People: Walter J. Cicack, Partner

Walter J. Cicack

Partner

Houston
Direct: (713) 860-0091
Fax: (713) 225-2340
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Biography

Mr. Cicack is a partner in the Litigation Department in the Houston Office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.  Mr. Cicack practices primarily in commercial related litigation, including complex contract disputes, business divorces, restrictive covenant matters, financial related matters, and professional liability matters.

Mr. Cicack has represented large companies such as Chevron, Wachovia Bank, and Arthur J. Gallagher, as well as middle market business organizations.  He has chaired a number of complex commercial jury trials as well as bench trials and arbitrations.  Mr. Cicack practices in all state and federal courts throughout the State of Texas.  In addition, Mr. Cicack is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  Mr. Cicack’s commercial litigation practice is varied, however, recently many of the cases he has been handling involve disputes between business partners, corporate raiding and fiduciary duty disputes, trade secrets and restrictive covenant disputes, and insurance broker/agent-related disputes.

Mr. Cicack is a partner in the Litigation Department in the Houston Office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.  Mr. Cicack practices primarily in commercial related litigation, including complex contract disputes, business divorces, restrictive covenant matters, financial related matters, and professional liability matters.

Mr. Cicack has represented large companies such as Chevron, Wachovia Bank, and Arthur J. Gallagher, as well as middle market business organizations.  He has chaired a number of complex commercial jury trials as well as bench trials and arbitrations.  Mr. Cicack practices in all state and federal courts throughout the State of Texas.  In addition, Mr. Cicack is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  Mr. Cicack’s commercial litigation practice is varied, however, recently many of the cases he has been handling involve disputes between business partners, corporate raiding and fiduciary duty disputes, trade secrets and restrictive covenant disputes, and insurance broker/agent-related disputes.

Education

  • J.D., University of Houston Law Center (1984)
    cum laude
  • B.A., University of Houston (1981)

Admissions

  • Texas

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits
  • U.S. District Courts and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
  • All Texas state courts

Affiliations

  • Houston Bar Association

Representative Engagements

  • Big Warrior v. EOTT (represented EOTT Energy), Civil Action No. 2:02-CV-749, United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Hattiesburg Division (defended against claim of general contractor for reimbursement of cost overruns in excess of $10 million in connection with pipeline construction). 
  • EOTT v. Enron in the NY Bky. (represented EOTT Energy), Case No. 01-16034 (AJG), United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York (prosecuted claims in excess of $500 million in Enron bankruptcy; settlement reached). 
  • Crutchfield Capital Corporation v. CGI Group, Inc. et al. (represented Crutchfield Capital), Civil Action No. H-02-3521, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (successfully negotiated confidential settlement; Beck, Redden opposing counsel).
  • Herrington Equipment, Inc. and Robert N. Herrington v. Orix Credit Alliance, Inc. (represented Orix Credit Alliance), Civil Action No. H - 00 - 2656, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (defended breach of contract and various tort claims with damages claimed in excess of $5,000,000; John O’Neill opposing counsel). 
  • J. Patrick Magill v. webTPA, Inc., Diamond State Ventures, L.P., Joe T. Hays, and Harry D. Spring (represented Patrick Magill), Cause No. 2001-26139, 11th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (breach of contract action; successfully negotiated confidential settlement; Jenkens & Gilchrist opposing counsel). 
  • BRI/Mason Park, Ltd. v. Joe M. Diaz, et al. (represented WorldMed), Cause No. 00-07941, 113th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (successfully defended breach of contract and fraud claim; take nothing judgment). 
  • TCG Interests Ltd. d/b/a The Care Group of Texas v. North American Medical Management, Inc. et al. (represented IPA Management Services, Inc.), Cause No. 2000-44254, 61st Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (successfully defended multimillion dollar breach of contract claim).
  • Dr. Dudrick v. Hermann Hospital (represented Dr. Dudrick) (successful prosecution of a prominent physician’s wrongful termination claim that resulted in a confidential settlement for a substantial sum). 
  • Reproduction Equipment Service, Inc. v. Chris E. Rucker, et al. (represented Reproduction Equipment Service), Cause No. 2000-36834, 151st Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (trade secrets case; successfully obtained judgment for client).
  • Mark Andre, Cleft of the Rock Foundation, MA Fund, Daniel Thomson, and John Di Frances v. Douglas A. McClain and Debra A. McClain (represented plaintiffs), Cause No. 1999-48645, 295th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (fraud case; successfully obtained multimillion dollar judgment). 
  • Hector B. Gonzalez and Marcela Gonzalez v. C. W. Wellen, et al. (represented C.W. Wellen and enviroTechnologies), Cause No. 1999-09860, 157th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (successfully defended claim resulting in confidential settlement).
  • Alexander Riley, D.C., and Mark Beaty, D.C. v. Liberty Mutual & Texas Worker’s Compensation Insurance Fund (representing Gallagher-Bassett Services, Inc.), Cause No. B-165,335, 60th Judicial District Court of Jefferson County, Texas (class action case; resolved with favorable settlement terms).
  • Gail A. Hannahs v. US Physical Therapy, Inc. (represented Gail Hannahs), Cause No. 2002-51060, 133rd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (successfully prosecuted breach of contract claim against publicly traded company that resulted in a confidential settlement; Andrews & Kurth opposing counsel). 
  • Kashif Brothers, Inc. d/b/a Gulf Palm Food Mart, and Qamar Ul Haq v. Diamond Shamrock Refining & Marketing Company, et al. (represented Diamond Shamrock and Ultramar Diamond Shamrock), Cause No. 98-23941, 113th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas; Appealed in No. 14-01-00202-CV, Fourteenth District Court of Appeals, Houston, Texas (successfully obtained judgment that plaintiff take nothing; Court of Appeals affirmed).
  • J.R. Wings, Inc. and Wings Etc., Inc. v. Joseph P. Eguia, et al. (represented J.R. Wings, Inc.), Cause No. 2002-09937, 269`h Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (action involving two partners in a business divorce case; successfully obtained judgment in favor of client).
  • Bank One, NA v. Paul A. Frame, and Seitel, Inc. (represented Seitel, Inc.), Cause No. 2002-43070, 133rd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (defended breach of contract claim on behalf of publicly traded corporation that resulted in a confidential settlement).
  • Confidential AAA Arbitration (represented Chevron Overseas Petroleum) (prosecution of breach of contract and fraud claims on behalf of operator arising from a massive international offshore construction project; obtained large seven-figure settlement; Robin Gibbs opposing counsel).
  • Offshore Specialty Fabricators, Inc. v. Chevron Nigeria Limited (represented Chevron Nigeria Limited) (defense of a multimillion dollar maritime lien claim on a construction project involving the conversion of two used jack-up rigs into mobile offshore production units. The case involved the assertion of maritime liens, cause and effect and delay analyses, and ultimately concluded in a favorable settlement after two mediations).
  • Chevron Nigeria Limited v. Engicon, Inc. (represented Chevron Nigeria Limited) (successful prosecution of claims for breach of contract, fraud, and negligence in connection with the conversion of the foregoing jack-up rigs.  Successfully compelled UNCITRAL ad hoc arbitration in Nigeria against Engicon, a related company and their principal shareholder (the latter two were non-signatories to the arbitration agreement)).
  • Healthhelp, Inc. v. Arthur J. Gallagher, Inc., Healthcare First, and Gallagher Healthcare Insurance Services, Inc. (representing Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and other defendants), Cause No. 2003-59265, 157th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (defended multimillion dollar claim relating to insurance brokerage services that resulted in a confidential settlement on terms favorable to client).
  • Chevron USA Inc., Netherlands Branch v. RDS Netherlands International, Inc. et al. (represented Chevron USA, Inc.), Cause No. 2003-34525, 157th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (successful prosecution of client’s claim against gas field partner for reimbursement of millions of dollars of expenses incurred to remediate and restore site; confidential settlement reached).
  • Commerce Equities, Inc. v. TC-MP, Inc. (representing Commerce Equities, Inc.), Cause No. 2004-64152, 190th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (prosecuted multimillion dollar construction delay case involving allegations of fraud, negligence, and professional engineer malpractice).
  • Magnum Staffing Services, Inc. v. Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc., Artex Insurance Company Ltd., and Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. d/b/a Innovative Risk Services, Inc., Civil Action No. 04-4711, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. 
  • Robert Chamberlain and J.W. Rhea, IV, Plaintiffs, and Thomas F. Cooke, Intervenor, v. Optima International Trust Company, Ltd., Optima services International, Ltd., and Robert Kubbernus, Defendants, Civil Action No. A-05-CA-394-LY, United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.
  • TrueStar Petroleum Corporation, Trinity, Barnett LLC, Trinity Americas, Inc., Charles A. Kohlhaas, Dwain M. Immel v. Optima Services International Ltd., p/k/a Optima International Trust Company Limited, The Balaton Group, Inc., Robert J. Kubbernus, M. Carole Coale, John S. Burns, and Frederick Bryson Farrill vs. J.W. Rhea, IV and Robert Chamberlain vs. Thomas F. Cooke, Cause No. 2005-54028, 157th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas.
  • EPT Management Co. et al. v. Kennedy Associates Real Estate Counsel, Inc., et al., Cause No. 2006-4314, 327th Judicial District Court of El Paso County, Texas.
  • Gallagher Healthcare Insurance Services, Inc. v. Crys Blankenship and Lockton Companies, Cause No. 2005-50293, 190th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas.
  • Gallagher Healthcare Insurance Services, Inc. v. Page M. Vogelsang and Lockton Companies, Inc., Cause No. 2006-11123, 133rd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas.
  • Gallagher Healthcare Insurance Services, Inc. v. Page M. Vogelsang, No. 01-07-00478-CV, First Court of Appeals at Houston.
  • Brown & Brown Insurance Services of Texas, Inc. v. Richard A. Matthews, Cause No. 2007-64482, 189th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas. 
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