SHAREHOLDERS
J. Clifton Hall III

William P. Maines

Wendy Blanchard Hall

George H. Lugrin, IV

SENIOR COUNSEL
Erik D. Garza

Neil E. Giles

Michael L. Golding

Candace A. Ourso

OF COUNSEL
Evan T. Caffrey

Gene W. Lafitte, Jr.

Karen K. Milhollin

Karen R. Morgan

ASSOCIATES
Jacob Esparza

Jeffrey E. Fahys

Wesley K. Keel 

Karen R. Morgan

Ryan M. Parks

Stephanie R. Tippit

Cade W. White

Allyson L. Wilkinson

Amanda J. York

Erik D. Garza
Senior Counsel

ERIK D. GARZA is Senior Counsel with the firm. Mr. Garza is an AV-rated attorney whose practice includes representing foreign and domestic insurers in coverage and bad faith claims, handling commercial, energy, and transportation litigation, and appellate practice in both federal and state courts. Additionally, Mr. Garza has handled a wide variety of admiralty and maritime cases involving cruise ship litigation, cargo loss, collisions, groundings, personal injury, vessel seizures, charter party disputes, pollution, stowaways, and suits on maritime contracts. Mr. Garza has been designated as a Proctor in Admiralty by the Maritime Law Association of the United States. Prior to joining Westmoreland Hall, Erik was a partner at Royston, Rayzor, Vickery & Williams, L.L.P.

Admissions:

• Courts of the State of Texas
• United States Supreme Court
• United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Judicial Circuit
• United States District Courts of Texas (Southern, Eastern, Western and Northern Districts)

• Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D. (2000)
• Phi Alpha Delta
• Texas A&M University, B.S. (1997)
• Sigma Phi Epsilon

• State Bar of Texas (Litigation Section)
• College of the State Bar of Texas
• American Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association (Litigation Section, Young Lawyers Division, South Texas Chapter- President-Elect (2010), Vice President (2009), Secretary (2008) and Blask Fellowship Chair (2008 & 2009), Director (2007), Chair, Young Lawyers Committee (2006 - 2008), Vice-Chair, Young Lawyers Committee (2005))
• Houston Bar Association (Litigation and Federal Practice Sections)
• The Maritime Law Association of the United States (Proctor Member)
• The Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute (Director, 2007-2008)
• The Propeller Club of the United States
• The Houston Mariners Club
• Houston Maritime Arbitrators Association
• Young Professionals in Energy
• Texas Young Lawyers Association
• Houston Young Lawyers Association

• Representing two-time major golf champion in charter dispute over 228 ft. yacht.
• Representing international cruise line in class action suit arising out of Hurricane Edward. Class certification denied and affirmed on appeal. Case ultimately dismissed.
• Representing London Market Insurers in grounding of jack-up rig.
• Representing international freight forwarding in maritime arbitration proceeding.
• Representation of international shipping company in wrongful death action involving stowaways. Case dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction and affirmed on appeal.
• Defended chemical manufacturer in state court trial against negligence action brought by owner of vivarium research facility. Fifty percent liability assigned to the Plaintiff.
• Defended apartment complex in state court trial action involving negligence and breach of contract claims. Defense verdict.
• Commercial representation of international freight forwarding companies.
• Corporate representation of international transportation logistics provider.
• Represented vessel owner in anchor fouling of submerged pipeline.
• Provided legal opinions on U.S. maritime law for use in Dutch court proceedings.
• Representation of dredge owner in double fatality accident.
• Investigation of crew member death on behalf of vessel owner.
• Investigation of sub-contractor death on offshore rig platform on behalf of petrochemical company.
• Seizure of yacht to enforce maritime lien.
• Representation of cruise lines in various personal injury and property damage claims.
• Represented intermodal carrier in various cargo losses, investigation of trucking casualties, and prosecuted recovery in indemnity actions.
• Representation of various vessel owners in Jones Act, Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act, cargo, and collision claims.
• Representation of international diamond retailer in copyright infringement suit arising out of adverting campaign.

Reported Decisions: Mr. Garza has been involved in a number of noteworthy reported cases which include:

• Stobaugh v. Norwegian Cruise Lines , 105 S.W.3d 302 (Tex. App. – Houston [14 th Dist.] 2003, no pet.).
• Walter Oil & Gas Corp. v. M/V ORKNEY SPIRIT , 270 F. Supp. 2d 855 (S.D. Tex. 2003).
• Philips Monitors Juarez v. American President Lines , No. H-02-1572 (S.D. Tex. March 20, 2003).
• Dennis W. Wilson, Jr. v. Houston Fuel Oil Terminal Co. , 2002 LHC 02221 (June 11, 2003).
• DeLeon v. Shih Wei Navigation Co., Ltd. , 2007 WL 2021738 (S.D. Tex. 2007).
• St. Paul Surplus Lines Ins. Co. v. Cox Operating, LLC, 2008, WL 447706 (S.D. Tex. 2008).