JIM BYRAM is a Partner in the Litigation section of Balch & Bingham LLP.  Mr. Byram has an active civil litigation practice in federal and state courts throughout Alabama, at both the trial and appellate levels, with particular emphasis on environmental litigation.  Other matters regularly handled by Mr. Byram include class actions, condemnations, litigation involving public utilities, financial institutions, complex industrial equipment failures, and constitutional law issues.

Mr. Byram’s complex litigation experience includes the successful representation of  crushed stone industry defendants in multi-plaintiff cases claiming air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution,  blasting damage, and groundwater diversion. He has represented real estate developers in environmental group challenges to permitted activities. Defendants represented in consumer class actions, include banks, public utilities, pest control companies, and insurance companies. He regularly represents the plaintiff in condemnation/eminent domain actions. He has represented regulated industry in matters involving environmental regulations and permitting.

Representative Experience

• • Davis v. Hanson Aggregates Southeast, 952 So. 2d 330 (Ala. 2006) (defense of environmental nuisance claim)
  • Purnell v. Martin Marietta Materials, 891 So. 2d 444 (Ala. Civ. App. 2003)(defense of blasting damage claim)
  • Blount Intern., Ltd. v. James River-Pennington, Inc., 618 So.2d 1344, (Ala. 1993) (representation of owner in complex industrial equipment failure litigation)
  • Cousins v. Alabama Power Co., 597 So.2d 683, (Ala. 1992) (scope of use of electric transmission line easements)
  • Surrett v. TIG Premier Ins. Co., 869 F.Supp. 919, (M.D.Ala. 1994) (forced placed insurance litigation)
  • Groom v. Commercial Bank, 544 So.2d 165, (Ala.1989); Bass v. First Alabama Bancshares, 544 So.2d 858, (Ala. 1989) (representation of acquiring corporation in shareholder derivative actions)
  • Sellers v. Foremost Ins. Co., 924 F.Supp. 1116, (M.D.Ala. 1996) (removal based on fraudulent joinder)
  • First Alabama Bank of Montgomery, N.A. v. Parsons Steel, Inc., 825 F.2d 1475 (11th Cir. 1987); 474 U.S. 518 (1986); 785 F.2d 929 (11th Cir. 1986); 747 F.2d 1367 (11th Cir. 1984); 426 So.2d 416 (Ala. 1982); 390 So. 2d 640 (Ala.Civ.App. 1980) (lender liability litigation)
  • Cobb v. Union Camp Corp., 816 So.2d 1045 (Ala.Civ.App. 2001); 786 So.2d 501; (Ala.Civ.App. 2000) (defense of business tort claim)
  • Alabama Power Co. v. Citizens of State, 740 So.2d 371, (Ala.1999) (constitutionality of electric service territorial act)
  • Professional Ins. Corp. v. Sutherland, 700 So.2d 347, (Ala. 1997) (enforcement of forum selection clauses)
  • Metmor Financial, Inc. v. Commonwealth Land Title Ins. Co., 655 So.2d 940, (Ala.1994); 645 So.2d 295 (Ala.1993); 62 F. 3d 401(11^th Cir.) (title insurance closing services agreement litigation)
  • Parker v Ward, 614 So. 2d 975(Ala. 1992) (duty of title insurers)
  • Sierra Club v. Alabama Environmental Management Com'n, 627 So.2d 931, (Ala.Civ.App. 1993); 627 So.2d 927 (Ala.1993); 627 So.2d 923 (Ala.Civ.App. 1992) (intervention by regulated industry to defend water quality regulation)
  • ADM Agri-Industries, Ltd. v. Harvey, 200 F.R.D. 467 (M.D. Ala. 2001) (represented plaintiff in business debt collection and fraudulent transfer claim)
  • Moorhead v Compass Bank, 881 So. 2d 547(Ala. 2003) (commercial bank right of set off)
  • Hamrick v. Nobel Insurance Co., 821 So. 2d 210(Ala. 2001) (letter of credit litigation)
  • State of Alabama v. Trust Company Bank, 420 So. 2d 10; 451 So. 2d 247 (Ala. 1984)(defense of bank in UCC forged endorsement case)
  • Algernon Blair v. USF&G, 821 F. 2d 597(11^th Cir. 1987) (representation of insured in total loss fire claim)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• • Alabama State Bar, Member, Board of Bar Examiners
  • Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
  • Montgomery County Bar Association, Grievance Committee
  • American Bar Association, Litigation Section
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
  • Selected for Alabama Super Lawyers, 2008
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation, 2007 Edition

   

  

  
  

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