Roll Call Tribute

Michael Wallace Huddleston 

October 9, 1957 - May 6, 2024 

Michael Wallace Huddleston was born on October 9, 1957, to Doris Elaine Travelsted Huddleston and Fred Charles Huddleston, Jr. Mike grew up in Lewisville, Texas and graduated from Lewisville High School. After studying music at North Texas State University for two years, he went on to Texas A&M University from which he graduated summa cum laude in 1980 with a B.A. degree in political science. Three years later, he was awarded his juris doctorate degree by the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University in 1983, where he also served as citations editor for the Journal of Air Law and Commerce and received several advocacy awards.

Later that year, Mike began his legal practice with Cowles, Sorrells, Patterson & Thompson, P.C., now known as Cowles & Thompson, P.C. In 1993, he joined with his colleague and friend, R. Brent Cooper, to form Cooper & Huddleston, P.C., now known as Cooper & Scully, P.C. Mike later joined McCauley, Macdonald, Devin & Huddleston, P.C. as a named shareholder and then as a partner in Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, L.L.P. before joining Munsch, Hardt, Kopf & Harr, P.C. as a shareholder in 2013.

Mike devoted his practice primarily to appeals and insurance law. As he progressed through his career, he focused his professional skills on matters involving liability insurance, claims handling, contract construction and extra-contractual liability. Because of his acknowledged expertise, he was often called upon in complex cases to serve as consultant, attorney, mediator and expert witness for both policyholders and insurers.

In both his appellate and insurance practices, Mike was instrumental in numerous cases yielding landmark decisions. A few examples include Christopherson v. Allied Signal which clarified the criteria for expert testimony; Hendricks v. Todora addressing the limited scope of a premises owner’s liability for unprecedented third party criminal acts; and Rose v. Doctors Hospital refining applicability of the constitutional open courts guarantee; and State Farm Lloyds v. Williams involving the extent of coverage for an innocent spouse’s estate under a homeowner’s policy. In the insurance field, Mike persuaded the Texas Supreme Court in State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. v. Gandy to protect the integrity of adjudications by virtually ending enforcement of “sweetheart deals” as a precursor for enforcing those agreements against insurers.

Over the course of his career, Mike became renowned for the depth of his knowledge about and practice concerning insurance law. For two decades he was recognized by Texas Monthly as a “Super Lawyer” and since 2012 D Magazine recognized him as one of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas.” Mike was a founding officer of the Insurance Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and was elected as a fellow and board member of the American College of Coverage Counsel, which he served as president from 2021 to 2023.

While at Munsch Hardt, Mike received many awards, including the 2020 Russell H. McMains Legends of Texas Insurance Law Award presented by the Insurance Section of the State Bar of Texas; The Texas Trial Legends Award presented by the Dallas Bar Association in 2019; the Thomas Segalla Service Award presented by the American College of Contractual and Extra-Contractual Counsel (ACCEC) for demonstrating creativity, visibility, persistence, volunteerism, and leadership in the practice of law in 2017; The Texas Lawyer’s “Go-To Lawyer in the Insurance Industry” in 2012 and selected for inclusion in the Texas Lawyer “Go To Guide” and named one of the top 5 practitioners in Texas Insurance Law in 2007; Best Insurance Lawyer in Dallas in 2015 and 2023; Best Lawyers of America (Insurance) from 2006-2023.

Mike’s interests and extraordinary achievements were not limited to his professional life. He was an accomplished saxophonist and received numerous awards in high school. His love for the music in general and the saxophone in particular outlasted his studies in high school and at North Texas. Even after embarking on a demanding professional career, he continued playing and delighted audiences for many years as a player in various groups, including the Pecos River Brass big band and, most recently, the Jazz Visions quartet.

Mike was preceded to heaven by his father, Fred Charles Huddleston, Jr. and his mother, Doris Elaine Huddleston, his uncles and aunts. He is survived by his wife, Maggie, his step-daughters, Daniela and Valeria. His son, Michael, and daughter Willow, from a prior marriage, as well as many cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested your consideration of a donation in Mike’s honor to the American Cancer Society.