Don Karotkin
Principal
Areas of Practice
- 65% Medical Malpractice Defense
- 15% Dental Malpractice Defense
- 10% Ethics / Professional Responsibility
- 5% Insurance Law
- 5% Legal Malpractice Defense
Litigation Percentage
- 95% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certified Legal Specialties
- Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1979
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1973
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1974
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1990
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1995
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1992
- Supreme Court of the United States of America, 1994
Education
- The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
- J.D. - 1973
- University of Texas at Austin, Texas
- B.A. - 1970
Representative Cases
- Christus Health v. Dorriety, 2011 WL 1886572 (Tex. App. -Houston [14th Dist.] 2011)
- Tom v. Estrada, 2011 WL 846578 (Tex. App. - Houston [1st Dist.] 2011)
- Marquez v. Quarterman, 2010 WL 1064421 (E.D. Tex. 2010)
- Bay Area Healthcare Group, Ltd. v. McShane, 239 S.W.3d 231 (Tex. Sup. Ct. 2007)
- Bonner v. Texas Children's Hospital, 2006 WL 349510 (Tex. App. - Corpus Christi 2006)
- In re Patel, 2004 WL 163001 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. 2004)
- Peters v. Polk County Memorial Hospital, 7 F.3d 229 (5th Cir. 1993)
- Jackson v. Coldspring Terrace Property Owners Ass'n, 838 S.W.2d 320 (Tex. App. El Paso 1992)
- Winn v. Di-Minno Hudson, 1990 WL 122119 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 1990)
- Coleman v. Lumbermen's Mut. Cas. Co., 786 S.W.2d 445 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 1990)
- Loftin v. Martin, 776 S.W.2d 145 (Tex. 1989)
- Aramco Services Co., v. Redland Fabricating and Welding, Inc., 752 S.W.2d 184 (Tex. App. - Houston, 14th District 1988)
- Kupor v. Solito, 687 S.W.2d 441 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. 1985)
- Martinez v. F.M.C. Corp., 666 S.W.2d 654 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi 1984)
- McClung v. Komorn, 629 S.W.2d 813 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. 1982)
- Montanye v. Transamerica Ins. Co., 638 S.W.2d 518 (Tex. App. Houston 1st Dist. 1982)
- Paulus v. Lawyers Surety Corp., 625 S.W.2d 843 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. 1981)
- Nowlin v. Wheeler, 617 S.W.2d 809 (Tex. Civ. App. Houston 14th Dist. 1981)
- Chrysler Corp. v. Schuenemann, 618 S.W.2d 799 (Tex. Civ. App. Houston 1st Dist. 1981)
- Lawyers Surety Corp. v. Snell, 617 S.W.2d 750 (Tex. Civ. App. Houston 14th Dist. 1981)
- Fidelity & Cas. Co. of New York v. Swayzer, 583 S.W.2d 850 (Tex. Civ. App. Houston 1st Dist. 1979)
- Fillion v. Osborne, 585 S.W.2d 842 (Tex. Civ. App. Houston 1st Dist. 1979)
- Lawyers Surety Corp. v. Hall, 590 S.W.2d 762 (Tex. Civ. App. Houston 14th Dist. 1979)
- British Overseas Airways Corp. v. Tours and Travel of Houston, Inc., 568 S.W.2d 888 (Tex. Civ. App. Houston 1st Dist. 1978)
- Morris v. Kaylor Engineering Co., 565 S.W.2d 334 (Tex. Civ. App. Houston 14th Dist. 1978)
- Warren v. Davis, 539 S.W.2d 907 (Tex. Civ. App. Corpus Christi 1976)
- Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Ahrens, 414 F.Supp. 1235 (S.D. Tex. 1975)
Representative Clients
- St. Luke's Episcopal Health System
- The Medical Protective Company
- Texas Medical Liability Trust
- Fortress Insurance Company
- Attorney Protective Company
References
- Ms. Teresa Canant
- Ms. Amy Opelt
- Mr. Rick Bolin
- Mr. Jim Cartier
- Mr. Keith Prince
Classes/Seminars
- Disruptive Behavior and the Law, The Medical Protective Company, 2011
- Risk Management and Loss Prevention, The Medical Protective Company, 2009
- Legal Ethics, Insurance Coverage Litigation, National Business Institute, 2008
- Personal and Advertising Injury Liability Insurance Coverage, Insurance Law Update, National Business Institute, 2007
- Legal Ethics, Insurance Law Update, National Business Institute, 2007
Honors and Awards
- Texas Super Lawyers (Texas Monthly Magazine), 2008 - 2010
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Advocate, 1999 - Present
- American Bar Association, Tort & Insurance Practice and Fidelity & Surety Law Sections
- Defense Research Institute, Member
- Houston Bar Association, Member
- Houston Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow
- State Bar of Texas, District 4-C Grievance Committee, Chairman, 1987 - 1990
- State Bar of Texas, Member, 1973 - Present
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Member
- Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, Inc., Board of Directors, 1992 - 1995
- Gulf Coast Legal Foundation, Board of Directors, 1993 - 1994
- State Bar of Texas Committee on Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters, Member, 1997 - 1998
- Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
Past Employment Positions
- Karotkin, Chase, & Erwin, L.L.P., Managing Partner, 2002 - 2005
- Karotkin & Engvall, L.L.P., Managing Partner, 1998 - 2001
- Karotkin & Associates, 1995 - 1997
- Funderburk & Funderburk, L.L.P., Partner, 1981 - 1995
- Funderburk & Funderburk, L.L.P., Associate, 1976 - 1981
- Wyckoff, Eikenburg, Dunn & Frazier, Associate, 1973 - 1976
Pro Bono Activities
- Board of Directors, Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, 1992 - 1995
- Board of Directors, Gulf Coast Legal Foundation, 1993 - 1994
