 Derek graduated from Baylor University in 1998 with a B.S. in Biology. After two successful businesses in Austin, he attended lawschool at the University of Houston Law Center. He graduated Cum Laude in 2004. After receiving his law license, Derek worked for several prominent Houston law firms.
Derek is compassionate with his clients and passionate about his work for them. Derek excels in all aspects of litigation, but he focuses his practice on trial law, catastrophic injuries and admiralty claims.
Mr. Merman helped his clients recover millions of dollars in settlements during his career. Some of his representative cases include:
• Assault by off-duty police officers who were working as security for a nightclub. Our client was allegedly pushed up against the wall and was rendered unconscious. He feel back and hit his head. He is now incapacitated and requires lifetime care. We were successful in getting him a multimillion dollar settlement.
• a products-liability trial involving a muffler that malfunctioned and seriously burned my client. We were able to achieve a substantial, life-changing settlement for our client.
• wrongful death in a shipping accident. This matter occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. The crew boat captain was piloting his crew boat, their boat was overturned by a larger ship and capsized. The crew boat captain drowned and we were able to get a substantial settlement.
• client who was assaulted and shot by an HPD officer. The disturbing and unjust situation in this matter is that our client was allegedly handcuffed when shot. We are fighting for the rights of our client and attempting to affect social change regarding how excessive force is utilized.
Mr. Merman has also handled numerous cases that range in settlement from a few thousand dollars to several million dollars in settlement. Damages depend on the facts of the case, but in every circumstance, Derek endeavors to achieve high settlements and verdicts for each and every client.
Derek is a member of the following associations:
• American Bar Association
• Texas State Bar
• The Maritime Law Association
• American Trial Lawyers Association
• The Houston Bar Association
• Houston Young Lawyers Association
• Texas Young Lawyers Association
Derek was also named to the prestigious Metropolitan Whos-Who in 2006. |
 Orville Dunk was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2004. He is admitted to the U.S. District Court, for the Southern Districts of Texas. He received his B.S. in Business Management from the prestigious Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mr. Dunk graduated cum laude in the top five percentile of his graduating class in 2000. Mr. Dunk received his Juris Doctorate J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in Houston Texas in May of 2004.
Mr. Dunk began practicing Employment and Civil Rights law in 2004. He strives to obtain the best results for the client at a reasonable cost. Mr. Dunk has experience representing clients in Employment Discrimination, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Defamation, Wrongful Termination, Employment Arbitration, and Sexual Harassment. His extensive experience with the employment cases and law firms representing employers allows him to provide the client with superior representation.
Orville O. Dunk has experience covering the full range of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death. He has handled Personal Injury involving Automobile Accidents, Premises Liability, Eighteen Wheeler Accidents, and Slip and Falls. Mr. Dunk has represented clients in Wrongful Deaths involving Medical Malpractice, Drunken Driving Accidents, and Vehicular Accidents.
Mr. Dunk has represented clients in Commercial Contract disputes, Breach of Contract claims, Texas Deceptive Trade Practices (DTPA) claims, Real Estate dispute involving complex Probate Estate, and Bad Faith Insurance claims.
Education
• J.D., The University of Houston Law Center, 2004
• B.S., Business Management, Cardinal Stritch University, cum laude, 2000
Bar Admissions
• Texas, 2004
Admitted To Practice
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
• Licensed to practice in all Texas Courts
PRO BONO
· Member of the Pro Bono University of the Texas State Bar.
· Recognized for outstanding service on behalf of the poor and indigent.
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