Our Team

Summer Simmons specializes in complex commercial litigation, with a focus on insurance and financial services litigation. Summer has represented financial service companies in matters involving welfare benefit and defined benefit pension plans, coverage disputes, beneficiary disputes, bad faith insurance claims, breach of contract, and actions relating to the secondary market of life and annuity products. She has been victorious on numerous dispositive motions, allowing her clients to escape the unnecessary costs of protracted litigation. Summer also has considerable appellate experience and has contributed to briefs and responses in Texas’s Fifth Court of Appeals and other state appellate courts.

While in law school, Summer served as the Associate Managing Editor of the SMU International Law Review Association, served as co-director of the mentor program, and chaired the Public Service Committee. Prior to joining MH, Summer gained litigation experience at a Dallas commercial litigation firm.

Outside of the office, Summer enjoys experimenting with new cooking techniques and recipes, exploring state and national parks with her husband and two dogs, and renovating her 60-year-old house.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Obtained dismissal with prejudice through demurrer of claims against annuity issuer alleging negligence, negligent misrepresentation, and rescission based on the issuance of a life-benefits-only annuity as part of a personal injury settlement package, affirmed by the California Court of Appeal. Case No. B276316; Benjamin Ramirez v. American General Life Ins. Company, et al., in the California Court of Appeals, Second District.
• Obtained dismissal on special appearance of all claims against foreign insurance entities alleged to have voluntarily participated in fraudulent investment scheme, affirmed by the Texas Courts of Appeal. Cause No. 05-16-00286-CV; Gail Friend, et al. v Acadia Holding Corp., et al., in the Court of Appeals, Fifth District of Texas at Dallas.
• Obtained dismissal through summary judgment against insurer client on breach of contract claim based on a reinsurance agreement with another insurer.

ADMISSIONS

EDUCATION