Donna Brown Jacobs

Donna Brown

Jacobs

Overview

Donna focuses her practice on appellate matters, pharmaceutical product liability defense, and media defense.

Experience

  • Johnson & Johnson, Inc. et al v. Fortenberry, 234 So.3d 381 (Miss. 2017) reversing nearly $2M judgment, rendering take-nothing judgment against the plaintiff on both the failure to warn and negligent marketing claims, and remanding negligent misrepresentation claim based on a defect in the jury instructions.
  • Rebelwood Apartments RP, LP v. English, 48 So.3d 483 (Miss. 2010).
  • Memphis Biofuels, LLC v Chickasaw Nation Indus., Inc., 585 F.39 917 (6th Cir. 2009).
  • Grobelny v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 341 Fed.App’x. 803 (3d Cir. 2009).
  • Morris v. Grusin, Tenn.Ct.App., 2009. 2009 WL 4931324, December 22, 2009.
  • Barbour v. State ex rel. Hood, 974 So. 2d 232 (Miss. 2008).
  • 3M Co. v. Johnson, 895 So.2d 151 (Miss. 2005) reversing $22.5 million judgment and rendering take-nothing judgment in favor of our client.
  • Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. v. Armond, 866 So.2d 1092, Prod. Liab. Rep. (CCH) P 16,876 (Miss. 2004), resulted in new joinder and venue rules.
  • Community Bank of Ellisville v. Courtney, 884 So.2d 767 (Miss. 2004), $5 million judgment reduced to $7,000.
  • Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. v. Bailey, 878 So.2d 31, Prod. Liab. Rep (CCH) P 17,008. (Miss. 2004), $100 million verdict vacated.

Distinctions

  • Fellow, Mississippi Bar Foundation
  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2023
    • Lawyer of the Year, Appellate Practice, 2022
    • Appellate Practice, 2007-2024
    • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2014-2024
  • Super Lawyers®
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Appellate, 2006-2022
    • Top 50: Mississippi Super Lawyers, 2006, 2012
    • Top 50: Women Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2011-2014
  • Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business
    • Litigation: Appellate (Mississippi), 2014-2016, 2021-2023
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow

Bar Admissions

  • Mississippi, 1989
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Michigan: Eastern
    • Mississippi: Northern, Southern
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • 5th Circuit
    • 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Education

  • University of Mississippi, J.D., magna cum laude, 1988
    • Symposium Editor, Mississippi Law Journal
  • University of Mississippi, B.P.A., summa cum laude, 1985
  • Clerkship, Judge Charles Clark, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appelas, 5th Circuit

Associations

  • American Bar Association
    • Forum on Communications
    • Appellate Practice Committee
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
    • Appellate Advocacy Committee
  • Media Law Resource Center
  • Mississippi Bar Association
  • Capital Area Bar Association
  • Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit

Papers, Presentations & Publications

  • Co-Author, Daubert and Frye and Anything Goes, Oh My!” Pro Te: Solutio, Vol. 10, No. 1, March 18, 2017.
  • Presenter, "E-Discovery: This is What “Scary” Dreams are Made of," Joint Seminar for Mississippi Claims Association and MS Defense Lawyers Association, October 16, 2014.
  • Co-Author, "The Path to Aggregate Settlements;" American Bar Association Mass Torts Litigation, Spring 2012, Vol. 10 No. 3.
  • Author, "Navigating the Appeal – Practical Tips for the Occasional Appellate Practitioner," Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association Quarterly, May 2009.
  • Mississippi Law Section, 50-State Survey of Law of Defamation and Invasion of Privacy
  • Quarterly Procedural Update, Fifth Circuit Reporter

Donna Brown

Jacobs

Overview

Donna focuses her practice on appellate matters, pharmaceutical product liability defense, and media defense.

Experience

  • Johnson & Johnson, Inc. et al v. Fortenberry, 234 So.3d 381 (Miss. 2017) reversing nearly $2M judgment, rendering take-nothing judgment against the plaintiff on both the failure to warn and negligent marketing claims, and remanding negligent misrepresentation claim based on a defect in the jury instructions.
  • Rebelwood Apartments RP, LP v. English, 48 So.3d 483 (Miss. 2010).
  • Memphis Biofuels, LLC v Chickasaw Nation Indus., Inc., 585 F.39 917 (6th Cir. 2009).
  • Grobelny v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 341 Fed.App’x. 803 (3d Cir. 2009).
  • Morris v. Grusin, Tenn.Ct.App., 2009. 2009 WL 4931324, December 22, 2009.
  • Barbour v. State ex rel. Hood, 974 So. 2d 232 (Miss. 2008).
  • 3M Co. v. Johnson, 895 So.2d 151 (Miss. 2005) reversing $22.5 million judgment and rendering take-nothing judgment in favor of our client.
  • Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. v. Armond, 866 So.2d 1092, Prod. Liab. Rep. (CCH) P 16,876 (Miss. 2004), resulted in new joinder and venue rules.
  • Community Bank of Ellisville v. Courtney, 884 So.2d 767 (Miss. 2004), $5 million judgment reduced to $7,000.
  • Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. v. Bailey, 878 So.2d 31, Prod. Liab. Rep (CCH) P 17,008. (Miss. 2004), $100 million verdict vacated.

Distinctions

  • Fellow, Mississippi Bar Foundation
  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2023
    • Lawyer of the Year, Appellate Practice, 2022
    • Appellate Practice, 2007-2024
    • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2014-2024
  • Super Lawyers®
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Appellate, 2006-2022
    • Top 50: Mississippi Super Lawyers, 2006, 2012
    • Top 50: Women Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2011-2014
  • Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business
    • Litigation: Appellate (Mississippi), 2014-2016, 2021-2023
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow

Bar Admissions

  • Mississippi, 1989
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Michigan: Eastern
    • Mississippi: Northern, Southern
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • 5th Circuit
    • 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Education

  • University of Mississippi, J.D., magna cum laude, 1988
    • Symposium Editor, Mississippi Law Journal
  • University of Mississippi, B.P.A., summa cum laude, 1985
  • Clerkship, Judge Charles Clark, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appelas, 5th Circuit

Associations

  • American Bar Association
    • Forum on Communications
    • Appellate Practice Committee
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
    • Appellate Advocacy Committee
  • Media Law Resource Center
  • Mississippi Bar Association
  • Capital Area Bar Association
  • Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit

Papers, Presentations & Publications

  • Co-Author, Daubert and Frye and Anything Goes, Oh My!” Pro Te: Solutio, Vol. 10, No. 1, March 18, 2017.
  • Presenter, "E-Discovery: This is What “Scary” Dreams are Made of," Joint Seminar for Mississippi Claims Association and MS Defense Lawyers Association, October 16, 2014.
  • Co-Author, "The Path to Aggregate Settlements;" American Bar Association Mass Torts Litigation, Spring 2012, Vol. 10 No. 3.
  • Author, "Navigating the Appeal – Practical Tips for the Occasional Appellate Practitioner," Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association Quarterly, May 2009.
  • Mississippi Law Section, 50-State Survey of Law of Defamation and Invasion of Privacy
  • Quarterly Procedural Update, Fifth Circuit Reporter