Expert Details
Escrow and Title Insurance, Commercial and Residential Real Estate Closings, and Claims Handeling
ID: 728036
Texas, USA
Expert acted as an expert witness for plaintiffs in two related civil trails against a title insurance agent and fee attorney office that were involved in a multi-million-dollar loan fraud scheme. Results: seven figure judgment for plaintiffs. He acted as expert witness for plaintiff in suit against title insurance company, Exon Mobile and Chevron for fraud in a real estate transaction. Result: multi-million dollar judgment for plaintiff. Expert has also been an expert witness for multiple title insurers, title insurance agencies and fee attorneys as defendants with very good results - judgment for defendants or settlement for less than cost to proceed to trial. Expert was the expert witness in a title agent's suit against a customer whose law firm used the title agent's research and commitment to render a title opinion and refused, after closing the transaction, to pay the premium for the title policies it had ordered insuring the 100 Million Dollar Plus transaction. Result, judgement for plaintiff. Expert was an expert witness for defendant Chicago Title Insurance Company in a civil suit concerning one of the most notorious loan fraud rings in the Houston area. The case settled favorably.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1971 | Degree: Juris Doctorate | Subject: Law | Institution: Univeristy of Baltimore |
| Year: 1968 | Degree: Associate of Arts | Subject: Pre-law | Institution: Eastern College (now University of Baltimore) |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2001 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Managing Partner | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert has been acting as an expert witness on a part time basis since the mid 1980s. In 2001 he formed this company in order to act as a consultant and witness. He has done so in more than 150 civil matters. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2004 to 2009 | Employer: Southern Title Insurance Corporation | Title: Sr. Underwriting Counsel & Special Projects Manager | Department: Western Region |
Responsibilities:He had primary responsibility for development of the company's western region. He acted as underwriting counsel for Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada, he handled claims and managed litigation. He trained title agents and wrote underwriiting bulletins and manuals. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2001 to 2004 | Employer: Columbian National Title Insurance Company | Title: Regional Senior Vice President and Counsel | Department: Southwest |
Responsibilities:He had primary responsibility for development of the company's Texas operations. He acted as underwriting counsel, handled claims and managed litigation. He trained title agents and wrote underwriting bulletins and manuals. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1997 to 2000 | Employer: Old Republic National Title Insurance Company | Title: President of subsidiary/ Texas Agency Manager | Department: Southwest |
Responsibilities:He acted as new president of title agency in turn-around situation and then when that company was sold after becoming profitable, acted as Agency Manager for Texas. He had primary responsibility for supervision of the company's Texas agency operations. He also acted as underwriting counsel, handled claims and managed litigation. He trained title agents and wrote underwriting bulletins and manuals. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1996 to 1996 | Employer: Fidelity National Title Insurance Company | Title: Vice President and Regional Manager | Department: Southwest |
Responsibilities:He was Agency Manager for Texas. He had primary responsibility for supervision of the company's Texas agency operations. He trained and recruited title agents. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1984 to 1996 | Employer: Title Resources Guaranty Company | Title: President | Department: Home Office |
Responsibilities:He participated in the founding of this company, acted as its Executive Vice President and General Coounsel for a short time before being elected as its President. He had primary responsibility for all phases of its operations and expanded its territory into five states. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1981 to 1984 | Employer: Texas Department of Insurance | Title: Assistant Director | Department: Title Insurance |
Responsibilities:He had primary responsibility for regulating the title insurance industry in Texas. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1980 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: General Counsel and Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert filed and prosecuted a number of collection law suits for small businesses throughout Texas and managed the company. |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1981 to 1984 | Agency: Texas Department of Insurance | Role: Regulator | Description: Expert was primarily responsible for the regulation of the Texas title insurance industry. |
| Years: 1963 to 1973 | Agency: Montgomery County (MD) Police | Role: Detective Sergeant - Major Frauds | Description: Expert investigated major fraud cases. |
| Years: 1985 to 1986 | Agency: New Mexico Depart of Insurance | Role: Consultant | Description: Expert promulgated all title insurance regulations, procedural rules, rate rules and insuring forms currently used in New Mexico. He also assisted in establishing current rate structure statistical plan. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| State Bar of Texas: Committee on Title Insurance, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Section, Antitrust Section, Speaker, Advanced Real Estate Law Course Texas Land Title Association: Speaker at Regional Seminars, Instructor, Land Title School, Land Title School Committee, Grievance Committee, Rates, Rules and Forms (now Regulatory) Committee, Special Legislative Committee, Advisory Committee to State Board of Insurance, Land Title Institute Committee, Legislative Study Committee, Six Task Forces - Title Policy Revisions and Marketability, Division of Premium and Home Office Issue, Certification, Bylaws Revision, On-line Education, and Uniform Closing Instructions, Director, Underwriters Section, President, Long Range Planning Committee, Peggy Hayes Teaching Excellence Award, Underwriter Section Executive Committee, Title-Man of the Year Award, Certified Title Insurance Associate. American Land Title Association: N.A.I.C., Liaison, State Legislative and Regulatory Action, Research, SW Executive Conference Chair, Underwriters Executive and Government Affairs Committees |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| Licenses: Maryland State Bar, 1972; United States Supreme Court, 1976; U. S. District Court of Maryland, 1979; United States Tax Court, 1979; United States Bankruptcy Court, 1979; Title Insurance Agent (State of Maryland) 1979; State Bar of Texas, 1980 Certification: Certified Title Insurance Associate (CTIA) by the Texas Land Title Association – this is the highest level of three certifications that are currently available and less than 30 people have earned the CTIA. |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| As part-time paid consultant to the New Mexico State Corporation Commission, Department of Insurance, Expert promulgated all title insurance regulations, procedural rules, rate rules and insuring forms currently used in New Mexico. He also assisted in establishing current rate structure statistical plan and reporting procedures and acted as consultant to the NMLTA at the Rate Hearing. |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| Expert was honored by the Texas Land Title Association (TLTA) as its Title Man of the Year and his teaching expertise was acknowledged by the TLTA Peggy Hayes Teaching Excellence Award. Expert served the TLTA in many capacities including being elected its president. Expert has also held elected offices in the Title Underwriters of Texas and the American Land Title Association. |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Published approximately twelve articles on regulation of the title insurance industry appearing in the TLTA News during 1982 and 1983, among a large number of other insurance-related publications. |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Regulatory hearings in Texas and New Mexico; legislative hearings in Texas and Florida, criminal cases in Texas, civil cases in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado, Federal and state courts, depositions, trials and expert witness reports - both plaintiff and defendant. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| He has developed courses and seminars on title insurance and escrow matters and spoken on numerous occasions before various city and county land title associations, the New Mexico Escrow Association, the state land title associations of Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas,, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, and the American Land Title Association. Expert has also developed and taught a number of CLE courses. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| Expert has extensive experience in the regulation of title insurance and in all positions as a title insurance underwriter. He is frequently quoted by industry publications such as The Legal Description, The Title Report and RESPA News. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| He has developed on-line training classes and software for the title insurance industry. |