After twenty years in the legal profession, George Lankford has handled a wide variety of complex commercial disputes, including trial and appellate level work in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, major construction defects (including Thanksgiving Tower), contract disputes and premises liability.  He is currently working on the Wyndham 9/11 business interruption coverage case.  On October 8, 2003, George argued the carrier's right to control the defense to the Texas Supreme Court in Northern County Mutual v. Davalos. The court unanimously reversed the Court of Appeals decision in our client's favor.

George grew up in Dallas and received his B.A. degree in Economics cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin, and his M.B.A. and J.D. degrees from the Texas Tech School of Law.  He served as the briefing attorney for Chief Justice Austin McCloud of the Eastland Court of Appeals from 1983-84, and law clerk for U.S. District Judge David O. Belew, Jr. in Fort Worth from 1984-85. 

He is active in the North Trail District of Boys Scouts of America where he has served on staff for several leadership-training courses for scouts and adults.  He is also active in Highland Park Presbyterian Church where he was recently the moderator of the 151-person deacon ministry for two years.  George has been married for nearly 24 years and he and his wife have two teenage sons.

RECENT REPRESENTATIVE COURT OPINIONS:

Northern County Mutual v. Davalos,

            140 S.W.3d 685 (Tex.2004)( carrier's right to select defense counsel and control defense)

TV-3 v. Royal,

            102 F.Supp2d 347 (S.D.Miss. 2000)(waiver of subro rights)

TV-3 v. Royal,

            28 F.Supp.2d 407 (E.D.Tex.1998)(transfer venue on forum non conviens)

RECENT REPRESENTATIVE CASES:

RSR  v. AIU,  Dkt No. 93-0127 (71^st Dist. Court Harrison County, Texas)

Large environmental coverage suit for property damage and third party claims allegedly arising out of West Dallas lead smelter and other activities around the country. We represented the lead primary carrier.

Davalos v. Northern County, Cause No. 97-J-0614C (130^th District Court Matagorda County, 

Texas)

Carrier right to select defense counsel and select venue. Case taken from adverse summary judgment in trial court to a unanimous decision in our client's favor by the Texas Supreme Court.

Chickasha Cotton Oil v. American National Fire, et al., Dkt No. 59,483 (196^th District Court

Hunt County, Texas)

Coverage for third party liability claims allegedly arising out of cotton ginning. We prevailed on summary judgment.

Wyndham Int'l  v. Royal, et al., Cause No. 02-7779 (14^th Dist. Court Dallas County, Texas)

Business interruption coverage for Wyndham's alleged $67 million loss arising out of the inability of its customers to reach its hotels across North America and the Caribbean because of the events of 9/11. Our client prevailed on summary judgment.

Univesco v. RSP Management, Cause No. 97-9209 (CCLaw No. 4 Dallas County, Texas)

Premises liability of management company for collapse of aircraft hanger during large windstorm/micro burst. Jury voted unanimously for our client after a week long trial.