News & Knowledge

FormanWatkins Partner Malissa Wilson participated in the mini-mentoring session at the 2019 Bessie Young Council Mentoring Conference on Friday, March 29, 2019, at the University of Mississippi School of Law.  The session involved attorneys meeting with students to discuss their respective area of legal practice, work/life balance, what they look for in an associate, and what impresses firms when they interview potential associates.  The mission of this annual conference is to provide learning and networking opportunities for non-traditional law students and young lawyers.  Through its annual conference, the Bessie Young Council shares the experiences of its member attorneys and others in the field to help foster successful careers for those law students and young lawyers who may encounter unique obstacles along the way. Pictured below are Mentors from the 2019 Bessie Young Council Conference.

Malissa Wilson and Taylor White obtained a favorable ruling on a motion for judgment on the pleadings in Smith County Circuit Court in a motor vehicle accident case.  The Court dismissed the plaintiff’s complaint on the ground that her claims were barred by a previous Release and Settlement Agreement, under which she accepted settlement proceeds in full satisfaction of any claims related to the accident.

The FormanWatkins Women’s Initiative was a proud sponsor and attendee of the 26th Annual Evelyn Gandy Lecture Series, hosted by the Mississippi Bar Women in the Profession Committee at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama, February 22-24, 2019.  As a scholarship sponsor, FormanWatkins provided funding for Mississippi law students to participate in this mentorship event.  Highlights from this year’s Gandy included a lecture by Judy Perry Martinez, ABA President-Elect Designee, who spoke on the future of the legal profession, in addition to a panel discussion with judges from the state’s appellate and trial courts.  Conference attendees also participated in a panel discussion regarding successful integration of pro bono and community service in the practice of law wherein panel members recognized the pro bono culture at FormanWatkins.

The seasons have changed from Winter to Spring, but the EEOC’s position regarding wellness incentives remains the same. This year’s stalemate over employee wellness programs has increasingly caused employers to ask: have wellness incentives become more trouble than they are worth? In a dramatic shift from its former endorsement of wellness incentives, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) has invalidated the incentive provisions of its wellness program regulations. The result: since January 1, 2019, when the EEOC regulations became ineffective, employers have been in limbo when it comes to implementing their employee wellness programs, with no guidance from the EEOC to speak of.

On February 27, 2019, Win Gault and Jake Banks successfully obtained a defense verdict in a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) arbitration.  The claimant maintained she received nearly 1400 unauthorized debt collection calls and sought statutory treble damages totaling nearly $2 million.  At the arbitration, both sides presented fact and expert testimony on the defendant company’s software system.  After hearing testimony and reviewing post-arbitration briefs, the Arbitrator concluded the claimant was entitled to nothing because the software system did not meet the statutory definitions under the TCPA.  Additionally, the Arbitrator addressed the claimant counsel’s call-baiting activities designed to increase the numbers of calls claimant received.  Specifically, the claimant’s counsel called the defendant company with the claimant on the call, instructed claimant to read a script, did not notify the company that he was on the calls, and secretly taped the discussions.  The Arbitrator called this conduct “deceptive”. Gault and Banks presently have TCPA arbitrations scheduled in five states in 2019.

FormanWatkins is a proud participant in this Spring’s Monmouth & Ocean County Veterans Information and Resources Clinic, taking place Saturday, March 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the James J. Howard Outpatient Clinic in Brick, New Jersey.  This clinic was first held in November of 2018, and its success resulted in the planning for a joint program with Ocean County.  Please refer to the flyer below for services that will be provided at the March 30 clinic, and be sure to pass the information along to local New Jersey Veterans.

The FormanWatkins New Orleans office recently hosted the Legal Marketing Association’s local Baton Rouge/New Orleans group for a special lagniappe session that was being held for its members and friends.  Susan Freeman, CEO & Chief Client Happiness Officer of Freeman Means Business, presented “Understanding Gender-Based Communications,” where attendees learned about various communication styles and how to adapt their style to others to

We are excited to announce that phase 2 construction of our Jackson office is officially underway!  This phase will integrate the remainder of the 21st floor of the Regions building (which, until December of 2018, held another occupant) into the current FormanWatkins space, providing us with an additional 4500 square feet of space to accommodate our inevitable growth. The new section will continue the same open, unified workspace that is found throughout the rest of our Jackson office.  Below are some initial construction pictures. 

FormanWatkins is proud to announce that Charles Abbott has been selected by New Orleans CityBusiness to its 2019 Leadership in Law class.  Each year New Orleans CityBusiness recognizes 50 area professionals in the field of law for their career and community accomplishments.  To celebrate this year’s honorees, an event will be held in May at the New Orleans Museum of Art.  This isn’t Charles’ first time to be recognized as part of the Leadership in Law class—he also received the honor in 2014.

The FormanWatkins Women’s Initiative recently held a financial health luncheon with representatives from Merrill Lynch.  Female attorneys from all FWK offices were in attendance to discuss financial health issues affecting women in the profession.  This is the second year that the Women’s Initiative has hosted this informal event, providing a space for our female attorneys to start a conversation with women in finance about personal financial management.