Mr. Winter has been affiliated with Pray Walker since 1992 and has focused on trials of civil disputes. Mr. Winter’s practice began with the defense of personal injury and product liability lawsuits, but has grown to include handling cases involving business fraud and interference, breaches of corporate duties, and problems arising from business agreements. The contractual disputes range from commercial warranty claims to construction problems to oil and gas accounting issues and surface damage proceedings. Mr. Winter’s caseload still includes the handling of injury claims. Mr. Winter has prosecuted and defended cases in state and federal courts throughout Oklahoma. Many defense cases resulted in an agreeable settlement or a defense verdict while several prosecution cases resulted in favorable verdicts when no settlement offer was extended.

LEGAL AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

Business & Employment Litigation

Oil Field Pollution & Environmental Claims
Contractual & Commercial Disputes
Personal Injury Law

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Brigham Young University
Bachelor of Arts (1992)

University of Tulsa
Juris Doctor (1995)

COURT ADMISSIONS

Oklahoma Supreme Court and District Courts

U.S. District Court for Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Oklahoma

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. Court of Appeals for 10th Circuit

LEGAL ASSOCIATIONS

Oklahoma Association for Justice
• Chair of Continuing Legal Education Committee (2003-2005)

Oklahoma Bar Association

Tulsa County Bar Association:
• Court Operations Committee
• Professional Responsibility Committee
• Public Relations Committee

Washington County Bar Association

COMMON ISSUES ADDRESSED IN MR. WINTER’S PRACTICE

Business and Employment Litigation

• Misrepresentations among business partners and interference with contractual arrangements
• Wrongful discharge claims by former employee
• Breaches of employment, partnership or non-compete agreements
• Breach of warranties between seller and buyer
• Faulty workmanship in construction projects

Oil Field Pollution and Environmental Law

• Surface and forestry damages evaluation

• Oil field production and waste recovery

• Agricultural and forestry remediation

Personal Injury

• Brain and spinal injury claims following traffic collision
• Bodily injury claims after dangerous premises accident
• Wrongful death following a truck/car collision.

TRIAL VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS

• Prosecution and defense of traffic collisions, defective product injuries, and dangerous premises injuries.
• Prosecution and defense of breach of business partnership agreement, including claims of fraud and fiduciary duty violations.
• Prosecution of class action following contractor’s faulty workmanship.
• Prosecution of insurer’s failure to deal fairly and in good faith with insured.
• Prosecution of  violations of the FMLA
• Defense of retaliatory discharge claims by former employee.

• Defense of ADA claims by former employee

CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS

Past President and Board Member, Art After 5 with Philbrook Museum of Art
Past President and Board Member, Junior Advisory Board
Past President and Board Member, The Bartlesville All Sports Booster Club

PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING TOPICS

• Employer Liability for Employee’s Acts
• Breaches of Duty Among Business Partners and Contractual Interference Rights
• Discovery in Civil Trial Disputes