Philip D. Fraissinet
Partner

Philip D. Fraissinet has extensive experience counseling government and private entities and officials in many areas, including government procurement and contracting; minority, women and small business certification; conflicts of interest; nepotism; financial disclosure; ethics; political and campaign activities (including bond elections); and real estate and construction. Mr. Fraissinet also represents government and private clients in disputes and litigation concerning public school finance, construction, eminent domain for public and private entities, public employment, and constitutional and civil rights matters.

Mr. Fraissinet was a member of the team representing plaintiff school districts in the successful challenge to the Texas school finance system at trial and before the Texas Supreme Court. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Fraissinet was a partner at Bracewell & Giuliani LLP.

Representative Matters

 

Successfully defended school district in breach of contract lawsuit.  Xpediant Educational Solutions, LLC vs. Katy Independent School District; Cause No. 2008-68672; In the 334th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas.

Lead attorney in successful defense against discrimination lawsuit.  Bobby Thomas vs. Corpus Christi Independent School District; Civil Action No. 6:07-CV-00068; In the United States District Court, for the Southern District of Texas, Victoria Division.

Lead attorney in successful defense against injunction proceeding regarding school graduation ceremonies.  Brem, et al. vs. Corpus Christi Independent School District; In the 94th Judicial District Court of Nueces County, Texas.

Successfully defended City of Houston in lawsuit challenging City's legal authority to implement red light camera program.  2007-2008.

Member of team retained by Texas Attorney General and Texas Southern University to investigate high-profile matters involving President and Chief Financial Officer.  2006-2007.

Attorney for primary plaintiff school districts that successfully challenged constitutionality of Texas school finance system in six-week trial and before Texas Supreme Court. Neeley v. West Orange-Cove Cons. Ind. Sch. Dist., 176 S.W.3d 746; Tex. 2005.

Lead trial attorney for public school district in federal district court involving successful defense against challenge to school consolidation plan. Brooks, et al. v. Corpus Christi Indep. Sch. Dist., C.A. H-05-234, in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division, 2005.  

Lead attorney for plaintiff school district in successful construction arbitration. Palacios Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Callahan Architects, 2004.

Co-counsel in school prayer case successfully resolved for school district at the federal court of appeals level. Ward v. Santa Fe Independent School District, 393 F.3d 599; 5th Cir. 2004.

Lead attorney for large energy company in numerous eminent domain cases to acquire property for construction of 20-mile pipeline in South Texas, 2004.

Trial and appellate attorney for numerous government entities in eminent domain cases to acquire property for public projects. Pizzitola v. Houston Indep. School Dist., 2006 WL 1360838, 2006; Houston Independent School District v. J. Montgomery, et al., Cause No. 738,672, in the County Court No. 3 of Harris County, Texas, 2003.

Lead appellate attorney in successful appeal of tax dispute for public school district. Aldine Independent School District v. B. Baty, 999 S.W.2d 113; Tex. App. -- Houston, 1999.

Co-counsel at trial and appeal for successful public school district in attorney fee lawsuit. Jason D.W. v. Houston Independent School District, 158 F.3d 205, 5th Cir. 1998.

Lead appellate attorney in successful appeal for public school district in Texas Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act Lawsuit. Martin, et al. v. Victoria Independent School District, 972, S.W.2d 815; Tex. App. -- Corpus Christi 1998, rev. denied.

Publications and Speeches

“School Finance Litigation: Backdrop for the 82nd Legislative Session”, Region IV/Thompson & Horton Legislative Conference, Houston, TX, November 2010.

“School Finance and 2011 Legislative Session: What does the future hold?”, Region III Superintendents’ Leadership Conference, October 2010.

"Legislative Update - School Finance", Center for Reform of School Systems School Board Conference, Santa Fe, NM, July 2010.

"School Finance and the 2011 Legislative Session: What does the Future Hold?" Region IV ESC Legal Summit, August 2010.

"Moving Forward or Rolling Back: School District Tax Rate Elections"  Texas Association of School Administrators Mid-Winter Conference (January 2010) and Texas Association of School Boards Annual Conference (October 2009).

"School Funding Elections – Who Needs 'Em?" Texas School Public Relations Association Conference, Austin, November 2008

"Red Light Cameras – Continuing Implementation Issues," Texas City Attorneys Association Conference, South Padre Island, June 2008.

"Attorney Fees in Pro Bono Cases:  For the Public Good?" Practicing Law Institute Eighth Annual School Law Institute, New York City, May 2008.

"Anatomy of School Finance Litigation," American Education Finance Association Annual Conference, Denver, April 2008.

"The Closing of Solomon Coles – A Case Study," Education Law Association Conference, October 2006.

"Legislative Update After House Bill 1," Region XIII Education Service Center, June 2006.  

"Analysis of Texas Supreme Court Opinion in Neeley et al v. West Orange Cove et al, No. 04-144," Texas, November 22, 2005.

"School Finance Litigation," Education Law Association, November 2005.

"Understanding Government Contracts," Texas School Law - A Practical Guide, Second Edition, 2004.

"Discipline Management and Student Responsibilities under the Texas Education Code: The Basics of Chapter 37," Region IV New Principals Workshop, January 1999.

"Race in Public School Student Assignments: Which Way is the Pendulum Swinging?" ELA Conference, Charleston, South Carolina, November 1998.

"Diversity and Discrimination in the Workplace: Preventing Legal Problems and Creating a Welcome Environment," Region IV Training Workshop, October 1998.