Kurt Arnold

Kurt Arnold is a long time resident of Houston, Texas and its surrounding communities. After graduating high school, Kurt attended the University of Texas where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government with High Honors at the age of 19. Three years later, he graduated from The University of Texas Law School with Honors as a member of the Order of the Coif (top 10 percent of his class). Kurt also received the Dean's Achievement Awards in Business Associations, Evidence, and Professional Responsibility. While in Austin, Kurt worked for the Governor of Texas and interned for the Texas Supreme Court. After graduating law school, Kurt Arnold served as a law clerk for a federal judge in the Southern District of Texas. Before co-founding Arnold & Itkin LLP, Kurt worked with Jason Itkin at Susman Godfrey LLP— one of the nation's top trial law firms.

At Arnold & Itkin LLP, Kurt has achieved substantial verdicts and settlements for his clients, handling cases in dozens of states and in front of juries, judges, and arbitration tribunals. In the past few years, Kurt has tried more than twenty cases and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of his clients. Kurt has handled a variety of case types in different venues:

January 2010 - In 2009, Arnold & Itkin LLP's trial lawyers continued their proven track record of winning cases. In fact, the firm won more than $100 Million in verdicts and settlements last year. We plan to build on last year's success by continuing to fight for those people who have suffered catastrophic personal injuries or been harmed in bad business deals.
May 2007 - Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin tried a complex business dispute case concerning lender liability against one of the nation's largest banks. After weeks of intense trial preparation the case was tried in Honolulu state court for approximately five weeks. The jury ultimately awarded approximately $40,000,000, one of the largest verdicts in Hawaii history. The pretrial offer to Plaintiff was less than 5% of the ultimate verdict. The case was successfully resolved while on appeal in October 2008.
January 2009 - Kurt Arnold was lead counsel in resolving a case on behalf of an injured seaman for $14,000,000 in Galveston County Court. Most importantly, the trial team's preparation combined with the Court's unwillingness to continue the case allowed for the resolution within ten months of the date of filing. The Defendants had failed to make a single offer prior to the week of trial. After extensive discovery and just two days before trial, Kurt ultimately negotiated the final settlement of the case that ensured his client was protected for the rest of his life.
November 2007 - Kurt Arnold, with Jason Itkin and Jeff Seely, obtained an $11,000,000 verdict on behalf of an injured family in a case involving a train collision. The trial lasted nearly four weeks in Texas state court and ultimately concluded favorably for Kurt's client. The Defendant's pretrial offer was less than 10% of the verdict obtained at trial.
July 2009 - Kurt Arnold, lead attorney, received a $9.6 million jury verdict in an industrial injury case. The trial lasted over two weeks, but the jury deliberated for only a day and a half before finding Occidental Chemical Corporation liable for an improperly designed piece of equipment which led to the industrial accident with a worker losing most of the site in one eye. The verdict was recieved in Harris County Texas.
October 2006 - Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin settled an offshore injury case against a variety of defendants for $8,900,000 on the first day of trial. Kurt resolved the case against several defendants and went to trial against the remaining platform owner in Galveston Federal Court. Ultimately, the case was settled immediately prior to voir dire and Kurt achieved a settlement to ensure his client was taken care of for the rest of his life.
April 2009 – Kurt Arnold settled a wrongful death case on behalf of a widow and her family for $5,900,000 against a Southeast Texas Plant prior to Arbitration and for more than 12 times the special damages in the case. The case was filed in Harris County and compelled to arbitration. After several depositions and with just two weeks until arbitration, Kurt successfully settled the case.
October 2006 - Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin received a $3,700,000 jury verdict on behalf of a longshoreman who was killed in the Port of Houston. Utilizing various experts and computer graphics, the jury confirmed that the ship was improperly maintained. The pretrial offer to the family was less than 10% of the verdict obtained at trial.
September 2009 - Kurt Arnold represented a Louisiana Jones Act Seaman and the case settled for $2,500,000. The seaman was injured in Louisiana inland waters on an inland drilling barge. The suit was filed in Galveston County and the Defendant attempted to transfer to Harris County. The Defendant lost in both the trial and appellate courts on the venue issue and the case was set for trial in Galveston County Court. The plaintiff sustained injuries which necessitated neck and back surgery. The case was settled in Galveston County.
October 2005 - Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin resolved a businessman's case for $2,500,000. The case involved an oral agreement between Kurt's client and a variety of private equity firms. Through extensive discovery, the Plaintiff was able to prove the oral contract was enforceable, and the Defendants settled the case.
August 2008 - Kurt Arnold was lead counsel in a case involving an injured seaman who injured his back and wrist on an inland vessel. The case settled for $2,250,000 only a few months after filing in Texas state court in Hidalgo County.
April 2008 - Kurt Arnold was lead counsel in a case involving two offshore workers with orthopedic injuries. Kurt settled with a variety of defendants and then began trial in front of Federal Judge Vanessa Gilmore. Ultimately, Kurt was able to settle the case for a total sum exceeding $2,000,000 against all defendants.
May 2009 - Kurt Arnold, lead attorney, settled a maritime injury case for $2,000,000. During the 3 years it took to settle this case, the lawfirm of Arnold & Itkin LLP made sure the injured vessel worker received the medical care he needed and his family was provided for financially. The neck injury case settled 2 days before going to trial.
December 2007 - Kurt Arnold and Mike Pierce tried a trucking accident case in Vermillion Parish Louisiana. Kurt's client was a nurse who was injured in the accident and ultimately underwent back and shoulder surgery. The jury awarded Kurt's client approximately $2,000,000. Defendant's highest pretrial offer was less than 20% of the verdict ultimately obtained.
March 2007 - Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin tried a Jones Act case in Houston federal court for approximately one week for an injured seaman who suffered a neck injury that resulted in surgery. The Defendant refused to make any offer before and throughout trial. The jury ultimately awarded approximately $1,200,000. Following the verdict, Defendant refused to make any offer during the appeal process. Ultimately, the 5th Circuit confirmed the award in its entirety.
May 2006 - Kurt Arnold was lead counsel representing an injured man who was hurt when his hockey mask failed. The case was filed in Dallas County against one of the country's largest hockey equipment manufacturers. Kurt was able to recover a substantial confidential settlement and to ensure that the product was recalled nationwide.
May 2006 - Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin successfully resolve a variety of claims arising out of the BP Texas City explosion. The cases were settled for a confidential amount favorable to Plaintiffs.

In an annual survey of his legal peers published by Texas Monthly magazine, Kurt Arnold has been named a "Texas Rising Star” on multiple occasions. He has been named one of H Texas magazine's "Top Lawyers for the People" multiple times in the past few years. Kurt is an active member of St. Paul's Methodist Church in Houston, Texas and actively supports a variety of charities. As a fellow of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Kurt has made significant charitable contributions to help ensure that the law protects individuals who would otherwise not have a voice in our government.

If you have any questions about our firm or would like to speak with one of our lawyers, please contact our Houston office.