Balch & Bingham LLP | People | Baker Jr., S. Allen

S. Allen Baker Jr.

Partner

abaker@balch.com

Birmingham

T: (205) 226-3416

F: (205) 488-5880

S. ALLEN BAKER, JR. is a Partner in the firm's Products Liability & Casualty Litigation Practice Group. For the last 20 years, Mr. Baker's practice has focused on the defense of personal injury and death cases arising out of products liability, negligence, and wantonness claims. A great deal of Mr. Baker's time is spent defending a wide variety of electrical cases, electrical products, and related claims (such as fire cases) which involve application of national consensus standards, such as the National Electrical Safety Code, NEC, OSHA, NFPA Standard 921. Mr. Baker has also spent a great deal of time on construction cases defending contractors and premises owners where they have been charged with negligence in failing to provide a safe workplace, failure to warn, negligence inspection, etc. He also defends commercial breach of contract claims and breach of contract claims on construction projects. He understands the issues facing developers, architects and engineers as projects move from inception through completion including resolution of disputes that may arise between construction professionals. Mr. Baker also serves as Alabama counsel for several large corporations in asbestos cases.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Booker Trucking v. Old Republic Union Insurance Company, et al. - This is a bad faith insurance case filed in the Circuit Court of Conecuh County involving failure to pay and defend third party claim. The case was handled by A. Baker. Case settled.
Charles Kilgore v. General Electric Company, et al. - This is a mesothelioma case in the Circuit Court of Colbert County involoving a wrongful death allegedly caused by exposure to asbestos at steam plant and on locomotive engine. The case was handled by A. Baker. Case settled.
General Electric v. Viking Services, Inc. and Barnhart Crane. - This is a case filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Southern Division, involving crane accident. The case was tried by A. Baker and Inge Johnstone, Jr.. The jury returned a jury verdict in our client's favor.
Helen Beck v. Electric Mobility Corporation - This is a case filed in the Circuit Court of Madison County. Defense of products liability wrongful death suit where plaintiff claimed a defectively designed electric scooter tipped over killing decedent. This case was handled by A. Baker and David Block. Case settled.
John J. Johnson v. Home Insurance Company & Risk Enterprise Mgt - This is a case filed in the Circuit Court of Chambers County. Defense of bad faith insurance claim by insured against insuror for failure to defend and pay claim under legal malpractice policy. The case was handled by A. Baker. Case settled.
Longview General Hospital, Inc. v. Dr. J.T. Morgan v. Excel Health Services of Alabama, Inc., et al. - This is a business dispute case filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County involving a breach of contract in connection with sale of hospital. Defendants filed a counterclaim for fraud. The case was handled by A. Baker. Case settled.
Mary Williams v. Alabama Power Company and Dr. Timothy Bassett - This is a brain damage case filed in the Circuit Court of Tuscaloosa County arising out of termination of electric service while plaintiff was on a breathing machine coupled with medical malpractice case. The case was handled by A. Baker and Teresa Minor. Case settled.
Nash/Beddingfield v. ATS, et al. - This is a case involving 4 wrongful deaths filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County that occurred in Tennessee when an 18-wheeler struck victims' van killing all occupants. Tried in Birmingham applying Tennessee law and "Loaned Servant Doctrine." Verdict returned for plaintiffs for $24,500.000. Reversed and rendered in favor of my client upon appeal to the Supreme Court. The case was tried by A. Baker and Eric Langley.
Nelson v. Salem Equipment Company, et al. - This is a products liability case filed in the Circuit Court of Marengo County involving a sawmill accident. Defended manufacturer of sawmill equipment alleged to be defective causing plaintiff's accident and rendering him a paraplegic. The case was handled by A. Baker. Case settled while jury was out.
Posey v. Beard Equipment Company and Deere & Company - This is a products liability case filed in the Circuit Court of Marion County. Defense of a John Deere dealership that manufactured a defective water tank for use on top of Deere skidder that exploded killing nearby worker. Case settled.
Randy Coleman v. Alabama Power Company - This wrongful death case filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama and was tried by A. Baker and Ms. Teresa Minor. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff. Case settled after verdict by a third party indemnitor after indemnity was enforced.
Rose Green v. Alabama Power Company - This is wrongful death case filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama alleging fire caused by faulty surge protector and was tried by A. Baker and Ms. Teresa Minor. The jury returned a defense verdict.
Savors/McGregory v Alabama Power Company, et al. - This is a case filed in the Circuit Court of Tuscaloosa County. Defense of electric utility in double wrongful death case involving construction site electrocution caused when crane contacted overhead power lines and handled by A. Baker. Obtained summary judgment and affirmed by Supreme Court.
Smalls v. Bread & Roses - This is a wrongful death case filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County where we defended a sprinkler system inspection company where a child died in a fire. The case was handled by A.Baker and Jenelle Evans. Case settled during jury selection.
Southern Electrical Contractors and BISCO v. Southern Company Service, et al. - This is a case filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County. Defense of breach of contract and fraud claim involving a construction contract dispute (filed counterclaim for breach of contract) handled by A. Baker and case settled.
Stanton v. Alabama Power Company - This is an electric utility case in the Circuit Court of Pickens County involving two deaths and two personal injury claims when plaintiffs allowed a TV antenna to contact overhead power lines. The case was handled by A. Baker. Case settled.
Thomas v. Evenflo, et al. - This is a products liability case filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (Birmingham, AL). Defense of alleged defective child restraint seat where 7-month-old strangled to death in seat while left alone in bedroom. The case was handled by A. Baker and Teresa Minor and resulted in summary judgment for the defendant after trial court granted our motion to exclude plaintiff's expert under a Daubert challenge.
Carter v. Birmingham Steel and ABB - This is a wrongful death case filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama. Defense of wrongful death case in steel mill explosion applying Georgia wrongful death law and was handled by A. Baker. Case settled.