Matthew W. Caligur
Matthew W. Caligur is a trial lawyer who focuses his law practice on complex commercial litigation. He represents a broad range of clients, from FORTUNE 100 corporations to individual business owners, on matters including contract disputes, business torts (including tortious interference, fiduciary duty and fraud), general business issues, professional liability and product liability. He represents clients in a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, technology, manufacturing, construction, energy and retail sales.
Mr. Caligur has experience litigating in federal and state courts and before arbitration panels. He has been first or second chair in trials and arbitrations, as well as first chair in injunction hearings, summary judgment hearings and mediations. He has handled appeals in both state and federal courts.
General Commercial Experience
- Served as trial counsel in a $42 million penalty enforcement case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice in federal district court and obtained an agreed dismissal of the action by the U.S. prior to trial;
- Obtained dismissal on behalf of privately-held parent corporation in personal injury and property damage case arising from alleged explosions and chemical releases from a subsidiary petrochemical plant;
- Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of international industrial packaging and services company in suit arising from sale of allegedly contaminated industrial property;
- Obtained dismissal for manufacturer of commercial wide-format digital inkjet printer in contract dispute with customer; and
- Obtained dismissal based on lack of personal jurisdiction for nonresident principals of real estate development project case involving alleged default on guaranty agreement.
Healthcare Experience
- Represented pharmacy management company in wrongful death action arising from an alleged prescription error, which settled favorably after mandamus proceedings to the Texas Supreme Court;
- Represented national healthcare company in litigation involving disputes arising from in-house hospital pharmacy management contracts;
- Obtained dismissals and favorable settlements on behalf of pharmacy management company in cases involving alleged professional liability for medication errors;
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of international pharmaceutical company in personal injury case involving alleged side-effects of prescription antibiotic; and
- Obtained dismissal based on lack of personal jurisdiction for managing partner of a physical therapy center in dispute involving buy-out provision of partnership agreement.
Product Liability Experience
- Obtained a dismissal with prejudice of all claims in mass tort case brought in Mississippi state court for a major international wood and wood product manufacturer;
- Served as regional counsel and local counsel for biologics product division of international pharmaceutical product manufacturer in cases involving alleged injuries from childhood vaccines and blood products; and
- Assisted in administration of state-wide docket of cases alleging injuries from hip and knee implants on behalf of international medical device manufacturer.
Construction Experience
- Handled arbitration claim for a major international engineering company resulting in a multi-million dollar settlement and recovery for the client arising from construction of a major Gulf Coast petrochemical plant project;
- Served as trial counsel for major U.S. construction company in dispute involving contract and tort issues arising from engineering and construction of offshore drilling platform in AAA Arbitration and related federal court proceedings; and
- Represented engineering services company in action to recover damages for account stated and breach of contract in connection with construction of compressed air energy storage facility.
International Experience
- Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of UK-based leading provider of energy management and measurement systems involving dispute with domestic electric services providers;
- Obtained final judgment ordering return of child to country of habitual residence in international child abduction case brought under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction in federal district court in Texas; and
- Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of Isle of Man corporation in contract dispute over royalty payments involving exploration license granted by the Bulgarian government to explore for coalbed methane in the Dobroudja Basin.
Mr. Caligur is a member of the Defense Research Institute, Houston Bar Association, Bar Association of the Federal Fifth Circuit and the Federal Bar Association. He is also a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
During law school, Mr. Caligur served as an intern for the Honorable Ewing Werlein, Jr., United States District Court, Southern District of Texas.
In 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009, Mr. Caligur was recognized in Texas Monthly magazine as a “Rising Star.”
Mr. Caligur is an active member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Southwest Houston.
Mr. Caligur’s publications and presentations include:
- “Expert Witness Update and Attorneys as Testifying Experts (Except on Attorney’s Fees),” State Bar of Texas’ 2007 Advanced Civil Trial Course Book, co-author with C. Thomas Kruse (2007)
- “Alliances and Tactics Involving Multiple-Parties: From No-Deal Deals to Dismissals with Side Agreements,” presented to the University of Houston CLE Litigation and Trial Tactics Conference (2006 and 2007)
- “Prepare Clients for the New Rules of Electronic Discovery,” Texas Lawyer, co-author with C. Thomas Kruse (August 2006)