CHARLES "CHUCK" A. BURKHART is a Partner in the firm's Litigation section. His practice includes the following areas:
Mr. Burkhart represents owners, developers, governmental entities, general contractors, subcontractors and material suppliers on all aspects of construction projects including the preparation and review of contract documents, bid preparation, bid mistakes, change order disputes and negotiations, payment disputes, the filing and defense of mechanics' and materialman’s liens, cost overruns, and delay claims. Mr. Burkhart has been able to resolve issues that arise between and among developers, architects and engineers in the discharge of their professional duties in connection with project development. Additionally, he has represented contractors in administrative and disciplinary proceedings before governmental licensing boards and currently serves as the 11th Circuit Articles Editor for Construct! magazine.
His construction practice involves a spectrum of disputes including highway and road construction projects, industrial plants, power plants, solid waste dumps, gas stations, retaining wall defects, industrial piping projects, large automobile-manufacturing plants, interstate gas and petroleum pipeline projects, shopping centers, warehouses, churches, restaurant developments, office buildings, hospitals, beach condominiums, military bases, multi-family residences, and homes.
Mr. Burkhart has significant experience in the defense and trial of personal injury and product liability claims including toxic tort litigation (lead, asbestos and chemical exposure cases), e-coli (hemolytic uremic syndrome) exposure cases, pharmaceutical cases, along with premises liability, adulterated food and fire cases, among others involving catastrophic injury and death. In the course of his practice, Mr. Burkhart has represented industrial equipment manufacturers, home appliance manufacturers, trucking industry manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, concrete companies, chemical suppliers and manufacturers, medical professionals, electrical utilities and operating companies, and fire sprinkler manufacturers.
Additionally, Mr. Burkhart routinely handles the defense and trial of electrical injury and wrongful death cases occasioned by contact with high-voltage electrical lines and equipment, electrical fires, and other electrical equipment-related injuries.
In addition to the practice areas above, Mr. Burkhart has developed a specialized practice in the defense of lenders and flood zone determination companies in cases invoking the 1973 Flood Disaster Protection Act and the 1994 National Flood Insurance Reform Act. In that capacity, he serves as a legal advisor to the National Flood Determination Association.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Birmingham Bar Association
- Alabama State Bar
- American Bar Association
- Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
- DRI Construction Law Committee
- DRI Products Liability Committee
- DRI Trial Tactics Committee
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
- Instructor - 2007 Alabama Defense Lawyers Association Trial Academy
- Instructor - 2004 Alabama Defense Lawyers Association Trial Academy
- Voted Best of the Birmingham Bar in Construction Litigation for Large Firms, 2007
- Martindale Hubbell AV Rating