Shupe Ventura, PLLC
Matt Molash
Shupe Ventura, PLLC 9406 Biscayne Blvd. Dallas, Texas 75218* (817) 405-9939 matt.molash@svlandlaw.com *meetings at this address by appointment only
Matt was born in Springfield, Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln once lived and had his law office. The Lincoln legend ignited Matt’s early interest in the law and service to others. Matt first learned the importance of excellent customer service from his job delivering the local morning newspaper from a Schwinn Sting-Ray bicycle while in grade school. His earliest taste of the law was a “jury verdict” obtained in high school during a mock trial sponsored by a high-school Law Explorer program.
Matt graduated with High Honors from Illinois State University, earning a bachelor's of science degree with a major in accounting. After an internship in Chicago with Price Waterhouse, Matt completed his senior year in college and took and passed the CPA exam. Matt then attended law school at the University of Illinois, where he served on the Law Review and graduated Summa Cum Laude.
In 1983, Matt moved to Texas and joined the law firm of Hughes & Hill (later Hughes & Luce) where he first worked with Ike Shupe. Matt’s 30+ years as a trial lawyer have spanned the tumultuous savings and loan crisis, the internet revolution, bubble and crash, and various real estate booms and busts. At Hughes & Luce, Matt maintained a general litigation practice that included business disputes and a variety of real estate and land use matters. He also served stints as the firm's head of the Litigation section and Chief Operating Partner. Since 2001, Matt’s practice has focused on property rights matters, with a particular emphasis on land use and real estate-related disputes.
Matt’s dispute work includes experience in the following areas:
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Matt's condemnation work is devoted exclusively to representing property owners. Matt has represented property owners in eminent domain proceedings brought by the State of Texas (the Texas Department of Transportation), the Texas Regional Water District, the City of Dallas, the City of Denton, the City of Southlake, the City of Haltom City, pipeline companies and various other governmental and private entities.
Matt plays outdoor soccer, participates in Toastmasters, enjoys supporting the Dallas Maverick's, and is active in his church.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE:
Land Use and Real Estate Litigation:
- Trial to a successful jury verdict of a just compensation claim for landowner facing condemnation of 10 acres from a 27 acre residential subdivision under development
- Trial to a successful jury verdict of claims for a shareholder of closely-held real estate holding company establishing property boundaries and breach of fiduciary duties by corporation's board of directors; settled without appeal after jury verdict
- Trial to a successful jury verdict for breach of contract arising from a joint water well agreement between adjacent property owners
- Representation of a property owner in a negotiated resolution of a threatened condemnation of a gas pipeline easement across property planned for office and retail development
- Representation of a national fitness company in lease and contract disputes
- Representation of a contractor in a multi-million dollar pass-through claim against a quasi-governmental entity
- Representation of the Executor of the Estate of W.W. Caruth in an annexation fight arising from the City of Rockwall's efforts to annex a large tract of land owned by the estate
- Representation of a real estate company in an annexation fight arising from the City of Denton's efforts to annex a several hundred acre tract of land in Denton County, Texas
- Representation of a property owner in a threatened condemnation of its corporate headquarters
- Representation of property owners and developers in eminent domain proceedings by cities, school districts, and others with condemnation authority
- Representation of the owner of a large ranch in connection with a County's claim that a private ranch road was a public county road under Chapter 258 of the Texas Transportation Code
Selected Cases (clients in bold):
- Ron and Andrea Skufca v Billy Joe Donihoo, Cause No. 401-775-2013, 401st Judicial District Court, Collin County, Texas – jury verdict for plaintiff
- Georgia Bice DeKoker vs. Country Club Lake Park, Inc. et al., Cause No. 08-0259, 241st Judicial District Court, Smith County, Texas – settled without appeal after March 2010 jury verdict
- Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD v. MAW Bell Station, L.P., Cause No. 05-37836-2, County Court No. 2, Tarrant County, Texas; January 2009 – jury verdict for landowner
- Hughes v. City of Rockwall, 246 S.W.3d 621 (Tex. 2008)
Court Admissions:
- State courts in Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States District Courts for the Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts
Bar Admissions:
- State Bar of Texas
Education:
- J.D., University of Illinois College of Law (1983) (Summa Cum Laude; Associate Editor and Member, University of Illinois Law Review; Order of the Coif)
- B.S., Accounting, Illinois State University (1980) (High Honors; Bone Scholar)
Selected Activities:
- Dallas Bar Association
- St. Rita Catholic Community
Past Chairman, Building Committee
Past Member, Finance Council
- Toastmasters
- North Texas Premier Soccer Association (Player/Coach, Men's Over-55 division)
- Adjunct Professor – Land Use Law (Fall 2012 - Fall 2022)
Honors:
- Rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale Hubbell**
- Recognized as a "Best Lawyer in Dallas" by D Magazine 2015, 2016, and 2020
**AV®, BV®, AV Preeminent® and BV Distinguished® are registered certification marks used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures, standards and policies. Information regarding Martindale-Hubbell® ratings can be found at www.martindale.com/ratings.