Charles E. Griffin

Charles E.

Griffin

Overview

"Charles Griffin … has a miraculous ability to talk to juries and is especially effective at defending businesses against punitive damage claims. Frankly, I think it is relatively easy for a plaintiffs lawyer to inflame a jury and ask for millions of dollars in punitive damages against a large multinational business or an unsympathetic out-of-state insurance company. But it takes great skill to defend these businesses and these types of claims before a jury. Mr. Griffin is one of the best.”

Comments from National Counsel in Consumer Financial Services Litigation

Experience

  • Successfully obtained dismissal on 12(b)(6) grounds for major consumer products manufacturer in an antitrust and consumer protection action brought by the Mississippi Attorney General alleging an international price-fixing conspiracy in the manufacturing, production and distribution of wire harness parts used in automotive manufacturing. On appeal, a unanimous Mississippi Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal. State ex rel. Fitch v. Yazaki North America, Inc., et al., ___ So. 3d ___, 2020 WL 2079092 (April 30, 2020).
  • Featured in Litigation Commentary & Rev. 268 (September/October 2012) for representation of Former Governor Haley Barbour as Lead Counsel.
  • In the Matter of Conservatorship of Davis v. Longo, 954 So.2d 521 (Miss. App. 2007).
  • Rankin v. American General Finance, 912 So.2d 725 (Miss. 2005).
  • Queen v. American General Finance, 351 F.Supp.2d 576 (S.D. Miss. 2005).
  • MS Life Insurance Company v. Baker, 905 So.2d 1179 (Miss. 2005).
  • Owens v. First Family Financial Services, 379 F.Supp.2d 840 (S.D. Miss. 2005).
  • Rainwater v. Lamar Life Insurance Company, 391 F.3d 636 (5th Cir. 2004).
  • Union National Life Insurance Company v. Crosby, 870 So.2d 1175 (Miss. 2004).
  • Bishop v. First Mississippi Financial Group, Inc., 221 F.R.D. 461 (2004).
  • Hare v. City Finance Company, 269 F. Supp.2d 766 (S.D. Miss. 2003).
  • Moore v. Mississippi Valley Gas, 863 So.2d 43 (Miss. 2003).
  • Smith v. Union National, 286 F.Supp.2d 782 (S.D. Miss. 2003).
  • White v. City Finance Company, 277 F.Supp.2d 646 (S.D. Miss. 2003).
  • Beasley v. Personal Finance Corporation, 279 B.R.523, 48 Collier Bankr. Cas.2d. 1582 (S.D. Miss. 2002).
  • American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida v. Wells, 819 So.2d 1196 (Miss. 2001).
  • Ross v. CitiFinancial, 203 F.R.D.239 (2001).
  • Daniette Jones v. Regency Toyota, Inc., 798 So.2d 474 (Miss. 2001).
  • Lady v. Jefferson Pilot Life Insurance Company, 241 F.Supp.2d 655 (S.D. Miss. 2001).
  • Ellis v. Anderson Tully Company, 727 So.2d 716 (Miss. 1998).
  • In the matter of Treasure Bay Corporation, 212 B.R.520 (1997).
  • Garrett v. Bohannon, 621 So.2d 935 (Miss. 1993).

Distinctions

  • America’s Top 100 Attorneys®, Lifetime Achievement Selection, 2016
  • Martindale-Hubbell®
    • AV®– Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 2009-2017
  • Super Lawyers®
    • Top 50: Mississippi Super Lawyers, 2006, 2009-2017
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Insurance Coverage, Business Litigation, 2006-2023
  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Commercial Litigation, 2013-2024
    • Litigation – Insurance, 2015-2024
  • American Law Institute
    • Elected Member
    • Advisor, Restatement of the Law Third, Torts: Concluding Provisions
  • American Bar Association, Fellow
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow
  • Special Assistant Attorney General, 1988-1989
  • City of Bolton, Mississippi, Municipal Prosecutor, 1990-1994
    • Municipal Public Defender, 1998-2010
  • Town of Edwards, Mississippi, Municipal Judge, 1994-1996
  • Town of Edwards, Mississippi, City Attorney, 1996-2010
  • Jackson State University, Instructor, 1988
  • Diversity Law Institute of LCA, Co-Founder, 2009
  • Capital Area Bar Association, Professionalism Award, 2018
  • Tougaloo College Pre-Law Society, Distinguished Service Award, 2008
  • R. Jess Brown Memorial Distinguished Community Service Award, 2006
  • Jackson Downtown Business Improvement District, Board Member, 2002-2004
  • Mississippi Bar Association, Co-Founder and Former Co-Chairman,  Law Student Diversity Interaction Program, 1990

Bar Admissions

  • Mississippi, 1988
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Mississippi: Northern, Southern
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • 5th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Court

Education

  • University of Mississippi, J.D., 1987
    • Congressional Internship, U.S. House of Representatives,  Summer 1986
  • University of Mississippi, B.A., Philosophy, 1984

Associations

  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
    • Bylaws and Resolutions Committee
  • International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
  • American Bar Association
    • Litigation Section [ABA]
      • Minority Trial Lawyer Committee
      • Corporate Counsel Committee
  • National Bar Association
    • Commercial Law Section
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
    • Trial Tactics Committee
    • Commercial Litigation Committee
    • Newsletter Committee
  • Mississippi Bar Association
    • Litigation Section
    • Gaming Law Section
      • Chairman, 1999
  • Charles Clark American Inn of Court
  • Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
  • Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
  • Magnolia Bar Association
  • Capital Area Bar Association
  • Commercial Litigation and Financial Institutions Section
    • Chairman, 2012-2013
  • Community Foundation of Greater Jackson
    • Legacy Society Member
  • "University of Mississippi Alumni Association, Law Alumni Chapter"
    • Lamar Order
  • Butler Snow Pro-Bono Committee
    • Member
  • Butler Snow Associates Review Committee
    • Former Member

Papers, Presentations & Publications

  • Presenter, "Presenting to the Judge and Jury," Mississippi Rules of Evidence: A Practical Toolkit, NBI Webinar, March 2023.
  • Presenter, "Claim Handler or Underwriter Depositions in Coverage and Bad-Faith Cases: Dos and Do Nots," Northeast Regional Claims Conference, Hartford, Conn., September 27, 2018.
  • Panelist, “Civil Rights & the Legal Profession,” CABA Diversity Committee CLE, Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Tuesday, March 27, 2018.
  • Presenter, “Recent changes to the CMS Regulations That May Encourage Civil Claims Against Long Term Care Facilities,” Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Meeting, Montreux, Switzerland, July, 2017.
  • Presenter, “Confronting Bias and Ethical Considerations in the Legal Community,” Magnolia Bar Association, November 13, 2015.
  • Co-Author, “Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices and Consumer Protection: Targeted Practices and Kinds of Claims: Proof Elements of Claims,” Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Statutes and Damages: How to Prevent and Defend Disruptive Challenges to Your Client’s Business Practices, August 2015.
  • Panelist, “Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practice Statues and Damages,” Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Meeting, Banff, Alberta, Canada, August, 2015.
  • Presenter, "Getting What You Want - Developing Effective Negotiation Techniques When Negotiating Contracts or Negotiating Settlements," FDCC, April 24, 2014.
  • Author, "Churches & Employment Law: Understanding the Ministerial Exception Rule", Litigation Commentary & Rev. 299, November/December 2012.
  • Presenter, "Ethics for Lawyers: Blogs and Tweets That Can Torpedo Your Career," 2012 CLE Expo, Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA), Chicago, 2012.
  • Author, "Strategies for Using Social Media in the Fight Against Fraudulent Insurance Claims," Inside the Minds- Defending Against Insurance Fraud Claims, Thomson Reuters/Aspatore, 2011.
  • Presenter, "Current Trends in Insurance Opt Out Litigation In Mississippi," Conference on Insurance and Financial Services, American Law Institute-American Bar Association (ALI-ABA), Chicago, 2010.
  • Presenter, "Defending Bad Faith Claims," Insurance Claims and Coverage Institute, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Chicago, 2010.
  • Presenter, "Minority Law Firms: State of Emergency," Diversity Summit, Litigation Counsel of America, Atlanta, 2009.
  • Presenter, "Effective Use of Focus Groups, Mock Trials and Internet Sampling," Fall Conference, Litigation Counsel of America, Charleston, 2009.
  • Presenter, "Can You Win Without That Special Closing Argument?," Spring Conference, Litigation Counsel of America, Santa Fe, 2009.
  • Presenter, "Vying For A Piece of the Pie—Minority Owned Law Firms Partnering With Majority-Owned Law Firms," Diversity for Success Seminar, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Chicago, 2009.
  • Moderator, "Best Practices For Retaining Healthcare Clients: A Corporate Counsel Perspective," Healthcare Law Symposium, Annual Convention, National Bar Association, Houston, 2008.
  • Presenter, "Voir Dire In State Court Criminal Cases," Fall CLE Conference, Magnolia Bar Association, Jackson, 2008.
  • Presenter, "Electronic Discovery: Legal Issues and Practical Challenges," Corporate Counsel Conference, National Bar Association, Commercial Law Section, Miami, 2007.
  • Co-Author, "Privilege Under The New Rules: New Mines in The Litigation Minefield," Commercial Law Connection, National Bar Association, 2007.
  • Presenter, "Handling Insurance Claim Conflicts," National Business Institute, Insurance Law from A-Z, Jackson, 2007.
  • Presenter, "A Defense Perspective on Insurance Litigation Trends In Mississippi and Trial of An Individual Fraud and Contract Claim (Defense Witnesses)," Conference on Life and Health Insurance Litigation, American Law Institute-American Bar Association (ALI-ABA), Washington, D.C., 2003.
  • Presenter, "Internet Gaming: Entertainment or a License To Steal?," American Trial Lawyers Association Convention, Atlanta, 2002.
  • Presenter, "Trial of the Individual Insurance/Market Conduct Case," Conference on Life and Health Insurance Litigation II, American Law Institute-American Bar Association (ALI-ABA), San Francisco, 2000.
  • Presenter, "Internet and Electronic Gaming," American Trial Lawyers Association Convention, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 2001.
  • Presenter, "Trial of the Individual Insurance/Market Conduct Case," Conference on Life and Health Insurance Litigation I, American Law Institute-American Bar Association (ALI-ABA), New York, 2000.

Civic Involvement

  • American Heart Association, Metro Jackson Affiliate, Chairman of Board
  • American Heart Association, Greater Southeast Affiliate

Charles E.

Griffin

Overview

"Charles Griffin … has a miraculous ability to talk to juries and is especially effective at defending businesses against punitive damage claims. Frankly, I think it is relatively easy for a plaintiffs lawyer to inflame a jury and ask for millions of dollars in punitive damages against a large multinational business or an unsympathetic out-of-state insurance company. But it takes great skill to defend these businesses and these types of claims before a jury. Mr. Griffin is one of the best.”

Comments from National Counsel in Consumer Financial Services Litigation

Experience

  • Successfully obtained dismissal on 12(b)(6) grounds for major consumer products manufacturer in an antitrust and consumer protection action brought by the Mississippi Attorney General alleging an international price-fixing conspiracy in the manufacturing, production and distribution of wire harness parts used in automotive manufacturing. On appeal, a unanimous Mississippi Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal. State ex rel. Fitch v. Yazaki North America, Inc., et al., ___ So. 3d ___, 2020 WL 2079092 (April 30, 2020).
  • Featured in Litigation Commentary & Rev. 268 (September/October 2012) for representation of Former Governor Haley Barbour as Lead Counsel.
  • In the Matter of Conservatorship of Davis v. Longo, 954 So.2d 521 (Miss. App. 2007).
  • Rankin v. American General Finance, 912 So.2d 725 (Miss. 2005).
  • Queen v. American General Finance, 351 F.Supp.2d 576 (S.D. Miss. 2005).
  • MS Life Insurance Company v. Baker, 905 So.2d 1179 (Miss. 2005).
  • Owens v. First Family Financial Services, 379 F.Supp.2d 840 (S.D. Miss. 2005).
  • Rainwater v. Lamar Life Insurance Company, 391 F.3d 636 (5th Cir. 2004).
  • Union National Life Insurance Company v. Crosby, 870 So.2d 1175 (Miss. 2004).
  • Bishop v. First Mississippi Financial Group, Inc., 221 F.R.D. 461 (2004).
  • Hare v. City Finance Company, 269 F. Supp.2d 766 (S.D. Miss. 2003).
  • Moore v. Mississippi Valley Gas, 863 So.2d 43 (Miss. 2003).
  • Smith v. Union National, 286 F.Supp.2d 782 (S.D. Miss. 2003).
  • White v. City Finance Company, 277 F.Supp.2d 646 (S.D. Miss. 2003).
  • Beasley v. Personal Finance Corporation, 279 B.R.523, 48 Collier Bankr. Cas.2d. 1582 (S.D. Miss. 2002).
  • American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida v. Wells, 819 So.2d 1196 (Miss. 2001).
  • Ross v. CitiFinancial, 203 F.R.D.239 (2001).
  • Daniette Jones v. Regency Toyota, Inc., 798 So.2d 474 (Miss. 2001).
  • Lady v. Jefferson Pilot Life Insurance Company, 241 F.Supp.2d 655 (S.D. Miss. 2001).
  • Ellis v. Anderson Tully Company, 727 So.2d 716 (Miss. 1998).
  • In the matter of Treasure Bay Corporation, 212 B.R.520 (1997).
  • Garrett v. Bohannon, 621 So.2d 935 (Miss. 1993).

Distinctions

  • America’s Top 100 Attorneys®, Lifetime Achievement Selection, 2016
  • Martindale-Hubbell®
    • AV®– Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 2009-2017
  • Super Lawyers®
    • Top 50: Mississippi Super Lawyers, 2006, 2009-2017
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Insurance Coverage, Business Litigation, 2006-2023
  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Commercial Litigation, 2013-2024
    • Litigation – Insurance, 2015-2024
  • American Law Institute
    • Elected Member
    • Advisor, Restatement of the Law Third, Torts: Concluding Provisions
  • American Bar Association, Fellow
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow
  • Special Assistant Attorney General, 1988-1989
  • City of Bolton, Mississippi, Municipal Prosecutor, 1990-1994
    • Municipal Public Defender, 1998-2010
  • Town of Edwards, Mississippi, Municipal Judge, 1994-1996
  • Town of Edwards, Mississippi, City Attorney, 1996-2010
  • Jackson State University, Instructor, 1988
  • Diversity Law Institute of LCA, Co-Founder, 2009
  • Capital Area Bar Association, Professionalism Award, 2018
  • Tougaloo College Pre-Law Society, Distinguished Service Award, 2008
  • R. Jess Brown Memorial Distinguished Community Service Award, 2006
  • Jackson Downtown Business Improvement District, Board Member, 2002-2004
  • Mississippi Bar Association, Co-Founder and Former Co-Chairman,  Law Student Diversity Interaction Program, 1990

Bar Admissions

  • Mississippi, 1988
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Mississippi: Northern, Southern
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • 5th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Court

Education

  • University of Mississippi, J.D., 1987
    • Congressional Internship, U.S. House of Representatives,  Summer 1986
  • University of Mississippi, B.A., Philosophy, 1984

Associations

  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
    • Bylaws and Resolutions Committee
  • International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
  • American Bar Association
    • Litigation Section [ABA]
      • Minority Trial Lawyer Committee
      • Corporate Counsel Committee
  • National Bar Association
    • Commercial Law Section
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
    • Trial Tactics Committee
    • Commercial Litigation Committee
    • Newsletter Committee
  • Mississippi Bar Association
    • Litigation Section
    • Gaming Law Section
      • Chairman, 1999
  • Charles Clark American Inn of Court
  • Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
  • Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
  • Magnolia Bar Association
  • Capital Area Bar Association
  • Commercial Litigation and Financial Institutions Section
    • Chairman, 2012-2013
  • Community Foundation of Greater Jackson
    • Legacy Society Member
  • "University of Mississippi Alumni Association, Law Alumni Chapter"
    • Lamar Order
  • Butler Snow Pro-Bono Committee
    • Member
  • Butler Snow Associates Review Committee
    • Former Member

Papers, Presentations & Publications

  • Presenter, "Presenting to the Judge and Jury," Mississippi Rules of Evidence: A Practical Toolkit, NBI Webinar, March 2023.
  • Presenter, "Claim Handler or Underwriter Depositions in Coverage and Bad-Faith Cases: Dos and Do Nots," Northeast Regional Claims Conference, Hartford, Conn., September 27, 2018.
  • Panelist, “Civil Rights & the Legal Profession,” CABA Diversity Committee CLE, Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Tuesday, March 27, 2018.
  • Presenter, “Recent changes to the CMS Regulations That May Encourage Civil Claims Against Long Term Care Facilities,” Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Meeting, Montreux, Switzerland, July, 2017.
  • Presenter, “Confronting Bias and Ethical Considerations in the Legal Community,” Magnolia Bar Association, November 13, 2015.
  • Co-Author, “Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices and Consumer Protection: Targeted Practices and Kinds of Claims: Proof Elements of Claims,” Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Statutes and Damages: How to Prevent and Defend Disruptive Challenges to Your Client’s Business Practices, August 2015.
  • Panelist, “Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practice Statues and Damages,” Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Meeting, Banff, Alberta, Canada, August, 2015.
  • Presenter, "Getting What You Want - Developing Effective Negotiation Techniques When Negotiating Contracts or Negotiating Settlements," FDCC, April 24, 2014.
  • Author, "Churches & Employment Law: Understanding the Ministerial Exception Rule", Litigation Commentary & Rev. 299, November/December 2012.
  • Presenter, "Ethics for Lawyers: Blogs and Tweets That Can Torpedo Your Career," 2012 CLE Expo, Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA), Chicago, 2012.
  • Author, "Strategies for Using Social Media in the Fight Against Fraudulent Insurance Claims," Inside the Minds- Defending Against Insurance Fraud Claims, Thomson Reuters/Aspatore, 2011.
  • Presenter, "Current Trends in Insurance Opt Out Litigation In Mississippi," Conference on Insurance and Financial Services, American Law Institute-American Bar Association (ALI-ABA), Chicago, 2010.
  • Presenter, "Defending Bad Faith Claims," Insurance Claims and Coverage Institute, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Chicago, 2010.
  • Presenter, "Minority Law Firms: State of Emergency," Diversity Summit, Litigation Counsel of America, Atlanta, 2009.
  • Presenter, "Effective Use of Focus Groups, Mock Trials and Internet Sampling," Fall Conference, Litigation Counsel of America, Charleston, 2009.
  • Presenter, "Can You Win Without That Special Closing Argument?," Spring Conference, Litigation Counsel of America, Santa Fe, 2009.
  • Presenter, "Vying For A Piece of the Pie—Minority Owned Law Firms Partnering With Majority-Owned Law Firms," Diversity for Success Seminar, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Chicago, 2009.
  • Moderator, "Best Practices For Retaining Healthcare Clients: A Corporate Counsel Perspective," Healthcare Law Symposium, Annual Convention, National Bar Association, Houston, 2008.
  • Presenter, "Voir Dire In State Court Criminal Cases," Fall CLE Conference, Magnolia Bar Association, Jackson, 2008.
  • Presenter, "Electronic Discovery: Legal Issues and Practical Challenges," Corporate Counsel Conference, National Bar Association, Commercial Law Section, Miami, 2007.
  • Co-Author, "Privilege Under The New Rules: New Mines in The Litigation Minefield," Commercial Law Connection, National Bar Association, 2007.
  • Presenter, "Handling Insurance Claim Conflicts," National Business Institute, Insurance Law from A-Z, Jackson, 2007.
  • Presenter, "A Defense Perspective on Insurance Litigation Trends In Mississippi and Trial of An Individual Fraud and Contract Claim (Defense Witnesses)," Conference on Life and Health Insurance Litigation, American Law Institute-American Bar Association (ALI-ABA), Washington, D.C., 2003.
  • Presenter, "Internet Gaming: Entertainment or a License To Steal?," American Trial Lawyers Association Convention, Atlanta, 2002.
  • Presenter, "Trial of the Individual Insurance/Market Conduct Case," Conference on Life and Health Insurance Litigation II, American Law Institute-American Bar Association (ALI-ABA), San Francisco, 2000.
  • Presenter, "Internet and Electronic Gaming," American Trial Lawyers Association Convention, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 2001.
  • Presenter, "Trial of the Individual Insurance/Market Conduct Case," Conference on Life and Health Insurance Litigation I, American Law Institute-American Bar Association (ALI-ABA), New York, 2000.

Civic Involvement

  • American Heart Association, Metro Jackson Affiliate, Chairman of Board
  • American Heart Association, Greater Southeast Affiliate