Education
- Regent University, J.D. cum laude
- University of Mississippi, M.A., Spanish – 2004
- University of Mississippi, M.A., Education – 2001
- Vanderbilt University, B.A. cum laude Latin American Studies and Spanish
Bar Admissions
- Virginia, 2012
- District of Columbia, 2014
- Mississippi, 2014
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Courts for Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Perspective is Ruth's specialty. Not only is she an accomplished distance runner and painter, but her past work traveling across the globe required collaboration with people and institutions in South Africa, Argentina, Jamaica, South Korea, and Germany. Her work in education before law school inspired her to offer a greater value to institutions and companies by helping them solve problems and set future goals. As an attorney, Ruth is a problem solver who is not afraid to take on projects that may seem overwhelming. She makes it her mission to offer help and support to her clients that not only benefits them now, but help them secure a future of growth. Ultimately, Ruth understands that behind the companies she represents are individuals with families and the communities they serve. The bright, successful futures of these industries and their communities require her to work hard to find creative and long-term solutions. Clients can expect nothing less than excellence and dedication from Ruth to achieve this goal.
Professional Recognition
Important Litigation Involvement
- Currently serves as national coordinating counsel for asbestos claims of Fortune 500 company, involved in day-to-day management in the national defense coordination of both premises and products litigation
- Assists in defense and preparation of client’s corporate witnesses for depositions in premises and products litigation in toxic tort-based claims
- Trial experience as member of trial teams defending premises defendant in several multi-week trials in Oregon and Washington involving claims of asbestos exposure at client’s facilities
- Drafted briefing resulting in summary judgment on all counts for dimensional lumber manufacturer in a case involving a plaintiff’s alleged childhood exposure to softwood dust in his father’s hobby woodshop
- Helped secure summary judgment for wood products company in multiple product liability matters
- Assisted in drafting summary judgment briefing, resulting in grant of summary judgment for alleged environmental exposure claims; Boyer v. Weyerhaeuser Co., 12-CV-899-WMC, 2016 WL 705233 (W.D. Wis. Feb. 19, 2016)
News & Knowledge
- November 30, 2020
2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Read More - September 1, 2020
Oregon Ct. of Appeals Affirms Grant of New Trial for Firm Client
Read More - August 20, 2020
FormanWatkins Attorneys Recognized in 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers®
Read More - May 8, 2020
Giallourakis, Metcalf, and Maron Win Summary Judgment
Read More - March 4, 2020
Maron, Metcalf, and Giallourakis Win Summary Judgment
Read More - March 2, 2020
FormanWatkins Runs the Mississippi Blues Marathon
Read More - February 28, 2020
Forest Products Team Wins Summary Judgment
Read More - November 5, 2019
2019 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Read More - July 29, 2019
FormanWatkins Co-Hosts and Volunteers at Local Pro Se Legal Clinic
Read More - November 30, 2018
FormanWatkins Announces 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyers
Read More - December 5, 2017
FormanWatkins Wins Summary Judgment in Pennsylvania State Court
Read More - November 29, 2017
FormanWatkins Announces 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers
Read More - July 17, 2017
Seventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal
Read More - April 14, 2017
FWK Team Hosts Legal Clinic at Local Library in Partnership with Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project
Read More - November 8, 2016
FormanWatkins Announces 2016 Mid-South Super Lawyers
Read More
Professional Recognition
- Selected to Mid-South Rising Stars (2016-2020)
- The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch, 2021: Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Organization/Committee Memberships
- Capital Area Bar Association
- Virginia State Bar Association
- The Mississippi Bar
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, Nominating Committee
- Blazer Bolt 5k for Brain Cancer, Volunteer
Law School Honors & Awards
- Regent University Law Review, Managing Editor
- Class of 2012 Leadership Award
- 2011 American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition, Brooklyn Regional Semifinalist
Previous Experience
- U.S. House of Representatives, Judiciary Committee, Intern
- Office of the Governor, State of Mississippi, Intern
- Singer Legal Group, Virginia Beach, Law Clerk