Keishunna is a member of the Tort, Transportation and Specialized Litigation practice group and has more than 14 years of litigation experience. Her experience spans the breadth of defending commercial trucking and transportation companies resulting in the full range of complex personal injury, including catastrophic injury, brain injury, and wrongful death cases, to defending landowners in a wide variety of premises liability cases, running the gamut from simple slip and falls to negligent security cases involving violent crimes, to defending insurers in coverage and bad faith litigation. Her practice includes handling all aspects of litigation, including taking and defending depositions, engaging in motion practice, and trying cases. Keishunna has been recognized by Super Lawyers® as a “Mid-South Rising Star” for her work in personal injury defense.
Overview
Keishunna is a member of the Tort, Transportation and Specialized Litigation practice group and has more than 14 years of litigation experience. Her experience spans the breadth of defending commercial trucking and transportation companies resulting in the full range of complex personal injury, including catastrophic injury, brain injury, and wrongful death cases, to defending landowners in a wide variety of premises liability cases, running the gamut from simple slip and falls to negligent security cases involving violent crimes, to defending insurers in coverage and bad faith litigation. Her practice includes handling all aspects of litigation, including taking and defending depositions, engaging in motion practice, and trying cases. Keishunna has been recognized by Super Lawyers® as a “Mid-South Rising Star” for her work in personal injury defense.
Practice Areas
About
Keishunna’s recent experience includes obtaining summary judgment on behalf of apartment complex and its management company in premises liability case in which the Plaintiff alleged negligent security and failure to maintain the property in a reasonable condition after she was shot by an unknown assailant inside of her apartment. Finding no genuine issue of material fact with regards to foreseeability of a third-party criminal act or that an atmosphere of violence existed at the complex at the time of the shooting, the court granted summary judgment. She also obtained summary judgment on behalf of the largest operator of travel centers in North America in a personal injury case in which the Plaintiff alleged personal injury after alleged exposure to a toxic chemical on defendant’s property. Plaintiff failed to timely designate expert witnesses, and we moved for summary judgment on the grounds that Plaintiff could not establish medical causation without damages experts. The court agreed and precluded plaintiff from offering expert testimony in opposition to summary judgment and dismissed the case.
She frequently speaks and writes on litigation and diversity and inclusion issues. In October 2021, she was a guest on the Insurance Speak Podcast and discussed recruiting and why diversity matters. She also spoke to the Capital Area Bar Association in February 2021 on how to thrive in an alternative work arrangement, and in October 2020 she presented to The Harmonie Group on gender diversity issues.
In addition to being recognized by Super Lawyers, she has been recognized by The National Black Lawyers as one of its Top 40 Under 40 and Mississippi Business Journal for Leadership in Law. She was a member of the 2013-2014 Class of Leadership Greater Jackson. She is a member of the American Bar Association (Litigation Section, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, Regional Meetings Committee, and Insurance Coverage Committee), California State Bar Association (Litigation Section), Mississippi Bar Association (Women in the Profession Committee, Litigation Section and Leadership Forum, 2015), Capital Area Bar Association (Executive Board of Directors, 2020-2022, Chair of the Diversity Committee and Co-Chair of the Women’s Initiative Committee) and Mississippi Women Lawyers Association (Executive Board of Directors, Director of State Awards, 2019-2020).
Keishunna obtained her J.D., cum laude, from University of Mississippi, M.P.P. from Jackson State University, and B.A., with honors, in English from Belhaven University. She is admitted to practice in Mississippi and California.
Experience
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of apartment complex and its management company in premises liability case. Plaintiff alleged negligent security and failure to maintain the property in a reasonable condition after she was shot by an unknown assailant inside of her apartment. Finding no genuine issue of material fact with regards to foreseeability of a third-party criminal act or that an atmosphere of violence existed at the complex at the time of the shooting, the court granted summary judgment.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of the largest operator of travel centers in North America in a personal injury case. Plaintiff alleged personal injury after alleged exposure to a toxic chemical on defendant’s property. Plaintiff failed to timely designate expert witnesses. Defendant moved for summary judgment on the grounds that Plaintiff could not establish medical causation without damages experts. The court agreed and precluded plaintiff from offering expert testimony in opposition to summary judgment and dismissed the case.
- Defended one of the largest trucking companies in North America against a personal injury lawsuit following a side-impact collision. After extensive fact development and motion practice, we settled plaintiff’s nearly $500,000 claim for $7,500.
- Defended trucking company in a personal injury and property damage action involving a collision with tractor trailer owner/operator. The negligence claim was based on the allegation that the defendant driver failed to yield the right of way. With the use of expert testimony and dash camera evidence, the case settled for less than 50% of plaintiff’s settlement demand. With regards to the property (cargo) damage claims, in collaboration from our client, we took a strong stance at mediation, such that a settlement agreement was reached in which a third-party property damage claimant paid our client 30% percent of its claimed property damage.
- Defended trucking company against a personal injury matter, where the plaintiff claims he made a left turn on a green light and the defendant drove his truck through a red light at an intersection and struck his vehicle. Through extensive fact development and aggressive depositions and motion practice, the case settled for less than 50% of plaintiff’s claimed medical bills.
- Defended product manufacturer of clearing solution in a personal injury case. As a result of intense discovery and taking a strong stance in settlement discussions, the case settled for less than 10% of plaintiff’s settlement demand.
- Defended national manufacturers of motor vehicles and construction equipment in cases pending in California state and federal courts.
- Assisted trial team in obtaining favorable settlement on behalf of an insurance company involving claims of negligence and negligent hiring on the second day of trial.
- Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of a franchise-business owner and employee involved in a motor vehicle accident where the claimed damages exceeded $10 million.
- Conrod v. Southeastern Management Company, Inc., Cause No. 2013-0364, Circuit Court of Sunflower County, Mississippi; successfully obtained summary judgment in a premises liability matter.
- James Orams v. Pilot Travel Centers, LLC, Circuit Court of Hinds County, Mississippi; Civil Action No. 251-09-6909; August 16, 2013; summary judgment.
Distinctions
- Mississippi Business Journal, Leadership in Law, 2019
- Super Lawyers®
- Mid-South Rising Star, General Litigation, 2013-2017
- The National Black Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40, 2017
- Leadership Greater Jackson, 2013-2014
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 2007
- California, 2007
- U.S. District Courts
- Mississippi: Northern, Southern
- California: Central, Southern
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 9th Circuit
Education
- University of Mississippi, J.D., cum laude, 2006
- Mississippi Law Journal
- Journal of Space Law
- Moot Court Board
- Jackson State University, M.P.P., 2000
- Belhaven University, B.A., English, with honors, 1997
Associations
- American Bar Association
- Litigation Section
- Trial Practice Committee
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
- Regional Meetings Committee
- Insurance Coverage Committee
- Litigation Section
- California State Bar Association
- Litigation Section
- Mississippi Bar Association
- Women in the Profession Committee
- Member, 2021-2022
- Litigation Section
- Leadership Forum, 2015
- Women in the Profession Committee
- Capital Area Bar Association
- Secretary/Treasurer, 2022-2023
- Executive Board of Directors, 2020-2022
- Chair, Diversity Committee
- Co-Chair, Women’s Initiative Committee
- Mississippi Women Lawyers Association
- Executive Board of Directors, Director of State Awards, 2019-2020
Papers, Presentations & Publications
- Speaker, "Two Edges: Civil Rule 30(b)(6)," 2022 Corporate Counsel CLE Seminar, ABA Litigation Section, February 18, 2022.
- Guest, "Recruiting for the future: Why diversity matters," Insurance Speak Podcast, October 6, 2021.
- Speaker, “One Size Does Not Fit All: Thriving in an Alternative Work Arrangement,” Capital Area Bar Association, February 25, 2021.
- Presenter, “Profiting from Gender Diversity,” The Harmonie Group, Women of Harmonie Webinar, November 19, 2020.
- Moderator, “Women Lawyers in Leadership,” Mississippi Women Lawyers Association’s Annual Day of Leadership, September 16, 2020.
- Speaker, “Construction, Next-Gen & Transportation Seminar: The Race for Autonomous Vehicles - Are We There Yet?,” Chicago, IL, The Harmonie Group, July 18, 2019.
- Speaker, “The Race for Autonomous Vehicles - Are We There Yet?,” NW Arkansas Transportation Seminar, The Harmonie Group, June 12, 2019.
- Presenter, “Legislative, Case Law and Regulatory Trends and Developments,” National Business Institute Personal Injury 101, May 14, 2019.
- Presenter, “Personal Injury 101: Medical Records in Case Law,” National Business Institute, May 14, 2019.
- Moderator, “The Value of Diversity and Inclusion: A Conversation with the Bench and Bar,” Capital Area Bar Association, April 24, 2019.
- Presenter, “Collateral Sources, Experts and More: Discovery and Evidence Snags,” Advanced Auto Litigation Seminar, National Business Institutes, July 2018.
- Speaker, “Advanced Auto Injury Litigation: Collateral Sources, Experts and More: Discovery and Evidence Snags,” National Business Institute, June 5, 2018.
- Speaker, “Taking and Defending Depositions of Medical Experts,” Mississippi Bar Association Deposition Academy, June 15, 2017 and December 17, 2018.
- Speaker, “John Boy v. Learned Hand: Sizing up Your Case Based on the Plaintiff’s Lawyer,” NW Arkansas Transportation Seminar, The Harmonie Group, April 12, 2015.
- Author, "Plaintiffs’ Attorneys Keep Trying Novel Theories But Innovator Liability is Still an Elusive Target," Pro Te: Solutio, Vol. 6 No. 3, September 2013.
- Author, "Can Experts Testify as to the Ethics or State of Mind of Corporate Defendants?" Pro Te: Solutio, Vol. 6 No. 1, February 2013.
Civic Involvement
- Junior League of Jackson
- Social Development Projects, Chair (2020-2021)
- Provisional Steering Committee, Member (2021-2022)