News & Knowledge

The FormanWatkins Foundation proudly supported the Breakthrough T1D Walk held on Saturday, October 18, in Flowood, Mississippi. The Foundation, along with colleagues from FormanWatkins’ Jackson office, joined more than three hundred participants from across Mississippi in raising awareness and funds to support those living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). “Our Foundation’s mission to advance health and well-being and strengthen communities is deeply reflected in our partnership with Breakthrough T1D,” said Jennifer Studebaker, Partner at FormanWatkins and Foundation Committee Chair. “By supporting initiatives that drive medical research and improve patient care, we are investing in the futures of individuals and families affected by T1D. This work embodies our commitment to creating lasting, meaningful impact in the communities we serve.” The annual walk, which brings together families, healthcare professionals, and community members has raised nearly $130,000 to date. These vital funds support groundbreaking research, patient care initiatives, and community programs that demonstrate to those living with T1D that they are not alone in their journey. Ruth Maron Huskey, Partner at FormanWatkins and Breakthrough T1D Mississippi Community Board President, emphasized the importance of community-driven events like the walk. “Events like the Breakthrough T1D Walk are transformative because they unite our community around a shared mission, to foster healthier lives through medical research, enhanced patient care, and strengthen community well-being,” said Huskey. “When we stand alongside families, support innovation, and build hope together, we are not just funding research, we are showing those affected by T1D that they do not face their journey alone. […]

FormanWatkins is pleased to announce the addition of Erienne Reniajal “RJ” Lewis as an associate in the Jackson office. RJ brings extensive judicial experience, scholarship, and a solid foundation of legal analysis, enhancing the Firm’s ability to provide thoughtful, strategic representation to clients. RJ earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from Mississippi College School of Law, where he served as Chief Executive Editor of the Mississippi College Law Review and earned first place in the Bryant National Health Law Transactional Competition. He also served as Vice President of the Black Law Students Association R. Jess Brown Chapter, worked as a Teaching Assistant for multiple courses, and served as a Writing Fellow in Legal Analysis and Communication. Prior to joining the Firm, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Carlton W. Reeves of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi and to the Honorable Curtis Lynn Collier of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. RJ also gained additional judicial experience as an intern for the Honorable Lakeysha Greer Isaac and as an extern for the Honorable David N. McCarty of the Mississippi Court of Appeals. “RJ exemplifies the combination of practical judicial experience, academic excellence, and analytical skill that we seek in all our attorneys,” said Joshua Metcalf, partner at FormanWatkins. “He strengthens our team’s ability to navigate complex legal matters and provide clients with strategic, thoughtful advocacy.” Outside of the office, RJ enjoys baking – particularly southern pecan praline cake […]

FormanWatkins is pleased to announce that Kelsi Baldwin has joined the Firm as an associate in the Jackson office. Kelsi brings to the Firm distinguished clerkship experience, having served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Leslie H. Southwick of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and to the Honorable Kristi H. Johnson of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Kelsi graduated summa cum laude from Mississippi College School of Law, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Mississippi College Law Review. During law school, she earned numerous honors, including the Joey Phillips Award, recognition as Best Overall Advocate in the CCTB Appellate Moot Court Competition, and several American Jurisprudence Awards. She was also a Teaching Assistant in multiple subjects and selected as a Pupil of the Charles Clark Inns of Court. Her academic achievements also include a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, from Mississippi College, and an Associate of Arts degree, with highest honors, from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, where she was inducted into the Co-Lin Hall of Fame. In addition to her judicial clerkships, Kelsi has contributed legal scholarship as a contributor to the Mississippi Practice Series and as author of the Conflict of Laws chapter in the Encyclopedia of Mississippi Laws. Her published works also include Matter of Will of Ratcliff and the Not-so-Harmless Error: A Call to Change Mississippi’s Approach to Will Formalities in the Mississippi College Law Review. “Kelsi has already built an impressive […]

FormanWatkins is pleased to announce the addition of Albert Adams as an associate in the New Orleans office. He brings extensive trial experience and a strong background in asbestos and toxic tort litigation. Albert earned his J.D. and Doctor of comparative Law from Louisiana State University in 2016 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from LSU. During law school, he distinguished himself on the LSU Trial Advocacy Board, participated on the ABA National Trial Competition External Team, and served on the LSU Ethics Committee Board. He also earned the CALI Award for Excellence in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Before joining FormanWatkins, Albert served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Orleans Parish district Attorney’s Office and later practiced toxic tort litigation, gaining significant trial and courtroom experience. He has represented a wide range of clients, including equipment manufacturers, contractors, stevedoring companies, and fortune 50 energy companies, handling complex litigation matters from briefing and arguing dispositive motions to trial preparation and witness examination. “Albert brings a wealth of practical experience and a proven track record in asbestos and toxic tort defense,” said Tim Gray, partner at FormanWatkins. “His combination of courtroom skill, strategic thinking, and subject matter expertise makes him a tremendous asset to our clients and the firm.” Albert currently serves as a House Member of the Louisiana State Bar Association House of Delegates. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, playing piano and guitar, and spending time watching his two sons play sports.

FormanWatkins is pleased to announce that Vickie Thompson has rejoined the Firm, bringing more than twenty years of distinguished litigation experience to the practice. Vickie will primarily focus on complex personal injury defense, toxic tort litigation, and commercial disputes. “We are thrilled to welcome Vickie back to the Firm,” said Tim Gray, partner at FormanWatkins. “Vickie’s depth of experience in complex litigation and her proven record of achieving favorable outcomes for clients make her an invaluable addition to our team. Her return strengthens our ability to serve clients facing sophisticated legal challenges across multiple jurisdictions.” Throughout her career, Vickie has represented major corporations in high-stakes litigation, including oil companies, petrochemical manufacturers, and construction contractors. Her experience encompasses toxic tort claims, premises liability, vehicular collisions, railroad crossing accidents, Jones Act claims, and commercial litigation. Vickie’s notable achievements include successfully resolving mass tort claims involving 1,800 plaintiffs, serving as counsel for major oil companies in refinery accident cases, and developing innovative medical screening processes in asbestos cases that revealed fraudulent examinations and resulted in claim dismissals. She has also participated in groundbreaking litigation, including the first summary trial in the history of Jefferson County, Texas, in a multi-million-dollar commercial action. Vickie is licensed to practice in Texas, Louisiana, and Illinois. She earned her J.D. from the University of Houston and her B.S. from Lamar University. In addition to her legal practice, Vickie is committed to community service through Habitat for Humanity and pro bono legal services.

In a ruling that underscores the weight of statutory deadlines in Mississippi workers’ compensation law, FormanWatkins successfully defended its client before the Mississippi Court of Appeals. The Court affirmed the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission’s dismissal of a Petition to Controvert after finding the Claimant filed outside the statute of limitations. FormanWatkins attorneys filed a Motion to Dismiss on behalf of the client, which the Administrative Judge granted, and the Full Commission affirmed. On appeal, the Court of Appeals agreed, holding that the Claimant neither suffered a latent nor progressive injury and that the evidence established that the Claimant knew the seriousness and probable compensable nature of his injury but waited more than two years to act. The FormanWatkins defense team included Malissa Wilson and Kara Bidstrup Walker. “This decision underscores the critical role of statutes of limitations in workers’ compensation claims,” said Malissa Wilson, partner at FormanWatkins. “Employers rely on us to shut down untimely and unsupported claims, and this ruling shows how a disciplined defense backed by strong evidence can protect clients from unnecessary liability.”

The Firm is pleased to announce that Ryan Simoneaux has joined the New Orleans office as an associate. A magna cum laude graduate of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, Ryan distinguished himself as Editor-in-Chief of the Loyola Maritime Law Journal and a Professor William L. Crowe, Sr. Scholar, an honor awarded to students graduating in the top ten percent of their class. During law school, Ryan earned multiple accolades, including the Kean Miller LLP Admiralty Award for Best Student Comment and first place in the LSBA Family Law Section Writing Competition. He also held leadership positions as President of the Federal Bar Association’s Loyola Student Chapter and as a member of the Trial Advocacy Team. Ryan gained valuable experience through internships with the Honorable Jane Triche Milazzo and the Honorable Darrel J. Papillion of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. He also served as a research assistant to Professor Monica Hof Wallace. “We are excited to welcome Ryan to our New Orleans office,” said Tim Gray, partner at FormanWatkins. “His outstanding academic achievements, strong writing background, and dedication to excellence make him a tremendous addition to our litigation team.” In addition to his academic professional successes, Ryan has contributed to legal scholarship with publications in the Louisiana Bar Journal and the Loyola Maritime Law Journal. Prior to law school, he taught American Government and Politics and worked with Catholic Charities of Baton Rouge as a refugee case manager and ESL teacher.

FormanWatkins achieved a full dismissal of all the plaintiffs’ claims, as well as co-defendant’s cross-claim, ending the case for FormanWatkins’ client.  In addition to dismissing all claims against FormanWatkins’ client, the judge issued monetary sanctions against plaintiffs’ counsel for submitting fictitious cases and quotations to the Court through the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI). This historic ruling marks one of the first instances where a Mississippi state court judge has issued monetary sanctions against counsel for citing to fictious or “hallucinated” case law generated AI. The decision underscores the Court’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the legal practice and sets a significant precedent for attorneys across Mississippi regarding improper reliance on AI. Courts across the country are issuing warnings, imposing sanctions, and implementing new rules in order to curb the improper use of the new technology. The FormanWatkins defense team included Alison McMinn, Sampada Kapoor, and Will Brand. “This result demonstrates the critical importance of honesty, accuracy, and diligence in legal advocacy,” said Alison McMinn, Partner at FormanWatkins. “We are proud of our talented team of attorneys and staff, whose expertise and hard work made this outcome possible.”

FormanWatkins is honored to announce that it has once again been recognized by New Orleans CityBusiness as one of the 2025 Best Places to Work. This repeat recognition underscores the Firm’s ongoing commitment to cultivating a collaborative, supportive, and forward-looking workplace that empowers its people to thrive. “At FormanWatkins, we believe that the strength of our Firm comes from the people who choose to build their careers here,” said Tim Gray, Partner at FormanWatkins. “This recognition is particularly meaningful because it reflects the voices of our employees. We are proud to foster an environment where our team members feel valued, supported, and motivated to deliver the highest level of service to our clients.” The Best Places to Work program, presented by New Orleans CityBusiness in partnership with Best Companies Group, honors organizations across the region that demonstrate excellence in workplace culture and employee engagement. Selection is based on a two-part process, including an evaluation of company policies, practices, and philosophy, followed by an employee survey measuring the team’s workplace experience. Companies recognized as Best Places to Work will be featured in the December issue of New Orleans CityBusiness.

The FormanWatkins Foundation proudly partnered with Make-A-Wish Mississippi to host a Wish Reveal party celebrating four-year-old Kali, a Jackson native whose dream of visiting Walt Disney World® with her family came true this summer. Kali, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in February 2023, loves playing Roblox, watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, coloring, and spending time with her sister. Surrounded by attorneys, staff, and representatives from Make-A-Wish Mississippi, Kali and her family were honored with a celebration at the Firm’s Jackson office as her heartfelt wish was officially granted. “Our entire Firm was overjoyed to help make Kali’s dream come true,” said Nick Giallourakis, Partner at FormanWatkins. “Seeing Kali’s smile and celebrating with her family reminded all of us why this work matters so deeply. It was a privilege to play a role in creating such a joyful moment.” The celebration marked the culmination of the Foundation’s commitment to Make-A-Wish Mississippi earlier this year, when it pledged to fund a child’s wish through a special donation. The Foundation’s gift directly made Kali’s Disney adventure possible. “This experience has been a powerful reminder that hope and happiness can be life-changing, even in the hardest of circumstances,” said Brian Hannula, Partner at FormanWatkins. “Our Foundation is committed to giving back in meaningful ways, and supporting Kali’s wish was an opportunity to live out that mission in the most personal and rewarding way.” Make-A-Wish Mississippi grants wishes to children facing critical illnesses, creating unforgettable experiences that provide strength and joy during challenging times. […]