Chad Fillmore

 
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Charles W. “Chad” Fillmore, a native Texan, has lived in Fort Worth nearly his entire life. He has been a licensed and practicing lawyer for nearly three decades. During that time, he has earned a reputation as a hard-working, strategically-minded advocate, who creatively, zealously and ethically represents his clients.

After graduating from law school magna cum laude in 1993, Chad served as a law clerk to the Honorable Harold R. DeMoss, Jr., a Justice on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Chad’s time with Justice DeMoss was a tremendous personal and professional blessing. It was foundational to Chad’s law practice, and it was instrumental in the successes he has experienced throughout his practice. Chad acknowledges an enduring debt of gratitude to Justice DeMoss.

Following his clerkship, Chad returned to Fort Worth to join his father, H. Dustin Fillmore, and his brother, H. Dustin (“Dusty”) Fillmore III in the private practice of law. The three Fillmores practiced together until Dusty Fillmore Sr. retired in 2002. From then on, Dusty and Chad have enjoyed practicing law together, a somewhat unique experience for brothers!

Over the next three decades since being licensed as an attorney, Chad has had the privilege of helping clients in many different circumstances, both individuals and businesses. Representing plaintiffs, Chad has been an instrument of accountability, helping to obtain justice for those who have suffered severe personal injuries, the wrongful death of a loved one and other great losses, both personal and financial. Representing defendants, Chad has helped to protect clients facing life-altering and business-ending risks.

Chad has been on the winning side of cases that have resulted in record-setting verdicts, judgments, and settlements in the tens and hundreds of millions of dollars. Several have resulted in landmark court decisions that have made and shaped the law and drawn nation-wide notoriety.

Chad’s practice includes both trial and appellate work. He practices in both state and federal courts. He has successfully handled many types of cases, including personal injury and wrongful death, nursing home and medical malpractice, Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) violations, commercial litigation, oil & gas litigation, insurance claim litigation, whistleblower and wrongful termination, and legal malpractice.

Chad and Dusty have pioneered the application of insurance fraud laws that prohibit the unlicensed practice of public adjusting (UPPA) against roofers and contractors in civil court actions. They have unparalleled knowledge and experience in this area of the law, having successfully represented multiple clients in UPPA claims, including the property owners in the two, first-of-their-kind cases of Reyelts v. Cross, 968 F. Supp. 2d 835 (N.D. Tex. 2013), aff’d, 566 Fed. Appx. 316 (5th Cir. 2014) and Lon Smith & Associates, Inc. v. Key, 527 S.W.3d 604 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2017, pet. denied).

Chad has been selected as a Texas Monthly “Super Lawyer” for 2009 – 2023 and has attained the highest possible peer-review rating of “AV” from Martindale-Hubbell, the national directory of attorneys, indicating preeminent legal ability and the highest ethical standards.

Chad and his wife of more than 30 years, Susi, live in Fort Worth and have five children and too many dogs.

Education

  • South Texas College of Law, Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude, 1993

  • Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas, B.A. (Political Science), 1989

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas

  • United States Supreme Court

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

Employment

  • 1994 - Present - The Fillmore Law Firm

  • 1993 - 1994 - Law Clerk to the Hon. Harold R. DeMoss Jr., United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Professional Societies (selected)

  • Member, Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit

  • Member, State Bar of Texas

  • Member, Appellate Section, State Bar of Texas

  • Member, Tarrant County Bar Association

  • Member, Wichita County Bar Association

  • Member, The Federalist Society, Tarrant County Lawyers Chapter

Professional Honors

  • 2009 - 2023 - Selected as a Texas Monthly “Super Lawyer,” Corporate Counsel Edition, Practice Area - Appellate

  • Martindale-Hubbell - AV Preeminent rated

  • Phi Delta Phi Law Fraternity

  • Order of Lytae

Papers and Presentations (selected)

  • “Recent Civil Court Enforcement of Chapter 4102,” Texas Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, Spring 2019 Conference, Austin Texas

  • “Combating Discovery Abuse in Federal Court,” Texas Trial Lawyers Association Advanced Personal Injury Course, April 25-26, 2002, Dallas, Texas

  • “How to Handle Abusive Discovery Techniques by the Defense,” Litigating Nursing Home Cases, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, October 5-6, 2001, Phoenix, Arizona

Service Outside the Practice of Law (selected)

  • Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)

    • 2014 - Present - Teaching Leader, Fort Worth (Southwest) Evening Men’s Class

    • 2010 - 2014 - Group Leader, Fort Worth Evening Men’s Class

Published Cases (selected)

Federal - Appellate and District Court

  • Cates v. Creamer, 431 F.3d 456 (5th Cir. 2005), cert denied, 127 S. Ct. 219 (2006)

  • Martinez v. Porta, 601 F. Supp.2d 865 (N.D. Tex. 2009)

  • Martinez v. Porta, 598 F. Supp.2d 807 (N.D. Tex. 2009)

  • Fuqua v. Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corp., 199 F.R.D. 200 (N.D. Tex. 2000)

State - Appellate

  • Boyd v. Kallam, 232 S.W.3d 774 (Tex. 2007)

  • Boyd v. Kallam, 152 S.W.3d 670 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2004), pet. denied, improvidently granted, 232 S.W.3d 774 (Tex. 2007)

  • Tesfa v. Stewart, 135 S.W.3d 272 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2004, pet. denied)

  • Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corp. v. Auld, 34 S.W.3d 887 (Tex. 2000)

  • Lavy v. Pitts, 29 S.W.3d 353 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2000, pet. denied)

  • Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corp. v. Auld, 985 S.W.2d 216 (Tex. App—Fort Worth 1999), aff’d in part, rev’d in part, 34 S.W.3d 887 (Tex. 2000)

Unpublished Cases (selected)

Federal - Appellate and District Court

  • Harris v. Devon Energy Prod. Co., L.P., 500 Fed. Appx. 267 (5th Cir. 2012)

  • Cates v. Hertz Corp., 347 Fed. Appx. 2 (5th Cir 2009)

  • Seaberry v. Richeson Manage. Corp., 103 F.3d 125, 1996 WL 731400 (5th Cir. 1996)

  • Martinez v. Porta, 2006 WL 3289187 (N.D. Tex. 2006)

  • Martinez v. Porta, 2006 WL 3267699 (N.D. Tex. 2006)

  • Martinez v. Porta, 2006 WL 3267749 (N.D. Tex. 2006)

  • Hufnagle v. Provident Foundation, Inc., 2005 WL 119468 (N.D. Tex. 2005)

  • Hufnagle v. Provident Foundation, Inc., 2005 WL 65626 (N.D. Tex. 2005)

State - Appellate

  • Enserch Exploration, Inc. v. Thorne, 2000 WL 34234577 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2000)

Unauthorized Practice of Public Insurance Adjusting Cases

  • Lon Smith & Associates, Inc. v. Key, 527 S.W.3d 604 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2017, pet. denied)

  • Reyelts v. Cross, 968 F. Supp. 2d 835 (N.D. Tex. 2013), aff’d, 566 Fed. Appx. 316 (5th Cir. 2014)

  • Hill v. Spracklen, 05-17-00829-CV, 2018 WL 3387452 (Tex. App.-Dallas July 12, 2018, pet. denied)

  • Hampton v. RKG Roofing & Construction LLC, No. 348-324418-21 (348th Dist. Ct., Tarrant County, Tex. Jan. 1, 2022)

  • Grogan v. Tri-W Enterprises LLC, No. 1-21-0040 (439th Dist. Ct., Rockwall County, Tex. June 4, 2021)

  • Weaver v. R and R Exteriors LLC, No. 19-9580-367 (467th Dist. Ct., Denton County, Tex. Feb. 25, 2021)

  • Ayala v. R and R Exteriors LLC, No. 19-8957-362 (362nd Dist. Ct., Denton County, Tex. Jan. 28, 2021)

  • Burton v. R and R Exteriors LLC, No. 19-10692-211 (211th Dist. Ct., Denton County, Tex. Dec. 11, 2020);

  • Trejo v. R and R Exteriors LLC, No. 19-9599-211 (211th Dist. Ct., Denton County, Tex. Dec. 11, 2020);

  • Tyler Cardiovascular Consultants, P.A., v. Stonewater Roofing, Ltd. Co., No. 102934-86 (86th Dist. Ct., Kaufman County, Tex. Sept. 4, 2020)

  • Truong v. R and R Exteriors LLC, No. 19-8892-16 (16th Dist. Ct., Denton County, Tex. Feb. 7, 2020)

  • Bowers v. Hilliard, No. 141-310312-19 (141st Dist. Ct., Tarrant County, Tex. Dec. 18, 2019)

  • Blair v. R and R Exteriors LLC, No. 96-304464-18 (96th Dist. Ct., Tarrant County, Tex. July 19, 2019)

  • Blair v. R and R Exteriors LLC, No. 96-304464-18 (96th Dist. Ct., Tarrant County, Tex. June 7, 2019)

  • Spracklen v. Hill, No. 67-276646-15 (67th Dist. Ct., Tarrant County, Tex. June 3, 2016), aff’d, 2018 WL 3387452 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 12, 2018, pet. denied)

  • Spracklen v. Hill, No. 67-276646-15 (67th Dist. Ct., Tarrant County, Tex. May, 19, 2015), aff’d, 2018 WL 3387452 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 12, 2018, pet. denied)

 
 
Charles W. (Chad) Fillmore
Rated by Super Lawyers


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Charles W. (Chad) Fillmore
Rated by Super Lawyers


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