Professional  Experience

The Talaska Law Firm, P.L.L.C., Houston, Texas    Associate,  May 2014-February 2019

• Offering innovative solutions for complex cases producing benefits for each client
• Creative work product enhancing firm reputation and brand equity
• Litigation attorney with extensive experience managing all facets of a large trial docket
• Investigation and review of incoming cases
• Responsible for supervising paralegal, junior attorneys and several office staff in the prosecution of docket and daily office management on litigation and investigative cases
• Principal draftsman of pleadings, discovery, motions, and responses, complex Chapter 74 expert reports
• Attend hearings, mediations and trials (15-20 trials)
• Prepare and present clients and experts for depositions
• Take depositions of healthcare providers, corporate executives, experts, and fact witnesses (over 200 depositions taken and defended)
• Successfully negotiate reductions in Medicaid, Medicare and ERISA subrogation liens
• Represented numerous  children, families and adults in medical malpractice and personal injury cases in state and federal courts in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Alabama; successfully represented plaintiff  in trucking accident case (involved OSHA workplace violations) in federal court; represented Lawrence Welk, Jr.  in  equine veterinary malpractice case and defense of counterclaim

The Skarbowski  Law Firm, P.C., Cypress, Texas     Principal,  February 2011-2015

• Probate-all aspects of general probate practice,  litigation involving  probate disputes, Will contests for both testators and beneficiaries
• Commercial-significant litigation experience representing small businesses and individuals as both plaintiff and defendant in contract disputes, protecting creditors rights, negotiating and drafting contracts for clients
• Miscellaneous-simple divorces, personal injury, real estate/identity theft litigation
• All aspects of case management from initial intake and evaluation to settlement or trial
• 20 years trial experience
• Business owner with real-world experience

The Talaska Law Firm, P.L.L.C., Houston, Texas    Associate,  December 2000-February 2011

• Litigation attorney with extensive experience managing all facets of a large trial docket
• Closely involved in the  evaluation and  selection of cases for litigation
• Responsible for individual and general case strategy and execution
• Responsible for supervising paralegals and office staff in the prosecution of docket and daily office management
• Principal draftsman of pleadings, discovery, motions, and responses
• Responsible for identifying experts required for cases and securing their services
• Primarily responsible for taking and defending depositions of experts, fact witnesses and parties
• Negotiate settlements, Medicaid, Medicare and subrogation liens
• Appellate argument   Klein v. Hernandez, 260 S.W.3d 1, (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008,  aff’d in part, and rev’d in part, Klein v. Hernandez, 315 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. 2010)

The Law Office of George Hanko, Austin, Texas    Associate,  November 1996- December 2000

• Intimately involved in firm case selection
• Primarily responsible for individual case strategy and execution
• Primarily responsible for supervising paralegal and office staff in the prosecution of docket
• Principal draftsman of pleadings, discovery, motions, and responses
• Responsible for identifying experts required for cases and securing their services
• Primarily responsible for taking and defending depositions of experts, fact witnesses and parties
• Negotiate settlements, Medicaid, Medicare and subrogation liens
• Represented numerous  children and  families in medical malpractice and personal injury cases in Texas state courts, settled many cases in the low-to-mid six figure range, bring cases into firm through attorney and client referrals
• Assisted in trial of cases
• Appellate argument Williams v. Chatman, et. al., 17W.3d 694, (Tex.App.—Amarillo 1999,  pet. denied.)

Mueller Law Office, Austin, Texas    Associate,     September 1994-November 1996

• Responsible for initial screening of potential cases for  firm’s docket
• Integrally involved developing individual case strategy and execution
• Responsible for supervising paralegals and office staff in the prosecution of docket
• Principal draftsman of pleadings, discovery, motions, and responses
• Closely involved in retaining  experts required for cases
• Person primarily responsible for taking and defending depositions of experts, fact witnesses and parties on cases on my docket
• Negotiate settlements, Medicaid, Medicare and subrogation liens
• Assisted in trial of cases

Education_____________________________________________

South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas

Juris Doctorate, May 1992

• Dean’s List Fall 1988, 1990, 1991
• Top Paper Insurance Law Seminar, Fall 1991 (Professor Anthony Hall, Jr.)

Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas

B.A. in Political Science, May 1986: Cum Laude Graduate

• Dean’s List
• Outstanding Senior Man in Political Science 1986

Admissions_____________________________________________

Texas (1992)

United States District Court Southern District of Texas

Pro Hac Vice – Federal Court-United States District Court Northern District of Texas and United States District Court Western District of Oklahoma; state courts-Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas,  and New Mexico Plans