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
BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America®
- Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2023
- Lawyer of the Year, Appellate Practice, 2022
- Appellate Practice, 2007-2025
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2014-2025
Thomson Reuters 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

University of Mississippi, J.D., magna cum laude, 1988
- Symposium Editor, Mississippi Law Journal
University of Mississippi, B.P.A., summa cum laude, 1985

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

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

P (662) 513-8009

F (662) 513-8001

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

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.

Fellow, Mississippi Bar Foundation
BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America®
- Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2023
- Lawyer of the Year, Appellate Practice, 2022
- Appellate Practice, 2007-2025
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2014-2025
Thomson Reuters 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

University of Mississippi, J.D., magna cum laude, 1988
- Symposium Editor, Mississippi Law Journal
University of Mississippi, B.P.A., summa cum laude, 1985

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

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