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Areas of Emphasis
- Commercial Litigation
- Fiduciary Litigation (trusts, estates, wills)
- State Tax Controversy Litigation
- Federal Civil Tax Litigation
- Professional Liability Defense
Distinctions
- AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- Award of Merit for Outstanding Service, Jackson Young Lawyers
Education & Honors
- University of Mississippi, J.D., cum laude, 1985
- Associate Editor, Mississippi Law Journal
- Omicron Delta Kappa
- University of Mississippi, B.A., English, 1982
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Associations
- American Bar Association
- Litigation Section
- Defense Research Institute
- Mississippi Bar
- Litigation Section
- Trusts and Estates Section
- Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
- Capital Area Bar Association
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 1985
- U.S. District Courts
- Mississippi: Northern and Southern Districts
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
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Legal Experience
- Community Bank, Ellisville, Mississippi v. Courtney, 884 So. 2d 767 (Miss. 2004). Representation post-trial and on appeal of bank in lender liability action. Verdict of $5,345,000 reduced post-trial and on appeal to $6,236.
- Johnson v. Kansas City Southern, 224 F.R.D. 382 (S.D. Miss. 2004). Representation of telecommunications company in defeating plaintiffs' class action certification motion in railroad right-of-way litigation.
- Jones v. Life Ins. Co. of Georgia, 336 F. Supp. 2d 631 (S. D. Miss. 2004). Representation of insurance company in sales practices litigation.
- Powers v. Litton Industries, Inc., 104 Fed. Appx. 399, 2004 WL 1598761 (5th Cir. (Miss.) (2004). Representation of employer against former executive's claim for additional stock options. Summary judgment secured and affirmed.
- Estate of Smith v. Samuels, 822 So. 2d 366 (Miss. App. 2002). Representation of lender in successful action to enforce option to purchase real estate.
- Smith v. EquiFirst Corp., 117 F. Supp. 2d 557 (S.D. Miss. 2000). Successful Federal Arbitration Act petition to force arbitration.
- Todd v. Deposit Guaranty National Bank, 849 F. Supp. 1149 (S.D. Miss. 1994). Successful representation of bank as safekeeping agent.
- Biglane v. Biglane, 587 So. 2d 298 (Miss. 1991). Representation of decedent's estate in will construction touching on estate taxation; affirmed.
- Will contests.
- Defense of corporate and individual trustees in numerous cases.
- Gift Tax. Representation of taxpayers in district court transferee liability action.
- Estate Tax. Representation of taxpayer in tax court action challenging assessed deficiencies.
- State Tax Controversy. Representation of multi-state taxpayer on issue of state taxation of electronic commerce.
- State Tax Controversy. Representation of out-of-state taxpayers in multi-million dollar income tax assessment; taxpayers could not post jurisdictional bond, so relief was secured in TRO action resulting in favorable settlement for taxpayers of approximately 25% of original assessment.
- State Tax Controversy. Representation of Fortune 500 company in multi-million dollar income tax assessment and refund action resulting in $4,000,000 refund (issue was whether gain on sale was part of apportionable business income).
- Southeastern Medical Supply, Inc. v. Boyles, Moak & Brickell Ins., Inc., 822 So. 2d 323 (Miss. App. 2002). Representation of insurance broker in negligence action.
- California Union Ins. Co. v. City of Walnut Grove, Miss., 857 F. Supp. 515 (S.D. Miss. 1994). Representation of insurance broker in negligence action.
- Representation of CPA firm against claim of improper tax advice given in commercial transaction.
- Representation of investment brokerage firm in claim of negligently investing for minor child; summary judgment obtained.
- Representation of state-wide insurance broker in claim alleging failure to procure workers' compensation coverage.
- Representation of insurance broker in negligence action involving co-insurance penalty; cost-of-defense settlement obtained.
- Representation of attorney's former client in securing settlement of legal malpractice claim in mid-six figures.
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