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F. Daniel Knight focuses his practice on admiralty and maritime litigation, as well as general civil litigation and appellate issues. He has a strong background in issues relating to the safety industry and the maritime industry, and has been involved with the defense of hundreds of admiralty and maritime litigation matters.  In his general litigation practice, Mr. Knight has successfully resolved a variety of insurance and commercial litigation matters. 

Mr. Knight was recognized as a "Rising Star" by Texas Super Lawyers magazine in 2011 in the area of Transportation and Maritime Law.  He was one of only six attorneys state-wide selected for this honor in the Transportation / Maritime category.

Significant Matters and Cases

• Mr. Knight served as first-chair defense counsel in a Jones Act personal injury lawsuit filed in Harris County, Texas.  He tried the case to a verdict in February 2011.  The plaintiff demanded over $1,300,000.00 in actual damages.  The Jury returned a verdict of $1,620.00 against the Firm's clients in approximately two hours.  After offsets and credits are applied, the expected Judgment will be for approximately $200.00 against the Firm's clients, with no opportunity for the plaintiff to recover court costs and expenses.  A case summary of this Verdict may be found at 2011 WL 793314.
• Mr, Knight served as second-chair defense counsel in a Jones Act personal injury lawsuit filed in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas in June 2010.  Mr. Daniel D. Pipitone served as first chair.  A favorable verdict was obtained in favor of the Firm's client by Mr. Pipitone and Mr. Knight.  Plaintiff demanded approximately $3,700,000.00 in actual and punitive damages at trial after demanding $1,200,000.00 to settle the case before trial.  Our clients offered $200,000.00 to settle before trial.  Plaintiff was awarded $420,000.00 in actual damages with fifty percent fault attributed to Plaintiff.  A summary of the verdict can be found at 2010 WL 3483078.  The verdict is currently on appeal to enforce the fifty percent reduction of the award, which, if granted, would reduce the actual damages awarded to $210,000.00.
• While defending an offshore drilling contractor, Mr. Knight helped to obtain a dismissal with prejudice of a personal injury lawsuit filed under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division.  The Plaintiff received nothing for his lawsuit, and dismissed his case after losing a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment concerning liability issues, which may be found at 2008 WK 4394613.
• Mr. Knight served as first chair defense trial counsel in a week-long Federal Court jury trial in Houston Texas.  The case involved a maritime commercial dispute.  Mr. Knight’s examinations of several witnesses, including the plaintiff’s economic expert, reduced the jury verdict to less than the amount demanded by plaintiff in mediation, and less than half of the plaintiff’s demand in closing arguments.
• When representing a vessel owner prosecuting a Limitation of Liability action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, Mr. Knight helped to obtain a denial of a Motion to Dismiss filed by the Claimants.  The Court’s Memorandum and Order, which may be found at 2008 WL 2368730, establishes favorable law for dredging operators with respect to bringing one Limitation of Liability proceeding for multiple claims occurring on different dates, but on the same voyage. 
• While serving as first chair defense cousnel a hardwood flooring broker based in Pennsylvania in a non-maritime commercial dispute filed in the 61^st Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, Mr. Knight obtained a dismissal without prejudice of his client based upon lack of personal jurisdiction.  This ruling dismissed his client as a defendant in the case, and avoided potential exposure of his client to over $2,000,000.00 in alleged damages by the plaintiff.
• Mr. Knight assisted in the defense of a non-maritime employer in an employment discrimination case.  The Firm obtained a favorable summary judgment for its client and the plaintiff appealed to the Thirteenth Court of Appeals.  Mr. Knight authored the appellate briefs for our client, and the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims.  The Court’s decision may be found at 2008 WL 4667545.

News & Publications

• Three Lessons from Two Trials for One Great Performance, Texas Lawyer, October 2011
• Salty Medical Bills? Applying Haygood v. de Escabedo to Admiralty Cases in Texas, Texas Lawyer, August 2011
• "Current Issues in Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation Act Claims: Defense Base Act Indemnity Benefits and War Hazards Compensation Act Relief," Presented at the 15th Annual University of Texas School of Law Admiralty & Maritime Law Conference, Houston Texas, September 2006. Co-author

Community Involvement

• Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Merchandise Committee Member (Life Member).
• KIDS HOPE Mentor at Mac Gregor Elementary School (2008-present).

Case Studies

• Admiralty & Maritime - In a World of Mediated-Settlements, Some Cases Need to be Tried

Professional Affiliations

• Texas Bar Association
• Houston Bar Association
• Propeller Club