Sean McCarthy
sean-mccarthy-superlawyer

Sean McCarthy PARTNER

Sean McCarthy is regarded as a trusted adviser first and foremost. He listens to his client’s issues and offers carefully thought-out solutions. Sean’s law practice spans a wide range of civil litigation. He is well versed in complex commercial litigation after representing business clients in disputes about international trade treaty issues, international and domestic oil and gas deals, contract breaches, fraud, fiduciary duties, and insurance policy coverage. Sean also represents people that have been injured by the negligence of others. Sean has tried cases in state and federal courts. He has represented clients in domestic and international arbitrations.

He also leads the firm’s insurance litigation docket. He regularly represents policyholders and beneficiaries against insurance companies covering wrongfully denied or underpaid medical, property, and life insurance claims.

Sean has experience in civil litigation, including discovery, expert witness preparation, motion practice, oral arguments, mediation, arbitration, and trial. He also has appellate experience and argued successfully to affirm an award for his client before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

His breadth of knowledge and skills are a valuable addition to the Williams Hart & Boundas team, where we have the expertise and access to resources necessary to battle any organization or state that has violated the rights of an individual. And Sean will not back down from any battle; nothing will hinder his tenacity to do what is necessary for his clients.

Sean was born in San Antonio, Texas, and grew up in Spring, Texas. After high school, he was appointed to the United States Air Force Academy. Upon graduation, he received his commission as Second Lieutenant and served on active duty for five years before separating and moving back to Houston.

Sean is licensed to practice in Texas and before all four District Courts of Texas and the United States Courts of Appeal for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits. He is a member of several legal professional associations and was named to the Texas Rising Stars list from 2014 through 2018 and included in the Texas Super Lawyers list from 2020 to 2023.

Education

  • University of Houston Law Center, Juris Doctorate, magnum cum laude, 2008
    • Editor of the Houston Law Review, 2007 – 2008
    • Order of the Coif
    • Order of Barons
  • The United States Air Force Academy, Bachelor of Science in Political Science, 2000
  • Personal Injury
  • Texas, 2008
  • United States District Court of the Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court of the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court of the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court of the Western District of Texas
  • United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
  • United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • United States Court of Federal Claims
  • American Association of Justice
  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association
  • Academy of Truck Accident Lawyers
  • State Bar of Texas
  • The United States Air Force Academy Association of Graduates
  • Texas Super Lawyers, 2020 – 2023
  • Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2014 – 2018
  • Trial Accomplishments
    • $15,000,000 jury verdict against the driver of a company vehicle who ran into a pedestrian at a crosswalk.
    • $13,0000,000 jury verdict against multiple defendants for causing a train to crash into an automobile causing one person to die and two others to suffer serious injuries.
    • $360,000 jury verdict for a second-degree burn on an ankle resulting from a faulty oven.
  • Notable Accomplishments
    • $25,000,000.00 settlement for a construction company that sued for a breach of contract against a pipeline company (fees and expenses: $8,760,712.92).
    • $5,750,000.00 settlement on behalf of a surgical center against a healthcare plan for refusing to honor contractual payments for medical services provided (fees and expenses: $2,827,430.20).
    • $2,250,000.00 settlement on behalf of a county housing authority for claims against two accounting firms (fees and expenses: $1,003,589.81).
    • $1,000,000.00 cash settlement and multiple conveyances of oil mineral rights to an individual that sued to recover for stolen oil and fraudulently transferred land (fees and expenses: $255,935.95).
    • $1,350,000.00 settlement for an individual who was injured when he was side-swiped by an 18-wheeler and carried along the interstate truck (fees and expenses: $559,519.53).
    • $890,000.00 settlement for a family that suffered severe injuries when a drunk driver crashed into the back of their SUV (fees and expenses: $372,055.58).
    • $780,000.00 settlement for an individual that was severely injured when he was riding as a passenger in an 18-wheeler that rolled over (fees and expenses: $316,599.00).
    • $600,000.00 settlement for an individual who suffered a broken femur when she slipped on a floor because an employee knowingly left ice on the floor and did not clean it up (fees and expenses: $267,869.61).
    • $550,000.00 settlement for an insurance policyholder in a breach of contract and bad faith settlement practices case against an insurer related to Hurricane Harvey storm damage (fees and expenses: $293,041.64).
    • $512,500.00 settlement for an insurance policyholder in a breach of contract and bad faith settlement practices case against an insurer related to a wind and hailstorm (fees and expenses: $273,876.13).
    • $495,000.00 settlement for an insurance policyholder in a breach of contract and bad faith settlement practices case against an insurer related to flooding following Hurricane Harvey (fees and expenses: $273,876.43).
    • $450,000.00 settlement for an insurance policyholder in a breach of contract and bad faith case against an insurer related to a wind and hailstorm (fees and expenses: $130,000.00).
    • $350,000.00 settlement for an individual that was severely injured when an 18-wheeler completely stopped on a busy street and failed to activate its hazard lights (fees and expenses: $161,973.05).
    • $300,000.00 settlement on behalf of a surgical center against a healthcare plan for refusing to honor contractual payments for medical services provided (fees and expenses: $255,836.67).
    • $250,000.00 settlement for an individual that fell off stairs that failed to meet local building code step height requirements (fees and expenses: $119,581.74).
    • $250,000.00 settlement for an individual that fell in a grocery store because the store failed to properly address water leaking from the ceiling onto the polished white floor (fees and expenses: $107,265.48).
    • $200,000.00 settlement in a breach of contract and bad faith settlement practices case against an insurer related to Hurricane Harvey storm damage (fees and expenses: $71,045.99).