News & Knowledge

FormanWatkins is proud to announce that Charles Abbott and Erin Wedge Latuso have been selected by New Orleans CityBusiness to its 2021 Leadership in Law class. With 2021 marking his third time honored, Charles joins the Leadership in Law Hall of Fame. Each year New Orleans CityBusiness recognizes 50 area professionals in the field of law for their career and community accomplishments, we congratulate our past and present honorees to make the list!

Courtney Hunt, Mitch McGuffey, Peyton Smith, and Amelia McGowan (Mississippi Center for Justice) recently discussed our work on asylum cases and what to consider if you are thinking about taking on a pro bono asylum case on PLI’s podcast, “Pursuing Justice: The Pro Bono Files.” Listen to the podcast here or on your favorite streaming service, search “Pursuing Justice: The Pro Bono Files.”

The Firm is proud to welcome our newest attorneys Haley McCay Arndt and Catherine Pettis to the Jackson office!

On October 11, 2021, a Charlotte, North Carolina arbitrator returned an award in favor of a national retailer represented by Win Gault and Jake Banks.  Claimant sought damages under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) and state law.  Citing numerous examples of Claimant’s untrustworthiness raised during the retailer’s presentation of the case—including an apparent insurance fraud scheme uncovered by Gault and Banks — the arbitrator found in the retailer’s favor.

Forman Watkins & Krutz is excited to welcome Chandler Agee to our New Orleans office! He is a magna cum laude graduate of Southern University Law Center and received his Bachelor’s degree from Lincoln University. While in law school, Chandler served as Editor-in-Chief for the Southern University Law Review and received the Cali Award for the highest grade in the courses of Contracts, Family Law, Legal Writing, Trial Practice and Business Entities.

Peyton Smith, Joshua Metcalf, and Molly McNair recently won summary judgment in a Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) case for a regional restaurant group.  The plaintiff claimed that he had been wrongly terminated in retaliation for his alleged request for FMLA leave.

FormanWatkins congratulates Partner, Alison O’Neal McMinn, for being selected for the 2021 Class of the Mississippi Business Journal’s 50 Leading Business Women.  The Mississippi Business Journal honors women who are powerful, influential business leaders in Mississippi. As senior decision-makers, this group of Leading Business Women is making a significant impact on the economy of our state, local businesses, and communities.

Forman Watkins & Krutz attorneys Fred Krutz, Brian Hannula, and Andrew Stubbs obtained their second consecutive summary judgment win in 2021 in West Virginia on behalf of a respirator manufacturer. The lawsuit was pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. Plaintiff alleged that the respirator defendants’ products were defective, causing him to develop coal workers pneumoconiosis.

FormanWatkins is pleased to announce that Malissa Wilson has re-joined the firm as a partner in its Jackson, Mississippi office.  Malissa brings to the firm nearly 20 years of litigation and trial experience, much of which has involved handling employment matters.

Chelsea Lewis and Joshua Metcalf secured an early dismissal in Mississippi state court for a large timberland owner. Lewis and Metcalf were able to secure a dismissal before incurring the expense of discovery. The victory illustrates how a thorough understanding of the law, combined with an aggressive initial defense, can ultimately result in significant savings to the client.