All Professionals
Overview
Matthew Durfee is a partner in the Litigation Department of Paul Hastings, based in the firm’s Dallas office. He is highly accomplished in defending clients in high-stakes product liability matters, class actions and well-known multidistrict litigation proceedings in jurisdictions nationwide. He draws on almost a decade of experience guiding clients through complex MDL cases, including the national opioid litigation and Volkswagen clean diesel litigation.
Matt’s experience spans a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, energy and financial services. He represents clients both domestically and internationally in matters involving breach of contract, negligence, fraud, business torts and government investigations.
Matt is an influential leader in his practice, recognized by Lawdragon as one of the 500 Leading Litigators in America, The Best Lawyers in America as Ones to Watch in commercial litigation, and D Magazine as a Best Lawyer Under 40.
Representations
- Served as national defense and coordination counsel for one of the “manufacturing defendants” in more than 2,000 cases in the national opioid litigation, consolidated in the federal MDL and numerous state MDLs throughout the country.
- Represented a luxury automobile manufacturer in the Volkswagen “clean diesel” MDLs, defending governmental and consumer claims across multiple jurisdictions.
- Obtained summary judgment in Texas state district court for a leading U.S. fence manufacturer and related Swedish corporation in a product liability case involving allegations that a defective fence caused a child’s death.
- Secured dismissal with prejudice of all claims in Texas state court for one of the nation’s largest wireless carriers in a wrongful death case involving allegations that defects in its technology prevented a cell phone from connecting to 9-1-1.
- Obtained opinion from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversing a federal district court’s denial of a motion to dismiss with prejudice all claims in a wrongful death case against a prominent U.S. telecom provider, including the U.S. Supreme Court rejecting plaintiff’s certiorari petition. The case involved allegations that failures in the provider’s technology delayed first responders from timely providing life-saving treatment.
- Secured dismissal with prejudice of all claims in a federal District Court for a top U.S. mobile network operator in a wrongful death case involving allegations that its defective technology failed to allow first responders to ping a cell phone’s location to provide life-saving treatment.
- Won a motion to dismiss all claims with prejudice in a federal District Court for a leading telecommunications company against allegations that its insufficient network coverage delayed plaintiff from connecting with 9-1-1 while he was suffering a heart attack, including affirmance by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Represented a Japanese printer manufacturer in a federal District Court against fraud, breach of contract and product liability claims relating to alleged defects in its printer that was incorporated into a handheld point of sale device, ultimately securing a transfer of venue to another jurisdiction.
- Defended fireplace manufacturer in multiple cases across the U.S. alleging product defects in glass front fireplaces.
- Represented a large retailer against alleged product defect and wrongful death claims relating to a product sold at certain retail stores.
- Defended a homeopathic medicine manufacturer and distributor against a series of class action lawsuits in federal and state courts throughout the United States alleging violations of state advertising laws.
- Secured summary judgment in a Florida state court awarding a commercial mortgage lender approximately $9 million on breach of contract claims, including an affirmance on appeal.
- Represented a lender in an Illinois state court seeking foreclosure on a luxury hotel and defending against a borrowers' breach of contract, fraud and tortious interference of contract claims, as well as claims by subcontractors relating to their mechanics' liens.
- Evaluated, pursuant to an Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Consent Order, a national lender's servicing and foreclosure practices throughout the United States to determine whether individual borrowers were entitled to remediation for harm caused by improper practices.
- Obtained in a federal district court the dismissal with prejudice of all claims asserted against an individual for breach of a large promissory note, breach of contract and fraud.
- Advised a sovereign wealth fund on potential litigation and workout issues concerning real estate portfolios and investments located throughout the United States.
- Obtained an approximately $1 million judgment in an action against a contractor and subcontractor for breach of contract, fraud and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act.
- Defended a national mortgage bank against claims of tortious interference, unfair competition, misappropriation of trade secrets and conspiracy arising from an alleged corporate raid involving the hiring of approximately 100 employees from a competitor, including securing exclusion of the plaintiff’s damages expert and sanctions for destruction of text messages.
- Obtained a dismissal on jurisdictional grounds in a North Carolina business court for a correctional commissary services provider accused of tortious interference with contract and misappropriation of trade secrets.
- Defended a Middle Eastern airline against a former employee’s claims for tortious interference with prospective relations, intentional infliction of emotional distress and defamation.
- Won a challenge to personal jurisdiction in Texas state court on behalf of an Australian power company, resulting in the dismissal and voiding of a default judgment that awarded relief of approximately $200 million.
- Represented an Australian lithium mining company in cross border breach of contract dispute with a leading U.S. electronic vehicle manufacturer.
- Represented a French power and transportation company defending allegations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act that it paid bribes to win contracts.
- Defended a leading U.S. automotive parts manufacturer against claims for breach of contract, breach of warranty and fraud asserted by one of the largest cities in the U.S. based on allegations that it systematically overcharged the city for parts to service its fleet of vehicles.
- Obtained summary judgment in Texas state court resulting in the dismissal of an oil and gas company’s claims that it was entitled to profitable acreage from a leasehold assignment.
- Represented an operator of numerous oil and gas wells located in Texas in defending against claims for breaches of a Joint Operating Agreement, fiduciary duties and the Texas Natural Resources Code
- Represented a coal company being investigated by the Department of Justice for an explosion that killed 29 people.
- Obtained voluntary dismissal in response to a motion to dismiss filed in Texas state court for a leading prepaid wireless service provider defending allegations that it breached a dealer agreement with one of its authorized dealers.
- Obtained summary judgment for a computer software developer in Texas state court to enforce an end-user license agreement.
- Won an administrative appeal and trial in Texas state court for a municipal utility district against claims that it did not have authority to issue bonds to improve a wastewater treatment plant.
- Represented individuals in federal court jury trial alleging claims under 28 U.S.C. 1983 for unreasonable search and seizure and excessive force.