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Areas of Emphasis
- Antitrust and Deceptive Trade Practices Litigation
- Bankruptcy Litigation
- Banking and Consumer Lending Litigation
- Business Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Securities Litigation
- Trucking Litigation
Distinctions
- AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected Top 40 Under 40 by Mississippi Business Journal, 2007
- Two years of Public Accounting in Memphis, Tennessee
- Passed 1991 Certified Public Accountant Exam
Education & Honors
- University of Mississippi, J.D., summa cum laude, 1996
- Business Manager, Mississippi Law Journal
- Dean Robert J. Farley Award for graduating first in Class of 1996
- University of Mississippi, B.S., Accounting, magna cum laude, 1991
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Associations
- American Bar Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- Defense Research Institute
- Mississippi Bar
- Litigation Section
- Minority Involvement Committee
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 1996
- U.S. District Courts
- Mississippi: Northern and Southern Districts
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
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Legal Experience
- Successfully obtained a $3,101,506.37 jury award in federal court for a Mississippi fertilizer company in a contractor negligence suit and obtained a $4,200,000 settlement with primary insurance carrier. See Mississippi Phosphates Corporation v. Furnace & Tube Service, Inc., 2009 WL 1448967 (S.D. Miss. 2009) & 2008 WL 313770 (S.D. Miss. 2008).
- Successfully prosecuted a million dollar arbitration in Atlanta, Georgia against an international company located in the United Kingdom.
- Successfully prosecuted over a million dollars in deferred compensation claims against Chapter 11 bankruptcy debtor in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
- Successfully obtained jury award in Mississippi for landlord against former tenant for significant damages to facility and surrounding property.
- Successfully obtained a directed verdict in jury trial against local Mississippi equipment distributor in suit brought by a railroad company.
- Defended national truck manufacturer in $40 million commercial warranty suit brought by trucking company in bankruptcy which after years of litigation was settled for less than $50,000.
- Successfully obtained dismissal of a $15 million suit against Canadian Imperial Banking Corporation (CIBC) and its security broker in the Circuit Court of Shelby County, Tennessee. The successor trustee had asserted claims of conspiracy, conversion, misappropriation and breach of fiduciary duty suit arising from the use of the proceeds of a collar or equity protection agreement to satisfy the secured obligations of another trust. The Tennessee Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the suit. See Morris v. Grusin, 2009 WL 4931324 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2009).
- Represented large securities firm in $20 million suit by 48 plaintiffs arising from rogue broker who allegedly forged client documents and allegedly placed clients in unsuitable products, with matter being settled for nominal amount. See Speed v. AmSouth Bancorporation, 2006 WL 839546 (S.D. Miss. 2006).
- Represented national bank in $100 million suit arising from the Martin Frankel insurance company raiding scandal, successfully removing action and ultimately having it transferred to another State. See Dale v. First American Nat. Bank, 370 F.Supp.2d 546 (S.D. Miss. 2005).
- Represented clients in administrative actions brought by the Mississippi Secretary of States office for various FINRA and State law securities violations.
- Advised clients in successfully acquiring securities brokers from protocol and non-protocol firms.
- Obtained summary judgment for national gaming manufacturer in million dollar suit which was affirmed by Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Capital Gaming Supplies, Inc. v. Gametech International, Inc., 166 Fed.Appx. 137 (5th Cir. 2006).
- Obtained dismissal of vitamins antitrust suit by indirect purchaser, which was affirmed by the Mississippi Court of Appeals. See Carder v. BASF Corp., 919 So.2d 258 (Miss. App. 2005).
- Assisted in obtaining dismissal of putative class action claim against gasoline companies by consumers under the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act arising from state-of-emergency declared by Governor of Mississippi as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Cole v. Chevron USA, Inc., 554 F.Supp.2d 655 (S.D. Miss. 2007).
- Successfully prosecuted and enforced numerous loan agreements, leases, security interests for national and regional financing companies and banks
- Represented clients in bankruptcy actions pending in Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.
Papers, Presentations, & Publications
- Lecturer, "When the Tenant Files Bankruptcy During Eviction" (Lorman)
- Lecturer, "Bankruptcy Litigation and Objections to Confirmation in Chapter 11 Proceedings" (NBI)
- Lecturer, Bridge the Gap Seminar (Young Lawyers Division of The Mississippi Bar and Young Lawyers Division)
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