CURRICULUM VITAE
OF
ROBERT L. COLLINS
104 E. Capricorn
South Padre Island, Texas
Mailing address
P.O. Box 7726
Houston, Texas 77270-7726
(713) 467-8884
(713) 467-8883 Facsimile
HoustonLaw1@aol.com
EXPERIENCE
April 1999 to present
Public practice of law – sole practitioner – limited to selected cases with emphasis
on public interest and consumer litigation; transportation – bus, train, automobile
litigation.
CEO, Internet Development/E-Commerce - SpiMedia
Chairman, Board of Directors (elected 1/05) – Harris County Deputies Training
Institute
August 1992 to March 1999
Internet/E-Commerce Development – principal of SpiMedia
Principal counsel in case of United States v. Adkinson, 135 F.3d 1363 (11th Cir. 1998);
158 F.3d 1147 (11th Cir. 1998) and 247 F.3d 1289 (11th Cir. 2001).
June 1982 to August 1992
Collins & Kistler (formerly Robert L. Collins & Associates), Attorneys at Law Emphasis on Consumer and Public Interest Litigation - including appointment as
Class Counsel - Federal Skywalk Litigation - Hyatt Regency Disaster (1981) [In Re
Federal Skywalk Cases, 680 F.2d 1175 (8th Cir. 1982)], Kansas City, Missouri, and
representation of numerous victims of Houston Westchase Hilton Hotel Fire
Disaster. Representation of Class Plaintiffs in Continental Trailways/Graebel
Collision (1987). Representation of numerous other bus and vehicle collision
victims. Representation of airplane (both private and commercial airline) crash
victims. Representation in automobile product liability litigation (including a
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*Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
judgment finding the 1986 Hyundai Excel automobile to be defective in its design
and unreasonably dangerous.) The firm also engaged in complex business
litigation - representation including individual owners of 2016 Main led by U.S. 5th
Circuit Appeals Court Judge Joe Ingraham among other civic leaders, numerous
homeowner/property owner associations, developers, lenders (banks and savings
associations), builders and title insurance companies, usury and fraud litigation,
including a $22 Million judgment against Continental Savings Association (District
Court, Bastrop, Texas) in September of 1988.
October 1980 to June 1982
Partner - Collins & Steinburg - Emphasis on consumer law and civil litigation.
February 1979 to October 1980
Attorney - Sole Practitioner with emphasis on consumer law and civil litigation.
November 1977 to January 1979
Associate Attorney – Hoover, Cox & Miller – general civil practice with litigation
emphasis
REPRESENTATIVE FORMER CLIENTS KB Home Arbitration Litigation (2003); Class Counsel – Federal Skywalk
Litigation; Class Counsel - Continental Trailways Bus Collision and Graebel
Van Lines Litigation; Tan Sahsa Airline Flight No. 414 Crash Litigation; AIG
Insurance Group; Automobile product liability litigation – Chandler v.
Hyundai Motor Company; Audubon Society - wetlands litigation;
Cornerstone Savings Association; Heights State Bank; West Belt National
Bank; Imperial Title Company; The Development Group, Inc.; Development
Mortgage Group, Inc.; Skyways Aviation, Inc.; Power Pak Co., Inc.; Texas
Gulf Gas Company; Timberlake Estates Property Owners' Association;
Tranquility Lakes Homeowners' Association; 2016 Main Homeowners'
Committee; and Rivertree Owners' Association.
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
United States Supreme Court; Supreme Court of Texas; United States Courts,
Southern District of Texas; United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals; United
States 11th Circuit Court of Appeals; Pro Hac Vice before United States District
Courts - Western District of Texas, Northern District of Florida, Northern District of
Texas, Western District of Missouri and United States 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
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*Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
BAR MEMBERSHIPS
Cameron County Bar Association (Texas); State Bar of Texas; Life Fellow-Texas Bar
Foundation; College of the State Bar of Texas.
TRIAL AND APPELLATE EXPERIENCE
Numerous trials as Lead Counsel in U.S. District Courts, U. S. Bankruptcy Courts,
Texas Civil District Courts, Texas Criminal District Courts, Probate Courts, County
Civil and Criminal Courts, Justice Courts and Municipal Courts. Appeals handled
to United States Supreme Court, Texas Supreme Court, Texas Appeals Courts and
numerous U.S. Appeals Courts.
GOVERNMENT AFFILIATION
Texas Turnpike Authority - Member, Board of Directors 1986 to 1990.
BANK REFERENCES
First American Bank – Houston (Lee Murphy – 713-954-9562)
First National Bank – South Padre Island (Charles Rogan, President – 956-761-7959)
PERSONAL REFERENCES
Hon. Eddie J. Trevino, Jr. - Mayor, Brownsville, Texas; former U.S. Congressman
Greg Laughlin (14th Congressional District - Texas); Texas Senator Jon Lindsay,
Texas Senator John Whitmire; U.S. Congressman Gene Green; Texas Senator
Rodney Ellis; Judge George Risner - Justice of the Peace, Harris County; District
Judge Mary Bacon, retired, Constable Dick Moore, Harris County - retired; Hon.
Clive Runnells.
LAW SCHOOL
Member - The Advocates - Moot Court - Appellate Advocacy Board.
Member - Order of the Barons - Honorary organization - selection based on
scholastic performance – subsequently converted to Order of
Coif.
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Member - University of Houston American Bar Association National Appellate
Advocacy Competition Team - Placed first in Regional
Competition (five states).
Member - The Order of the Barristers - National honorary Society recognizing
"excellence in oral advocacy."
Recipient - George T. Barrow Award - For the "law student most likely to be a
success in the practice of law."
Recipient - Federal Bar Association Award - For "outstanding academic
achievement in Constitutional Law."
Recipient - American Jurisprudence Award - For "outstanding academic
achievement in Constitutional Law."
Recipient - Appellate Advocacy Competition Award - First Place in regional
American Bar Association appellate argument competition.
Recipient - Judge Shearn Smith Award - For marked improvement and success in
the study of law.
Recipient - Pasadena Law Wives Award - Awarded to the "most promising
Pasadena area law student."
Honor Grades (with rank)
Constitutional Law (1);
Legal Research and Writing (4);
Legislation (2);
Malpractice (3); and
Business Organizations - Agency, Partnerships and Corporations (1).
CHRONOLOGY
1977 - 1976
Graduate - University of Houston College of Law, May 1977, Doctor of
Jurisprudence.
President - University of Houston Student Bar Association.
Clerk of Exchequer - Delta Theta Phi, Legal Fraternity.
May 1977 - Jan. 1977
Intern - Harris County District Attorney, 185th District Court - Preparation and
Prosecution of Felony Trials; Presentation of Felony Cases to the Grand Jury;
Research and Preparation of Legislative Proposals for Harris County District
Attorney to Texas Legislature.
Nov. 1977 - July 1976
Intern - Hoover, Cox & Miller, Houston - (35 hours weekly) -General Civil Practice Practiced under 3rd year Limited Practice Authorization of Texas Supreme Court;
General Business and Litigation Practice.
1976 - 1975
Vice-President - University of Houston Student Bar Association.
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Member - University of Houston International Moot Court Team - Placed first in
Regional Competition and received Award for Best Brief; Placed fourth in National
Competition.
Member - University of Houston American Bar Association Client Counseling
Competition Team; Reached semi-final round in Regional Competition.
June 1976 – September 1975
Law Clerk – Schmidt and Matthews – Houston – (30 hours weekly) – Plaintiff’s
FELA, Jones Act, product liability and negligence practice.
August 1975 - April 1975
Law Clerk - Childs, Fortenbach, Beck & Guyton - Houston - (30 hours weekly) Corporate, Commercial and Labor Litigation Practice.
March 1975 - Sept. 1974
Employed by Wood George & Co. - Houston - (30 - 40 hours weekly during first
year law school) - Trucking and transportation related primarily to oil field
equipment and supplies.
September 1974
Entered University of Houston College of Law.
1974
Graduate - University of Texas - Austin, Bachelor of Science in Education.
Goodfellows. Phi Kappa Tau.
Student Teacher - Round Rock High School, Round Rock, Texas (Government and
Economics).
President - College of Education Student Council; Vice Chairman of Senior Cabinet
– comprised of Student Council Presidents of all Colleges of the University of
Texas.
Instructor Assistant - University of Texas - Austin, Educational Psychology.
1973
Instructor Assistant - University of Texas - Austin, Educational Psychology.
Intern - United States Congress (Cong. J.J. Pickle - Austin). Duties included
investigation, research and preparation of memoranda regarding Watergate-related
Congressional investigations.
Graduate - Institute on Comparative Political & Economic Systems, Georgetown
University, Washington, D.C.
1970
Graduate - Galena Park High School, Houston – Commencement Speaker, Class of
1970.
Recipient of Jesse Jones Scholarship, Arthur Anderson Foundation
Scholarship and Junior Achievement Scholarship. Delegate to American Legion
Boys State and consecutive delegate to National Junior Achievement Conference.
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*Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization