Distinctions
· AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell
· Mid-South Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation
Associations
· International Association of Defense Counsel
· American Bar Association
· Defense Research Institute
· Harmonie Group
- Liaison, Product Liability Section
· Mississippi Bar
· Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
· Capital Area Bar Association
Legal Experience
· National product liability counsel for manufacturer of commercial kitchen equipment.
· Representation of numerous companies and manufacturers in product liability, toxic tort and commercial litigation claims in over 25 states in both state and federal courts.
· Lead counsel in Ortego v. Merial, LLC, a product liability case tried in August 2011 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana resulting in a defense verdict.
· Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all claims against forklift manufacturer in case of alleged defective design resulting in serious personal injury in a work related accident. Townsend v. Doosan Infracore American Corp., 3 So. 3d 150 (Miss. Ct. App. 2009).
· During 2009, obtained summary judgment and judgment for costs against farm entity in connection with claim for alleged crop injury purportedly related to herbicide applications made in potato fields. Matthews v. FMC Corporation & Ag Tech, Inc; District Court for the Fifth Judicial District of Idaho in and for Cassia County; Case No. CV-06-1125.
· Co-lead counsel at trial and on appeal of commercial case involving illegal application of pesticides in Arkansas. The opinion from the Arkansas Supreme Court was that state's first pronouncement on the availability of damages for mental anguish in connection with the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. FMC Corporation, et al. v. Helton, et al., 202 S.W. 3d 490 (Ark. 2005).
· Lead counsel in obtaining dismissal of plaintiffs' claims against defendant on basis of federal preemption. Dahlman Farms, Inc. v. FMC Corporation, 240 F.Supp.2d 1012 (D.Minn. 2002).
· Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of claims against defendants alleged to have tortiously interfered with government procurement contracts. Toxco, Inc. v. Transchem, LLC, 42 Fed. Appx. 712, 2002 WL 177429 (6th Cir. 2002).
· Summary judgment in case involving off-target pesticide damage to property. Cornay v. FMC Corporation, 735 So.2d 944 (La.App. 3 Cir. 1999).
· Obtained summary judgment in favor of manufacturer sued by firefighters in connection with toxic soup claims arising from plant fire and explosion. Thompson, et al. v. FMC Corporation, et al., 710 So.2d 1270 (Ala.Civ.App. 1997).
· Obtained summary judgment in case involving mishandling and misuse of pesticide resulting in damage to adjoining landowner. J. Carlson Grower, Inc. v. Riverview FS, et al., Circuit Court for 17th Judicial Circuit, Winnebago County, Illinois; Cause No.: 99 L-147.
· As lead counsel and co-lead counsel, has obtained numerous jury verdicts in personal injury and product liability claims tried in state and federal courts in Mississippi.
Papers, Presentations & Publications
· "Defending the Component Part Manufactured in the Product Liability Contract," Defense Research Institute Products Liability Seminar, San Francisco, CA, December 1999.
· "Taking Effective Depositions in Mississippi, Mechanics of the Deposition, Tactical Considerations," Lorman Education Services, July 2004 and 2005.
· Co-Author, "Taking Effective Depositions, Mechanics of the Deposition, Tactical Considerations," DRI Young Lawyer Seminar, San Diego, CA, June 2007.