Select Matters
- Broadband Initiatives: Developed strategies and agreements relating to infrastructure siting, acquisition, and leasing, including pole attachments, conduit leases, fiber optic cable leases and IRUs, and wireless facilities siting.
- Toxic Tort Litigation: Part of a team of Balch trial attorneys who successfully defended an international limestone processor during a twelve day jury trial in Alabama state court. The plaintiff alleged multiple catastrophic injuries after working as a contractor at the client's facility. Plaintiff has incurred more than $3 Million in medical expenses to date, and the plaintiff’s experts projected that it will cost over $7 Million for future care. Plaintiff's counsel asked the jury for $25 million, but the jury returned a verdict for the defense. (May 2017)
- Joint Use Agreement Negotiation: Representation of multiple utilities in the negotiation of numerous pole attachment agreements with telecommunications and cable companies. (2014-2016)
- False Claims Act Lawsuit: Obtained a dismissal with prejudice of the plaintiff’s False Claims Act complaint alleging that Lincare submitted fraudulent claims for payment to Medicare and Medicaid. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed in a per curiam decision. (2015, Britton v. Lincare, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39876 (N.D. Ala. Mar. 30, 2015) aff’d 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 21373. (11th Cir. 2015))
- Products Liability and Casualty Defense: Representing Alabama Power Company, Joe obtained summary judgment in favor of Alabama Power in a wrongful death case where an estate of a minor alleged that Alabama Power negligently and wantonly supplied electricity to a home and lake community. (2015, Parker v. Alabama Power. (Circuit Court, Walker County Alabama))
- Joint Use Litigation: Representation of electric utility in lawsuit over pole rental attachment fees in Florida state court. (2014, Tampa Electric v. Verizon)
- Joint Use Litigation and Regulatory Proceeding: Representation of electric utility in litigation and pole attachment complaint proceeding over pole attachment rental fees. (2015, Duke Energy v. Frontier)
- Joint Use Litigation: Representation of electric utility in Federal District Court for the Southern District of Indiana over cost of make-ready work associated with telecommunications provider's attachments. (2015, Duke Energy v. Comcast)
- Joint Use Pole Attachment Complaint Proceeding: Representation of electric utility in pole attachment complaint proceeding concerning make-ready work and NESC compliance of Cox Communications' attachments to NV Energy poles. (2015, Cox Communications v. NV Energy)
- Construction Litigation: Representation of General Contractor in state court lawsuit over alleged wrongful termination of subcontractor and claims of nonpayment. (2013, Builders Construction Services v. Cottage Builders)
Publications
News
Speaking Engagements
Credentials
- Washington University in St. Louis, School of Law, J.D., 2011
- University of Virginia, B.A., Religious Studies, 2007
- Alabama, 2011
- Defense Research Institute, Young Lawyers Steering Committee
- Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
- Birmingham Inns of Court
- Birmingham Young Lawyers Association
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch
- Benchmark Litigation, 40 & Under Hot List
- Birmingham Business Journal, Rising Star Lawyer 2018
- Birmingham Magazine, Top Attorney, 2020
- Camp Smile-A-Mile, Junior Board Secretary, 2014, Board Member, 2013-2015
- Mountain Brook Athletics Association, Volunteer Football Coach, 2012-2014