Representative cases
The following are notable cases Mr. Snyder
has been involved in recently:
Allen Stanford
Ponzi Scheme
Dallas and Houston Federal Courts. Mr. Snyder has served as lead class counsel and/or counsel to the Receiver and the Official Stanford Investors Committee in dozens of lawsuits seeking to recover funds from parties alleged to have aided and abetted Stanford’s massive $7 billion fraud scheme. Mr. Snyder’s litigation efforts have led to the recovery of over $600 million in litigation settlements as of March 2023. Some of the Defendants sued include the Willis Group ($120 million settlement); Trustmark National Bank ($100 million); Independent Bank ($100 million); Greenberg Traurig ($65 million); Proskauer Rose ($63 million); BDO Seidman ($40 million); Chadbourne & Parke ($35 million); Hunton & Williams ($34 million); and Kroll ($24 million). See, e.g., Zacarias v. Stanford Int’l Bank, Ltd., 945 F.3d 883 (5th Cir. 2019); Chadbourne & Parke v. Troice, 134 S. Ct. 1058 (2014); Troice v. Proskauer Rose, 2015 WL 1219522 (N.D. Tex. 2015).
Pollo Loco, S.A. de C.V. v. Pollo Loco, Inc.
Laredo Federal Court. Mr. Snyder and his former partner Mr. Castillo represented the founder of the Pollo Loco restaurant chain in Mexico in a franchise license dispute against Pollo Loco USA over the rights to the brand in Mexico. This case was tried to a jury under Mexican law, resulting in a unanimous $21 million verdict for the client. The Court entered judgment for over $20 million and also awarded attorneys’ fees. The case was ultimately settled while on appeal in the Fifth Circuit.
Clear Channel Communications
San Antonio state district court. Mr. Snyder served as co-counsel in a multimillion-dollar shareholder derivative lawsuit against Clear Channel and its Board of Directors related to a pending leveraged buy out by private equity firms. The case was ultimately settled.
Breitling Energy
Fraud Scheme
Dallas Federal Court. Mr. Snyder served as litigation counsel for SEC Receiver Tom Taylor in lawyer malpractice and accounting malpractice cases arising from the “Frack Master” Chris Faulkner oil and gas fraud in the Northern District of Texas, styled Thomas L. Taylor v. Rothstein Kass et al., Civ. Action No. 3:19-cv-01594-D (N.D. Tex.) and Taylor v. Scheef & Stone, LLP, et al., Civil Action No. 3:19-cv-02602-D (N.D. Tex.), which cases resulted in a combined eight figure recovery for the Receiver.
Westmoore
Ponzi Scheme
California Federal Court. Mr. Snyder represented the Los Angeles-based SEC Receiver for the Westmoore entities as “special litigation counsel” to pursue litigation against third parties. Mr. Snyder’s efforts resulted in the recovery of millions of dollars.
Jacaman v. Moody
San Antonio state district court. Mr. Snyder represented a minority partner in breach of fiduciary duty case against the majority partner involving a residential subdivision real estate venture. At trial, the jury awarded an $11 million verdict in favor of Mr. Snyder’s client. The case subsequently settled while on appeal
Gutierrez v. Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.
California Federal Court. Mr. Snyder represented 9 elderly victims of defective cataract surgical solution from Monterrey, Mexico in litigation against the California-based manufacturer. After the case was dismissed for forum non conveniens, Mr. Snyder won reversal in the Ninth Circuit court of appeals and the case was reinstated and ultimately settled on favorable terms. See Gutierrez v. Advanced Medical Optics, Inc., 640 F.3d 1025 (9th Cir. 2011).
Centro del Rio v. New River Center L.P.
Bexar County District Court. Mr. Snyder and Jesse Castillo represented a hotel development group in litigation against the Ashkenazy group – the owners of San Antonio’s River Center Mall - arising from the termination of the ground lease for a Hilton hotel to be constructed at the River Center Mall. The case settled on favorable terms prior to trial.
Marino et al. v. HSBC France, et al.
Dallas Federal Court. Mr. Snyder represented a class of Mexican investors of Sharp Capital pursuing securities fraud “aider abettor” claims against the French bank subsidiary of global banking conglomerate HSBC and its Bahamian subsidiary. The case settled on a class action basis for several million dollars and was granted final class certification.
Melo et. al. v. Gardere Wynne Sewell
Dallas Federal Court. Mr. Snyder represented a class of Mexican investors of Sharp Capital pursuing securities fraud “aider abettor” claims against Dallas law firm Gardere Wynne. The case settled for $2.2 million, and was granted final class certification. See Melo v. Gardere Wynne, 2007 WL 92388 (N.D. Tex. 2007).
Rocha v. Metlife
San Antonio Federal Court. Mr. Snyder represented a Mexican national pursuing claims against Metlife for the actions of its Mexican subsidiary in Mexico under the theories of alter ego and apparent agency. The case involved complex conflicts of law issues under Texas, New York and Mexican law and was settled for a confidential amount.
Nocando v. Credit Comercial de France
San Antonio Federal Court. Mr. Snyder represented a class of Mexican investors of InverWorld pursuing securities fraud “aider abettor” claims against the French bank CCF and its Swiss and Bahamian subsidiaries. The case settled for $10 million while on appeal for personal jurisdiction in the Fifth Circuit. See Nocando Mem Holdings v. Credit Comercial de France, 2004 WL 2603739 (W.D. Tex. 2004).
Ulrich et al. v. Deloitte & Touche Netherlands Antilles
Houston (area) state district court. Mr. Snyder represented a group of Mexican investors of Houston-based InterAmericas pursuing securities fraud “aider abettor” claims against Deloitte & Touche and its Curaco subsidiary. The case settled for a confidential amount after the appeals court upheld personal jurisdiction over defendants. See Deloitte & Touche Netherlands Antilles and Aruba v. Ulrich, 172 S.W.3d 255 (Tex. App. – Beaumont 2005).
Hernandez Homes v. Hibernia National Bank
Cameron County District Court. Mr. Snyder represented a Rio Grande Valley homebuilder against Hibernia in this lender liability lawsuit. Case settled for a confidential amount prior to trial.
Americana Juice Inc. v. Nestle USA
Hidalgo County District Court. Mr. Snyder represented a Rio Grande Valley juice importer and processor in a trade secret and tortious interference cases against Nestle USA. The case was tried to a jury and verdict rendered for the client and was settled for a confidential amount before the punitive phase of the trial began.