ronald-restrepo

Ronald J. Restrepo

Partner

Doyle, Restrepo, Harvin & Robbins, L.L.P.

440 Louisiana Suite 2300

Houston, Texas 77002

Phone: 713-228-5100

Fax: 713-228-6138

E-mail: rrestrepo@drhrlaw.com

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Practice Description

For more than two decades, Ron Restrepo has focused exclusively on insurance coverage trial and appellate work. He was named by his peers as a “Texas Super Lawyer” (a Thomson Reuters service) for Insurance Coverage in 2007 through 2012, one of fewer than 50 selected state-wide. He also has been named by H-Magazine as a “Top Lawyer” for Insurance Coverage in 2009, 2010, and 2014. Mr. Restrepo has represented a major national carrier in disputes regarding first and third-party claims under commercial, homeowners, umbrella and auto policies for more than 25 years. This work has included coverage opinions and related declaratory judgment actions and the defense of approximately 500 lawsuits seeking coverage for mold claims throughout the State of Texas in federal and state courts. Based on this experience, the firm was asked to open a New Orleans office to assist in the defense of Hurricane Katrina claims liability. Mr. Restrepo has also represented corporate clients in pursuing property damage, E&O and business interruption coverage under various business policy forms.

 

Representative Experience

Numerous favorable decisions accepting arguments on mold coverage and precluding use of expert opinions, including:

  • Garza v. Allstate Texas Lloyd’s, 2005 WL 2388254 (S.D. Tex. 2005) (granting summary judgment based on proposed construction of exclusions and manifestation rule).
  • Salinas v. Allstate Texas Lloyd’s Co., 278 F. Supp.2d 820 (S.D. Tex. 2003) (granting summary judgment based on proposed construction of mold exclusion and failure to comply with prompt notice condition).
  • Flores v. Allstate Texas Lloyd’s Co., 278 F. Supp.2d 810 (S.D. Tex. 2003) (granting summary judgment based on proposed construction of exclusions and failure to comply with notice condition).
  • Flores v. Allstate Texas Lloyd’s Co., 229 F. Supp.2d 697 (S.D. Tex. 2002) (first ruling rejecting expert testimony and opinion linking mold to allergies based on absence of supporting scientific evidence and applying proposed interpretation of additional living expenses coverage).
  • Reyes v. Allstate Texas Lloyd’s Co., Civil Action No. M-02-269 (S.D. Tex. 7/24/03 (first judicial ruling denying use of Wallchek tests to show existence of mold in interstitial wall spaces).

Additional favorable summary judgment rulings in the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas and various state courts. Obtained what The Texas Lawyer described as a “first-of-its-kind ruling” permitting an insurance company to intervene to appeal and overturn a $10 million judgment after the insured settled with the Plaintiffs and withdrew his appeal.

  • Reported decision: Ross v. Marshall, 426 F.3d 745 (5th Cir. 2005), pet. for rehearing den’d, 456 F.3d 442 (5th Cir. 2006), cert. denied, 127 S.Ct. 1125 (U.S. 2007).
  • Article in The Texas Lawyer (10/10/05 edition, pages 8-9).

Published Cases Involving Insurance Coverage Disputes:

  • Allstate County Mutual Ins. Co. v. Wootton, 494 S.W.3d 825 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016, pet. denied)
  • Allstate Texas Lloyds v. Gaffney, 2013 WL2146713 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] May 16, 2013)
  • Terrill v. Allstate Texas Lloyds, 2013WL 1314092 (E.D. Tex. March 28, 2013)
  • Farmers Ins. Exchange v. Rodriguez, 366 S.W.3d 216 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] February 16, 2012)
  • Taylor v. Allstate Ins. Co., 356 S.W.3d 92 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] March 31, 2011)

Professional and Educational Background

  • Admitted: State Bar of Texas, 1981; State Bar of Pennsylvania, 1976
  • Yale University, B.A., 1973
  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1976
  • Member and Research Editor of Georgetown Law Journal, 1974-1976

Memberships and Admissions

  • Member: State Bar Association of Texas, American Bar Association (Litigation, Corporate and Insurance Law sections)
  • Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal for the Third and Fifth Circuits, the United States District Courts for the Southern, Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas and the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, and before the Supreme Courts of Texas and Pennsylvania.

Personal

  • Born, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1951.
  • Member of St. Paul’s U.M.C.
  • Former President of the Board, Wesley Community Center
  • Advisory Board Member, Inprint

 

Telephone (713) 228-5100 | Fax (713) 228-6138
440 Louisiana Suite 2300, Houston, Texas 77002

Copyright 2014 DOYLE RESTREPO HARVIN & ROBBINS, L. L. P. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted in website – Not certified by Texas Board of Legal Specialization.