Mark W. Garriga

Government, Environmental & Energy Group

Energy Industry Team

Greater Jackson Office
Tel: (601) 985-4506
Email: mark.garriga@butlersnow.com

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Areas of Emphasis

Administrative Law and Regulations
Health Care Law/ Certificates of Need
Federal Disaster Assistance Law
Governmental Relations
Product Liability Law

Distinctions

AV-Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
The Best Lawyers in America®, Government Relations Law
Chair, Governor-Elect Transition Policy (Nov. 2011 – Jan. 2012)
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
Lawyers Committee, National Center for State Courts
Board of Directors, Mississippi Rural Health Association

Education & Honors

University of Mississippi, J.D., 1985

Mississippi State University, Banking and Finance, S.D. Lee Honors, 1981

Associations

Defense Research Institute
American Health Law Association
Federalist Society
Capital Area Bar Association

Bar Admissions

Mississippi, 1985
U.S. District Courts
- Mississippi: Northern and Southern Districts
U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit

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).