Martindale AV
super lawyer

Practice Areas

Business Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Complex Commercial Disputes
Corporate Reorganization
Creditors’ Rights
Employment Litigation
Franchise / Hotel Litigation
Litigation
Real estate Litigation
Receiverships
Securities Fraud Litigation

Practice Emphasis

Mr. Crawford has more than 23 years of experience in handling complex commercial litigation, including securities fraud, receiverships, ERISA, employment, insurance and general business disputes.

Representative Matters

Mr. Crawford has successfully represented clients in a wide range of complex commercial litigation, including cases involving:

• Securities Fraud

• Oil and Gas Fraud

• 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. Alan Todd May and Prosper Oil & Gas, Inc., a/k/a Prosper Energy Inc. (Judge Lindsay); Civil Action No. 3:10-CV-0425 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division - Appointed as Receiver in March, 2010 in fraudulent Ponzi scheme operated by an oil and gas company through the sale of royalty interests.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. M25 Investments, Inc., M37 Investments, LLC, Scott P. Kear, Sr., Jeffrey L. Lyon, and David G. Seaman; (Judge Lynn); Civil Action No. 3-09CV- 1831 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division - Appointed as Receiver in September, 2009 for limited purpose of investigating the assets of the defendant, claims of investors, and estimated time to distribute assets to investors.

Securities and Exchange Commission v. Paul D. Poetter, 4309, Inc., 4309 Acquisition Trust, and AMS-TEC Acquisition Trust; (Judge Schneider); Civil Action No. 6-09CV-398 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division - Appointed as Receiver in October, 2009 in $3 million investment scheme involving 2,200 investors.

Bank of America, NA/Countrywide Bank, FSB v. Portrait Homes – Dallas County, Travis County, Williamson County – Appointed as Receiver in August, 2009 of more than 100 properties in action by lender against debtor regarding default of $95 million loan.

Securities and Exchange Commission v. Star Exploration, Inc., James T. Gurgainers, et al.;(Judge O’Connor); Civil Action No. 3:08-CV-2248 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division – Appointed as Receiver in December, 2008 in $14 million oil and gas scheme.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. George D. Hudgins, individually and d/b/a George D. Hudgins, L.L.C.; (Judge Davis); Civil Action No. 6:08-CV-0187 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division – Appointed as Receiver in May, 2008 in $72 million commodities pool trading scheme. Return to investors to date is approximately 34 percent.

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. Return to investors was approximately 37 percent.

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. Return to investors was approximately 37 percent.

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 – Served as counsel to Receiver in $35 million Ponzi scheme where return to investors was 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 exceeded $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

• Member of Board of Directors of Interfaith Housing Coalition

• Member of Board of Directors of National Association of Federal Equity Receivers

Publications and Speeches

• 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.

Honors and Awards

• 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

• Sustaining Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation

• Recognized "Texas Super Lawyer", 2009

Education and Professional Background

• 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.

Reported Cases

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).

Kelly Crawford
tel. [214] 706-4213

kelly.crawford
@solidcounsel.com

DALLAS OFFICE
Ph [214] 706-4200
Fx [214] 706-4242
500 N. Akard Street
Suite 2700
Dallas, Texas 75201

FRISCO OFFICE
Ph [214] 472-2100
Fx [214] 472-2150
2601 Network Boulevard
Suite 102
Frisco, Texas 75034