Wrobel, Helen

Mr. Martin brings a diverse background to his legal practice. In addition to his undergraduate degree in business, he has worked as a truck driver, oil field service hand and vice president of sales supplying oil country tubular goods to drilling and production companies. These experiences allow him to combine a practical business perspective and an understanding of difficult work environments with his legal analysis while preparing a strategy to best address a client's needs in resolution of a litigated matter. Whether the client's goal is to achieve a negotiated settlement or a jury verdict, Mr. Martin adheres to the old saying that "The best defense is a good offense." By thoroughly investigating a case and applying those facts to the relevant law to prepare summary judgments on some or all of the alleged claims, not only is there greater leverage to negotiate a reasonable settlement, it also demonstrates to opposing counsel that they are facing a true trial lawyer who welcomes the opportunity to present a case to a judge and jury.

Mr. Martin finds it particularly satisfying to successfully defend business owners whose competence and skill have been called into question by allegations of negligence. Their relief and sense of vindication upon receipt of a jury's finding of no negligence is both personally and professionally rewarding. One such case involved the owner of a residential air conditioning company, who along with other subcontractors involved in the construction of the plaintiff's home, was accused of negligence in the performance of his scope of work. While all other defendants settled with the plaintiff prior to trial, the air conditioning subcontractor remained adamant that his work had been performed properly. Thorough discovery resulted in the plaintiff's experts conceding the possibility of numerous alternate moisture sources which had allegedly caused high humidity levels and mold in the plaintiff's home. This, coupled with a trial exhibit demonstrating the installation and proper performance of the HVAC system in the plaintiff's home, resulted in a finding of no negligence on the part of this defendant.

Outside of his legal practice, Mr. Martin supports the arts in Houston through his membership in the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and his involvement as a member of the board of directors of the Masquerade Theatre and the advisory board of the Da Camera Society of Houston.

Mr. Martin earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Major in Marketing from Texas Tech University in 1977. After working for an oil field service company and an oil field pipe supply company, he chose to attend law school and received a Juris Doctorate in 1989 from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Martin served the community as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney's Office for three years, where he had over 40 first chair jury trials before transitioning to civil practice. He is a member of the Houston Bar Association, Houston Bar Association Construction Law Section, Defense Research Institute and College of the State Bar of Texas.