Select Matters
- False Claims Act: Successfully defended respiratory therapy provider against False Claims Act complaint. (Britton v. Lincare, Inc.)
- Managed Care: Successfully defended managed care death case (Ghee v. USAble Ins. Co. d/b/a Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield)
- Medical malpractice: Defended dialysis company in medical malpractice death case resulting in jury defense verdict. (Blalock v. Bio-Medical Applications of Alabama, Inc.)
- Antitrust: Represented physician in antitrust and Section 1983 lawsuit to prevent termination of staff privileges following peer review. (United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama)
- Insurance class action: Defended insurer in national class action over calculation of insurance deductibles. (Heffner v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama)
- RICO: Tried healthcare RICO action to favorable jury verdict. (BlueCross Blue Shield of Alabama v. Crestline Chiropractic, United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama)
- Medical products liability: Obtained jury defense verdict for Sandoz Nutrition in medical product defect litigation arising from Oprah Winfrey diet. (Coggin v. Sandoz, Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama)
- Coverage of Experimental Treatment: Defended insurer in lawsuit over failure to approve experimental treatment for breast cancer. (McFillin v. United Healthcare of Alabama, Inc., United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama)
- Antitrust: Defended insurer in antitrust lawsuit over exclusivity of medical review. (Health Services Review, Inc. v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama)
- Defended several BCBS plans in BCBS Antitrust MDL
- Defendant Class Action: Successfully prosecuted defendant class action contesting applicability of any willing provider statute. (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama v. Neilsen, United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama)
- Regulatory licensure: Defended emergency license suspension for compounding pharmacy. (Alabama Board of Pharmacy)
Publications
News
Speaking Engagements
Credentials
Education
- The University of Alabama School of Law, J.D., 1987
- University of North Alabama, B.S.N., 1978
Courts
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
- Alabama State Courts
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee, 2010
- Georgia, 1999
- Alabama, 1988
- Arizona, 1987
- Texas, 2022
Professional Affiliations
- American Health Lawyers Association
- DRI
- Certified Dispute Resolver, American Health Lawyers Association
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- American Arbitration Association, Arbitrator
Awards & Accolades
- Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Health Care Law, Insurance Law, 2007 - Present
- The Best Lawyers in America®, 2017 Birmingham Health Care Law Lawyer of the Year
- The Best Lawyers in America®, 2013 Birmingham ERISA Law Lawyer of the Year
- Birmingham Business Journal, Who’s Who in Healthcare
- Mid-South Super Lawyer, 2008 - Present
- Birmingham Magazine, Top Attorney, 2018
Community Involvement
- Civil Air Patrol, Major, Leadership Officer, and Mission Pilot
- Academic Year in America, Host Family