Will joined the firm in 1999 and is a shareholder. Practice Will's practice has been devoted exclusively to civil defense litigation, concentrating primarily in the areas of medical negligence, products liability, False Claims Act, and premises liability. He has served as trial counsel in 19 cases tried to a jury verdict and defense counsel in well over 150 cases resulting in complete exoneration for his clients. Highlights * Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a Surgery Center after a four day trial arising from an injury during recovery period. * Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of an OB/GYN after a five day trial in a case arising out of pregnancy complications. * Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of an ENT Medical Facility in a trip and fall case resulting in a rare neurologic condition, ultimately leading to surgical implantation of a permanent spinal cord stimulator. * Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a neurosurgeon following a three week trial arising from the death of a patient due to a ruptured aneurysm. * Obtained unanimous opinion from Alabama Supreme Court affirming trial court's judgment as a matter of law at trial in favor of a defendant surgeon in retained foreign body case. * Obtained defense verdict for a cardiologist in a case alleging negligent failure to diagnose coronary artery disease, resulting in death of a forty-three year old anesthesiologist. * Obtained defense verdict for general surgeon in a case alleging negligent delay in operating on a patient with a perforated stomach, resulting in death. * Obtained defense verdict for an internal medicine physician in a case alleging improper discontinuation of a diuretic medication, resulting in acute pulmonary edema, brain damage and death of a 50 year old woman. * Obtained defense verdict for obstetrician in case alleging negligent failure to properly interpret fetal heart monitor strips and perform emergency cesarean section, resulting in permanent brain damage. * Obtained defense verdict for emergency physician in the death of a 38 year old patient who died of a perforated duodenal ulcer 18 hours after being discharged from the emergency department. * Obtained affirmance from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in dismissal of a False Claims Act case brought against two physicians. * Obtained judgment as a matter of law for surgeon in a retained foreign body case. * Obtained defense verdict for orthopedic surgeon in a case involving a popliteal artery injury during total knee replacement. * Obtained defense verdict for general surgeon in a case involving injury to the vena cava, and subsequent death, in a laparoscopic surgical procedure. * Obtained defense verdict for internal medicine physician who served as the Medical Director of a methadone clinic in a case involving alleged negligence in prescribing medication. * Obtained defense verdict in a wrongful death action for a neurosurgeon in a case involving rupture and hemorrhage of a cerebral aneurysm of the left internal carotid artery. *Received an affirmed dismissal in the Eleventh Circuit for a client accused of a Qui Tam violation. *Obtained summary judgment for a medical interventionalist in Jefferson County who experienced a product malfunction during surgery. *Obtained dismissal of a jewelry manufacturer accused of fraud in a class action pending in the Northern District of Alabama. Community Involvement Will has been actively involved in the Finn and Quinley Foundation, A/T Children's Project, the United Way and the Birmingham Exceptional Foundation. He attends the Cathedral Church of the Advent. Reported Cases Prowell v. Children's Hosp. of Alabama, ____ So.2d ____, 2006 WL 1304917, Ala., May 12, 2006. Taylor v. Smith, 892 So.2d 887, 2004 WL 473322, Ala., March 12, 2004. Ex parte Owen, 860 So.2d 877, 2003 WL 1861029, Ala., April 11, 2003. Ex parte Showers, 812 So.2d 277, 2001 WL 564290, Ala., May 25, 2001. Cranman v. Maxwell, 792 So.2d 418, 2001 WL 499189, Ala.Civ.App., May 11, 2001. Wilson v. Teng, 786 So.2d 485, 2000 WL 1801547, Ala., December 8, 2000. Ex parte Cranman, 792 So.2d 392, 2000 WL 1728367, Ala., June 16, 2000. Speeches And Publications *Keynote presenter, "Medical Liability for Third-Party Nonpatients," ALAMTA Regional Conference, August 18, 2006. *CLE Presenter, "Cutting Edge Issues in Medical Malpractice," National Business Institute, Birmingham, AL, July 2006 and July 2007. Related News 10/5/2011, Axon & Huntley Obtained Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case 12/22/2010, Axon and MacKenzie Obtain Defense Verdict 9/24/2009, Miller and Axon Granted JMOL by Alabama Supreme Court 3/26/2009, Florie and Axon Obtain Defense Verdict in Twelve Day Trial 8/1/2007, Starnes & Atchison gets defense verdict in complex medical malpractice case. |