In the News

Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star Features 34 Haynes and Boone Lawyers

DALLAS – Thirty-four Haynes and Boone, LLP lawyers have been recognized in the Texas Super Lawyer 2013 Rising Stars edition, a special publication recognizing the top up-and-coming lawyers in the state. >>

Fifth Circuit Upholds Haynes and Boone Win for I’m Ready Productions Copyright Lawsuit

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the successful Haynes and Boone, LLP representation of I’m Ready Productions in a copyright infringement case, making an important clarification of copyright jurisprudence in the process. >>



Recent Publications

Diversity Highlights (2012)

The Attorney Diversity Committee (ADC) at Haynes and Boone, LLP is comprised of more than 60 attorneys, management and administrative team members that meets each month to advance our firm’s numerous diversity efforts. This document summarizes some of the highlights of those efforts in 2012. >>



Christina F. Crozier

Associate

Houston


1221 McKinney Street
Suite 2100
Houston, 77010
T +1 713.547.2268
F +1 713.236.5439

Áreas de Practica

Educación

  • J.D., University of Houston Law Center, 2005, Casenotes and Comments Editor, Houston Journal of International Law
  • B.S., University of Texas at Austin, 2001, with highest honors

Bar Admissions

  • Texas, 2005

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
Christina F. Crozier

As a member of Haynes and Boone's appellate section, Christina Crozier collaborates regularly with trial teams, both before and after the jury verdict. At the trial level, Ms. Crozier authors motions and jury charges, presents arguments at hearings, and assists with error preservation. At the appellate level, Ms. Crozier drafts briefs that tell her clients' stories clearly and persuasively. Her appellate work has included cases in the Texas courts of appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit, and the Eleventh Circuit. Ms. Crozier also has experience seeking and resisting certiorari in the Supreme Court of the United States. Her work has earned her recognition as a "Rising Star" in appellate law by Texas Monthly for the past four years.

Ms. Crozier's cases cover a wide range of areas, including business disputes, constitutional law, intellectual property, personal injury, and transportation litigation. Ms. Crozier also writes regularly about arbitration-related litigation. 

As a part of her practice, Ms. Crozier:

  • Authors briefs and mandamus petitions in state and federal appellate courts;
  • Presents oral arguments in appellate courts;
  • Assists trial teams with all aspects of the jury charge, including drafting, preparing objections, and arguing the charge conference;
  • Drafts motions in trial courts, such as motions for summary judgment, motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, and motions for new trial; and
  • Presents arguments before trial courts on key legal issues.

Professional Recognition

  • Selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition (2010-2013)
  • Speaker, "Resisting Arbitration," State Bar of Texas Advanced Personal Injury Course (September 2012)
  • Speaker, "Arbitration," State Bar of Texas Advanced Personal Injury Course (July 2012)
  • Speaker, "Arbitration for Appellate Lawyers," Houston Bar Association Appellate Section (October 2011)
  • Speaker, "Arbitration-Related Litigation in Texas," Houston Bar Association Litigation Section (March 2011)
  • Co-Author, "Arbitration-Related Litigation in Texas," 29 CORPORATE COUNSEL REV. 1 (2010)
  • Co-Author, "Significant 2009-10 'Arbitrability' Cases in Federal Appellate Courts," American Bar Association Section of Business Law 2010 Annual Meeting (August 2010)
  • Author, "Estoppel Doctrine Allows Arbitration Provisions To Be Enforced By and Against Non-Signatories," The Houston Lawyer (July/August 2008)
  • Co-Author, "Risky Business: Altering the Scope of Judicial Review of Arbitration Awards by Contract," Texas Bar Journal (October 2006)
  • Speaker, "Appellate Case Update," Houston Bar Association Appellate Section Meeting (July 2006)

Professional Leadership

  • Young Leader, United Way of Greater Houston (2007-2012)
  • Firm Liaison, Adopt-an-Angel Committee, Houston Young Lawyers Association (2007-2008, 2010-2011)
  • Committee Chair, Association of Women Attorneys (2008)

Selected Representative Experience


Baisden v. I’m Ready Productions, Inc., 693 F.3d 491 (5th Cir. 2012), cert. denied, 568 U.S. _____ (U.S. March 18, 2013)(No. 12-803)
In a copyright infringement case, assisted with error preservation and legal briefing, and prepared and argued the jury charge, in a trial that resulted in a take-nothing verdict on all of a novelist's multi-million dollar claims against a group of stage play producers. Prepared briefing in response to appeal to the Fifth Circuit and obtained full affirmance of trial court’s verdict. Prepared response to Petition for Writ of Certiorari to United States Supreme Court and obtained denial of Petition. 

Freedom Commc'ns, Inc. v. Coronado, 372 S.W.3d 621 (Tex. 2012)
Participated on team that, on appeal from the denial of a motion for summary judgment in a defamation case against a newspaper, persuaded the Texas Supreme Court to declare an adverse trial court order void and vacate a court of appeals judgment based on the trial judge's admitted acceptance of a bribe.

Poston v. Wachovia Mortgage Corp., No. 14-11-00485-CV, 2012 WL 1606340 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] May 8, 2012, pet. filed)
Successfully defended on appeal a summary judgment awarding more than $500,000 in damages for breach of a promissory note.

TimeGate Studios, Inc. v. SouthPeak Interactive, LLC, 860 F. Supp. 2d 350 (S.D. Tex. 2012)
Persuaded a federal district court to vacate a more than $9 million arbitration award entered against a video game developer under the Federal Arbitration Act because the award violated the essence of the publishing agreement that was the subject of the parties' dispute.

LHC Nashua Partnership, LTD v. PDNED Sagamore Nashua, LLC, 659 F.3d 450 (5th Cir. 2011)
Won reversal of a $25.5 million jury award in which the Fifth Circuit vacated the damages for alleged lost profits arising out of a contract concerning the transfer of rights to purchase shopping mall property.

Lentz Engineering, L.C. v. Brown, No. 14-10-00610-CV, 2011 WL 4449655 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] Sept. 27, 2011, no pet.)
Successfully defended on appeal a judgment that a plaintiff take nothing from a real estate investor on plaintiff's breach of contract claim.

Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP v. Kingwood CrossRoads, L.P., 346 S.W.3d 37 (Tex. App--Houston [14th Dist.] 2011, pet. filed)
In a real estate appeal following a six-week jury trial, obtained reversal of a trial court judgment that had required client to convey a valuable tract of commercial real estate and to pay $2.9 million in fraud damages to a commercial real estate developer.

Jesco v. Hess, No. 2009-45089 (165th Dist. Ct., Harris County, Tex.) (May 2011)
Assisted trial team in preparing and arguing a jury charge, directed verdict motion, and all post-verdict briefing in the trial of a pipeline construction dispute that resulted in a favorable defense verdict on all claims.

Heritage Gulf Coast Properties, Ltd. v. Sandalwood Apartments, Inc., No. 2008-64342 (11th Dist. Ct., Harris County, Tex.)
In a lawsuit alleging multi-million dollar claims arising from commercial real estate disputes, assisted trial team with strategy, prepared and argued successful motions for directed verdict, and prepared and argued the jury charge. The trial resulted in a favorable defense verdict that rejected the opponents' claims for breach of fiduciary duties and fraud by non-disclosure.

Homolka v. Clark, No. 10-20337 (5th Cir. Mar. 3, 2011)
Persuaded the Fifth Circuit to affirm a take-nothing summary judgment that defeated multi-million dollar claims for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract based on allegations of a joint venture between the parties.

State of Texas v. Clark; No. C-35,136; In the 244th District Court of Ector County, Texas.
In a case of first impression, we filed an emergency motion to quash a subpoena that would have put our client, a newspaper reporter, on the witness stand. Our motion was based on the Texas Free Flow of Information Act, the "shield law" enacted in 2009. During hearings on the eve of trial, we persuaded the district attorney and defense counsel to agree that the reporter would not be called to testify.

Big Dog Logistics v. Strategic Impact, 312 S.W.3d 122 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, pet. denied)
In an appeal following a jury trial, obtained reversal of a $2.2 million judgment for alleged breach of a commissions contract between a marketing consultant and our client, a Houston-based company that provides services and solutions to manufacturers, distributors, and shippers with unique logistics needs. The court held there was no evidence that our client entered into the agreement the jury found had been breached.

Atlas Petroleum Exploration Worldwide, Ltd. v. SeaWolf Oilfield Services, Ltd., No. 2009-04336 (127th Dist. Ct., Harris County, Tex.)
Successfully defended a $27 million default judgment against a Nigerian national and a Nigerian oilfield services company by defeating the defendants' special appearances and motion for new trial.

Union Pacific Railroad Co. v. Legg, No. 03-07-00512-CV, 2009 WL 2476636 (Tex. App. - Austin Aug. 12, 2009, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Prepared pre- and post-trial motions, then successfully defended a judgment on a favorable jury verdict in a railroad crossing collision case, defeating the plaintiffs' challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence and their attack on the trial court's refusal to strike venire members for cause.

Ibarra v. Baker, No. 08-20220, 338 Fed. App'x 457, 2009 WL 2244659 (5th Cir. July 28, 2009)
Persuaded the Fifth Circuit to vacate a district court's findings that two attorneys engaged in misconduct by giving or abiding false testimony.

Kansas City Southern Railway Co. v. Missouri Pacific Railroad, No. 09-06-00255-CV, 2008 WL 2759084 (Tex. App.-Beaumont July 17, 2008, pet. denied) (mem. op.)
Successfully defended on appeal a judgment holding that no indemnity obligation arose from a trackage rights agreement between two railroads.

Shrewsbury v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., No. 2007-4723 (327th Dist. Ct., El Paso County, Tex.)
Obtained summary judgment in a bill of review proceeding, defeating a challenge to a favorable default judgment.

Pintail Production Co. v. Osprey Petroleum Co., Nos. 13-06-069-CV, 13-06-151-CV, 2006 WL 1030150 (Tex. App. - Corpus Christi Apr. 20, 2006, no pet.) (mem. op.)
In an oil and gas dispute, obtained dismissal of an accelerated appeal and a related petition for writs of injunction and mandamus.

Memberships

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association
  • United Way of Greater Houston Young Leaders
  • Association of Women Attorneys, Committee Chair - 2008

Online Publications

07/11/2012 - Arbitration-Related Litigation in Texas
Congress intended for arbitration to be a faster, less expensive alternative to litigation. Businesses frequently include arbitration clauses in their contracts in an attempt to avoid the time and costs associated with the traditional court system.

11/01/2011 - Extreme Appellate Savings: Four Tips for Making Every Dollar Count on Appeal
Whether your client is an individual, a small business owner, or a general counsel at a large corporation, spending litigation dollars wisely is a high priority in this economy.

08/25/2011 - Arbitration-Related Litigation in Texas
Congress intended for arbitration to be a faster, less expensive alternative to litigation. Businesses frequently include arbitration clauses in their contracts in an attempt to avoid the time and costs associated with the traditional court system.

10/13/2010 - Trachtenberg and Crozier Article Mentioned in "Disputing: Conversations about Dispute Resolution" Blog
Mark Trachtenberg and Christina Crozier's article “Arbitration-Related Litigation in Texas,” (29 Corporate Counsel Rev. 1 (2010)), was mentioned in the blog called Disputing: Conversations about Dispute Resolution on KarlBayer.com.

08/15/2010 - Arbitration-Related Litigation in Texas
Congress intended for arbitration to be a faster, less expensive alternative to litigation. Businesses frequently include arbitration clauses in their contracts in an attempt to avoid the time and costs associated with the traditional court system. But judging from the steady stream of arbitration-related decisions emanating from state and federal courts in recent years, even the most “air-tight” arbitration clause cannot guarantee that disputes will be resolved without judicial intervention.

08/08/2010 - Significant 2009-10 “Arbitrability” Cases in Federal Appellate Courts
This paper summarizes the “arbitrability” cases decided by the United States Supreme Court in the 2009-10 term, as well as the significant federal courts of appeals cases decided between January 2009 and June 2010, when this paper went to press.

10/16/2008 - Trial Court Arbitrability Decisions
Hot Topics for Trial Lawyers, The Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas

07/01/2008 - Estoppel Doctrine Allows Arbitration Provisions To Be Enforced By and Against Non-Signatories
The Houston Lawyer, July/August 2008. Reproduced by permission.

03/14/2008 - Compelling Arbitration in the Trial Court
State Bar of Texas Litigation Section

01/14/2008 - Things to Consider Before Filing a Petition to Vacate an Arbitration Award
State Bar of Texas Litigation Section

10/17/2007 - The Intersection Between Arbitration and Litigation in Texas
State Bar of Texas 30th Annual Advanced Civil Trial Course, Chapter 7, Fall 2007

10/16/2006 - Risky Business: Altering the Scope of Judicial Review of Arbitration Awards by Contract
As published in Texas Bar Journal, October 2006

09/08/2006 - Arbitration-Related Litigation and Appeals