Results
Trial Experience
From 2002 through 2005, our firm tried more cases than any other plaintiff’s firm in the State of Alabama. For the past 14 years, our firm has been recognized as a top plaintiff’s firm for Most Prolific Trial Law Firms by the Alabama Jury Verdict Reporter.
Awards and Recognition
In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked our law firm Tier 1 Birmingham plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation and Tier 2 commercial litigation in the Best Law Firms 2016 publication.
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Plaintiffs entered into insurance contracts with Physicians Mutual Insurance Company which contained a rider that provided certain outpatient sickness and accident benefits. The plaintiffs alleged that Physicians Mutual wrongfully failed to pay insurance claims for the plaintiffs and other class members.
Physicians Mutual is an insurance company based in Omaha, Nebraska that sells numerous types of insurance products throughout the U.S. Beginning in 1993, Physicians Mutual began selling a supplemental insurance product in Alabama called the “Outpatient Plus Plan,” which is a supplemental insurance product comprised of a hospital indemnity policy and a combination of two or more riders. One of the riders attached to the hospital indemnity policy was the outpatient benefit rider, which pays a fixed benefit of $100.00 each time a policyholder makes a claim that meets the requirements of the rider.
The Plaintiffs entered into insurance contracts with Physicians Mutual which contained a rider that provided certain outpatient sickness and accident benefits. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs, individually and on behalf of all class members, alleged that Physicians Mutual wrongfully failed to pay insurance claims.
Through the discovery process, the plaintiffs gathered significant documentation to support the allegations. Physicians Mutual paid $23 million to class representatives and class members residing in the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas. This case was handled by partner Chris Hellums.
Michael Paul Smith presented to an orthopedic surgeon for a knot on his thigh. An MRI was performed on the thigh and Mr. Smith was told not to worry about it. Almost two (2) years later, the knot was diagnosed as a malignant tumor. Mr. Smith died as a result of the tumor. It was alleged that the MRI machine was improperly used, that the MRI machine was defectively designed, that improper instructions were given on the use of the MRI machine. During trial, a confidential settlement agreement was reached with the product manufacturer and distributor. A jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against the physician’s practice in the amount of $7 million. The case was later settled pursuant to a confidentiality agreement.
While working as a train conductor for Norfolk, Dexter Grandison severely injured his back when a tractor-trailer rig attempted to cross the tracks and a collision occurred with the train being occupied by Dexter. The incident occurred in Clarke County, Alabama on Feb. 14, 2005.
Although warning signs existed at the crossing, the crossing did not possess active warning signals such as gates, flashing signals, warning lights or a stop sign. Also, the operator of the tractor-trailer rig contended that rail cars parked on an adjacent track obscured his vision and as such, he could not see the approaching train. As a result of the incident, Dexter Grandison underwent surgery to repair his back problems. Unfortunately, he did not make a satisfactory recovery and was unable to work. Attorney Chris Cochran filed a lawsuit on behalf of Dexter and against Norfolk for allowing rail cars to be parked on an adjacent line and for further failing to have adequate warning devices in place.
On April 17, 2009, a Clarke County jury returned a verdict in favor of Dexter Grandison and awarded him $6 million.
Roger Presley purchased a policy of insurance for his business, a lounge located in Chambers County, Alabama. Burn & Wilcox was the insurance broker. Presley alleged that the broker wrongfully cancelled his policy and then failed to reinstate it. Moreover, after learning of his error, the broker then lied to cover up his wrongdoing. Specifically, the broker stated that he had issued a “desk binder” that would provide coverage until a new policy could be written. A new policy was written, but, unfortunately, there was an incident at Presley’s business for which Presley was sued. When Presley made a claim for coverage, Burns & Wilcox informed him that there was no policy of insurance or desk binder. Presley incurred approximately $100,000 in legal fees successfully defending himself in the underlying lawsuit.
Chris Cochran and Lee Pittman tried the case for Presley against Burns & Wilcox. The jury returned a verdict for Presley and ordered Burns & Wilcox to pay $600,000 in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages.
Leo and Gloria Brown operated G & L Grocery, a convenience store. Leo purchased a commercial general-liability insurance policy for the store from Acceptance Insurance Company. Subsequently, the Browns were informed that R.G. and M.D. were planning to burglarize the store. They returned to their store later that night to apprehend any suspected burglars.
While hiding in the pump house located next to the convenience store, Leo and Gloria heard noises coming from outside. As Leo left the pump house, Gloria heard the store’s burglar alarm. She left the pump house to find S.S. in front of the store. As Leo walked around to the front of the store, he was involved in an altercation with S.S. While trying to escape the altercation with Leo, S.S. turned towards Gloria and was shot in the abdomen.
As a result of this encounter, S.S. filed a tort action alleging that Leo and Gloria Brown had “negligently and/or wantonly” injured him. The Browns sent a letter to Acceptance requesting that they defend the Browns in the civil lawsuit filed by S.S. Acceptance later informed the Browns that it would not be defending them in the lawsuit because coverage had been disclaimed under the “intentional acts” and “assault and battery” exclusions of the general-liability policy.
The Browns brought suit against Acceptance seeking a judgment declaring that Acceptance was required to defend and indemnify them in the lawsuit filed by S.S. After a judgment was entered against the Browns in the lawsuit filed by S.S., the Browns amended their complaint, adding that Acceptance had breached its contract with them and in bad faith breached its duty to defend and indemnify them. The case was tried and the jury returned a verdict for $1.45 million. The case was handled by attorney Chris Hellums
35 Years of Honest, Passionate, and Aggressive Representation for Those Injured in Alabama
More Results
Our client was awarded $975,000 in a case involving a defective medical device. The device required removal as well as multiple repair surgeries.
Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann, P.C. represented a plaintiff who was injured in a motor vehicle crash when a driver pulled out in front of their motorcycle. The accident resulted in multiple surgeries, and our client was awarded $550,000 in damages.
Our client was seriously injured after they were attacked by dangerous dogs in a backyard. The injuries required multiple surgeries. We obtained a $250,000 verdict on their behalf.
A rear-end collision caused our client multiple pain blocks. We returned a $150,000 damages award in a motor vehicle crash case.
Our team obtained a $75,000 verdict on behalf of our client. As a result of dental malpractice, our client suffered incorrectly placed implants.
It was alleged that during open-heart surgery, the perfusionist (operator of the heart/lung machine) installed a tube backwards. As a result, an air bubble was allowed to flow into Mr. Morguson’s brain. Mr. Morguson died as a result. The case was settled pursuant to a confidentiality agreement.
This action was essentially a premises liability lawsuit, as it related to Shiv-Ram, an innkeeper. The action arose out of alleged negligent conduct and/or wanton conduct relating to the maintenance, condition and safety of a hotel room located on the premises on the Ramada Inn of Anniston. The jury returned a verdict for McCaleb, awarding $600,000 in damages.
Plaintiff was awarded $300,000 in a premises liability lawsuit. Our client had to undergo neck surgery after a security guard negligently activated security barriers, injuring them severely.
Plaintiff was awarded $195,000 in damages in a product liability lawsuit due to a failed medical device that needed removal.
We obtained a $150,000 verdict for the plaintiff, who was injured by a defective medical device requiring surgery to remove the device.
Plaintiff was awarded $100,000 in a case involving a defective medical device which required removal surgery to correct.
Stephanie Price sustained third-degree burns to 45% of her body when her hair caught on fire while using a sculpting hair spritz, a curling iron and an oven which was used to heat the curling iron. Stephanie Price alleged that the products were defectively designed and failed to provide adequate warnings. The case was settled pursuant to a confidentiality agreement.
Burton suffered a permanent injury when an electrical magnet failed and dropped a steel plate on his arm. The jury found that the defendant failed to properly maintain the magnet and its component parts. The jury returned a verdict for Burton, awarding money damages. During the post-trial motion the parties reached a confidential settlement.
