Gregory P. Crinion

Partner

Practice Areas:

Business Law, Counseling and Transactions
Real Estate Law, Development and Transactions
Business Organizations and Incorporation
Probate

Greg Crinion is managing partner of the firm’s Bay Area Houston, Texas office. He holds the highest rating for legal ability and ethics based upon peer reviews offered by Martindale-Hubbell.

Experience:

2010-2014 — Adjunct Faculty of Business Law at the University of Houston-Clear Lake

1999-present — Partner with Crinion Richardson & Langley LLP, Houston, Texas

1997-1999 — Partner with Citti & Crinion LLP, Bay Area, Houston, Texas

1987-1997 — Equity partner (and associate) with Jackson Walker LLP (Trial and Environmental Law Sections), Houston, Texas

1985-1987 — Attorney with Exxon Company, USA (Litigation Section, Houston, Texas) and Exxon Corporation (Litigation Section, New York, New York)

1984 — Judicial Intern, Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson, Wisconsin Supreme Court, Madison, Wisconsin

1984 — Law Clerk, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Ludwigsburg-Kornwestheim, Federal Republic of Germany (awarded Scroll of Appreciation)

1983-1984 — Law Clerk, Lawton & Cates, Madison, Wisconsin

1983 — Judicial Intern, Eau Claire County Circuit Court, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Admitted to Practice:

State of Texas
State of Wisconsin

Professional Affiliations:

American Bar Association
State Bar of Texas
State Bar of Wisconsin

Education:

Juris Doctor, University of Wisconsin Law School, cum laude (Editor in Chief and Writer, Wisconsin International Law Journal)
Master of Business Administration, University of Minnesota
Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, cum laude

Significant Court Decisions:

Doddy v. Oxy USA, Inc., 101 F.3d 448 (5th Cir. 1996) — Lead trial and appellate counsel for Western Company of North America and presented argument adopted by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in rejecting a claim for common law strict liability in an environmental and toxic tort case based upon ultrahazardous activity and, instead, requiring that claims for environmental damages in Texas must rest upon proof of negligence and not strict liability.

Mel Austin, et ux v. Friendswood Hidden Cove Property Owners Association, Inc., 56th Judicial District Court, Galveston County, Texas — Lead counsel for condominium association in successful defense in arbitration of demand for re-building of condominium foundation and structure.

In re: Olivewood Cemetery, 11th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas — Trial counsel for Descendants of Olivewood, Inc. in successful petition for statutory custodianship of the historic Olivewood Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Ross v. People’s Choice Home Loan, Inc., 55th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas — Lead trial counsel for real estate broker and sales agent in successful defense on summary judgment of a complex mortgage fraud lawsuit involving multiple plaintiffs, defendants and properties.

American Motorists Insurance Co. v. MBank Houston, N.A., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division — Lead trial counsel for MBank Houston, N.A. in successful defense at trial of claim on standby letter of credit.

Anderson/LaForge Joint Venture v. Exxon Corporation, 14th Judicial District Court, Dallas County, Texas — Trial counsel for Exxon Corporation in successful defense at trial of claim for alleged environmental damages relating to former retail service station.

Ripple Creek Townhomes Condominium Association, Inc. v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas — Lead trial counsel for Chevron U.S.A. Inc. in successful defense of claims for alleged environmental damages relating to former retail service station.

Vallantyne v. Electrical Controller Products Company, 190th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas — Lead trial counsel for Electrical Controller Products Company in successful defense of employment discharge case on summary judgment.

Representative Engagements:

Representation of lending institution in successful collection of consumer and commercial credit matters throughout the State of Texas.

Representation of real estate developer in real property acquisition, subdivision development and sale as residential subdivisions; defense against subcontractor lien claims resulting from general contractor failure, organization and representation of homeowner associations; and dissolution of development entities in Harris, Brazoria and Galveston Counties.

Representation of local business in acquisition of commercial property from prior landlord and sale of operating retail business and lease of underlying real estate to new tenant.

Representation of major integrated oil and gas company in analysis of gas production accounts and successful collection of unpaid accounts under gas balancing agreement.

Representation of major integrated oil and gas company in successful defense of suit by former retail gas station dealer for alleged improper termination of franchise agreement and subsequent collection of court costs incurred in successful defense.

Representation of property owner in quiet title action resolving undocumented and improperly documented transfers of title to real property.

Professional and Community Service:

Friendswood Chamber of Commerce — Former Chair, Past Chair and Member, Board of Directors

City of Friendswood Community & Economic Development Committee — Former Chair, Vice Chair and member

City of Friendswood Sign Ordinance Review Committee — Former member

Innovative Alternatives, Inc. — Former Director and President

Galveston County Mediation Services Board — Former Director

NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) Advisory Committee, Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc. — Former member

University of Houston-Clear Lake — Former Adjunct Faculty of Business Law

Descendants of Olivewood — Former Advisory Board Member

Publications:

Greg Crinion has authored and co-authored an extensive list of legal articles and papers, a number of which have been cited as authority by other legal scholars and used for classroom teaching purposes. He has also been interviewed and quoted in several articles concerning legal matters.
View List of Publications

Contact:

Greg Crinion may be contacted via telephone at 281-990-8300 or email at gcrinion@crl-legal.com.