Distinctions · AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell · The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation · Mid-South Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation Associations · American Bar Association
- Center for Professional Responsibility
- Litigation Section
-- Professional Liability Litigation Committee · Mississippi Bar
- Ethics Committee, 1986-91 · Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers · Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association Legal Experience · Counsel for major oil company in toxic tort, commercial and general litigation. Most recent work included defense of a global warming lawsuit in federal court against oil, energy and chemical companies by property owners who alleged that greenhouse gas emissions by the defendants contributed to Hurricane Katrina which caused damage to their property. · Pigford v. Glickman, 185 F.R.D. 82 (D.D.C. 1999), affd, 206 F.3d 1212 (D.C. Cir.). Together with other counsel, represented thousands of African American farmers in historic federal class action against United States Department of Agriculture for racial discrimination in administration of farm loans and benefit programs, recovering approximately $1 billion for farmers and taking no fee from them. · Represented over 60 attorneys and other professionals in professional liability actions and disciplinary proceedings, e.g., Terrain Enterprises, Inc. v. Mockbee, 654 So.2d 1122 (Miss. 1995), a professional liability case against attorney in which Mississippi Supreme Court affirmed jury verdict in favor of attorney. · Represented major pharmaceutical manufacturer in mass tort product liability litigation involving prescription diet drug. · Represented many manufacturers and distributors in variety of product liability actions in federal and state courts, including automobile manufacturer in dozens of vehicular rollover cases; e.g., Pounds v. Rogersol, Inc., et al. (S.D. Miss.), in a toxic tort benzene case, trial court granted Daubert motion to exclude plaintiff's expert and motion for summary judgment; Broome v. Freightliner Corp., 856 F.2d 189 (5th Cir. 1988), trial court's summary judgment in favor of defendant was affirmed; and Stahl Urban v. Uniroyal (S.D. Miss), a commercial product liability case that resulted in federal court jury verdict for defendant after nine weeks of trial. · Represented insurance companies in coverage disputes, e.g., The Home Insurance Company of Illinois v. Joe Justus et al. (S.D. Miss.), federal court jury returned verdict for insurer and determined there was no coverage for $1 million judgment against insured by injured parties. · Represented hundreds of employees in related group of collective actions in federal court against governmental employers for wage and hour violations that resulted in settlements of over $14 million. · Wyeth Laboratories v. James, 918 So. 2d 1243 (Miss. 2005) and Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories v. Caldwell, 905 So. 2d 1205 (Miss. 2005), interlocutory appeals to Mississippi Supreme Court by pharmaceutical company that resulted in reversal of trial court's decisions refusing to sever multiple plaintiffs and transfer to proper venue. · American Home Products Corporation v. Sumlin, 942 So. 2d 766 (Miss. 2006), appeal by pharmaceutical company to Mississippi Supreme Court that resulted in reversal of trial court's refusal to transfer venue to another county. · Represented numerous plaintiffs in personal injury and product liability cases, many of which have resulted in substantial verdicts and settlements. · Cole v. Alton, 567 F. Supp. 1081 (N.D. Miss. 1983) and 567 F. Supp. 1084 (N.D. Miss. 1983), defense of wrongful death action, resulted in summary judgment dismissing negligent entrustment claim against trucking company and thereafter dismissal of individual officers and employees of company. · Alabama Great Southern Railroad Company v. Allied Chemical Corporation et al., 501 F.2d 94 (5th Cir.), reversed a $3.6 million verdict against defendants in product liability action based on indemnity claim for millions of dollars paid to claimants following train derailment. · Wright v. Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, 300 So. 2d 805 (Miss.) and 344 So. 2d 471 (Miss.), involved representation of landowner, in first inverse condemnation case in state history, over whose land an aviation easement was taken without compensation. |