Michael B. Hewes

Michael B.

Hewes

Member, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee

Overview

Michael is an experienced litigator who practices in the firm’s Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Group. He has spent the majority of his career defending clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device and biologics industry. Michael also served as a JAG Officer in the Army National Guard where he tried numerous cases and presided as a judicial advisor.

About

Michael has litigated all manners of pharmaceutical, biologic and medical device cases throughout the United States, most recently serving as Trial Counsel and Co-National Counsel in a mass tort pharmaceutical action. He has developed expertise in preparing and defending company witnesses at deposition and trial and has published and spoken on this topic nationally. He has served on numerous trial teams, including Jackson v. McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Case No. ATL-L-880-13, Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County, named one of CVN’s Top 2015 Defense Verdicts.

Michael is a graduate of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Academy, has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® and Mid-South Super Lawyers®, and he is AV® -Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®. He is a graduate of Leadership Mississippi and Leadership Pine Belt. He is involved in a number of industry organizations, including DRI’s Drug and Medical Device Committee and International Association of Defense Counsel. He routinely writes and speaks on issues pertaining to drug and medical device litigation. He has authored three books: The Milk Wagon (2020); The Tempestuous Trial of Maybelline Meriweather (2018); and Watermark (2016).

Michael retired from the Mississippi Army National Guard in 2009 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (MS). While in the National Guard, Michael served as trial counsel for both enlisted and officers and presided as judicial advisor on military separation boards.

He obtained his J.D., cum laude, from University of Mississippi and B.S. in Business Administration from University of Southern Mississippi. He is admitted to practice in Mississippi and has pro hac vice admissions in numerous other state and federal courts outside of Mississippi.

Experience

Mr. Hewes has tried, or assisted in the trial of, numerous jury trials.  His recent experience includes:

  • In Re Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Marketing, Sales Practices, and Product Liability Litigation (E.D. P.A) (2016).
  • Regina Jackson v. Johnson & Johnson et al., New Jersey trial involving Tylenol and liver injury (2015).
  • Hutto v. McNeil, et al., Louisiana trial involving acetaminophen overdose (2010).
  • Thomas Gaines v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., California trial involving Children’s Motrin and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2010).
  • Karen Robinson v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., Illinois trial involving Children’s Motrin and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2009).
  • Stephanie Zundel v Johnson & Johnson, et al., New Jersey trial involving Children’s Motrin and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2009).
  • Sabrina Brierton Johnson v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., California trial involving first product liability case in connection with Children’s Motrin and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2008).
  • Cona v. Merck & Co., Inc.; New Jersey trial involving Vioxx (2006).
  • John McDarby v. Merck & Co., Inc.; New Jersey trial involving Vioxx (2006).
  • Albright v. Merck & Co., Inc.; Alabama trial involving Vioxx (2006).
  • Humeston v. Merck & Co., Inc.; New Jersey trial involving Vioxx (2005).

Distinctions

  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (Gulfport), 2024
    • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2016-2024
  • Super Lawyers®
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Personal Injury – Products: Defense, 2012-2022
    • Mid-South Rising Stars, 2008-2009
  • Martindale-Hubbell®
    • AV®– Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 2014-2024
  • Mississippi Army National Guard
    • Lieutenant Colonel (MS), Retired
    • Judge Advocate General
  • Graduate, Leadership Mississippi
  • Graduate, Leadership Pine Belt
  • Who's Who Legal
    • Thought Leaders - USA - Product Liability Defence, 2023
    • Product Liability Defense, 2020-2022

Bar Admissions

  • Mississippi, 2000
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Minnesota: District of Minnesota (pro hac vice)
    • Pennsylvania: Eastern (pro hac vice)
    • West Virginia: Southern (pro hac vice)
    • Texas: Northern (pro hac vice)
    • Florida: Middle (pro hac vice)
    • Illinois: Northern (pro hac vice)
    • California: Central (pro hac vice)
    • New Jersey: District of New Jersey (pro hac vice)
    • New York: Eastern (pro hac vice)
    • Mississippi: Northern, Southern
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • 5th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

State Court Pro Hac Vice Admissions:

  • California
  • Florida
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey 
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Texas

Education

  • University of Mississippi, J.D., cum laude, 2000
    • Mississippi Cases Editor, Mississippi Law Journal
    • Appellate Competition Chair, Moot Court Board
  • University of Southern Mississippi, B.S., Business Administration, 1992

Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
    • Drug and Medical Device Committee
  • International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
  • Mississippi Bar Association
  • Capital Area Bar Association
  • Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
  • Harrison County Bar Association
  • National Guard Association

Papers, Presentations & Publications

Civic Involvement

  • Trinity United Methodist Church, Gulfport
    • Staff Parish Council
  • Gulf Coast Writer's Association
  • University of Southern Mississippi Foundation Board
  • Gulfport Century Club
  • Gulfport Youth Sports Association
    • Baseball Coach
  • Gulfport Yacht Club

Michael B.

Hewes

Overview

Michael is an experienced litigator who practices in the firm’s Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Healthcare Group. He has spent the majority of his career defending clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device and biologics industry. Michael also served as a JAG Officer in the Army National Guard where he tried numerous cases and presided as a judicial advisor.

About

Michael has litigated all manners of pharmaceutical, biologic and medical device cases throughout the United States, most recently serving as Trial Counsel and Co-National Counsel in a mass tort pharmaceutical action. He has developed expertise in preparing and defending company witnesses at deposition and trial and has published and spoken on this topic nationally. He has served on numerous trial teams, including Jackson v. McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Case No. ATL-L-880-13, Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County, named one of CVN’s Top 2015 Defense Verdicts.

Michael is a graduate of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Academy, has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® and Mid-South Super Lawyers®, and he is AV® -Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®. He is a graduate of Leadership Mississippi and Leadership Pine Belt. He is involved in a number of industry organizations, including DRI’s Drug and Medical Device Committee and International Association of Defense Counsel. He routinely writes and speaks on issues pertaining to drug and medical device litigation. He has authored three books: The Milk Wagon (2020); The Tempestuous Trial of Maybelline Meriweather (2018); and Watermark (2016).

Michael retired from the Mississippi Army National Guard in 2009 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (MS). While in the National Guard, Michael served as trial counsel for both enlisted and officers and presided as judicial advisor on military separation boards.

He obtained his J.D., cum laude, from University of Mississippi and B.S. in Business Administration from University of Southern Mississippi. He is admitted to practice in Mississippi and has pro hac vice admissions in numerous other state and federal courts outside of Mississippi.

Experience

Mr. Hewes has tried, or assisted in the trial of, numerous jury trials.  His recent experience includes:

  • In Re Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Marketing, Sales Practices, and Product Liability Litigation (E.D. P.A) (2016).
  • Regina Jackson v. Johnson & Johnson et al., New Jersey trial involving Tylenol and liver injury (2015).
  • Hutto v. McNeil, et al., Louisiana trial involving acetaminophen overdose (2010).
  • Thomas Gaines v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., California trial involving Children’s Motrin and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2010).
  • Karen Robinson v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., Illinois trial involving Children’s Motrin and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2009).
  • Stephanie Zundel v Johnson & Johnson, et al., New Jersey trial involving Children’s Motrin and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2009).
  • Sabrina Brierton Johnson v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., California trial involving first product liability case in connection with Children’s Motrin and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2008).
  • Cona v. Merck & Co., Inc.; New Jersey trial involving Vioxx (2006).
  • John McDarby v. Merck & Co., Inc.; New Jersey trial involving Vioxx (2006).
  • Albright v. Merck & Co., Inc.; Alabama trial involving Vioxx (2006).
  • Humeston v. Merck & Co., Inc.; New Jersey trial involving Vioxx (2005).

Distinctions

  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (Gulfport), 2024
    • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2016-2024
  • Super Lawyers®
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Personal Injury – Products: Defense, 2012-2022
    • Mid-South Rising Stars, 2008-2009
  • Martindale-Hubbell®
    • AV®– Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 2014-2024
  • Mississippi Army National Guard
    • Lieutenant Colonel (MS), Retired
    • Judge Advocate General
  • Graduate, Leadership Mississippi
  • Graduate, Leadership Pine Belt
  • Who's Who Legal
    • Thought Leaders - USA - Product Liability Defence, 2023
    • Product Liability Defense, 2020-2022

Bar Admissions

  • Mississippi, 2000
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Minnesota: District of Minnesota (pro hac vice)
    • Pennsylvania: Eastern (pro hac vice)
    • West Virginia: Southern (pro hac vice)
    • Texas: Northern (pro hac vice)
    • Florida: Middle (pro hac vice)
    • Illinois: Northern (pro hac vice)
    • California: Central (pro hac vice)
    • New Jersey: District of New Jersey (pro hac vice)
    • New York: Eastern (pro hac vice)
    • Mississippi: Northern, Southern
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • 5th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

State Court Pro Hac Vice Admissions:

  • California
  • Florida
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey 
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Texas

Education

  • University of Mississippi, J.D., cum laude, 2000
    • Mississippi Cases Editor, Mississippi Law Journal
    • Appellate Competition Chair, Moot Court Board
  • University of Southern Mississippi, B.S., Business Administration, 1992

Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
    • Drug and Medical Device Committee
  • International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
  • Mississippi Bar Association
  • Capital Area Bar Association
  • Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
  • Harrison County Bar Association
  • National Guard Association

Papers, Presentations & Publications

Civic Involvement

  • Trinity United Methodist Church, Gulfport
    • Staff Parish Council
  • Gulf Coast Writer's Association
  • University of Southern Mississippi Foundation Board
  • Gulfport Century Club
  • Gulfport Youth Sports Association
    • Baseball Coach
  • Gulfport Yacht Club