Scott C. Crutchfield is a Principal in GERMER PLLC’s Business section. His practice is primarily concentrated on representing Lenders and Borrowers in connection with HUD-Insured Loan transactions for the construction, refinancing and acquisition of Multifamily and Healthcare facilities under HUD’s various mortgage insurance programs, as well as property acquisitions and assumption of HUD-insured loans (“TPA’s”). Scott’s work in this area includes successful closings of numerous affordable transactions that combine HUD-insured financing, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Tax-Exempt Bonds and various types of local, state and federal subordinate loan elements. Geographically, approximately one-half to two-thirds of the transactions Scott has closed are through the Southwest Multifamily Region based in Fort Worth, with the remainder being spread across each of the other HUD Multifamily Regions. Additionally, Scott provides services to Borrowers under conventional commercial loan programs, including but not limited to those administered by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and USDA. Finally, Scott provides traditional business services to clients, including the sale, purchase or leasing of commercial property, entity formation and general services and advice.

Jason L. Hughes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Lamar University in 1993. Jason started his career as an Officer with the Beaumont, Texas Police Department and was promoted to Detective, assigned to the Special Crimes Unit in 1998. Jason’s extensive background in criminal investigations affords him unique expertise in case investigation and development. Jason earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law Houston in 2006. Jason was on the Dean’s Honor List and received the Phi Delta Phi Highest Grade Awards in Civil Procedure, Evidence and Criminal Trial Advocacy. He also received the Judge Bert Tunks Scholarship Award and the Garland Walker Alumni Association Scholarship Award. Upon graduation from law school, Jason began his legal career with Germer in 2007. Jason is admitted to practice in courts in the State of Texas, the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Southern, Northern, and Western Districts of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star, a Thompson Reuters publication, from 2012 – 2017 as well as being recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer, a Thompson Reuters publication, in 2025.. He was also recognized as “Appellate Lawyer of the Week” by Texas Lawyer Magazine in September 2011. Hughes Jason L. is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Jefferson County Bar Association, Texas Association of Defense Counsel and Family Law Sections of the State Bar of Texas and Jefferson County Bar Association. Jason also served on the State Bar of Texas Standing Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect from 2009 – 2015. Jason served on the Board of Directors for the Jefferson County Bar Association from 2019-2021. Jason became a member of the Michelle F. Mehaffy Inn of Court in 2019 and a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation in 2021.

James A. Tatem is a graduate of the University of Texas where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1989. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from South Texas College of Law in 1992. Tatem James A. is admitted to practice before Texas state courts and the United States District Court for the Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas. Jim has served as a first-chair trial lawyer in a variety of personal injury and property damage cases as well commercial cases. Jim has extensive experience in products liability, premises liability, toxic torts, superfund and environmental litigation, construction litigation, real estate, civil litigation, class and collective actions, commercial litigation, insurance law, mediation/arbitration, and personal injury defense.

Samantha C. Jeffers is an Attorney in the Austin office of Germer. Samantha graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Woman’s University with a degree in Business Management. She then earned her law degree from The George Washington University Law School in 2019. Prior to joining the firm in 2022, Samantha practiced at a large insurance defense firm specializing in catastrophic personal injury, premises liability, and wrongful death claims. At Germer, Samantha focuses on medical malpractice, representing hospitals, physicians, and medical providers.

Eric Robertson was raised in Port Neches, Texas, before he moved away for school and work. He attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, for his undergraduate studies. Then, he attended Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth, Texas. Eric spent his first years as a practicing attorney in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex from 2014 to 2017. Next, Eric served the State of Texas as an Administrative Law Judge in Houston from 2017 to 2022. As he started a family, Eric wanted to be closer to his hometown area and the values he grew up with, and he joined Germer PLLC’s Beaumont office in 2022. Eric practices in the areas of administrative law, civil litigation, personal injury defense, and torts.

William is a seasoned trial attorney with over 30 years of experience litigating claims involving personal injury, medical malpractice, professional negligence, products liability, motor vehicle collisions, deceptive trade practices, premises liability, property/casualty losses and insurance coverage. William has a strong background defending physicians and hospitals, as well as companies involved with pharmaceuticals and medical devices. He has been involved with various mass tort dockets. In connection therewith, he has specific expertise managing large caseloads and providing liability/damage assessments, budgeting projections and resolution strategies. He has substantial experience with jurisdictional challenges, venue disputes, preemption, large document productions, privilege and confidentiality issues, corporate witness and expert depositions, expert challenges, discovery/summary judgment motions and trial. William has tried cases in Texas and New Mexico, and been involved with various national trial teams and formulation of national litigation strategies.

Proudly taking bankruptcy & debt cases out of Argyle, Texas and the surrounding areas.

Shaunté M. Collins is a native Austinite and first joined Germer in 2020. She graduated from Duke University with a degree in Political Science and certificate in Politics, Philosophy & Economics. She then received her Doctor of Jurisprudence, with honors, from St. Mary’s University School of Law. While in law school, Shaunté was awarded the Chief Justice Alma Lopez “Women in Law” Student Leadership Award, was a Deans’ Academic Award recipient, and was inducted into the Phi Delta Phi legal honors society. Shaunté served as a Staff Writer for The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race and Social Justice and was the winner and Best Speaker of the Linda and Dave Schlueter First-Year Moot Court Competition. Additionally, she served as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Rebeca Martinez at the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals.