• J.D., magna cum laude, Cumberland School of Law at Samford University (1980)
• B.S., summa cum laude, Troy University (1976)

Alabama

• Alabama State Bar
• American Bar Association
• Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
• Association of Life Insurance Counsel
• Product Liability Advisory Council
• Defense Research Institute
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)

• Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice (2009-2019), Insurance Law (2008-2019)
• Best Lawyers in America, "Lawyer of the Year," Appellate Practice, Mobile, AL (2014)
• Mid-South Super Lawyers, Insurance Coverage (2016-2018)
• Alabama Super Lawyers, Business Litigation (2008-2015)
• Defense Research Institute, Duffield Smith Award for Best Defense Publication (2001)

• Troy University, Board of Trustees
• Samford University Cumberland School of Law, Board of Advisors
• Baptist Foundation of Alabama, Board of Trustees
• American Camellia Society, Vice-President
• The Nature Conservancy, Board of Directors

• Insurance-Coverage/Bad Faith

• Lead counsel for inventor of cellulosic fuel process in defense of business suit by a former investor who sued to enforce certain rights under an option agreement. Injunction claim by investor was denied; Order was issued declaring option void.

• Class Actions

• Defense of pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) in putative class action arising from business agreements with participating drugstores and providers.

• Media

• Successful defense (winning dismissal) on behalf of syndicated radio talk show host in defamation claim by public figure for alleged injurious comments about him and his wife.

• Product Liability

• Lead counsel in defense of death claim arising from a hunting accident involving alleged defective tree-stand. Favorable settlement.

• Lead counsel in defense of tire manufacturer in multiple death case arising from auto accident allegedly resulting from tread separation. Favorable settlement.

• Appellate

• Appellant’s counsel on appeal of $1 million jury verdict arising from injury causing paraplegia. Reversed and rendered.

• Defense of excess D&O insurer in coverage litigation with Directors and Officers of a major national health rehabilitation provider arising from underlying claims by individual and institutional investors alleging corporate and criminal fraud.

• Appellant’s counsel on appeal of $50 million wrongful death verdict arising from fiery truck accident allegedly caused by manufacturing defect. Remitted to $4 million.

• Appellant’s counsel on reversal of $7.5 million "wrongful death" jury verdict against a road contractor. Auto accident occurred 6 years after the contractor's work was completed and accepted by the state transportation department.

• Jury defense verdict in Florida bad faith lawsuit against insurer who delayed making a $5 million umbrella payment to 17-year old brain injury victim (with $30 million in damages) where the amount of underlying coverage was still in question.

• Lead counsel in successful defense of pollution claim over costs incurred by insured for its EPA-mandated remediation of ground pollution at a paper manufacturing facility that had been in continuous operation for over 50 years, triggering multiple policies.

• Life, Health & Disability

• Defense of national health insurer in series of Georgia bad faith claims over alleged pattern of rescissions, post-claim underwriting, and fraudulent actuarial/rating practices. Resolved through favorable settlements and summary judgment.

• Defense judgment for individual disability insurer on bad faith claim by a lawyer who alleged her benefits were terminated unlawfully while she suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome and/or fibromyalgia preventing her from practicing law.

• Commercial

• Defense judgment for international product manufacturer in suit alleging that it unlawfully canceled a manufacturing agreement with an international company to build products overseas.