News & Knowledge

November 2018: FormanWatkins successfully argued the appeal on behalf of an indigent prisoner seeking medical care. 

New Orleans partners, Charles Abbott and Amy Maccherone, recently won a significant motion for summary judgment on behalf of a Fortune 500 company whose business involves the manufacturing of, among other things, marine diesel engines.

Forman Watkins & Krutz is honored to receive two awards for our Jackson office space and design in the International Interior Design Association’s 2018 IDEA Competition . We received the Sustainable Design award by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC): Forman Watkins & Krutz Law Office project by Wier Boerner Allin Architecture – the jury was delighted to see the use of renewable and reclaimed materials throughout the project from reclaimed timber to thoughtful renewable flooring materials. They also loved the way design elements intentionally integrated natural daylight and helped to define zones of transparency between the public and private zones of the office.” The Firm also received an Excellence Award in in the Corporate – Large 7,500+ sq ft category.

Forman Watkins & Krutz is pleased to announce the additions of Taylor Herring White and Margaret McLaughlin to the Firm.

Click the image below to read about the experience and accomplishments of our Labor & Employment Practice Group, or download a PDF:

Forman Watkins & Krutz represented a Mississippi law firm in a legal malpractice case filed by one of its former clients.

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP is pleased to announce attorneys named to the 2019 Edition of Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Best Lawyers has published their list for over three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Lawyers on the Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise, and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

On August 1, 2018, Judge Joseph Sclafani entered an Order granting Precision Packaging’s motion for summary in the Robert Tucker case pending in Hinds County, Mississippi. Plaintiff had two claims against Precision: (1) a failure to warn claim; and (2) a “sand is defectively designed and unreasonably dangerous” claim. Plaintiff conceded Precision’s summary judgment motion on plaintiff’s failure to warn claim because plaintiff admitted in his deposition that the did not read Precision’s warning. However, plaintiff vigorously pursued his defective design claim.

On June 22, the silica team of Forman Watkins and Krutz won summary judgment in Crittenden County, Arkansas. The plaintiff claimed he contracted silicosis as a result of his exposure to silica sand supplied by FormanWatkins’ client. The judge ruled that plaintiff did not prove he was ever exposed to defendant’s sand as a matter of law and dismissed plaintiff’s claims against our client with prejudice. The client was defended in this case by Fred Krutz, Brian Hannula, and Andrew Stubbs.

Summertime brings summer vacations and holidays.  However, for employers, it can also bring a pattern of Friday and Monday absenteeism by employees on intermittent leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or, perhaps in these instances, better referred to as the “Friday Monday Leave Act.”  Understandably, this pattern may raise the suspicion of an employer who questions the validity of the absence, but feels there is no recourse for fear of violating the FMLA.  However, employers, have no fear, there are ways to address the matter without running afoul of the FMLA.