David G. Wall
Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002
Based in Houston, David’s practice concentrates on representing property owners throughout Texas in eminent domain and condemnation matters. David has extensive trial experience against both the State of Texas and Harris County in condemnation matters. He has handled cases involving the taking of all types of properties, including retail, commercial, industrial, and residential properties. David has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for his experience in Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law.
Recent Matters
2022 Settlement for $34.2 million, an increase of 109% over the initial offer of $16.4 million, for a property owner in a partial taking by Harris County Flood Control District (“HCFCD”) wherein HCFCD was acquiring approximately 187 acres from a 276-acre tract of land in northwest Houston for a regional detention facility
2022 Settlement for $5.33 million, an increase of 1,224% above the County’s initial offer of $403,000, for approximately 10 acres of commercial reserves that Harris County was acquiring in Katy, Texas
2022 Settlement for $5.1 million, an increase of 439% over the initial offer of $946,000, for a car dealership owner in Lewisville, Texas involving a partial taking wherein the State was taking a substantial portion of a dealership’s display parking for the widening of Interstate 35E north of Dallas
2022 Settlement for $1.5 million, an increase of 188% above the County’s initial offer of $519,000, in a case against Brazoria County, Texas involving a partial taking of approximately 10 acres from a 52-acre tract for a detention facility and drainage project in Pearland, Texas
2022 Settlement of $1.3 million, an increase of 188% above the State’s initial offer of $452,000, for a partial taking for the S.H. 249 Expansion in Grimes County, Texas
2019 Jury verdict of $3.9 million, 838% above State’s First Offer – Jury trial verdict in a partial takings case for the owner of a refrigerated warehouse facility along State Highway 288 wherein the State was acquiring approximately 13,000 square feet from a 25-acre parcel for the construction of a flyover. The Trial resulted in final judgment of $3.9 million on an initial offer of $415,000. The State did not appeal the verdict
2018 Jury verdict of $12.2 million, 281% above State’s First Offer – Jury trial verdict in a partial takings case for the owner of a 52.75-acre tract of land in the Klein area of Northwest Houston that was taken by the State of Texas for construction of a portion of the Grand Parkway and an associated detention pond. The trial resulted in a final judgment of $12.4 million on an initial offer of $3.2 million. The State did not appeal the verdict
2018 Jury verdict of $9.25 million, 110% above State’s Initial Offer – Jury trial verdict in favor of the owner of a refrigerated warehouse facility in Houston, Texas that was condemned for the State’s US 290/610 Expansion Project, resulting in a final judgment of $10.36 million compared to the State’s offer of $4.4 million during the administrative phase of the litigation. The State did not appeal the verdict
2018 Jury verdict of $1.9 million, 1,005% above County’s First Offer –Jury trial verdict in favor of the owner of a trucking facility in Houston, Texas, a part of which was condemned for Harris County’s Hardy Toll Road Extension Project. The trial resulted in a final judgment of 2.3 million on an initial offer of $177,000. Harris County voluntarily dismissed its appeal
2016 Jury verdict of 6.1 million, 419% above the State’s initial offer – Jury trial verdict for the owner of a large grocery company related to the condemnation by the State of a part of its retail development for the construction of the Grand Parkway in Montgomery County, Texas. The trial resulted in a final judgment of $6.3 million on an initial offer of $1.2 million
2016 Combined Jury verdicts of $19.4 million, 292% above State’s Combined Initial Offer – Combined jury trial verdicts for 100% of the compensation sought in single consolidated trial involving two commercial reserve parcels owned by the same entity taken for the Grand Parkway in Harris County, Texas; the Judgment was affirmed by the Houston 1st Court of Appeals in State v. Gleannloch Commercial Development, LP, 585 S.W.3d 509 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.], pet. denied)
Jury verdict of $11.6 million, an increase of 351% above the County’s trial appraisal – Jury trial verdict equivalent to compensation sought by property owners at trial for the taking of a 42-acre tract for a detention pond in Harris County. The verdict was affirmed by the Houston Fourteenth Court of Appeals and the County’s petition for review to the Texas Supreme Court was denied
Settlement for a Houston family in a case against Harris County, Texas involving a partial taking for the acquisition of land for a park project in Crosby, Texas, resulting in a final judgment of $3.3 million on an initial offer of $2.4 million
Settlement for a landowner in connection with Harris County’s acquisition of a portion of its property along FM 2920 for a drainage project, resulting in a final judgment of $2.8 million on an original offer of $1.1 million
Settlement for the owner of a dry storage facility along State Highway 288, resulting in a final judgment of $2.8 million on an initial of $983,000
Settlement for a mall owner in a consolidated case following the partial taking by the State to widen U.S. 290, resulting in a final judgment of $32.0 million, an increase of 3,191% above the State’s offer of $972,000
Settlement for a major chain department store owner in a consolidated case following the partial taking by the State to widen U.S. 290, resulting in a final judgment of $31 million, an increase of 276% above the initial offer of $8.2 million
Settlement for an automotive facility owner in connection with the State’s widening of FM 1960 in Atascocita, Texas, resulting in a final judgment of $2.1 million on an initial offer of $1.0 million
Settlement for a major fast food restaurant owner against the State, resulting in a final judgment of $2.2 million where no compensation was initially offered by the State
Settlement for a property owner in a partial taking by the state to widen West Loop 610 North, resulting in a final judgment of $2.9 million on an initial offer of zero
Settlement for a property owner in a whole taking by the state to widen West Loop 610 North, resulting in a final judgment of $15.1 million on an initial offer of $7.3 million
Settlement for a property owner in a whole taking by the state to widen West Loop 610 North, resulting in a net final judgment of $8.7 million on an initial offer of $5.4 million
Lead counsel for several property owners in settlements reached with the State of Texas related to the Grand Parkway Project, the State Highway 249 Project, the 290 Expansion Project, as well as other projects throughout the State
Lead counsel for several property owners in settlements reached with Harris County, Texas, related to road widening, toll road projects, flood control district projects, and other County projects
Credentials
- South Texas College of Law, J.D. magna cum laude, 2007 (Member, Law Review)
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 2001
- Field Engineer and Contracts Specialist, Bechtel Corporation, 2002–2005
- Worked in various capacities in the Field Engineering and Contracts departments in both the Power and Oil, Gas & Chemicals business units. As a Field Engineer, David provided technical support to craftsmen and subcontractors during the construction of a $600 million four-unit combined-cycle power plant in Oklahoma. As a Contracts Specialist, he participated in all aspects of the subcontracts formation process for various types of subcontracts (ranging from $15,000–$40 million) on a $1 Billion LNG Project in Trinidad.
- Selected to the Texas Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2013−2017
- The Best Lawyers in America©(BL Rankings, LLC), Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law (Houston), 2021–2025
- Chambers USA, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (Texas), 2023 and 2024
- Member: American Bar Association; Houston Young Lawyers Association
- Texas
- Rankings & AwardsJune 6, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 21, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 18, 2022
- “Proving Your Case: And Staying Focused,” The American Law Institute: Eminent Domain and Land Value Litigation, February 2015 (co-author with Dixon Montague)
- “Highest and Best Use and the Role of the Dominant Estate in a Condemnation Case,” The Seminar Group: Easements in Texas, January 2015 (co-author with Dixon Montague)
- Inside The Minds: Managing Construction Litigation — Leading Lawyers on Organizing Documentation, Developing a Case Strategy, and Overcoming Common Challenges, Thomson Reuters/Aspatore, 2009, “Preparing for Construction Litigation” (co-author)