Kenneth H. Tribuch

Ken Tribuch has been a valued legal resource for personal injury, civil, and commercial litigation clients for over over 25 years. He focuses his practice on general casualty, maritime & admiralty, energy (oil & gas) casualty, and property (first and third party) litigation.

Ken is also regularly called upon for his experience in business and commercial matters, including contract and entity litigation.  He has handled matters from the outset through trial, including catastrophic personal injury and property damage claims. He brings additional knowledge to Chaffe McCall’s collective litigation experience in representing clients in matters involving:

• Jones Act
• Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
• Offshore Construction
• Onshore Energy Casualty
• Property and Products Liability
• Trucking Liability
• Vessel Collisions, Allisions, Cargo, Hull
• Railroad and Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)
• Commercial Litigation

Ken began his career in South Florida, where he practiced for 11 years helping to develop multi-jurisdictional experience. While in Florida, he represented individuals, insurance carriers, and large and small companies.  His unique background enables him to develop practical legal strategies that are grounded in each client’s business objectives.

Ken earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Miami School of Law.  He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration.  Ken is licensed to practice before all Texas State Courts, all Florida State Courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas, and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida.

• Successfully participated in a 4-week trial as a result of a fatal construction accident resulting in dismissal of the client just prior to the close of all evidence. Damages were assessed against a remaining co-Defendant in excess of $17 million.

• Significant participation in handling of numerous catastrophic personal injury and property claims for vessel owner following BP Macondo well explosion, resulting in favorable results for the client in highly publicized, highly scrutinized environmental incidents.
• Significant participation in various National Transpiration & Safety Board (NTSB) and  United States Coast Guard casualty inspections and investigations including facilitation of information and materials, presentation of clients and witnesses, and participation in direct investigation with various officials at local, regional, and federal levels.
• Successfully litigated two Hurricane Ike claims to Summary Judgment after the appraisal process that was vehemently opposed and briefed, resulting in no further payment or expense to the client. These were the first of what became a normal process in the Firm’s successful representation of its clients and proper enforcement of the law in avoidance of what has become a routine challenge in Texas property claims/storm litigation.

• Obtained a $728,000 trial verdict in subrogation claim as a result of the loss of a vessel by a fleet operator. After costs and expenses were added, the total recovery was $765,000.

• Successfully appealed a denial of Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction (Special Appearance) to the 5th District Court of Appeals in Dallas, resulting in a reversal of the trial court ruling and a rendering of a Judgment of Dismissal in favor of the client in a Jones Act claim. As a result of the dismissal of the Jones Act employer, the balance of claims against the parent/related company client was also dismissed.

• Successfully defended a provider of temporary offshore housing in an action brought by an offshore worker for injuries pursuant to the Jones Act and General Maritime Law resulting in the eventual dismissal of all claims by the Court, resulting in the client escaping all liability and responsibility without cost.

• Successfully represented vessel owner in a claim for damages resulting from a total loss of a commercial fishing vessel against his former insurer resulting in a substantial settlement during jury selection at trial.

• Successfully defended Insurance Underwriter and its broker in a first-party claim seeking in excess of $1 million in damages, resulting in dismissal by summary judgment and a finding of no liability.
• Obtained directed trial verdict at the close of Plaintiff’s case in a suit against prominent Galveston marina for loss of vessels resulting from a fire. This claim was the first test case of what could have been many resulting from the same loss but for the favorable result that quelled the onslaught of similar cases.