Tod is a trial lawyer.  He has extensive trial experience in contract, insurance, and personal injury cases involving products liability, construction, transportation, and the railroad industry. He has represented the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company, BNSF Railway Company, Union Pacific Railroad Company, and the National Passenger Corporation d/b/a Amtrak, with diverse experience including crossing accident litigation, FELA, contract disputes, and environmental claims. Tod is also the author of several articles and continuing legal education papers, including Post-Easterwood Analysis of Federally Preempted Speed Issue Cases (or When You Get a Lemon, Make Lemonade), Proceedings, Third International Symposium on Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Research and Safety, Transportation Center, University of Tennessee, 1994. Tod is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level of peer rated professional excellence. He has earned selection to Thomson Reuters’ list of Texas Super Lawyers (2007, 2009-2016) in Civil Litigation and Business Litigation, as published in Texas Monthly, and to BL Rankings, LLC’s list of Best Lawyers® in Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2024).

Practice Areas

  • Personal Injury Litigation
  • Insurance Law
  • Construction Law
  • Products Liability
  • FELA / Railroad Litigation
  • Trucking/Transportation Litigation
  • Business Litigation

Experience

  • Partner, Wright Close & Barger, LLP,  2018 – present
  • Partner, Wright & Close, LLP,  2010 – 2017
  • Associate Wright Brown & Close, LLP,  2006 – 2010
  • Associate, Forman Perry Watkins Krutz & Tardy, LLP,  2004 – 2006
  • Associate, Spain & Hastings,  2000 – 2004
  • Associate & Partner, McLeod, Alexander, Powel & Apffel, P.C., 1990 – 2000
  • Associate, Coats Yale Holm & Lee, P.C., 1989 – 1990

Presentations & Publications

  • Post-Easterwood Analysis of Federally Preempted Speed Issue Cases (or When You Get a Lemon, Make Lemonade), Proceedings, Third International Symposium on Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Research and Safety, Transportation Center, University of Tennessee, 1994.

Memberships

  • Houston Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • State Bar of Texas
  • State Bar of New Mexico

Awards

  • Texas Super Lawyers® (publ. by Thompson Reuters) – 2007, 2009 to 2016.
  • Best Lawyers® (publ. by BL Rankings, LLC’) Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2024 to present).