Concentration

Commercial litigation, class actions, consumer and consumer credit, credit reporting, privacy and data breach/security, financial services and transactions, banking and professional malpractice matters

Summary

Chad Pinson has a national litigation practice based on his experience in commercial litigation, class action, consumer, credit, deceptive trade practices, consumer advertising, fraud, privacy, data security, data breach, banking and financial transaction matters.

Mr. Pinson is able to handle complex matters of any type in courts across the country. He has appeared in federal or state courts in 25 different states, currently acts as lead national litigation counsel on a docket that regularly requires his appearance in courts throughout the country and has experience in multiple arbitration forums, including handling class actions in arbitration.

Representative Engagements

• CSC Credit Services – numerous consumer protection and Fair Credit Reporting Act matters, including class actions
• National retailers and aggregate-data sellers including AT&T, RealPage and First Advantage – obtained successful dismissal, and Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmance, in multiple class actions representing joint-defense group related to privacy litigation; defense in data privacy class action
• Debt negotiator – defense in multiple class actions in federal courts and arbitration regarding statutory regulation and professional standards
• National tire retailer, wholesaler and distributor – obtained dismissal in a class action based on Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, common law and RICO allegations
• International plastics manufacturer – defense in MDL class action from over ten different federal and state courts regarding product defect claims
• International insurance company – defense in a nationwide class action based on RICO, mail fraud and statutory insurance allegations; defense in fourteen separate statewide class action lawsuits based on state deceptive trade practices acts and common law and statutory insurance claims
• International soft drink company – obtained dismissal of class action based on Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and common law causes of action; dispute based on a promotional contest and allegations of improper disqualification
• National residential and commercial builder/developer – defense in a class action based on common law warranty and Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act allegations
• National gas distributor – class action regarding FCRA privacy issues
• International bank – defeated motion for class certification in a nationwide class action based on statutory banking and escrow allegations
• International bank transaction services company – defense in matter involving multimillion-dollar mass data theft by an international crime ring
• Restaurant chain – prosecution of claim involving data hacking, data security, and data breach
• Counsel and guidance to companies regarding prevention of, and response to, mass security breaches and compromises of personal information and data
• International hospitality company – counsel and guidance on creation of a privacy policy dealing with personal consumer information domestically and abroad
• Mobile telecommunications service provider – counsel and guidance on multiple consumer, advertising, and data privacy issues
• National food service company – obtained emergency injunction freezing funds and recovering funds related to employee embezzlement
• International telecommunications company – obtained $6.4 million judgment in commercial dispute in arbitration proceeding; discrimination and wrongful termination matter; multiple commercial, tort, breach of contract, and wrongful death lawsuits
• International automobile manufacturer – products liability and personal injury matters, including cases based on wrongful death and survival statutes
• International accounting firm – accounting malpractice action
• Oil and gas venture – defense in matter involving dispute over lease payments, lease ownership, and financing
• Counsel and representation in FTC investigations, including investigations involving data security breach and improper disclosure of confidential information
• Advise client regarding compliance with online behavioral advertising guidelines, CPNI Rules, TRAPPA, WPAA, ISP duties, mobile marketing, CAN-SPAM, TCPA, TSR, MMA Global, Code of Conduct, GLBA, FTC Red Flag Rules, DPPA, the Electronic Communications Privacy Protection Act of 1986, bluetooth marketing, text advertising, voicemail drops and spam issues
• Advise technology and marketing client regarding data collection and privacy policies and procedures

Publications, Speeches and Presentations

• "FCRA Preemption of State Law A Guide Through Muddy Waters," Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law, Vol. 15, No. 2, Spring 2012
• "Arbitration Roundup," Texas State Bar Advanced Consumer and Commercial Law Course, August 18 & 19, 2011 
• "The Conundrum of Antitrust and Privacy," Dallas Bar Association Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section, July 19, 2011 
• "Consumer Class Actions: Texas Trends," The Review of Litigation, Vol. 30, No. 3, Spring 2011
• "The Constantly Shifting Landscape of Consumer Class Actions in Texas State and Federal Courts," Texas State Bar Advanced Consumer and Commercial Law Course, September 2 & 3, 2010
• "The Broad Impact of the Credit CARD Act," Law360.com, June 4, 2010
• "Debt: The Devil is in the Details," Texas State Bar Advanced Consumer and Commercial Law Course, Dallas, November 13 & 14, 2008
• "Firm Offers of Credit: What Every Lender Should Know Before Putting an Offer in the Mail,"Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law, Vol. 11, No. 2, Spring 2008
• "Privacy Law Update: Comments from the Field," National Association of Attorneys General Protection Symposium, Washington, D.C., April 28, 2008
• "New Legal Frontier: Mass Information Loss and Security Breach,"SMU Science and Technology Law Review, Vol. XI, No. 1, Fall 2007
• "Firm Offers of Credit," Texas State Bar Consumer and Commercial Law Conference, Houston, September 20 & 21, 2007
• "Cyber Security, Privacy and Confidentiality," Emerging Issues in Computer and Technology Law, The Joint Symposium of the Computer Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association and The SMU Computer Law Review and Technology Journal, April 13, 2007
• "Mass Security Breaches," Texas State Bar Consumer and Commercial Law Conference, Dallas, October 12 & 13, 2006