Plano Business Fraud Attorneys for Private and Mid-Sized Companies

Fraud litigation involves serious allegations that can jeopardize reputations, disrupt operations, and result in significant financial loss. From misrepresentation in business deals to complex schemes involving wire fraud or corporate misconduct, these cases often require swift, strategic legal action. Whether you’re the victim of deceptive practices or accused of wrongdoing, the stakes are high, and so is the need for experienced counsel.

Roquemore Skierski’s Dallas-based fraud litigation lawyers represent business owners, executives, and professionals across Texas in high-stakes fraud matters. Our clients face challenges involving corporate fraud, financial deception, investment scams, and fraudulent communications, and they rely on us to cut through complexity, protect their interests, and pursue real results.

When we take on a fraud case, we bring clarity, urgency, and a litigation strategy tailored to the facts. Whether you’re navigating claims of misrepresentation, investigating internal misconduct, or facing a federal fraud allegation, we work to uncover the truth and enforce accountability. Your reputation, your capital, and your business future are worth defending, and our approach is built to do just that.

How internal fraud begins inside a Plano company

Fraud within a business rarely presents itself as a single obvious event. It often takes shape in small irregularities that repeat until a pattern emerges. A delivery log might conflict with an invoice, a new supplier could be paid without the required approvals, or revenue entries appear without supporting documentation in the ledger. What seems like a clerical error can point to something larger. A partner may be siphoning profits over time, or a manager might be inflating payroll hours for personal gain. A business fraud attorney studies operating agreements, accounting systems, and compensation files to identify where the conduct started, how it spread, and how to address it while daily operations continue so the company can function during the investigation.

Building the proof of fraud required under Texas law

Texas fraud claims turn on specific elements that must be proven, including a false representation or concealed fact, intent, reliance, and a resulting loss. The most persuasive way to show those elements is with a documentary record that tells the story in sequence. Partnership and operating agreements, emails that reflect deal terms, purchase orders, invoices, bank statements, and general ledger entries can be organized into a dated timeline that shows what happened and when. When that timeline is clear, judges, arbitrators, and juries can evaluate the conduct without guesswork. A carefully assembled record not only establishes liability but also positions the company to seek full financial recovery.

Immediate court protections that secure cash flow, physical assets, and sensitive business data

When money, equipment, or confidential information are at risk, prompt action is often necessary. Texas courts can issue temporary restraining orders and temporary injunctions to freeze disputed bank accounts, pause transfers of inventory or fixed assets, preserve access to banking platforms, and protect customer lists while the facts are gathered. If funds have already been moved, forensic accounting can trace the path of the money and identify assets for recovery. If the misconduct has created a stalemate among owners or threatens ongoing operations, the court can appoint a receiver to stabilize the company, maintain value, and prevent further harm while claims are pursued. These early measures create the breathing room needed to collect evidence and prevent additional losses.

Legal avenues available to recover money and property after fraud

Texas law offers a range of remedies to restore what was taken. Courts can award damages that make the company whole, order restitution of specific funds, or impose a constructive trust on assets acquired with misappropriated money. Disgorgement may be used to require wrongdoers to surrender profits earned through the scheme, ensuring they do not keep an unlawful advantage. In matters involving a breach of fiduciary duty, exemplary damages may be available where conduct was intentional or malicious. If the fraud places the business itself at risk, receivership can preserve cash flow and property while the case proceeds. Taken together, these remedies provide a practical pathway to rebuild stability and reclaim value.

How fraud alters partner dynamics, investor confidence, and day-to-day operations

Financial loss tells only part of the story. Fraud often destabilizes relationships between partners, unsettles investors, and erodes confidence among key employees. Growth plans may be delayed, lender relationships strained, and disagreements about accountability can escalate into broader disputes. In Plano’s business environment, where long-term relationships with banks, suppliers, and customers matter, reputational harm can spread quickly. A business fraud attorney helps owners evaluate options to protect the enterprise while accountability is pursued. Depending on the facts, that may mean reallocating decision-making authority, negotiating a buyout to remove a bad actor, or winding down the company when trust cannot be repaired. Preserving the future of the business is as important as proving what occurred.

Why governing agreements in Plano companies often set the course for a fraud case

Company contracts frequently determine how a fraud matter will proceed. Operating and partnership agreements may require arbitration, set where a case must be filed, or include notice and timing provisions that influence strategy. Those terms can shape the speed and cost of the case and affect the scope of discovery. Our Plano team reviews these agreements at the outset so that demand letters, motions, and discovery requests align with the procedures the parties adopted when the company was formed. Matching the legal approach to the company’s own rules reduces procedural risk and keeps the focus on the facts.

Where business fraud cases connected to Plano are commonly heard

Many business fraud disputes tied to Plano are filed in Collin County district courts, although venue may also be proper in Denton County depending on where the company is headquartered, where records are kept, or where the conduct occurred. Certain high-value governance and securities matters may qualify for the Texas Business Court under Chapter 25A of the Texas Government Code, which excludes consumer Deceptive Trade Practices Act and personal injury cases. Selecting the appropriate forum is an early strategic step because the choice influences scheduling, discovery practices, and the route for any appeal.

Managing e-discovery and digital evidence in complex business fraud matters

Digital information often provides the clearest window into modern fraud. Email archives, messaging platforms, cloud backups, accounting system logs, and user permission histories can show who approved transactions, how decisions were made, and where the money went. Our lead trial lawyer holds advanced credentials in e-discovery and designs collection plans that capture essential data without disrupting day-to-day operations. By pairing technical discipline with a clear litigation strategy, Roquemore Skierski gives Plano businesses a reliable process to surface the facts and prepare a persuasive case.

How Roquemore Skierski moves a Plano business fraud matter toward resolution

Resolution begins with targeted preservation and a focused investigation plan. If records appear vulnerable to alteration or loss, we move quickly to obtain court orders that protect the evidence. Many matters are then prepared for mediation or arbitration, particularly where contracts call for private proceedings or where speed and confidentiality are priorities. If trial becomes necessary, we assemble the documentary record, conduct depositions that explain the decision trail, and work with forensic experts to present the financial impact in a way that is clear and credible. This methodical approach maximizes the chance of recovering losses and safeguarding the business.

our Plano Business fraud litigation lawyers

Kelvin Roquemore

Founding Partner

Kelvin Roquemore is a Founding Partner of Roquemore Skierski, specializing in business and commercial litigation, with experience in business transactions, complex litigation, M&A, and commercial real estate. With over 25 years of in-house counsel and business litigation experience, he brings a strategic approach to supporting owner-operated small and medium-sized enterprises.

Doug Skierski

Founding Partner

Doug Skierski is a Founding Partner of Roquemore Skierski, and is an A/V-rated attorney with over 20 years of experience in bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, receiverships, and commercial litigation. He holds a J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law and has a strong background in complex commercial litigation and arbitration.

D. Shawn Stevens

Of Counsel

Dennis Shawn Stevens is a member of Roquemore Skierski with over 20 years of experience representing clients in business litigation, commercial disputes, and insurance-related claims. He holds a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and advises businesses on matters involving breach of contract, construction conflicts, and complex commercial torts.

Mark Ivanyo

Of Counsel

Mark Ivanyo has experience in complex commercial litigation, including contract disputes, product liability, and premises-related claims. He has experience representing businesses in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration and administration. Mark holds a J.D. from South Texas College of Law and holds a B.B.A. in Management from Texas State University.

Alyssa Grissom

Paralegal

Alysa S. Grissom is a paralegal at Roquemore Skierski and is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization—an achievement held by fewer than 400 paralegals statewide. She holds an A.A. in Government, an A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies from Austin Community College, and a B.A. in Business, magna cum laude, from Concordia University Texas.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ's

What is fraud litigation?

Fraud litigation involves a civil lawsuit where a business owner alleges that another party intentionally misrepresented or concealed a material fact, causing financial harm when the owner relied on that falsehood.

How does statutory fraud in real-estate or stock transactions differ from common-law fraud?

Statutory fraud claims arise under Texas Business & Commerce Code § 27.01 and apply to real-estate or stock sales; the statute eases proof of scienter and allows exemplary damages without proving intent to deceive.

What is the statute of limitations for fraud in Texas?

Texas fraud claims carry a four-year limitations period under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004, but the discovery rule extends the statute of limitations until the fraud could reasonably have been discovered.

What defenses are commonly raised against fraud allegations?

Defendants typically argue lack of misrepresentation, no intent to deceive, absence of reliance, statute of limitations, waiver, or that statements were non-actionable opinions or forward-looking projections that could not be constituted as absolute statements.

How is fraud different from negligent misrepresentation?

Fraud involves intentional deception or a reckless disregard for the truth. By contrast, negligent misrepresentation, as outlined in Section 552 of the Restatement of Torts, arises when someone makes a false statement without exercising reasonable care in verifying its accuracy.

Can a company sue its own officers or employees for fraud?

A Texas corporation may file direct or derivative actions against officers, directors, or employees who commit fraud or breach fiduciary duties, seeking damages or disgorgement.

Are punitive damages available in Texas fraud cases?

Punitive (exemplary) damages are available if clear and convincing evidence shows fraud, malice, or gross negligence; Chapter 41 caps generally limit the award to the greater of $200,000 or two times economic damages plus non-economic damages up to $750,000.

When should I hire a fraud-litigation attorney?

A business owner should engage counsel as soon as suspicious conduct is detected—early legal action preserves electronic evidence, meets limitations deadlines, and increases leverage for settlement or injunctions.