Free Initial Consultation

(Main Office)

Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool, P.C., a certified member of Primerus International Society of Law Firms, is a firm that concentrates on handling large, complex cases. We are experienced trial lawyers with a proven record at the courthouse. We are members of A.M. Best's Director of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters and a Platinum Sponsor of the NASP (National Association of Subrogation Professionals).

The firm has embraced the latest technology in document management and trial presentation software. Our continuing commitment to technology allows us to efficiently handle cases nationwide. We do not compete with larger firms; larger firms compete with us.

The lawyers at Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool, P.C. blend their diverse talents to handle a wide range of civil litigation. The firm has an active insurance practice. We also represent large corporations directly in catastrophic and non-catastrophic cases. We are proud to include among our clientele major insurers, utilities, refineries, petrochemical facilities, and trucking firms.

The firm handles large loss subrogation cases, for both domestic and international insurers. The firm has lawyers with invaluable engineering expertise. We have been successful in obtaining many multi-million dollar settlements in subrogation cases. We have also obtained multi-million dollar judgments for our clients when we have been unable to settle cases reasonably.

Our case handling philosophy is simple. The client, after consultation with the firm, chooses the lawyer in the firm best suited to handle each individual case. Our clients are not forced to deal with inexperienced associates with whom they are unfamiliar. We investigate and evaluate cases rapidly and accurately. We attempt to resolve cases on a fair and equitable basis as soon as possible, with minimal expense to our clients. We are trial lawyers, not litigators. If a fair and equitable settlement cannot be reached, we are ready, willing, and able to take a verdict. Our lawyers are not only willing to try lawsuits, we enjoy the battle. We handle our own appeals and our success rate is outstanding. While we cannot guarantee a win in every case, we can guarantee that our clients will enjoy the fight.

Statement of Practice

Insurance Defense, Insurance Coverage Opinions, Large Loss Subrogation, Personal Injury.

Representative Clients:

Insurance: ACE USA (formerly cigna Property & Casualty)
ACE London
ACE Westchester
AEGIS
Allstate Insurance Company
America Wide Adjusters
American Custom Inc. Services
Assicur Generali
AXIS, USA
Berkley Risk Administrators Company LLC
Cambridge Integrated Services
Canal Insurance
Catlin Underwriting Agencies Ltd.
CIE Transcontinentale de Reassurances
CNA Commercial Insurance
Colony Insurance Company
Columbia Insurance
The Commonwealth Insurance Co.
Concord General Corporation
Copenhagen Re
Crawford & Co.
Cunningham Lindsey International
Discovery Property & Casualty Ins. Co.
ESIS
Farmers Alliance Mutual Ins. Co.
Fireman's Fund Insurance Co.
First Premier Insurance Group, Inc.
The Hartford
The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co.
Heritage Syndicate
The Home Insurance Co.
Houston Casualty Insurance
Interstate Insurance Group
Investors Underwriting Managers, Inc.
IRISC
ITS (Worldwide)
ITT Specialty Risk Services
Jefferson Insurance Company
K&K Insurance
Kemper Insurance Companies
Lexington Insurance-US
Lexington Insurance-U.K.
Liberty Syndicate Mgt.
Liberty International Underwriters
Litchfield Special Risks Inc.
Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's Syndicates
Managing Agency Partners Ltd.
McLarens Young International
National Transportation Adjusters
Nautilus Insurance
NCGU
Old Republic Insurance Co.
Philadelphia Insurance Companies
Reliance Insurance
Reliance National
Recovery Services International, Inc.
Royal Sunalliance Insurance
Scottsdale Insurance
Specialty Adjusters Incorporated
Specialty Risk Services
S.R. International
St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co.
St. Paul Travelers
Starr Technical Risks Agency, Inc.
Steege Kingston & Associates
Swiss Re
The St. Paul Company
Terra America, Inc.
Texas Mutual Ins. Co.
Texas Property & Casualty
Texas Specialty Underwriters
THE Insurance Company
Tysers
United American Insurance
USAA
VeriClaim, Inc.
WASA International
Wellington Underwriting
Willis Ltd.
Wisenberg Insurance
WNC First Insurance Services
York Insurance Services
Zurich American
Zurich Insurance Company
Zurich Re. Corporate: ACME Truck Lines, Inc.
Adventure Quest
All Erection Crane & Rental Corp.
Anahuac Transportation
Architectural Concepts
Averitt Express, Inc.
Barron Builders & Management Co., Inc.
Bar T Construction
Bateman Chapman (Americas), Inc.
Best Buy
BP America, Inc.
Brinkman Roofing
Calpine
Car Sound Exhaust Systems
Centerpoint Energy
Citgo Petroleum Corp.
City of Kerrville
Colaco Tubular Services, Inc.
Collision Specialist
Colonial Freight Systems, Inc.
Compensation Strategies Group
Crane Co.
Creative Cement Coating
Fairchild & Wells, Inc.
Ferguson Enterprises
Formosa Plastics Company
Gallagher Bassett Services
Government Capital Corporation
Victor L. Harris & Associates, PLLC
Houston Fuel Oil Terminal
Independent Propane Company
Industrial Security Services Corp.
JKC Express
KAP Project Services Ltd.
KoSa
LimeCo
MiniCo
National Freight Inc.
Nevada Cogen
NorAm Energy Corporation
Northern California Power
PDV Midwest Refining
PKC Services, Inc.
Pennzoil
Ranch Masonry Inc.
Roof TEC
Roofing Supply, Ltd.
SCI Constructors
SEB, Inc.
Shell, Shelton Trucking Service, Inc.
Sithe
Softrep, Inc.
Terra Nova Ltd.
Texaco, Third Coast Industries, Inc.
TIC, Inc.
Titan International, Inc.
Town & Country Brick & Supply, Inc.
Valco-USA
Valero Refining Company
The Wackenhut Corporation
Winterthur International
H.B. Zachry & Co.

Rate Information

Fixed Hourly Rates
Fixed Fees Available
Free Initial Consultation

Address

3200 Southwest Freeway, Suite 2300
Houston, TX 77027-7525, (Ft. Bend, Harris & Montgomery Cos.)

Phone

Phone: 713-877-1112
Telefax: 713-877-1138

Website

http://www.donatominxbrown.com

Office Hours

Monday: 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM
Tuesday: 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM
Wednesday: 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM
Thursday: 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM
Friday: 08:30 AM - 05:00 PM

SHAREHOLDERS

Randy Donato (Shareholder) born Dearborn, Michigan, September 20, 1955; admitted to bar, 1982, Texas, U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: University of Texas (B.A., 1978); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1982). Phi Alpha Delta. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Defense Research Institute; Trucking Industry Defense Association. Reported Cases: Thornhill v. Ronnie's I-45 Truck Stop, Inc., 944 S.W.2d 780 (Tex. App.- Beaumont, May 01, 1997) (No. 09-94-236-C); Ethyl Corp. v. Daniel Const. Co., 725 S. W. 2d 705 (Tex., Feb. 25, 1987); Smith v. Smith, 720 S.W. 2d 586 Tex.App.--Houston (1st Dist.) Sept.25, 1986; Daniel Const. Co. v. Ethyl Corp., 714 S.W. 2d 51 (Tex.App.--Houston (14th Dist.), Jun. 05, 1986); Smith v. White, 695 S.W.2d 295 (Tex.App.--Houston (1st Dist.) Jul.11, 1985); Hawthorne v. La-Man Constructors, Inc., 672 S.W.2d 255 (Tex. App.--Beaumont, Mar. 1, 1984). Practice Areas: Large Loss Subrogation; Insurance Defense; Inland Marine Insurance; Personal Injury.Email: Randy Donato

Brook F. Minx (Shareholder) born Kansas City, Missouri, December 27, 1952; admitted to bar, 1994, Texas and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1995, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Kansas (B.S., in Chemical Engineering, 1975; B.G.S., in Chemistry, 1994); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1994). Order of the Lytae. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas, Association of Trial Lawyers. Practice Areas: Large Loss Subrogation; Insurance Defense; Insurance Coverage; Opinions; Maritime Losses; Refinery and Petrochemical Losses; Power Generator Losses; Mold Litigation; Fire Loss; Products Liability; Personal Injury; Toxic Substances.Email: Brook F. Minx

Robert D. Brown (Shareholder) born Bethesda, Maryland, February 13, 1965; admitted to bar, 1990, Texas; 1991, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1995, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 2002, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas. Education: Texas A & M University (B.S., 1987); University of Houston (J.D., 1990). Delta Theta Phi. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award. Member: State Bar of Texas. Reported Cases: Andy's Marine, Inc. v. Morse Controls, Ltd., No. 13-03-562-CV, 2004 WL 2471795 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi Nov. 4, 2004, pet. denied); In re Bayer Corp., No. 04-04-00388-CV, 2004 WL 12453488 (Tex. App. -San Antonio Jun. 30, 2004, no pet. h.); Ross v. Bank of America, No. 01-03-00706-CV, 2004 WL 1277584 (Tex. App.-Houston (1st Dist.) Jun. 10, 2004, no pet. h.); East v. Premier, Inc., No. 03-41229, 2004 WL 1114441 (5th Cir. May 12, 2004); Pacific Employers Ins. Co. v. Yap, No. 12-04-00007-CV, 2004 WL 626206 (Tex. App.-Tyler May 30, 2004, no pet. h.); Andy's Marine Inc. v. Estate of Esparza, No. 13-03-4720CV, 2003 WL 22208630 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi Sept. 25, 2003, no pet. h.); Insurance Co. of North America v. Aberdeen Ins. Services, Inc., 253 F.3d 878 (5th Cir. 2001); Coastal Conduit & Ditching, Inc. v. Noram Energy Corp., 29 S.E.3d 282 (Tex. App.-Houston (14th Dist.) 2000, no pet. h.); Ayala v. Bartolome, 940 S.W.2d 727, (Tex. App.-Eastland 1997, no pet. h.). Practice Areas: Large Loss Subrogation; Maritime Law; Premises Liability; Insurance Bad Faith; Torts; Transportation; Trucking Law; Professional Liability; Appellate Law.Email: Robert D. Brown

Aaron Pool (Shareholder) born Dallas, Texas, March 30, 1965; admitted to bar, 1990, Texas; U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: Texas A & M University (B.B.A., 1987); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1990). Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas (Member, Litigation Section). Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Insurance Coverage; Trucking Law; Construction Defect Litigation; Subrogation.Email: Aaron Pool

ASSOCIATES

David J. Booth (Associate) born January 9, 1968; admitted to bar, 2001, Texas; U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas. Education: University of Southwestern Louisiana (B.A., 1991); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2001). Member: American Collectors Association. Practice Areas: Trucking Law; Transportation; Subrogation; Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Premises Liability; Maritime Law; Insurance Coverage; Insurance Bad Faith.

Travis F. Erskine (Associate) born Columbia, South Carolina, July 22, 1977; admitted to bar, 2004, Texas; 2006, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. Education: Texas A & M University (B.S., 1999); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2003). Phi Delta Phi. Associate, Brown Sims, P.C., 2005-2007. Member: Houston Bar Association; State Bar of Texas; Texas Young Lawyers Association; Houston Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Personal Injury; Wrongful Death Defense; Commercial Litigation; Premises Liability.Email: Travis F. Erskine

Ronald L. Hornback (Associate) born Liberty, Texas; admitted to bar, 2008, Texas. Education: Texas A & M University (B.B.A., Management, 1993); Central Michigan University (M.S.A., H.R. Management, 2001); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2008). Phi Delta Phi. Dean's Honor List. Federalist Society Officer. Recipient: American Jurisprudence Award in Legal Research and Writing, 2006; William J. Williamson Legal Writing Award, 2006. Champion, Spurgeon E. Bell Moot Court Competition, 2007. Articles Editor, Texas Journal of Business Law, 2007-2008. NASD Registered Investment Advisor. Texas General Lines Insurance Agent, FAA Commercial Rotary and Fixed-Wing License. Board Member and General Committee Vice-Chair, Self-Insurers & Risk Managers, 2007-2008. ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practices Section Law Student. Board Certified: Qualified Impartial Third Party Mediator; Certified Guardian and Attorney Ad Litem under 647A of the Texas Probate Code. Member: American Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Law Practice Management; Labor and Employment Law; Litigation & Tort Trial; Insurance Practice; Self-Insurers and Risk Managers Subcommittee). [Combat Engineer, U.S. Army Enlisted Reservist, 1990-1993; Officer, U.S. Army Aeromedical Evacuation, 1993-2003; Commander, Medical Company, U.S. Army Aeromedical Center, 2000-2002].Email: Ronald L. Hornback

Jeffrey Haas (Associate) born Mesquite, Texas, 1972; admitted to bar, 2001, Texas. Education: South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2001). Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Personal Injury; Commercial Litigation; Subrogation; Maritime Law.Email: Jeffrey Haas

Robbie A. Moehlmann (Associate) born Brenham, Texas, March 24, 1971; admitted to bar, 1998, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 1994; B.J., 1994; cum laude ampla et magna, 1994); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1998). Sigma Delta Chi. Associate, Society of Professional Journalists. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; Houston Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Large Loss Subrogation; Insurance Bad Faith; Insurance Coverage; Insurance Defense; Commercial Litigation; Maritime Law.Email: Robbie A. Moehlmann

Adam B. Nichols (Associate) born Beaumont, Texas, October 16, 1977; admitted to bar, 2004, Texas. Education: Baylor University (B.B.A., 2000); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2004). Formerly with Strong, Pipkin, Bissell & Ledyard. Member: Jefferson County and Houston County Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association; Texas Association of Defense Counsel. Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Premises Liability; Commercial Litigation; Subrogation.Email: Adam B. Nichols

Mark R. Pickering (Associate) born Beaumont, Texas, September 26, 1967; admitted to bar, 1994, Louisiana; 1996, Texas; 1997, U.S. District Court, Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of Texas and U.S. District Court, Western, Middle and Southern Districts of Louisiana. Education: Texas A & M University (B.S., 1990); Louisiana State University (J.D., 1994). Member, Appellate Advocacy Board, Louisiana State University Law Center, 1993-1994. Member: Houston, Jefferson County and Louisiana State Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association; Texas Association of Defense Counsel. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Litigation; Subrogation.Email: Mark R. Pickering

John M. Tenney (Associate) born Shreveport, Louisiana, September 22, 1951; admitted to bar, 1981, Texas; 1983, Arkansas. Education: University of Arkansas (B.S.B.A., 1974); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1981). Former Member, Johanson & Fairless, 2000-2005; Gascoyne & Bullion. Associate: Harrison, Bettis & Staff, 1999-2000; Tucker, Hendryx & Gascoyne, 1985-1999. Member: Houston and Arkansas Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense.Email: John M. Tenney

Kyle D. Weynand (Associate) born Brownwood, Texas; admitted to bar, 2005, Texas. Education: Texas A & M University (B.A., Finance, 2002); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2005). Member, South Texas Law Review, 2004-2005. Member: State Bar of Texas.

Mark A. Youngjohn (Associate) born Greenwich, Connecticut; admitted to bar, 2000, Texas. Education: Texas Tech University (M.P.A., 1989); Southern Methodist University (J.D., cum laude, 2000). Member: Houston Bar Association; State Bar of Texas (Member, Construction Litigation Section; Civil Litigation Section); Texas Association of Defense Counsel. Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Insurance Coverage; Business Litigation; Products Liability.

OF COUNSEL

James E. Brown, Jr. (Of Counsel) born Port Arthur, Texas, June 18, 1935; admitted to bar, 1966, District of Columbia and U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; 1981, Texas and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1982, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 1991, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas. Education: United States Coast Guard Academy (B.S., 1957); George Washington University (J.D., with honors, Valedictorian, 1966). Phi Delta Phi (Magister, 1965-1966); Order of the Coif. Student Body Vice-President, 1965-1966. Director, Oceans Policy Planning, U.S. Department of State, 1977-1979. [Cmdr., Retired, U.S. Coast Guard, 1957-1977]. Practice Areas: Marine Law; Toxic Torts; Personal Injury.Email: James E. Brown, Jr.

LEGAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL

Judith A. Bloss born Winona, Minnesota, July 26, 1942; Education: Palatine Community College (Paralegal Certificate, 1982); Houston Community College (Associates Degree, 1993). Certified Legal Assistant, National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), 1983. Member: Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association; National Association of Legal Assistants. Practice Areas: Legal Research; Deposition and Discovery Summaries; Medical Records Retrieval; Computerized Management System for Large Document Productions and Discovery.Email: Judith A. Bloss

Carolyn Cunningham-Smith born Santa Monica, California, August 25, 1952; Education: California State Polytechnic University at Pomona (B.S., Agriculture, 1979). Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society. Member: Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Admiralty Law; Environmental; Oil and Gas Law; Personal Injury; Products Liability; Insurance Defense; Computerized Management System for Large Document Productions and Discovery; Deposition and Discovery Summaries.

Jacob D. Siegel born Vancouver, B.C., Canada, September 2, 1980; Education: University of Arizona (B.A., Political Science, 2003); Center for Advanced Legal Studies (C.P., 2004). Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Complex Litigation; Personal Injury; Insurance Defense; Commercial Litigation.Email: Jacob D. Siegel

Debra Woodruff born Houston, Texas, 1962; Education: North Harris College (Paralegal Certificate); LeTourneau University (B.B.A.). Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Employment Law; Litigation; Personal Injury.