News & Knowledge

The FormanWatkins employment law team secured another client victory by obtaining dismissal of a Title VII suit on behalf of a national retail chain and local franchise owners.  The District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the suit after concluding the plaintiff failed to properly serve process on the defendants after the Court had already twice granted additional time for plaintiff to achieve proper service.

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP announced today that it is donating $50,000 to Hurricane Ida Relief. The Firm is making the donation through the Greater New Orleans Foundation Hurricane Ida Relief Fund, which will distribute those funds to relief efforts across the area. New Orleans partner, Tim Gray, commented, “FormanWatkins believes in the resiliency of our New Orleans community and we hope this donation will accelerate the recovery from this devastating storm.” The Firm made this donation through its charitable foundation, which is supported by the over 140 attorneys and staff across 5 states, most of whom are in offices in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

We are pleased to announce that 37 FormanWatkins attorneys have been recognized in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. 

On Friday, July 30, 2021, attorneys and summer associates from our Jackson office were among those who volunteered at the Hinds County Family Law Clinic, a pro se legal clinic held at the Hinds County Chancery Courthouse. The clinic assisted individuals with a variety of legal matters, including irreconcilable differences divorces, uncontested guardianships, birth certificate corrections, and name changes.

On July 14, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a significant opinion defining state of the art evidence for product liability cases. The opinion affirmed a summary judgment award won by FormanWatkins in the Eastern District of North Carolina on behalf of a dimensional lumber manufacturer. The case involved a plaintiff’s alleged childhood exposure to softwood dust in his father’s hobby woodshop and his later diagnosed sinonasal cancer.

In June, Forman Watkins & Krutz attorneys participated in a Lunch-and-Learn hosted by the Firm’s Women’s Initiative, with attorneys from several FormanWatkins offices sharing valuable takeaways from the 2021 DRI Women in the Law Seminar.  

FormanWatkins recently welcomed counsel from Baker Hughes to participate in FormanWatkins’ Diversity Pipeline Program.  Regina Jones, Chief Legal Officer, and Amy Blumrosen, Senior Litigation Counsel, spoke to current students and recent graduates from Tougaloo College and Jackson State University about pursuing a career in the legal field.

DRI recently held their annual Diversity for Success Seminar in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Vernon McFarland served on the Law Student Forum Panel designed to give open and straightforward answers to future attorneys on what to expect in the profession.  The discussion included creating a career path, best practices during job interviews and navigating obstacles unique to attorneys from underrepresented backgrounds. University of Mississippi Law FWK Summer Associate, Hope Thompson, attended the seminar and enjoyed the panel and connecting peers and panelists.

In a case with no substantial filings by the Plaintiff since September 2011, the FormanWatkins team of Jennifer Studebaker, Simine Reed, and Vernon McFarland successfully won their motion for dismissal due to lack of prosecution on June 4, 2021.

The Capital Area Bar Association (CABA) recently held their annual Evening Honoring the Judiciary at the Country Club of Jackson. The dinner not only hosts a keynote speaker but also serves as an opportunity for CABA and Jackson Young Lawyers (JYL) to present their annual awards for outstanding service, pro bono and professionalism.  FormanWatkins is extremely proud to have one of its very own presented with the 2020 JYL Pro Bono Service Award, congratulations to Julian Miller for this well-deserved recognition!