S. ALLEN BAKER, JR. is a Partner in the firm's Products Liability & Casualty Litigation Practice Group and serves as General Counsel to the firm.  For the last 30 years, Allen's practice has focused on the defense of personal injury and death cases arising out of product liability, negligence, and toxic and environmental torts.  Allen defends a wide variety of electrical cases, electrical products, and related claims which involve application of national consensus standards, such as the National Electrical Safety Code, NEC, OSHA, NFPA Standard 921.  Allen works 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, negligent inspection, etc.  Allen defends commercial breach of contract claims and breach of contract claims on construction projects including resolution of materialman and mechanic liens.  Allen 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.  Allen also serves as Alabama counsel for several large corporations defending asbestos cases.  Allen serves as Coordinating Counsel for asbestos litigation for the states' largest public utility.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Booker Trucking v. Old Republic Union Insurance Company, et al. - Bad faith insurance case filed in the Circuit Court of Conecuh County involving failure to pay and defend third party claim. Defended by Allen Baker.
• Charles Kilgore v. General Electric Company, et al. - 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. Defended by Allen Baker.
• General Electric v. Viking Services, Inc. and Barnhart Crane. - Prosecuted for GE large property damage claim arising out of crane accident and damage to GE's electric substation. Full recovery.
• Helen Beck v. Electric Mobility Corporation - Defense of products liability wrongful death suit where plaintiff claimed a defectively designed electric scooter tipped over killing decedent. Defended by Allen Baker.
• John J. Johnson v. Home Insurance Company & Risk Enterprise Mgt - Defense of bad faith insurance claim by insured against insuror for failure to defend and pay claim under legal malpractice policy. Defended by Allen Baker.
• Longview General Hospital, Inc. v. Dr. J.T. Morgan v. Excel Health Services of Alabama, Inc., et al. - 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. Case was handled by Allen Baker.
• Mary Williams v. Alabama Power Company and Dr. Timothy Bassett - 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. Defended by Allen Baker and Teresa Minor.
• Nash/Beddingfield v. ATS, et al. - 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, applying Tennessee law and "Loaned Servant Doctrine." Verdict returned for plaintiffs for $24,500.000. Reversed and rendered in favor of our client upon appeal. Defended by Allen Baker and Eric Langley.
• Nelson v. Salem Equipment Company, et al. - 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. Defended by Allen Baker.
• Posey v. Beard Equipment Company and Deere & Company - 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.
• Randy Coleman v. Alabama Power Company - Wrongful death case involving tractor turnover after striking a power pole guy wire. Defended by Allen Baker and Teresa Minor. Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, but client was subsequently made whole by indemnitor.
• Rose Green v. Alabama Power Company - Wrongful death case filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama alleging fire caused by faulty surge protector. Defended by Allen Baker and Teresa Minor. Defense verdict.
• Savors/McGregory v Alabama Power Company, et al. -  Defense of electric utility in double wrongful death case involving construction site electrocution caused when crane contacted overhead power lines. Defended by Allen Baker and Bruce Barze. Obtained summary judgment which was affirmed by Supreme Court.
• Smalls v. Bread & Roses - Wrongful death case filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County involving defense of a sprinkler system inspection company. Defended by Allen Baker and Jenelle Evans.
• Southern Electrical Contractors and BISCO v. Southern Company Services, et al. - Defense of breach of contract and fraud claim involving a construction contract dispute (filed counterclaim for breach of contract) handled by Allen Baker.
• Stanton v. Alabama Power Company - Defense of two wrongful death cases and two personal injury cases where plaintiffs allowed a TV antenna to contact overhead power lines. Defended by Allen Baker and Teresa Minor.
• Thomas v. Evenflo, et al. -  Defense of product liability alleging defective child restraint seat where 7-month-old strangled to death in seat while left alone in bedroom. Defended by Allen Baker, Teresa Minor and Sean Shirley. Summary judgment for the defendant after trial court granted Daubert challenge to plaintiff's experts on design of seat.
• Carter v. Birmingham Steel and ABB -  Defense of wrongful death case in steel mill electrical arcing explosion applying Georgia wrongful death law. Defended by Allen Baker.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• • Alabama State Bar (serves on the Disciplinary Rules & Enforcement Committee)
  • American Bar Association, Torts, Insurance & Litigation Sections
  • Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
  • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • Alabama Defense Lawyers Trial Academy, Former faculty
  • Lawyers for Civil Justice Representative
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2005 - Present
  • Listed in Super Lawyers, 2008
  • 2005 "Best of the Bar", Products Liability (100 + lawyers)
  • Named a "Local Star" by Benchmark Litigation
  • Named a "Top Attorney" by Birmingham Magazine, 2009
  • Admitted in all U.S. District Courts, 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, & the Court of Federal Claims

  

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