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Areas of Emphasis
- Administrative Law and Regulations
- Health Care Law
- Federal Disaster Assistance Law
- Governmental Relations
- Gaming Law
- Product Liability Law
Distinctions
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Government Relations Law
- Fellow, Mississippi Bar Foundation
- Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor, State of Mississippi, 1994-99
- Republican Nominee, Attorney General, State of Mississippi, 1999
- Representative, Mississippi House of Representatives, 1991-94
- European Community Visitors Programme, 1993
- Council for the United States and Italy, Young Leaders Program, 1997
Education & Honors
- University of Mississippi, J.D., 1985
- Mississippi State University, B.S., Banking and Finance, S.D. Lee Honors, 1981
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Associations
- Defense Research Institute
- American Health Lawyers Association
- Federalist Society
- International Association of Gaming Advisors
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 1985
- U.S. District Courts
- Mississippi: Northern and Southern Districts
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
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Legal Experience
- Introduced and Co-Authored the Mississippi Product Liability Act (H.B. 1270, codified at Miss. Code Ann. § 11-1-63).
- Introduced and Co-Authored the Mississippi Punitive Damages Act (codified at Miss. Code Ann. § 11-1-65).
- Co-Authored the Mississippi Court Reform Act – creating the Mississippi Court of Appeals (H.B. 548, codified at Miss. Code Ann. § 9-4-1, et seq.).
- Co-Authored State Port Tax Credit Act of 1994 (H.B. 1778, codified at Miss. Code Ann. § 27-7-22.7).
- Counsel for Civil Justice Reform Act of 2004
- Counsel for Office of the Governor – 2004 implementation of Medicaid amendments
- Counsel for the Mississippi Wireless Communication Commission (implementation of statewide emergency wireless network
- Counsel for Bay-Waveland School District – FEMA Arbitration (first Public Assistance Program arbitration proceeding, $6.9 million award
- PPG Architectural Finishes v. Lowery, 909 So.2d 47 (Miss. 2005) (statute of limitations construed to bar toxic tort claim).
- Ballard v. Illinois Central R. Co., 338 F.Supp. 2d 712 (S.D. Miss. 2004) (federal jurisdiction established under Federal Arbitration Act and Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards).
- Fyre v. Airco, 269 F.Supp.2d 743 (S.D. Miss. 2003) (federal jurisdiction established for toxic tort claim).
- Miller v. Allstate, 631 So.2d 789 (Miss. 1994) (uninsured motorist statute interpreted to allow offset and unfavorable stacking interpretation).
- Swan v. I.P, Inc., 617 So.2d 846 (Miss. 1993) (established doctrine of sophisticated user for toxic tort/product liability actions in Mississippi).
- White v. Hutchinson, 616 So.2d 346 (Miss. 1993) (defense verdict affirmed).
- St. Paul Property and Liability v. Nance, 577 So.2d 1238 (Miss. 1991) (subrogation rights of uninsured motorist carrier abrogated by release of tortfeasor by insured).
- Bryant v. Allstate, 790 F.Supp. 676 (S.D. Miss. 1991) (insurer not obligated to pay medical payments coverage for injuries not caused by automobile accident).
- Collins v. Trinity Industries, 861 F.2d 1364 (5thCir. 1988) (statute of repose for improvement to real property construed to bar personal injury claim).
- Westbrook v. Perry, 516 So.2d 240 (Miss. 1987) (defense verdict affirmed).
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