Danya W. Blair

Danya Blair represents clients in a wide variety of civil litigation matters. Among others, these include prosecution and defense of complex commercial litigation matters; defense of corporate clients against employment claims such as discrimination, sexual harassment, FLSA and FMLA allegations; defense of automotive and other product manufacturers against product liability claims; trade secret and non-compete claims, including injunctive proceedings; and defense of securities broker dealers in arbitration proceedings.

• The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas (J.D., with honors, 1994)
  • Law Journal: American Journal of Criminal Law, Staff Member
• The University of Texas (B.A. in Sociology, Government, with honors, 1991)

• Texas
• U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit

• Obtained complete dismissal on summary judgment of claims brought by record label against music promotion company, seeking millions of dollars in alleged damages for copyright and trademark infringement
• Obtained defense verdict at trial for group of family-owned corporations sued by former minority shareholder claiming wrongful divestment of shares
• Defended a national bank client against age discrimination claim in federal court in the Southern District of Texas
• Represented a tile installation company in an FLSA collective action seeking overtime compensation
• Obtained a favorable award for securities broker-dealer in FINRA arbitration brought by terminated broker alleging race discrimination
• Represented an oilfield services company in claims brought by Saudi Arabian ex-patriot employee alleging unpaid employment benefits
• Ongoing representation of national securities broker-dealer in a variety of employee non-compete and trade secret matters, including representation in FINRA arbitration proceedings and state court injunctive proceedings
• Represented a national pharmacy chain in FLSA collective action alleging overtime violations
• Represented a private corrections corporation against claims alleging workers' compensation retaliation
• Represented an insurance agent against claims of pregnancy discrimination, FMLA violations and intentional infliction of emotional distress brought by former employee 
• Represented a securities broker-dealer against claims of pregnancy and sex discrimination brought by former broker
• Obtained complete dismissal on a summary judgment of claims brought against chemical manufacturer by former employee alleging FMLA violations, ADA violations, sex discrimination and sexual harassment
• Represented an engineering company on claims brought by a contract employee seeking additional compensation for engineering services provided in Yemen
• Represented a broker and broker-dealer in NASD arbitration against loss claims brought by a group of high net worth businessmen and their related companies alleging millions of dollars in losses from unsuitable investments
• Represented an equipment seller in a product liability case arising from the plaintiff's leg amputation on an asphalt truck
• Defended an automotive manufacturer in a wrongful death products liability case in which plaintiffs alleged handling and stability defects in the subject vehicle
• Represented a law firm in contract and sworn account claims brought by an expert witness seeking payment
• Defended the warden of a private detention facility on a civil rights claim brought by an inmate
• Defended a private corrections corporation on a wrongful death claim brought by the family of an inmate who intentionally overdosed on medication while in custody
• Represented a California mortgage company in a suit claiming fraud and violations of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
• Represented an automotive manufacturer in a products liability case alleging rollover defects
• Represented a national brokerage firm in NASD arbitration of a  Title VII discrimination case in which a former stock broker claimed he was terminated because of his race
• Represented a national dialysis chain bringing claims for breach of lease and breach of contract against a physician and medical group in federal court in Beaumont, Texas
• Defended a national swimming pool service company on claims brought by an individual claiming electrocution
• Represented an automotive manufacturer in a products liability case alleging rollover defects. Sustained summary judgment on appeal to the Texas First Court of Appeals (published at 6 S.W.3d 732)

• "Seat Belt Defense Deserves a Fair Hearing in Texas,"  Houston Chronicle, Outlook, Section19A, February 18, 2003
• "ADA, FMLA and Worker's Compensation: Areas of Contrast and Confusion,"  Texas State Association of Occupational Health Nurses Fall Conference, 1999
• "Family and Medical Leave Act: Suing and Defending Under It" (co-author),  University of Houston Law Foundation, 1997
• "Family and Medical Leave Act" (co-author),  University of Houston Law Foundation, 1996
• "Employment Litigation" (co-author),  University of Houston Law Foundation, 1996
• "Denying FMLA Requests: Why, Why Not and How" (co-author),  University of Houston Law Foundation, 1995
• "A Matter of Life and Death: Why Life Without Parole Should Be a Sentencing Option in Texas,"  American Journal of Criminal Law, Fall, 1994
• "The Science of Serial Murder,"  American Journal of Criminal Law, Winter, 1993

• Named one of Houston's "Top Lawyers," H Texas Magazine, 2008

• State Bar of Texas, Litigation and Employment Sections
• American Bar Association
• Houston Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Texas Senate Subcommittee on Infrastructure, Development and Security, in Support of Senate Bill 664, April 7, 2003 - Testified as Invited Witness

• Co-author, "Head Games: Coming Out On Top In Your Brain Injury Cases ," DRI Products Liability Conference, Scottsdale AZ, February 7, 2008