The Greenwood Prather Law Firm PC
2009 North Durham Drive
Houston, Texas 77008
713-333-3200 telephone
713-621-1449 facsimile
From Conflict to Compromise
The Art of Mediation
Meet Kelly Greenwood Prather
Ms. Kelly Prather is an attorney and mediator with over twenty-five years of experience representing individuals and small businesses. She is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law, a distinction achieved by less than one percent of Texas attorneys. With extensive trial experience in a wide variety of civil suits, she brings both expertise and a dash of flair to her practice.
A nostalgic Houston Oilers fan, Ms. Prather enjoys cooking, baking, tackling easy crossword puzzles, and spinning at Ride in the Heights.
Ms. Prather shares her life with her one husband, Mike, their one son, Parker, and their two dogs, Daisy and Billie Joe. They reside in the charming Timbergrove neighborhood of Houston.
Ms. Prather's academic journey began with a strong emphasis on Barbies at Hailey Elementary in The Woodlands, where she graduated in 1981. She continued her education at Wilkerson Intermediate in 1983, developing a passion for fashion namely Gloria Vanderbilt and Calvin Klein jeans, and at Knox Junior High in 1985, gaining extensive experience in stressful social situations. She perfected an integrated multimodule approach to academics and a touch of aberrant conduct at McCullough High School, graduating in 1989.
She went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas in 1993 and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 1996. That same year, she was admitted to the State Bar of Texas.
Ms. Prather began her career working for John M. O’Quinn, one of the most successful and famous trial attorneys in the nation. After three years with O’Quinn, she joined Mike Engelhart in his law practice, where they enjoyed thirteen successful years as Engelhart and Greenwood, L.L.P. In 2009, when Mike Engelhart was elected judge of the 151st State District Court, Ms. Prather continued her practice as a solo practitioner, bringing her signature blend of professionalism and personality to every case.
Credentials
Admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1996
Certified Mediator by the Frank Evans Center for Conflict Resolution, 2022
Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law, 2021
31 jury trials, 16 bench trials and 4 arbitration hearings
Represented clients in 13 appellate proceedings
Published opinions
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Frazer v. Texas Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. , 4 S.W.3d 819 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, no pet.)
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Morris v. Umberson, 312 S.W.3d 763 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, pet. denied.)
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Fuller v. Le Brun, 616 S.W.3d 31 (Tex. App. -Houston [14th Dist.] 2020, pet. denied).
Representative trials, settlements and arbitration awards
Case Summary: In re: Northstar Offshore Group, LLC
Cause No. 16-34028 | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas
Nature of Case:
Complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the oil and gas industry
Client:
Litigation Trustee
Representation Scope:
1. 44 preference claims
2. 1 fraudulent transfer claim
Key Points:
- Bankruptcy proceedings of Northstar Offshore Group, LLC
- Multiple adversary proceedings within the main bankruptcy case
- Focus on recovery actions typical in complex corporate bankruptcies
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Case Summary: The Gil Ramirez Group, LLC v. Houston Independent School District
Cause No. 4:10-cv-04872 | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division
Plaintiff:
Job order contractor (The Gil Ramirez Group, LLC)
Defendants:
1. Houston Independent School District
2. Two competitor contractors
3. School board member
4. Associate of school board member ("bag lady")
Nature of Case:
Corruption and bribery in public contract awarding
Key Allegations:
- Loss of multi-million dollar contract due to refusal to pay bribe
- Competitors paid bribes to secure contracts
- School board member solicited and accepted bribes
Outcome:
Jury verdict in favor of plaintiff for $5,000,000
Case Type: Medical Malpractice / Birth Injury
Representation:
Parents of an infant with severe neurological injuries
Plaintiff:
Infant born with grey and white matter brain damage
Alleged Cause:
Complications arising from maternal chorioamnionitis
Key Issues:
- Diagnosis and management of chorioamnionitis
- Timeliness of medical intervention
- Resulting neurological damage to infant
Outcome:
Case settled
Confidentiality:
Settlement terms and parties' identities are subject to a confidentiality agreement
​
Case Summary: Patel v. Taylor Morrison Homes
JAMS Arbitration No. 1310021107
Parties:
- Claimants: Homeowner couple
- Respondent: Taylor Morrison Homes (homebuilder)
Nature of Case:
Claim for structural construction defects in a home built in Sugar Land, Texas.
Forum:
JAMS Arbitration
Outcome:
Arbitrator awarded $232,207 to claimants
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Case Summary: 2JM Land & Cattle Co. v. Five Corners Management District
Cause No. 2012-72809 | 113th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas
Parties:
- Plaintiffs: 15 commercial property owners
- Defendant: Five Corners Management District board
Nature of Case:
Ultra vires claim against the district board for failing to follow state law requirements when imposing an assessment on 1,400 commercial property owners.
Key Issues:
- Legality of assessment imposition
- Compliance with state law requirements
Verdict:
Jury determined the board did not meet state law requirements to impose the assessment.
Judgment:
1. Assessment dissolved
2. Attorney's fees awarded to commercial property owners
Case Summary: Gene Williams v. Traci Faulk, et al.
Cause No. 2000-61967 | 333rd Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas
Nature of Case:
Represented an oppressed minority shareholder in a dispute involving owners of a highly successful beauty salon in Katy, Texas.
Primary Claim:
Breach of fiduciary duty
Outcome:
Judgment entered in favor of client for $423,000
This revised version presents the information in a more organized and professional format. It clearly states the case details, the nature of the representation, the primary legal claim, and the outcome. The structure makes it easier to quickly grasp the key points of the case.
​Case Summary: Americon Services Company, Inc. v. Arco Construction Company, Inc.
Cause No. 825,594 | County Court at Law No. 2, Harris County, Texas
Represented subcontractor (plaintiff) against general contractor (defendant) in a construction dispute. Claims included:
1. Breach of contract
2. Quantum meruit
3. Violation of prompt payment statute
4. Misapplication of trust fund statute
Outcome:
• Jury ruled in client's favor on all claims for affirmative relief
• Successfully defended against all counterclaims
• Judgment awarded to client:
- $167,117.44 in actual damages
- 18% pre-judgment interest
- Attorney's fees
​
Professional Legal Experience
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The Greenwood Prather Law Firm, P.C., Solo Practitioner, 2009 - Present
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Engelhart & Greenwood, L.L.P., Partner, 1997- 2008
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John M. O’Quinn, P.C.
Associate , 1996-1997
Law Clerk , 1994-1996
Professional Affiliations & Accomplishments
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Trial Lawyers College - Four Week Program Graduate, 2003
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University of Houston Law Center Deposition Program - Instructor, 2004
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Houston Bar Association Auxiliary, 2013 to present
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Texas Super Lawyer, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021
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Houston Bar Association, 2020 to present
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Completed Implicit Bias Educational Programming, 2021
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Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists, 2022
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Harris County Dispute Resolution Board Member 2023-2024