Robert A. Plessala

For over 24 years, Bob Plessala has concentrated his practice in the area of trials and appeals. He has represented private and publicly traded corporations, public and private limited partnerships, general partnerships, banks, school districts and individuals. Bob has dealt with a variety of issues including state and federal security laws, deceptive trade practices, fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder suits, construction claims, partnership disputes, civil conspiracy, tortious inference and claims involving State and Federal constitutional issues.

Bob has handled, tried and/or appealed a wide variety of commercial cases in state and federal courts in Texas as well as 12 other jurisdictions. He has also argued appeals before the Fifth Circuit, the Supreme Courts of Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia, and various Texas Courts of Appeals. Of the 60 appeals he has handled, 30 have resulted in published and reported decisions.

Representative Experience:

• 2007 - Obtained decision from the Court of Appeals on the scope of damages available to a contractor from a municipality under the new limited waiver of governmental immunity statute.
• 2006 - Represented National Bank to verdict in a multi-million dollar state securities fraud action alleging the bank aided and abetted violator’s theft over $21 million dollars through wiring transactions from investment accounts.
• 2006 - Represented contractor through the Texas Supreme Court in action against a municipality involving the defense of governmental immunity from suit for breach of contract.
• 2005 - Represented distributor/supplier to verdict in two multi-million dollar products liability actions involving the alleged defective design of the exterior insulated finish systems (EIFS).
• 2004 - Represented general contractor against subcontractor in an appeal involving the construction and interpretation of an indemnity agreement under the express negligence doctrine.
• 2003 - Represented subcontractor in breach of contract litigation against steel supplier for non-delivery for lack of material during steel shortage involving the issue of impossibility of performance.
• 2000 - Represented general contractor in arbitration against subcontractor over contract to rehabilitate the building envelopes of 21 schools in the Dallas Independent School District.
• 1998 - Represented contractor in action against municipality challenging the competitive bidding process in a proposed $35 million renovation and rehabilitation project.
• 1997 - Represented contractor in a breach of contract action against a state university through the Texas Supreme Court which resulted in the landmark decision (Federal Sign v. TSU) on the subject of the State’s immunity from suit in breach of contract actions.