christopher Borreca
Partner
T: (713) 554.6740
cborreca@
thompsonhorton.com
- J.D., University of Houston Law Center, 1991
- M.S., University of Wisconsin, 1983
- B.S., Vanderbilt University, 1975
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota
- Texas
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Supreme Court
Affiliations
- Minnesota Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association
- National School Board
- Association Council of School Attorneys
- Texas Association of School Boards Council of School Attorneys
- Education Law Association (ELA), President, 2008
- Adjunct Professor, University of Houston Law Center and School of Education, Houston, Texas 1998-present
- Foundation for the Retarded, Board of Trustees, 1996-present
- Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation, Inc., Board of Governors, 1995-present
- Houston Bar Association, Legal Lines Committee, 1992-1995
- Houston Bar Association, IDEA Committee, 1992-1996
- Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County Advisory Council, Chair, 1990-1991; Vice-Chair, 1984-1990
- Houston Independent School District Special Education, Advisory Board, 1982-1991
- Region IV Education Service Center Advisory Board, 1984-1989
- Wisconsin Association on Mental Deficiency, Vice-President, Education Division, 1980-1982
Christopher P. Borreca is a founding partner of Thompson & Horton LLP. He was the education director of the Center for the Retarded Inc. in Houston for nine years before becoming an attorney. As a former partner of Bracewell & Giuliani, he has extensive experience in special education issues, as well as contract issues, employment issues and other school law matters. Mr. Borreca also has experience with hearings on student discipline, employee grievances, personnel and school board appeals. A registered lobbyist, he also is active at the state and federal legislative level working on behalf of school districts and educational organizations.
He has published articles in the Houston Lawyer and Texas School Law: A Practical Guide, and has held a leadership position in the Education Law Association (ELA) since 2000 and is currently immediate past president of ELA.
Representative Matters
Corpus Christi Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Cole K.; C.A. No. C-03-112 (S.D. Tex. 2004)(Amicus Brief)
Shares v. Katy Indep. Sch. Dist., 252 F. Supp. 2d 364 (S.D. Tex. 2003)
Texas Advocates Supporting Kids with Disabilities v. Texas Educ. Agency; 112 S.W.3d 234 (Tex.App. -- Austin 2003)(Amicus Brief)
Ballard v. Kinkaid School, 147 F. Supp. 2d 603 (S.D. Tex. 2000)
Ibarra v. Houston Independent School District, 84 F.Supp. 2d 825 (S.D. Tex. 1999)
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District v. Michael F., 931 F.Supp. 474. S.D. Tex. 1995, affirmed as modified, 118 F.3d 245, 5th Cir. 1997, cert denied, 522 U.S. 1047, 118 S.Ct. 690 (1998)
Hispanic Education Committee, et al. v. Houston Independent School District, 886 F. Supp. 606 (S.D. Tex. 1995)
La Joya Federation of Teachers v. La Joya ISD; Docket No. 059-R10-1295. Before the commissioner of education of the State of Texas
Rogers v. Houston ISD; Docket No. 020-R2-1096. Before the commissioner of education of the State of Texas
Taylor v. Humble ISD; Docket No. 181-R10-799. Before the commissioner of education of the State of Texas
Andrew T. K. bnf Martha H. & David E. E. v. Houston ISD; Docket No. 246-SE-395. Before a special education hearing officer for the State of Texas
Alief ISD v. Vernon G. b/n/f Mr. And Mrs. Vernon G.; Docket No. 053-SE-1095. Before a special education hearing officer for the State of Texas
Smith v. Houston ISD; Docket No. 078-R2-300. Before the commissioner of education of the State of Texas
Whitney H. v. Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District; Docket No. 406-SE-695; Before a Special Education Hearing Officer for the State of Texas
John Frank M., Jr., b/n/f Mr. and Mrs. John F. M. v. Katy Independent School District; C.A. No. H-93-1582; In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division
El Paso Independent School District . Richard R., as next friend of R.R., Mark Berry/R.R., by his next friend E.R. v. El Paso Independent School District; Docket No. 08-50830; In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Amicus Brief)
Richardson Independent School District v. Z; USDC 3:05-CV-535; In the United States District Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Amicus Brief)
Houston Independent School District v. VP, by next friend Juan and Sylvia P.; Docket No. 07-20817; In the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Amicus Brief)
Garza, et al v. La Joya ISD, et al; 7:93-CV-00268; In the Southern District of Texas (McAllen)
John and Rene Wood, on their own behalf and on behalf of their minor son RW vs. Katy Independent School District, Board of Trustees of Katy Independent School District, Christie Whitbeck, Kevin O'Keefe; C.A. H-08-0358; In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Gabriel V. b/n/f Christina V. vs. Corpus Christi Independent School District; Docket No. 093-SE-1209; Before a Special Education Hearing Officer for the State of Texas
Ryan C. b/n/f S.R. vs. Corpus Christi Independent School District; Docket No. 052-SE-1109; Before a Special Education Hearing Officer for the State of Texas
Matthew C. vs. Corpus Christi Independent School District; Docket No. 088-SE-1209; Docket No. 088-SE-1209; Before a Special Education Hearing Officer for the State of Texas
Devin Z. b/n/f D.Z. v. Houston Independent School District; Docket No. 310-SE-0707; Before a Special Education Hearing Officer for the State of Texas
Landon Z. b/n/f D.Z. v. Houston Independent School District; Docket No. 309-SE-0707; Before a Special Education Hearing Officer for the State of Texas
Issaias W., bnf Darrell W. vs. Humble ISD; Docket No. 047-SE1009; Before a Special Education Hearing Officer for the State of Texas
Kelli V. vs. Katy ISD; TEA Docket No. 301-SE-0809; Before a Special Education Hearing Officer for the State of Texas
Erich G. b/n/f S.M. v. Katy ISD; Docket No. 136-SE-0210; Before a Special Education Hearing Officer for the State of Texas
Publications and Speeches
"Texas School Law, 2nd Edition" (Chapter Contribution), Education Law Association, 2004
"The Continuing Education of Special Education Law: Case Analysis 19995-2003", LRP Publications, 2004
"A Summary of Proposed Amendments to the Commissioner's Rules Pertaining to Special Education Services", Texas State Bar Section Report, School Law, Vol. 4, No. 4, Spring 2001
"Writing an IEP that is Legally Sound and Educationally Meaningful", Special Education Law Update, Vol. IX, No. 16 and Vol X, No. 1, December 2000, January 2001
"The 1999 IDEA Regulations: A Practical Analysis", Borreca, C.; Goldman, T.; Horton, J.; Mehfoud, K.; Rodrick, B.; Weatherly, R.; and Wynn, D.; National School Board Association 1999
"Texas School Law: A Practical Guide", 1999 Supplement, Borreca, C.; Gregory, R.; Horner, J.; and Muzzy, G.; Education Law Association 1999
"Disciplining Disabled Students: An Analysis of Federal Regulations"; Borreca, C. and Horton, J., Texas State Bar Section Report, School Law, Vol. 3, No. 3, June, 1999
"Reporting Special Education Students to Law Enforcement Authorities", TCASE Newsletter, March 1999
"Education of Public School Students with Disabilities", The Houston Lawyer, March 1997
"Texas School Law: A Practical Guide", Frels, K.; Horner, J.; Camp & Robinson (Chapter Contribution), Education Law Association, 1996
"The Wisconsin Behavior Rating Scale", Jones, J.; Song, A.; Lippert, J.; Metzgen, K.; Borreca, C.; American Journal on Mental Deficiency, July, 1983
Co-Author: "Horizons Curriculum"; Central Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled, 1981
Co-Author: "Skill Progression System"; Central Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled, 1981
appointments
Adjunct Professor, University of Houston Law Center, "Disability Law," Houston, Texas
Texas Council of School Attorneys, Legislative Committee Chairperson, 2001-2003
Education Law Association, Dayton, Ohio, Board of Directors 2000-2009
Adjunct Professor, University of Houston, School of Education, "Education Law", Houston, Texas
Texas Education Agency Stakeholder Advisory Committee, District Effectiveness Compliance Revision, 1998-present
Education Law Association, Committee Chairman, "Employment Networking Committee", 1997-2000
West's Education Law Reporter Editorial Advisory Committee, 1994-2003
Foundation for the Retarded, Board of Trustees, 1996-present
Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation, Board of Governors, 1995-present
Houston Bar Association "Legal Lines Committee", 1992-1995
Houston Bar Association IDEA Committee, 1992-1996
Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County Advisory Council -- Chairperson, 1990-1991; Vice Chairperson, 1984-1990
Houston Independent School District Special Education Advisory Board, 1982-1991
Region IV Education Service Center Advisory Board, 1984-1989
Madison (WI) Public Schools Special Education Advisory Committee, 1981-1982
Vice-President, Education Division, Wisconsin Association on Mental Deficiency, 1981-1982
conference presentations and speeches
25th Annual School Law Conference, February 19, 2010, Austin, Texas, "The Attorney-Client Privilege and the Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct: Important Changes"
2010 SWEP Conference, Region 12, February 11, 2010, Houston, Texas, "Legal Issue Regarding Evaluation-Lessons Learned from 2009"
TCASE Legal Academy, October 1, 2009, Arlington, Texas, "The 81st Texas Legislative Session: What Passed, What Didn't and Why"
Region IV Education Service Center, September 17 and September 23, 2009, Houston, Texas, "Legal and Legislative Update for Directors of Special Education"
Utah Institute on Special Education Law and Practice, August 4-9, 2009, Ogden, Utah, "Catching Up with FPCO: The 2008 Amendments to FERPA"
TCASE Legislative Update, July 30, 2009
Harris County Department of Education, May 7 and August 13, 2009, Houston, Texas
30th Anniversary LRP's National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities, April 26-29, 2009, Las Vegas, Nevada, "60 Tips in 60 Minutes"
Region IV ESC Summer Evaluation Institute, June 19, 2008, Houston, Texas, "Assessment of Specific Learning Disabilities Under Federal and State Law: A Review of the Statute, the Regulations, the Department of Education Guidance and the Courts"
8th Annual School Law Institute, May 19, 2008, New York, NY, "The Evolution of the IDEA Continues: The Courts Interpret the Statute"
LRP's 29th National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities, May 4-7, 2008, Charlotte, North Carolina