. He is admitted to practice in all of the United States District Courts of Texas and is currently a member of the Dallas Bar Association, American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, the Defense Research Institute and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. As a panel attorney for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Greg represents AOPA Legal Plan members in FAA certificate actions and provides general counsel to AOPA members. He is also an active FAA-certified commercial multi-engine pilot and flight instructor.
A selection of Greg's past and current significant matters of representation include:
Representative Current Matters of Representation
Breach of Contract -- representing life insurance company on breach of contract claim related to life insurance policy.
Negligence -- representing regional interstate carrier in multiple negligence/accident claims.
General Counsel -- provides general legal counsel to small/ medium sized aviation enterprises in the Dallas/Forth Worth region.
Federal Seizure/Forfeiture Civil Actions -- representing air taxi operator in seizure/forfeiture action arising from an alleged improper use of aircraft.
Aviation Commercial Dispute -- representing company allegedly failing to perform adequate aircraft maintenance
Aviation Product Liability -- representing aircraft engine manufacturer on multiple personal injury claims
Trial Experience
Moghaddam v. Dallas Market Center, Ltd. (191st Dist. Ct., Dallas County, Texas)
Defense Jury Verdict -- premises liability (alleged injury to head and neck)
Wheatfall v. Dallas Market Center Co., Ltd., et al. (CCL No. 4, Dallas County, Texas)
Directed Defense Verdict -- premises liability (alleged injury to back/shoulder)
Nivens v. Alltel Corporate Services, Inc., et al. (18th Dist. Ct., Johnson County, Texas) (second chair)
Favorable Settlement at Trial -- wrongful termination (alleged discrimination)
Profitt v. Serv-Air, Inc., et al. (131st Dist. Ct., Bexar County, Texas) (second chair)
Plaintiff verdict -- wrongful death (minority % of liability assessed to client)
Walker v. Avco (U.S. Federal District Court, E.D. Texas, Beaumont) (co-chair)
Favorable Settlement at Trial -- product liability (alleged post traumatic stress disorder)
Petty v. AVCO (73rd Dist. Ct., Bexar County, Texas)
Defense Verdict --product liability (beach of warranty/aviation product)
Addison Express v. Medway (U.S. Federal District Court, N.D. Texas, Dallas)
Bench Trial -- obtained $500,000 judgment in suit on contract related to lease and maintenance for Learjet aircraft.
Representative Successful Pre-Trial Results
Anderson v. Dallas Market Center Co., Ltd., et al. (116th Dallas County, Texas)
Summary Judgment -- premises liability (alleged closed head injury causing partial disability)
Velazquez v. King of Texas Roofing Co., et al. (14th Dallas County, Texas)
Summary Judgment -- construction accident (alleged wrongful death)
AVCO vs. Precision (U.S. Federal Court, Northern District of Texas)
Successful resolution of action seeking statutory indemnity from manufacturer of allegedly defective fuel control system.
Haubrich v. AVCO, et al.(67th Tarrant County, Texas)
Summary Judgment -- GARA affirmative defense despite allegations of withholding information from the FAA.
Coordinated Successful Settlement of National Claims -- coordinated defense and obtained favorable settlement for component vendor of U.S. automobile manufacturer for product liability claims nationwide.
Reported Cases
Addison Express, L.L.C. v. Medway Air Ambulance, Inc., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 1489385, 59 UCC Rep. Serv.2d 1026, N.D. Tex. (May 19, 2006).
Avco Corp. v. Precision Airmotive, Inc., Not Reported in F.Supp.2d, 2004 WL 1836959, Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 17,097, N.D. Tex. (August 16, 2004).
Education:
- J.D., Washington College of Law, American University, 1989
- B.A. in Economics, Bucknell University, 1983
Admissions:
- State Bar of Texas, 1992
- State Bar of Pennsylvania, 1990
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
Memberships & Affiliations:
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Member, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Dallas Bar Association
- Member, Defense Research Institute (Chair, Aviation Specialized Litigation Group, Products Liability Committee)
