Josh Bowlin

Biography

Josh grew up in Pasadena, Texas, in a blue collar, modest community where many people worked in the refineries just down the road.  Growing up around regular folks who worked in oil & gas and construction gave Josh an understanding of what it meant to work hard and do an honest day’s work.  These principles are what guide his practice to this day.

Josh is a trial lawyer who started his legal career in 2002, and he has litigated commercial and personal injury cases ranging from contract and business disputes to catastrophic injuries, construction defect and delays.  His current focus is on healthcare advocacy for hospitals and freestanding emergency centers, commercial litigation, and first party insurance claims.

Prior to starting his legal career, Josh attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, graduating summa cum laude, obtaining a degree in International Economics with a focus on Asia and Mandarin Chinese studies, along with obtaining a minor in Music and Vocal Performance. Josh then attended the University of Texas School of Law and was awarded the Presidential Scholarship. Following graduating from the University of Texas, Josh began practicing litigation at Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams, & Aughtry, PLLC. In 2022, Josh established Callender Bowlin, PLLC with Mark Callender, a founding member of Serpe, Jones, Andrews, Callender, & Bell.

Clients come to Josh when they need a lawyer with grit, and who is a true trial lawyer.  Josh’s litigation skills have landed numerous courtroom and arbitration victories, including disputes between oil & gas and construction companies, partnership and shareholder disputes, trade secret misappropriation cases, and “bet-the-company” cases.  Josh has been named a Texas Super Lawyer since 2020, and a Texas Rising Star from 2012-2017, as well as Top Lawyer in Houston in H Texas Magazine from 2013-2017.

Significant Cases

• Actively pursuing reimbursement for New Mexico citizens affected by the Hermits Peak Fire.
• Representing freestanding emergency room facilities and physician groups in a mass action against Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna and United Health Care.
• Represented 500 claimants against major oil & gas and plastics manufacturer for property damages.
• Represented an individual in an electrocution case caused by negligent installation.
• Cleveland Construction, Inc. v. Levco Construction, Inc., 359 S.W.3d 843 (Tex.Civ.App.—Houston [1^st Dist.] 2012). Represented general contractor and tried this case to a successful verdict obtaining actual damages of $465,809.57 plus attorneys’ fees in the amount of $988,521.75, plus prejudgment interest for a total award of $1,569,058.11 plus post judgment interest.
• Levco Constr., Inc. v. Whole Foods Mkt. Rocky Mountain/Sw. L.P., No. 01-15-00620-CV, 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 7614 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 10, 2017, no pet. h). First Court of Appeals affirmed trial court judgment, awarding all damages, attorneys’ fees, interest and attorneys’ fees for successful appeal.
• Represented former President and CEO of oil and gas products and services company in negotiating a separation and release agreement in addition to successfully increasing the company’s offer to purchase of client’s equity by almost 2.5 times.
• Represented 50% owner in South Texas car dealership by successfully invoking buy-sell agreement in a partnership dispute and successfully resolving a buy-out of the individual’s ownership interest.
• Vineyard Services, LLC v. ACT Advance Catastrophe Tech., Inc., et. al.; Cause No. 2016-36208; In the 189^th District Court of Harris County, Texas. Represented contractor in negotiating favorable settlement to outstanding payment applications and defending arguments of duplicative and unnecessary work and charges.
• Successfully represented naval architect and marine engineering company in bench trial against engineering design subcontractor for defective design and delays.
• Represented owner in development of freight and transportation facilities against claims by the general contractors and subcontractors for damages and unpaid change orders.  Through creative dispute resolution, all claims against the owner were successfully resolved.
• Successfully resolved a $6 million securities case against a broker and a national broker-dealer in a case involving churning, professional negligence, fraud and suitability claims.
• Represented a maritime subcontractor in a federal court lawsuit against a general contractor who failed to pay for delay damages, standby charges and numerous change orders. Damages for both parties exceed $40 million.
• Burckhardt Compression (U.S.), Inc. v. ICA Fluor Daniel S. de R.L. de C.V.; ICC Case No. 17108/VRO, International Chamber of Commerce, International Court of Arbitration. Broughtsuit against ICA Fluor Daniel S. de R.L. de C.V. forcing payment of outstanding invoices involving construction and delivery of three nitrogen reciprocating booster compressor packages for use in an ECA-Nitrogen Injection Facilities Project in Ensenada B.C., Mexico. ICA Fluor Daniel refused payment and demanded offsets and credits for alleged delays.
• Robertson-Ceco II Corporation d/b/a Ceco Building Systems v. Fed XII, LLC and C.A. Walker, Inc.; In the 234th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas. Successfully resolved claims asserted against client. On behalf of the client, we asserted competing claims against the general contractor for breach of contract, including Punch List work and liquidated damages. After two mediations, which involved two separate inspections by a third-party neutral architect, we successfully resolved the outstanding Punch List work and settled all claims.
• Finer Space (San Jose) LLP v. Diamond H. Construction, L.L.C., and Mark Hartsell, Individually; In the United States District Court for the Southern District – Houston Division; Civil Action No. H-06-1723. Litigated and negotiated a favorable settlement in federal court for the owner of a multi-million dollar construction dispute concerning a 320 unit apartment complex in Jacksonville, FL. Particularly, the owner claimed negligence, breach of contract and fraud against the general contractor for their failure to complete work and renovate the apartment complex into condominiums.
• Centerpoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC v. AMCO Mechanical Contractors, Inc., AMCO Landscaping & Irrigation, Inc., AMCO Properties, L.L.C., David Pierce; Crain Zamora Construction Co., and Crain Zamora, L.L.C.; In the County Civil Court at Law No. Four (4) of Harris County, Texas; Cause No. 950,442. Defended general contractor, Crain Zamora, LLC while demanding and, ultimately, procuring defense and indemnity for the client from the subcontractor. Ultimately, the matter was resolved and all settlement costs and attorneys’ fees were satisfied by subcontractor with no out-of-pocket expenses being incurred by client.
• Successfully defended numerous Texas Valley Independent School Districts and Governmental Municipalities against personal injury suits arising from vehicle accidents.
• AAA Matter No. 70-198-00681-02; Modec International, LLC v. Delta Engineering Corporation. Successfully defended maritime contractor in construction litigation seeking excess of $2,000,000.00 in damages.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

• “Deep Impact – Why the In re Deepwater Horizon Opinion Matters for Construction Contracts and Additional Insured Insurance Coverage,” The Critical Path, June 2015
• Planning today for your future tomorrow – How to grow, save and protect your business and your wealth – Panel Discussion, Remodeler’s Counsel, January 2015
• “Federal Rule 26 & Expert Communications,” DRI Construction Blog, August 2014
• “Long Arm of the Law Affirms Default Judgment Against Chinese Manufacturer,” The Critical Path, May 2014
• “ESI in Arbitrations: Creative Solutions,” DRI Construction Blog, August 2014
• Presenter for “Texas Construction Litigation: Staying in the Field and Out of the Courtroom,” to RCI, Inc., an international association of professional consultants, architects, and engineers who specialize in the specification and design of roofing, waterproofing and exterior wall systems, November 2013
• “Despite Recent Chinese Drywall Settlements, Texas Catches Whiff of the Rotten Egg Litigation and You May, Too,” The Critical Path, January 2013
• “Avoiding and Resolving Extra Work and Delay Claims: Practical Strategies for Creating Realistic Work Schedules, Dealing with Delays and Resolving Overage Costs,” American Conference Institute, Construction Litigation, February 29-March 1, 2012
• “Covering Your Assets: How to Make Sure the Accountant Being Sued Is Not You,” Houston 34th Annual Tax and Business Planning Seminar, November 2011
• “Salty Medical Bills? Applying Haygood v. Escabedo in Admiralty Cases in Texas,” August 2011

Media

• CBS News