News & Knowledge

FormanWatkins released its 2018 Pro Bono & Civic Engagement Report today.  The Firm’s pro bono efforts are led by our Pro Bono Committee, whose members include: Alison McMinn, Courtney Hunt, Erin Latuso, Margaret McLaughlin, Mimi Arthur, Mitch McGuffey, and Vernon McFarland.

Malissa Wilson and Joshua Metcalf recently achieved a rare jury trial defense verdict in Claiborne County (MS) Circuit Court on behalf of the manufacturer of an electric scooter.  The products liability case involved allegations that the battery in an unplugged electric scooter combusted and caused the complete destruction of the plaintiffs’ home.  At trial, the plaintiffs sought to recover damages for the loss of their home and its contents.  Malissa and Joshua presented testimony from a certified fire and explosion investigator, as well as the client’s director of research and development, to demonstrate not only that the scooter and its battery were safe and could not have caused the fire, but also that the most likely cause of the fire was a propane gas heater in the same room as the scooter.  Convinced by the evidence and the arguments presented, the jury returned a defense verdict in less than an hour-and-a-half.  Assisting Malissa and Joshua in trial preparation were Courtney Hunt and Taylor White.

Win Gault and Spencer Ritchie obtained a bench trial verdict in favor of an oil and gas company in a contractual indemnity action pending in the Eastern District of Louisiana. The Court awarded our client contractual damages, attorney fees, prejudgment interest, and post-judgment interest totaling more than $800,000.

On January 11, 2019, Win Gault and Jake Banks won summary judgment in an arbitration regarding claims under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.  Claimant sought statutory treble damages and penalties, claiming Respondent made unauthorized telephone calls to her cellular phone number to collect a delinquent debt.

Forman Watkins & Krutz is proud to announce Mandi Murphy has joined the Firm as Director of Human Resources.  

Win Gault and Jake Banks recently finished an arbitration of a claim brought under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”).  The arbitrator is expected to rule in February.  Win and Jake have multiple TCPA arbitrations scheduled next year throughout four states…

Malissa Wilson and Ahmad Smith recently achieved a unanimous defense verdict in Hinds County (MS) Circuit Court involving allegations that the defendant backed into the plaintiff, who was driving a golf cart, in a restaurant parking lot.

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.

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