Amar Raval - Houston, TX

Overview

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Super Lawyers® is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. The number provided represents the number of attorneys at the firm that have been selected to the Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists.

Amar Raval included in a Super Lawyers® list

Education

• Legal Education

  • Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California, 2003
    J.D.
    Honors: Bourne Trial Advocacy Team

• Non Legal Education

  • Houston Baptist University, 2000
    B.S., Bachelor of Science
    Honors: summa cum laude
    Major: History
    Major: Political Science

Past Positions

• Berg Plummer Johnson & Raval, LLP, Partner, February, 2017 - May, 2024
• Plummer | Raval, Partner, January, 2015 - February, 2017
• Plummer & Kuykendall, Partner, September, 2004 - December, 2014

Classes and Seminars

• Recent Changes to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and How They Compare to the Texas Rules, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, 2024
  
• Mediating Employee Benefits Cases, 47th Annual Midwinter Symposium on Insurance and Employee Benefits, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association, 2024
  
• ERISA is for Everyone: Catch the Tiger by its Tail, State Bar of Texas Asian Pacific Interest Section Conference, 2023
  
• Courts During and After COVID, State Bar of Texas Asian Pacific Interest Section, 2021
  
• Recent Developments in ERISA Disability Benefits Litigation: Standard of Review and Discovery, 47th Annual Midwinter Symposium on Insurance and Employee Benefits, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association, 2021
  
• What Employment Lawyers Should Know About ERISA, National Employment Lawyers Association Houston Chapter, 2020
  
• Use of Social Media in Life Insurance Claims, 46th Annual Midwinter Symposium on Insurance and Employee Benefits, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association, 2020
  
• ERISA Pitfalls: What to Know About ERISA Claims, Appeals, and Litigation, Houston Bar Association, 2018
  
• Attorneys’ Fees: Setting, Earning, and Keeping Fees in Law Firms, Houston Young Lawyers Association Solo/Small Firm Committee, 2018
  
• Substantive Legal Skills: Litigation Focus, Houston Young Lawyers Association Boot Camp, 2018
  
• Hazards, Hurdles, and Pitfalls: How to Avoid Malpractice in ERISA Claims, Houston Northwest Bar Association, 2017
  
• Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, South Asian Bar Association of Houston, 2016
  
• Hazards, Hurdles, and Pitfalls: How to Avoid Malpractice in ERISA Claims, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, 2015
  
• Recent Changes to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure & Evidence, and How They Compare with Texas Rules, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, 2024

Pro Bono Activities

• Bellaire Board of Adjustment, 2013 – 2017
• Chinmaya Mission Houston, 10th grade teacher, 2016 – 2018

Representative Cases

• 2026, Dwyer v. UnitedHealthcare Inc. Co., C.A. 1-17cv-00439-RP (W.D. TX, February 9, 2026), ERISA health insurance claim in which trial court awarded over $410,000 in attorneys; fees and $87,000 in interest on case previously upheld by Fifth Circuit in 2024.
• 2025, McFadden v. American Financial Security Life Insurance Company, Harris County 157th Civil District Court. Won jury trial getting reimbursement for client on denied health insurance claim, plus 20x damages in attorneys’ fees due to insurance company’s tactic to delay, deny, and defend the claim.
• 2025, represented client in long term disability claim with Hartford. Filed successful appeal, entitled to client to ongoing disability benefits.
• 2025, represented client in long term disability claim. Lawsuit involved claims for breach of contract and violations of Texas Insurance Code. Case settled for $1.5 Million.
• 2025, represented client in Unum long term disability claim where issue was if client was disabled by injury or illness. Filed successful appeal with Unum, entitling client to lifetime disability benefits.
• 2025, represented client in life insurance matter where $500,000 claim was approved less than 90 days after representation.
• 2024, Dwyer v. UnitedHealthcare Inc. Co., 115 F.4th. 640 (5th Cir. 2024), ERISA health insurance claim in which Fifth Circuit ruled in favor of client, set forth Rules of the Road that govern ERISA claims, and remanding to District Court to award all past due benefits, interest, and attorneys’ fees. Served as local counsel.
• 2023, represented client in long term disability claim with New York Life Insurance. Filed successful appeal, entitled to client to ongoing disability benefits.
• 2024, represented homeowners in lawsuit against former contractor. Bench trial led to seven figure judgment on breach of contract, violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and fraud.
• 2023, represented client in health insurance claim. Once suit was filed, insurance company retroactively covered claim, reimbursed client, and paid Mr. Raval’s attorneys’ fees.
• 2022, represented client in long term disability claim. Once suit was filed, insurance company paid all past due benefits, put client back on claim, and paid interest and Mr. Raval’s attorneys’ fees.
• 2021, Accidental Death insurance claim regarding whether insured’s death after contracting COVID-19 was an accident or disease. Case settled following litigation.
• 2021, Midkiff v. Prudential Insurance Company of America, ERISA long term disability claim in which Court ruled in favor of client, granting all past due benefits, ordering Prudential to put client back on claim, pre-and post-judgment interest, and awarding attorneys’ fees. Served as local counsel.
• Katherine P. v. Humana Health Plan, Inc., 959 F.3d 206 (5th Cir. 2020). Argued before 5th Circuit regarding how to apply the de novo standard of review in an ERISA case involving denial of health insurance benefits for serious mental illness.
• 2019, Benson v. MetLife, ERISA life insurance claim regarding whether client was still eligible for waiver of his life insurance premiums because he was disabled. Claim settled following litigation.
• 2019, represented claimant in health insurance denial regarding whether treatment was medically necessary. Settled claim favorably with insurer agreeing to pay all of Mr. Raval’s attorneys’ fees.
• 2018, Ariana v. Humana Health Plan of Texas, Inc., 884 F.3d 246 (5th Cir. 2018): 5th Circuit overturned 26 years of jurisprudence stemming from Pierre v. Conn. Gen. Life Ins. Co., 932 F.2d 1552 (5th Cir. 1991) and concurred with every other Circuit that applies the de novo standard of review to both legal and factual determinations, thus paving the way for the Texas ban on discretionary clauses to trigger de novo review of benefit denials of health and disability benefit claims.
• 2017, Prashant v. Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, et al, No. 4:16-CV-1459, 2017 WL 10109450 (S.D. Tex. Feb. 22, 2017): Court ruled that the Texas ban on discretionary clauses in insurance policies is enforceable because Texas should be able to regulate the insurance policies sold to its citizens.
• 2017, (confidential arbitration) represented claimant in confidential arbitration between former husband and wife over post-divorce asset distribution. Settled favorably on eve of hearing.
• 2015, Hamsher v. North Cypress Medical Center Operating Company, Limited, 620 Fed. Appx. 236 (5th Cir. 2015): 5th Circuit reviewed an appeal from former nurse insured by North Cypress over whether her employer abused its discretion in denying her health insurance claim. Court overruled District Court’s denial and granted summary judgment for Hamsher.
• 2015, Humana Health Plan, Inc. v. Nguyen, 785 F.3d 1023 (5th 2015): 5th Circuit reviewed a matter involving ERISA subrogation rights and clarified the rights between Plan Administrators and ERISA fiduciaries. Court remanded case to District Court to determine if Plaintiff had standing to pursue subrogation claim against Plan participant.
• 2012, Benson v. Hartford, ERISA Long Term Disability claim where Hartford made offer of judgment awarding all past due benefits and reinstated the claim for continuing disability status.
• 2010, Fuller v. Hartford, ERISA Long Term Disability claim settled following litigation.
• 2010, Urbanski v. Hartford, ERISA Long Term Disability claim settled following litigation.
• 2009, Huggins v. Sun Life, ERISA Short Term and Long Term Disability claim reinstated after litigation. Lump sum payment and future benefits until age 65.
• 2009, Irish v. Reliance Standard, ERISA Long Term Disability claim settled following litigation.
• 2008, Pevey v. Lincoln Financial, Non-ERISA Long Term Disability Claim reinstated following appeal. Lump Sum payment with future benefits until age 65.
• 2007, Peters v. CIGNA, ERISA Long Term Disability claim settled following litigation.
• 2006, Johnson v. The Standard, ERISA Long Term Disability Claim settled following litigation.

Published Works

Articles

• Building a Practice: Mastering the Art of Self Promotion for Diverse Lawyers, American Bar Association Solo, Small Firm, and General Practice Division, 2020
  
• Fibromyalgia: What Your Doctor Needs to Know, The Fibromyalgia Connection, 2013
  

Bar Admissions

• Texas, 2004
• California, 2003
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Central District of California
• U.S. District Court Northern District of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Other Affiliations

• American Bar Association, 2003 - Present
• Diversity Vice-Chair; Life, Health and Disability Insurance General Committee, 2023 - 2024
• Texas Bar College, 2013 - Present
• Texas Bar Foundation, 2015 - Present (Life Fellow)
• Texas Trial Lawyers Association, 2010-2017, 2025-present
• Houston Trial Lawyers Association, 2006 - Present
• Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Directors, 2018 - Present
• Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Nominating Committee, 2020
• Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Vice President of Diversity and Outreach, 2020 – 2024
• Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Secretary/Treasurer, 2025
• Houston Trial Lawyers Association, President-Elect, 2026
• South Asian Bar Association of Houston, 2011 - Present
• South Asian Bar Association of Houston, Secretary 2013 – 2014
• South Asian Bar Association of Houston, Treasurer 2014 – 2015
• South Asian Bar Association of Houston, President-Elect 2015 – 2016
• South Asian Bar Association of Houston, President 2016 – 2017
• State Bar of Texas, Asian Pacific Interest Section, 2017 - Present
• State Bar of Texas, Asian Pacific Interest Section, Immediate Past Chair, 2022 – 2023
• State Bar of Texas, Asian Pacific Interest Section, Chair, 2021 – 2022
• State Bar of Texas, Asian Pacific Interest Section, Chair-Elect, 2020 – 2021
• State Bar of Texas, Asian Pacific Interest Section, Vice Chair, 2019 – 2020
• State Bar of Texas, Asian Pacific Interest Section, Treasurer, 2018 – 2019
• State Bar of Texas, Asian Pacific Interest Section, Diversity in the Profession Committee, 2018 – 2024
• State Bar of Texas, Asian Pacific Interest Section, Chair, 2023 – 2024
• State Bar of Texas, Asian Pacific Interest Section, Vice Chair, 2020 – 2023
• Jury Service Committee, 2024 – 2025
• Texas Bar Foundation Nominating Committee, 2024 – 2025
• Texas Minority Attorney Program, Course Director, 2019 – 2023
• Asian American Bar Association of Houston
• Asian American Bar Association of Houston, Board of Directors, 2022 – 2024