Thomas P. Prehoditch

Of Counsel - Myers Law
Tom Prehoditch Attorney

Contact Information

Thomas P. Prehoditch
2525 Ridgmar Blvd., Suite 240
Fort Worth, TX 76116

  817.731.2500
  817.731.2501
  Email

Biography

Thomas P. ("Tom") Prehoditch has been of counsel to Myers Law since 2017. Through his Austin law firm of Knisely & Prehoditch, P.C., formed in 1997, he has prosecuted numerous lawsuits in the last two decades, principally on behalf of Plaintiffs. In a number of those lawsuits, his co-counsel has been Rob Myers, with whom he has had a highly productive and effective litigation relationship. Tom received a B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1973, a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1991, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Oregon in, respectively, 1977 and 1985. One of his principal interests in political science was jurisprudence and judicial institutions and processes, which he taught in the University of Texas at Arlington's Department of Government during much of the 1980s. Tom was awarded for his teaching in 1988 when he was named the outstanding teacher in the College of Liberal Arts at U.T.A

Tom began working on professional and legal malpractice cases before he was licensed to practice law, as a law clerk at his former Austin law firm of Spivey, Grigg, Kelly & Knisely. After Tom was licensed in 1991, continuing at the Spivey Grigg law firm and later at his own law firm, the vast majority of his practice has been devoted to representing clients in the area of legal malpractice, with a particular emphasis on claims involving breaches of fiduciary duty, conflicts of interest, excessive or unreasonable fee claims, and professional negligence. Throughout his legal career, Tom has been involved in pursuing numerous such claims against, among others, some of the largest and most established firms in Texas and in the United States. Many of these claims have arisen in highly complex underlying transactional or litigation settings including, among others, intellectual property litigation, patent prosecution, bankruptcy proceedings, disputes over natural resources, real estate transactions, estate and probate matters, commercial disputes, family law disputes, federal taxation disputes, and personal injury lawsuits, as well as other subject matters. Some of these claims are reported in appellate opinions, many others were fully prosecuted as lawsuits before they were resolved, and others were resolved in pre-litigation settlement negotiation or mediated settlements.

Tom has also consulted with and/or represented lawyers and law firms regarding issues related to lawyers` ethical obligations to clients, as well as professional negligence issues. He has also prosecuted cases involving other forms of professional malpractice, including accounting, brokerage firm, and clergy malpractice, and has occasionally represented clients in commercial litigation matters, including those involving patents, brokerage firm liability, and securities` claims.

Tom continues to practice through his own law firm of Knisely & Prehoditch, but in that firm his focus is now principally limited to consulting with lawyers and laypeople on professional and legal malpractice and ethical issues.

Tom is rated AV Preeminent in Martindale-Hubbell's Peer Review ratings for lawyers in the United States, its highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards. Knisely & Prehoditch, P.C. has also been ranked as a Best Lawyers' Best Law Firm by U.S. News and World Reports and Best Lawyers with a Tier 1 Ranking in Professional Malpractice for 2013-2019

Areas of Practice

  • Professional Malpractice
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation

Education

  • University of Texas at Arlington, B.A., Government, 1973
  • University of Oregon, M.A., Political Science, 1977
  • University of Oregon, Ph.D., Political Science, 1985
  • University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1991

Professional Background

  • 2017 to present - Myers Law, of counsel
  • 1997 to present - Knisely & Prehoditch, P.C.
  • 1989 to 1997 - Spivey, Grigg, Kelly & Knisely, P.C.
  • 1983 to 1988 - Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Texas at Arlington
  • 1975 to 1982 - Lecturer and Instructor of Political Science, University of Oregon

Professional Admissions

  • State of Texas 1991
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas

Memberships

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Austin Bar Association
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
  • Robert Calvert, Austin American Inns of Court, 1992-1996 and 2000-2003
  • Administrative Editor, 1990-1991, Member, 1989-1991, The Review of Litigation, University of Texas School of Law

Publications and Presentations

  • "Breach-of-Fiduciary-Duty Claims Against Lawyers on the Rise," Texas Lawyer, February 13, 2006
  • "Legal Malpractice Against the Big Dogs", (with Paul Knisely), Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Staying in the Forefront Seminar, Santa Fe, New Mexico, June 1, 2002
  • "The Voting Rights Act and Judicial Selection Litigation: An Evaluation of Remedial Options," The Review of Litigation 3, Summer 1992
  • Frequent lecturer on Summary Judgment Practice in Texas, University of Texas School of Law, Trial Advocacy Class, 1995-2005

Reported Cases

  • Vinson & Elkins v. Moran, 946 S.W.2d 381 (Tex. App.--Houston 14th Dist., 1997, writ dism'd by agrmt)
  • Burnap v. Linnartz, 914 S.W.2d 142 (Tex.App.--San Antonio, 1995, writ denied)
  • Burnap v. Linnartz, 38 S.W.3d 612 (Tex. App.-San Antonio, 2000, writ dism'd by agrmt.)
  • In re Legal Econometrics, 191 B.R. 331, 344-45, 348 (Bankr. N.D. Texas 1995), affirmed in part, remanded in part, modified in part, 1997 WL 560617 (N.D. Tex. 1997), affirmed after remand, 1999 WL 304564 (N.D. Tex. 1999), appeal dism'd by agr.