News & Knowledge

During the month of October, the FWK offices observed Breast Cancer Awareness in a few different ways—by having an “Honor Wall” that displayed stories shared by members of our team of how they or their loved ones have personally experienced breast cancer, by holding a pumpkin decorating contest, and by wearing pink—to honor those we have lost, those who are fighting, and those who have survived.  Below are the new stories shared by our team members, as well as a picture of the pumpkins submitted for the pumpkin decorating contest. 

  We invite you to review our 2020 Pro Bono Highlights below or click here for a PDF.   FormanWatkins encourages its attorneys to do meaningful pro bono work that serves the communities in which we live and work.  For more information on our commitment to pro bono service, please visit our page here.

Josh Leggett, Joel Fyke, and Nick Giallourakis recently helped their client obtain registered trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). Receiving a federal trademark is one of the most important steps a company can take to protect their brand. There are multiple stages that must be completed to gain the right to use the ®, and our efforts involved all stages of the trademark process. After filing the application and taking all the necessary steps, we worked with the examining attorney with the USPTO to ensure that the marks received approval and were published in the Official Gazette. Our client’ s marks were registered and trademarked on October 20, 2020, and we are excited to have helped them continue to protect their brand.

Jennifer Studebaker won summary judgment on behalf of a railroad company in Arkansas Federal Court in a case where the Plaintiff alleged he contracted bladder cancer and leukemia resulting from his workplace exposure to cancer-causing substances.

Tim Gray obtained a defense verdict for a FormanWatkins client in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. Plaintiff alleged that his leukemia was caused by exposure to a chemical the firm’s client sold to a product manufacturer in the 1970s that incorporated the chemical into its product. 

On Tuesday, September 22, Fred Krutz and WG Watkins, two of FormanWatkins’s founding partners, played in the Andi’s Army Golf Tournament, a charity golf tournament held to help raise awareness for Down Syndrome and support wonderful organizations who help those with Down Syndrome. Fred and WG’s teammates for the day were Chris Malloy (Head Coach for Ole Miss Men’s Golf) and Kermit Davis (Head Coach for Ole Miss Men’s Basketball).

Mississippi political news site Y’all Politics published a short article written by FormanWatkins attorney Spencer Ritchie on the difference between “voting by mail” and voting by absentee ballot.

On May 4, 2020, the United States Supreme Court made an unprecedented move and broadcast an oral argument live for the first time.[i] The case pits the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) against Booking.com.[ii] The matter is before the Supreme Court as a result of the USPTO’s denial of Booking.com’s trademark applications. Lately, the average number of days between oral argument and getting to an opinion is around 90 days. So, we are expecting an opinion potentially in early August 2020. While we wait, here is a brief overview of the case.

The gravity of the events over the past weeks resulting from the unjustified killing of George Floyd weighs heavily on our collective hearts and minds.  We hold in the highest regard the civil rights that should and must be afforded to everyone.  As business leaders, and as individuals, we bear a responsibility to speak out and act against injustice. We stand in solidarity with those who are protesting throughout the world to ensure the realization of the inalienable rights held by all global citizens without regard to the color of their skin.  We are proud of those in the FormanWatkins family who have individually spoken out for change. To our African-American and diverse colleagues, clients and community, FormanWatkins reaffirms its commitment to the core values of diversity and inclusion.  We acknowledge that a public statement, such as this one, is only one of many acts necessary to live up to those values.  We promise to continue to listen, speak and act in support of those values.

On April 30, 2020, the Mississippi Supreme Court affirmed the complete dismissal of claims against clients represented by FormanWatkins attorneys Fred Krutz and Daniel Mulholland in a case brought by the Attorney General of Mississippi regarding alleged price-fixing of Automotive Wire Harness Systems used in automobiles.  The State sued several companies alleging violations of the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act (“MCPA”), the Mississippi Antitrust Act (“MAA”), and a civil conspiracy to violate both Acts.