Brown McCarroll Attorneys at Law

Elizabeth (Heidi) Bloch

Partner

Austin

512-703-5733

ebloch@brownmccarroll.com

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Legal Experience

Ms. Bloch focuses her practice on appeals and litigation. She is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Appellate Law and Civil Trial Law and served for several years as Chair of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization Appellate Law Exam Committee.  Her practice includes:

• Representing clients before the state and federal courts of appeals and the Texas Supreme Court in all aspects of appellate practice, including briefing, oral argument, mandamus actions and interlocutory appeals.
• Preparing Amicus Curiae briefs on behalf of clients who are interested in, though not parties to an appeal.
• Assisting trial counsel in preserving error through pre-trial and post-trial motions, jury charge issues, and trial briefing.
• Litigation work includes handling all aspects of jury trials, mediations, and arbitrations in a broad range of commercial disputes.

Representative Appellate Cases

• Obtained reversal, in appeal to the Texas Supreme Court, in favor of the City of Austin in defending a challenge to a significant environmental protection ordinance.
• Obtained favorable decision from the Texas Supreme Court in a case dealing with the scope of an arbitrator’s authority and the grounds for vacating an arbitrator’s decision.
• Represented pipeline company in suit against producers and transporter involving contractual issues. Amount in dispute, over the life of the contract, was over $400 million. The case was settled after two Texas Supreme Court decisions on appeal.
• Successfully upheld a judgment of over $1 million, including trial court discovery abuse sanctions of over $100,000, in a sexual harassment suit against Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
• Argued a case to the Texas Supreme Court dealing with a significant sovereign immunity issue in the context of breach of contract actions against the State.
• Filed an amicus brief in a case before the Texas Supreme Court dealing with the issue of whether electric cooperative corporations have statutory authority to create and own for-profit subsidiaries.
• Assisted trial counsel outside the firm in numerous appellate matters, including actions involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, personal injury, marital property issues, and other matters.

Representative Litigation and Arbitration

• Represented a major Dallas law firm in a dispute with its insurance carrier over coverage and other contract issues. Amount in dispute was approximately $5 million. The case was ultimately settled.
• Represented an insurance agent in a suit brought by law firm for over $17 million in damages for alleged insurance code violations. The firm was brought in after jury verdict to handle post-trial matters and appeal. The case was ultimately settled.
• Represented co-executor of a significant estate in defending against claims for alleged breach of fiduciary duty and other damages. Successful in obtaining a take-nothing verdict on the primary issues in dispute.
• Represented several hospitals in a claim against an HMO in a dispute over various payment issues. Obtained a fully favorable arbitration award in excess of $6 million.
• Represented medical group against an HMO in pursuing a claim to end an exclusive contractual agreement. Obtained a fully favorable arbitration award.

Education

• Doctor of Jurisprudence, The University of Texas School of Law, 1985
  • Director, Legal Research Board
• Bachelor of Arts with honors, The University of Texas at Austin, 1982
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Licenses

• Attorney at Law, Texas, 1985
• Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Civil Appellate Law, Board Certified (1996)
  • Civil Trial Law, Board Certified (1993)

Court Admissions

• United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
• United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

Prior Professional Experience

• Hilgers & Watkins, P.C., Associate and Director, 1985-2003 (merged with Brown McCarroll, L.L.P. in 2003)
• University of Texas Law School, Adjunct Professor, 1997-2002

Speeches and Publications

• Mandamus Actions Against Agency Directors and Agency Boards, 2009 Government Law & Liability Conference, 2009, Article/Speech
• Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits and Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Seminar, 2009, Article/Speech
• Preparing for the TBLS Exam for Specialization in Civil Appellate Law, State Bar of Texas Appellate Boot Camp, 2008, Article/Speech
• Effective and Ineffective Brief Writing: What Works and What Doesn't,State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, 2006, Article/Speech
• Course Director, 19th Annual Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, 2005
• Arbitration and Mediation,SBOT Seminar on Residential Real Estate Construction Law Rules, 2004, Article/Speech
• Stop the Madness: There's No Need For Dual Proceedings in Arbitration Appeals, The Appellate Advocate, 2003, Article
• Arbitration in the Construction Industry, SBOT Construction Law Seminar, 2003, Article/Speech
• Arbitration - Current Issues, University of Houston Law Foundation, Litigation and Trial Tactics, 2003, Article/Speech
• Sovereign Immunity in Contract Cases, Travis County Bar Association, Administrative Law Section, 2003, Article/Speech
• Post Verdict and Post Judgment Strategies, University of Houston Law Foundation, Litigation and Trial Tactics, 2002, Article/Speech
• Arbitration and Appeals, SBOT Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, 2002, Article/Speech
• Nuts & Bolts of Appellate Practice, Perfection of Appeal-State and Federal, State Bar of Texas, 2001, Article/Speech
• Litigation and Trial Tactics, Post Verdict Strategies, University of Houston Law Foundation, 2001, Article/Speech
• Appellate Practice,Advanced Civil Litigation, University of Houston Law Foundation, 2001, Article/Speech
• Sovereign Immunity, Travis County Bar Association, Austin Young Lawyers Association, 2000, Article/Speech
• Perfecting and Appealing an Imperfect Judgment, State Bar of Texas 14th Annual Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, 2000, Article/Speech

Professional Memberships and Activities

• American Bar Association, Appellate Practice and Litigation Sections, Member
• State Bar of Texas
  • Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course, Course Director, 2005
  • Appellate Section, Council Member, 2003-2005
  • Appellate Advocate, Assistant Editor, 2000-2003; Editorial Board, Co-Chair, 2003-2005
  • Appellate Practice and Litigation Sections, Member
• Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Appellate Exam Committee member, 2000-2007
  • Appellate Exam Committee Chair, 2005-2007
• Austin Bar Association
  • Former Appellate Section Council Member
  • CLE Committee, Former Co-Chair

Community Involvement

• Capital Area AIDS Legal Project, Advisory Board Member, 1996-Present
• The Children's Partnership, Board Member, 2004-2006

Honors

• AV® Preeminent ™ Peer Review Rated
  • AV® Preeminent ™ and BV® Distinguished™ are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.