Business Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Complex Commercial Disputes
Corporate Reorganization
Creditors’ Rights
Employment Litigation
Franchise / Hotel Litigation
Litigation
Real estate Litigation
Receiverships
Securities Fraud Litigation
Mr. Crawford has more than 20 years of experience in handling complex
commercial litigation, including securities fraud, receiverships, ERISA,
employment, insurance and general business disputes.
Mr. Crawford has successfully represented clients in a wide range of
complex commercial litigation, including cases involving:
• Software licensing issues
• Employment disputes, including proprietary information, agreements
and covenants not to compete
• Stock option agreements
• Copyright issues
• Insurance coverage disputes
• Shareholder disputes
• Partnership disputes
• Franchisor/Franchisee disputes
• Real estate disputes
• Telecommunication issues
• Creditors asserting claims in bankruptcy
• ERISA
Receiverships
Mr. Crawford has extensive experience in federal and state court receiverships,
as listed:
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Petrosite Assests, Inc., Iran
Dearaujo and Wesley A. Harbinson Jr.;
(Judge Godbey); Civil Action No. 3:06CV1611-N in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division – Appointed
as Receiver in September, 2006 in oil and gas and jewelry investment
scheme.
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Premium
Income Corporation, et al.;
(Judge Boyle); Civil Action No. 3-05CV-0415 in the United States District
Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division – Appointed
as Receiver in March, 2005 in $11 million foreign currency exchange
scheme.
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
v. Premium Income Corporation, et al.;
(Judge Boyle); Civil Action No. 3-05CV-0416 in the United States District
Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division (related
to foregoing case brought by Securities and Exchange Commission) – Appointed
as Receiver in March, 2005 in $11 million foreign currency exchange
scheme.
Securities and Exchange Commission v.
C-Tech, L.L.P. and Robert Schlotterbeck;
(Judge Solis);Civil Action No. 3-01CV2542-P in the United States District
Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division – Appointed
as Receiver in $4 million oil and gas venture. Return to investors
was more than 40 percent.
Securities and Exchange Commission v.
Resource Development International, LLC, et al.;
(Judge Buchmeyer); Civil Action No. 3:02-CV-0605-R in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division – Currently
serving as counsel to Receiver in $73 million Ponzi scheme involving
more than 1,500 investors. Return to investors is currently unknown.
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Benjamin Franklin Cook, individually
and doing business as Dennel Finance Limited, et al.;
(Judge Buchmeyer); Civil Action No. 3:99 CV0571-R in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division – Currently
serving as counsel to Receiver in $35 million Ponzi scheme where return
to investors to date has been approximately 60 percent.
Diamond Benefits Life Insurance Company, in Receivership – Served
as Texas counsel to the Special Deputy Receiver appointed by the Arizona
Department of Insurance in insurance insolvency case in which claims
exceed $22 million.
American Bonding Company, in Receivership – Served
as Texas counsel to the Special Deputy Receiver appointed by the Arizona
Department of Insurance in defending the Receiver in lawsuit brought
in federal court in Dallas.
Great Global Life Insurance Company, in Receivership – Served
as Texas counsel to the Special Deputy Receiver appointed by the Arizona
Department of Insurance with respect to ancillary receivership matter
instituted in Texas.
Aztar Casualty Insurance Company, in Receivership – Served
as Texas counsel to the Special Deputy Receiver appointed by the Arizona
Department of Insurance with respect to certain issues.
Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, in Receivership – Served
as Texas counsel to Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company prior to
its insolvency and while it was in receivership in defending the company
against claims brought in Texas against the company.
Diamond Benefits Life Insurance Company, in Receivership – Served
as Texas counsel to the Special Deputy Receiver appointed by the Arizona
Department of Insurance in insurance insolvency case in which claims
exceed $22 million.
American Bonding Company, in Receivership – Served
as Texas counsel to the Special Deputy Receiver appointed by the Arizona
Department of Insurance in defending the Receiver in lawsuit brought
in federal court in Dallas.
Great Global Life Insurance Company, in Receivership – Served
as Texas counsel to the Special Deputy Receiver appointed by the Arizona
Department of Insurance with respect to ancillary receivership matter
instituted in Texas.
Aztar Casualty Insurance Company, in Receivership – Served
as Texas counsel to the Special Deputy Receiver appointed by the Arizona
Department of Insurance with respect to certain issues.
Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, in Receivership – Served
as Texas counsel to Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company prior to
its insolvency and while it was in receivership in defending the company
against claims brought in Texas against the company.
Professional and Community Involvement
• Member, State Bar of Texas
• Member, Dallas Bar Association
• Volunteer, Interfaith Housing Coalition
• Note, Domangue v. Eastern Airlines, 722 F.2d 256 (5th Cir. 1984),
50 J. Air L. 375 (1985).
• Panelist on topic of Receiverships presented at the 26th Annual
Southwest Securities Enforcement Conference sponsored by The Fort
Worth District Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
September 6, 2002.
• Awarded the Hatton W. Sumners scholarship to attend the SMU School
of Law
• Editor in Chief of the Journal of Air Law and Commerce
• Order of the Coif
• Order of Barristers
• Awarded the Best Brief Award for the Moot Court competition
• Appointed by the Governor of New Mexico to serve as an ex-officio
member of the Board of Educational Finance
• Admitted, Texas
• United
States District Court for all districts in theState of Texas
• Fifth
Circuit Court of Appeals
• Admitted, New Mexico
• J.D., (cum laude), Southern Methodist University School of Law,
1986
• B.A., (cum laude), Government/Journalism, New Mexico State University,
1982
• Mr.
Crawford served as Student Body President at NMSU and was an ex-officio
member of the Board of Regents.
Mr. Crawford’s successful experience in handling lawsuits is reflected
in the following reported cases in which Mr. Crawford served as counsel:
• Warfield v. Byron, 436 F. 3d 551 (5th Cir. 2006).
• Seawright v. Charter Furniture
Rental, Inc., 39 F. Supp. 2d 795
(N.D. Tex. 1999), where the Court found that “lead counsel
for Charter, Kelly Crawford, is an experienced, able practitioner
who specializes in the area of commercial litigation, including employment
disputes…The Court found the
quality of their written work to be excellent. Their rates…certainly
comport with the going rate for attorneys in this district and division with
their qualifications and experience. In fact, the hourly rates are on the low
side.” 39 F.2d at 807.
• Clark v. Fitzgibbons, 105 F.3d 1049 (5th Cir. 1997).
• Christopher v. Diamond Benefits Life Ins.
Co., 35 F.3d 232 (5th
Cir. 1994).
• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Alexander, 827 S.W.2d 420 (Tex. 1992).
