Cases

Our Cases

There’s more to representing clients than taking a case to trial. Jeff Joyce brings value to his clients through every phase of litigation, from arbitrations and settlements to trials and appeals. He insists on looking at the bigger picture to put his clients in the best position possible at every stage.

Click on an area below to find out more about the cases Jeff Joyce has handled.

JEFF JOYCE PROVIDES HIS CLIENTS with unparalleled trial experience and a dedication to fight for the right result. With over 43 years of collective experience in all manner of civil litigation matters in Texas state cases, as well as federal cases, we’ve accumulated quite a list of successes:

    • Defense of lender in jury trial of lender liability suit seeking $6.5 million in fraud damages plus exemplary damages for the lender’s alleged fraud in inducing the loan and the real estate purchase, resulting in a take-nothing verdict as to all claims.
    • Pursued claims of commercial mortgage backed securities trustee against borrower and guarantors for fraud recourse claims involving $8 million loan secured by apartment project, resulting in $13.5 million judgment in Louisiana state trial court.
    • Defense of manufacturing company in jury trial of $1.8 million claim brought by terminated CFO alleging wrongful termination arising from his refusal to book allegedly illegal accounting entries on the company’s books, resulting in take-nothing jury verdict in favor of client in Texas state court.
    • Successful bench trial recovering judgment of over $50 million for holders of tax exempt bonds and rejecting bond obligor counterclaims seeking over $12 million.
    • Successful jury trial defense of entrepreneur against claims brought by service provider claiming to have entered into a verbal partnership.
    • Jury trial of business divorce between family members jointly owning various business entities.
    • Defense of software development firm in jury trial of class action securities fraud litigation in federal court, resulting in favorable jury verdict fully exonerating client.
    • Pursued fraud and breach of fiduciary claims in five-week jury trial against former executive and affiliated purchasers of assets from reorganized S&L backed by FDIC assistance agreement, resulting in favorable jury verdict awarding damages of over $50 million.

IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME for his clients, Jeff Joyce is prepared to defend a favorable judgment, or to challenge an unfavorable one through appeals. Jeff Joyce has handled numerous appeals on behalf of both appellants and appellees in many of the Texas state courts of appeal, the Supreme Court of Texas, and the Second Circuit and Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Some of his reported cases include:

    • Secured appellate court order to enforce arbitration clause and to stay all trial court proceedings pending arbitration. 
    • Elite Townhomes, LLC v. Intown Constr. Grp., LLC, No. 14-22-00641-CV, 2024 Tex. App. LEXIS 1835 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] March 14, 2024, no pet. h.).
    • Love & Joy , LLC v. Unity Nat’/ Bank, No. 14-19-00082-CV, 2021 Tex. App . LEXIS 3271 (Tex. App .- Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 29, 2021, no pet. h.). Successfully defended summary judgment obtained for service company involving Small Business Administration loans.
    • Adam v. Marcos, 620 S.W.3d 488 (Tex. App .- Houston [14th Dist.] 2021, pet. denied). Reversed adverse judgment ignoring favorable jury verdict for entrepreneur on claims brought by prior counsel.
    • Pinto Technology Ventures, LP v. Sheldon, 526 S.W.3d 428 (Tex. 2017). Reversed a portion of trial court judgment that had dismissed claims due to a forum selection clause.
    • Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Konover Dev. Corp ., 630 F.Appx. 46 (2d Cir. 2015). Affirmed jury verdict and trial court judgment finding alter ego liability for over $30 million of unpaid CMBS loan guaranty obligations.
    • Diamond Point Plaza Ltd Partnership v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 929 A.2d 932 (Md.Ct.App .2007): Successfully defended judgment for Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Trustee for fraud recourse claims and against note maker and guarantors in connection with $15+ million loan secured by shopping center.
    • Madisonville State Bank v. Citizens Bank of Texas, N.A., 184 S.W.3d 835 (Tex.App.­ Beaumont 2006): Successfully reversed judgment imposing liability for alleged late return of checks under the UCC midnight deadline rule in case involving $5+ million check
    • Fetter v. Wells Fargo Bank Texas, N., 110 S.W.3d 683, 51 UCC Rep. Serv. 2d 201, (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] 2003): Successfully defended summary judgment for national bank in putative class action alleging bank violated UCC obligation of good faith by posting checks to consumer accounts from high to low dollar amounts, allegedly to increase NSF returned check charges. In re Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota A., 115 S.W.3d 600 (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] 2003): Successfully pursued first reported Texas case upholding jury trial waiver in commercial contract.
    • Carpenter (Texas) Realty Corporation Allen Center Co.# 4, 974 S.W.2d 808 (Tex.App. (14th Dist.) 1998). Affirmed jury verdict and trial court judgment denying real estate broker’s claims for over $30 million of allegedly unpaid real estate commissions.
    • Huston Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 800 S.W.2d 845 (Tex.1990). Affirmed trial court rullings relating to bank receivership and establishing legal standard for appealability of orders entered during the course of a receivership.

JEFF JOYCE IS AN EXPERIENCED NEGOTIATOR, he can find the best solution for his clients, at every stage of litigation. That often means finding the most favorable settlement before a case even makes it to trial. Because of his record of success at trial and on appeal, he often negotiates successful resolutions of cases before the client incurs the time and expense involved in a jury trial and beyond. Some of his successes include:

    • Defense of former General Counsel of major energy company and settlement of claims asserted in class action securities fraud litigation in US District Court in Houston, Texas.
    • Defense and settlement of claims asserted by patent licensee against international Internet travel facilitator that certain aspects of its web site infringed patent.
    • Defense and settlement of claims by architect, land sellers and venture partners arising out of failed high-rise condominium project.
    • Pursue and settle claims arising out of breaches of a number of commercial office leases.
    • Pursue and settle claims arising out of disputes regarding pass through of operating expenses in office leases.

JEFF JOYCE HAS SIGNIFICANT ARBITRATION EXPERIENCE. He has represented claimants and respondents in a wide variety of matters before the American Arbitration Association and the National Association of Securities Dealers. Some of our successes include:

    • Successfully arbitrated and closed on arbitrator required payment of over $18 million arising out of a disputed settlement of a trial court judgment.
    • Defense of Fortune 100 grocery distribution company claims asserted by major Texas regional grocery chain in AAA arbitration.
    • Defense of seller of automobile dealership in AAA arbitration involving accounting “true ups” following sale closing.
    • Defense of multiple claims and counterclaims arising out of secured real estate financing and partnership dispute relating to the financing.