If you have been injured and need representation, we invite you to consider one of the established attorneys of Merkel & Cocke, P.A. for the qualified and experienced counsel you deserve. For over 20 years, we have represented victims throughout Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas, and have successfully litigated and settled hundreds of personal injury cases. Merkel & Cocke, P.A. is one of the largest plaintiff's law firms in Northern Mississippi, and is fully equipped with the latest in technology to provide you with comprehensive and compassionate legal care.
The facts of each personal injury case are different, and depending on your injuries, the money damages can range significantly. Although each claim is different, they are all limited by a statute of limitations that prevent you from filing a case if you wait too long to pursue action. If you are considering whether your case is worth pursuing, one of the qualified attorneys of Merkel & Cocke, P.A. can assist you with this determination during a free consultation. Some common personal injury cases include:
Vehicle Injuries:
- Automobile Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Boat Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Semi-truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bus Accidents
- Airline Accidents
Serious Injuries:
- Spinal Cord
- Paralysis
- Brain Injury
- Joint Injuries
- Gun Accidents
- Dog Bites
Premise Liability Injuries:
- Workplace Accidents
- Slip and Fall
- Structural Defects
- Defective Stairs
- Poorly Maintained Sidewalks
Product Liability:
- Injuries Due to Unsafe and/or Defective Products
- Injuries Due to Inadequate Labeling and Product Warning
- Injuries Caused by Other Factors
- Wrongful Death
- Medical Malpractice
If you or someone you know needs the skilled representation of an experienced Clarksdale, Mississippi personal Injury attorney, call Merkel and Cocke, P.A. today at 866-304-2990, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule a free consultation.
Practice Areas and Legal Definitions
Automobile Accidents:
A car accident is a collision involving an automobile and anything that causes damage to the automobile, including other automobiles, telephone poles, buildings and trees. Sometimes a car accident may also refer to an automobile striking a human or animal. Car accidents — also called traffic collisions, auto accidents, road accidents, personal injury collisions, motor vehicle accidents and crashes — kill an estimated 1.2 million people worldwide each year, and injure about forty times this number.
Other Vehicle Accidents:
Legal claims that arise from vehicle accidents are typically governed by the law of negligence. Any individual who negligently operates a motor vehicle may be required to pay damages to an injured victim. A personal injury case involving a vehicle accident may become formalized through civil court proceedings or may be resolved through an informal settlement before a lawsuit is filed.
Vehicle accidents can include:
- Admiralty and Maritime Law
- ATV accidents
- Aviation accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Bus accidents
- Cruise ship accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Semi-tractor trailer accidents
- SUV rollover accidents
- Train accidents
- Truck accidents
The surviving family members of a fatally injured accident victim may be able to bring wrongful death charges against the defendant.
Aviation Accidents:
Aviation accidents occur in a variety of different situations. While the most common aviation accidents are those involving commercial airlines, many accidents occur with private airplanes, as well as commercial and private helicopters. The leading causes of commercial airline accidents include engine failures, controlled flight into terrain, approach and landing, loss of control, runway incursions and weather (including turbulence). Private or "general" aviation accidents can include controlled flight into terrain, weather, loss of control and runway incursions. Aviation law governs the operation of aircraft and the maintenance of aviation facilities. Both federal and state governments have enacted statutes and created administrative agencies to regulate air traffic.
In 1958, The Federal Aviation Act was passed establishing the Federal Aviation Agency. There have been several subsequent acts passed by the federal government regulating aviation such as the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970, and the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. The main source for aviation law is federally based. States are prohibited from regulating rates, routes, or services of any air carrier authorized under the Federal Aviation Act to provide interstate air transportation. States are not prohibited, however, from enacting consistent laws, or from altering existing remedies under state law.
Admiralty and Maritime Law:
Admiralty and maritime law are specific areas of law that regulate accidents and injuries of sea crew and passengers on ships, yachts and recreational boats. Congress passed a maritime law called the Jones Act to protect sea crew who work on ships, offshore oil rigs or other sea-going vessels such as barges, riverboats and fishing boats. Under the Jones Act, sea crews are entitled to recover damages if injured on the job. The Jones Act can also cover inland river workers and offshore workers, as well as divers and underwater personnel. The Jones Act is not workers' compensation law so any injury sustained as a result of employer negligence must be proven in order to receive compensation. The statute of limitations for a maritime law injury suit is three years.
Bicycle Accidents:
According to the Federal Highway Administration, over 67,000 cyclists in the U.S. are injured every year in accidents involving motor vehicles. Many cyclists who are injured in bicycle accidents are unaware that they have a personal injury case and that they may be entitled to compensation for injuries, pain and suffering, medical bills and lost incomes. A cyclist may be entitled to receive compensation for an injury sustained because of a pothole, poor road or defective sidewalk. There are state mandated residential and commercial bicycle laws, which entitle cyclists to observe different traffic rules than cars, trucks and other motorized vehicles. This may mean that the cyclist is not legally responsible for an accident.
Boating Accidents:
Typically, powerboats such as runabouts, cabin cruisers and jet skis are the most common watercraft involved in boating accidents, although sailboats can be involved in accidents as well. The most frequent sources of injuries are caused from propeller accidents and collisions. Because personal watercraft such as jet skis cannot be steered when the throttle is released, inexperienced drivers often have collisions when confronted with an emergency. Serious personal injury and even death can occur due to a boating collision or from a person falling over the side of a watercraft and drowning. Legal claims that arise from boating collisions are typically governed by the law of negligence. Any individual who negligently operates a watercraft may be required to pay damages to an injured victim. A maritime case involving a boating accident may become formalized through civil court proceedings, or may be resolved through an informal settlement before a lawsuit is filed. The surviving family members of a fatally injured boating accident victim may be able to recover damages in a maritime wrongful death action against the defendant.
Cruise Ship Accidents:
Cruise ship accidents can include food poisoning, assault by crew members or other passengers, sexual battery, slip/trip and falls and other personal injuries. Cruise ship lines have a responsibility to make sure there are no hazardous conditions on board that can cause injury to its passengers. When cruise ship accidents occur because of poor maintenance, incompetent staff members, inadequate safety equipment, inadequate emergency precautions and/or improperly trained employees, cruise ship owners can be held legally responsible for negligence. Victims of cruise ship accidents may be entitled to damages for pain and suffering, medical bills and lost wages. The cruise ship industry restricts when and where a personal injury claim can be filed. For example, many tickets make a stipulation that an injured passenger must file a claim within one year of the cruise ship accident, and that claims must be made in a certain state.
Motorcycle Accidents:
Motorcycle riders are often exposed to dangers not met by automobile drivers and other motorists on the road. The lack of any substantial protective barriers, as well as the difficulty that other motorists may have in seeing or stopping for a motorcycle, leaves riders prone to serious personal injury in the event of an accident.
Truck Accidents:
Truck accidents are usually much more complex than car accidents, and as roadways are becoming more and more crowded, truck accidents are occurring more frequently and involving a multitude of drivers. Truck accidents can occur due to reckless driving, mechanical failures, oversized/overloaded trucks, inexperience of the truck driver, driving in bad weather, and truck driver fatigue, and can result in truck/vehicle rollover, jack-knife, or head-on and rear-end collisions. Laws and regulations are specifically designed to protect motorists from the negligence of the truck companies and/or truck drivers. A person who is injured in a truck accident, or has lost a loved one due to wrongful death caused by a truck accident, can sue the persons or party at fault.
Spinal Cord Injury:
Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when the nerves within the spinal canal are damaged. Most SCI's are caused by trauma to the vertebral column, affecting the spinal cord's ability to send and receive messages between the brain and the body's systems that control sensory, motor and autonomic function. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of SCI, followed by acts of violence, falls, sports injuries and diseases such as Polio, Spina Bifida and Friedreich’s Ataxia. The spinal cord does not have to be severed in order for a loss of functioning to occur. In fact, in most people with SCI, the spinal cord is intact, but the damage to it results in loss of functioning.
Traumatic Brain Injury:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a medical phrase used to describe the damage to the brain suffered by sudden impact or physical force to the head. Essentially, the human brain floats in a fluid substance called cerebrospinal fluid. TBI can result when the force of momentum causes the brain to impact against the skull. This type of injury, often the result of hitting your head on the windshield, pavement or object, is frequently referred to as a “closed head injury.” Whiplash can also cause TBI. These closed head injuries can result in lasting physical and mental problems.
Burn Injuries:
People who have suffered and survived the agony of second, third and even fourth degree burns describe the pain they experienced as among the most severe of all traumatic injuries. Personal injuries involving severe burns commonly result from explosions, premises fires, defective products, motor vehicle collisions, electric shock, as well as accidental exposure to harmful chemicals and radiation.
Slip and Fall/Premises Liability:
Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere and can cause serious personal injury. Most slip and falls happen in commercial settings, such as grocery stores, drug stores, office buildings, construction sites, gas stations and malls, but they also happen on private property. Premises Liability accidents can include toxic exposure, animal attacks, swimming pool accidents and amusement park ride accidents. In any event, there exist duties on the part of the property owners to maintain the property responsibly and avoid the existence of hazardous conditions.
Dangerous or defective conditions may be large or small, temporary or permanent. Therefore, investigation of the claim is essential to a successful case. Temporary conditions such as water on the floor of a grocery store, or snow and ice on the stairs of a restaurant need to be investigated quickly.
Construction/ On-the-Job Accidents:
Construction labor makes up one of the three most dangerous occupations in the United States today; each year producing thousands of debilitating injuries and wrongful deaths. Factors that contribute to construction accidents include workers lifting loads with worn and weathered cables, working on elevated platforms without fall protection or wearing defective safety harnesses and lanyards, and/or working in trenches with improper benching and using outdated tools and equipment. Farming and manufacturing accidents, as well as the oil and gas industry accidents can also cause serious injury and toxic exposure.
- Toxic Exposure: Due to the tremendous growth of corporate industry in the United States over the past fifty years, the number of dangerous, toxic substances in the environment has grown significantly. Some toxic substances are shown to cause substantial injury to people, such as lead-based paint (linked to brain damage, especially in children), asbestos (linked to lung cancer and restrictive lung disease), dry cleaning and other solvents (linked to brain damage and major organ damage), pesticides such as dioxin and DDT (linked to birth injuries) and toxic landfill waste (linked to leukemia).
Dog/Animal Bites:
Every year, millions of Americans are bitten by animals. Being attacked by a dog is an extremely stressful event. Many dog bite injuries leave scars and have lasting emotional effects. In every state, a dog owner is liable for bites to people inflicted viciously by a dog that previously bit a person viciously, or that were inflicted pursuant to the command of the dog owner.
In almost all states, a bite victim can recover compensation from a person whose negligence caused the attack and from a person who violated a leash law, a trespass law applicable to dogs or other dog safety laws. The owner or keeper of a dog is strictly liable for his or her dog, even if it is the first time the dog has injured someone. As long as the injured victim was not trespassing, teasing or tormenting the dog, the keeper or owner of the dog is liable for any injuries sustained. Compensation for a dog bite can include payment for medical bills, pain & suffering, mental anxiety, fear and scarring.
Insurance Claims:
Insurance claims are a notice for reimbursement from an insurance company when the insured has suffered a loss that is covered under the insurance policy. Insurance companies cannot refuse to pay a customer's claim without "reasonable justification." This means that an insurance company must engage in a reasonable investigation and pay legitimate claims in a timely manner. If an insurance company fails to handle its customer's claim properly, it may be held accountable for resulting economic losses, including lost wages, interest on money the insured borrowed to cover expenses while insurance benefits were wrongfully withheld, and loss due to damaged credit.
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect:
Americans are living longer than ever before. The fastest growing segment in the United States is the elderly population. As a result of this demographic shift, many elderly Americans have become residents of nursing homes during their final years. As many of these nursing homes are under-funded and understaffed, a disturbing incidence of neglect and abuse is being reported. Injuries sustained by nursing home residents due to neglect and abuse often involve the inappropriate use of physical restraints, joint contractors, overuse of sedatives, unnecessary use of urinary catheters, loss of mobility, pressure sores and lack of nutrition with weight loss.
Medical Malpractice:
Medical malpractice is the failure of a health care provider to follow the accepted standards of practice of his or her profession in the community where the service is rendered. If a physician was careless, lacked proper skills or disregarded standardized rules resulting in injury to a patient, a jury may find the health care provider liable for negligence. Hospitals can also be held liable for the negligence of their employees, including staff nurses and technicians.
Examples of Medical Malpractice include:
- Failing to diagnose a tumor while reading an x-ray
- Puncturing a nearby organ or tissue during surgery
- Failing to order necessary and appropriate medical tests
- Failing to diagnose a condition in time to treat it properly
- Failing to refer a case to a medical specialist
- Prescribing incorrect medication
- Brain Injury
- Birth Injury
- Cerebral Palsy
- Incorrect diagnosis that results in a failure to treat a medical condition
- Failing to properly administer anesthesia
- Emergency room negligence
- Dental Malpractice
- Cosmetic Surgery Malpractice
- Birth Injury: Birth injury malpractice is the failure of an obstetrician to properly perform his or her duties; i.e. failure to administer blood tests to detect abnormalities that can result in death or serious injury to both the mother and fetus. If you have been injured because of improper medical care you may have a claim against the obstetrician/gynecologist who treated you. However, statutes of limitations bar the filing of claims after a certain period of time following the negligent act.
- Cerebral Palsy: Cerebral palsy is permanent brain injuries that affect an infant in the womb, during birth, or in the months following birth and is one of the most common birth injuries in the United States. Cerebral palsy patients are subject to limited motor skills, speech difficulties and learning disabilities. When cerebral palsy occurs as the result of medical malpractice, the responsible party inflicting said injuries can be held legally responsible. Examples of medical malpractice during delivery include leaving the baby in the birth canal too long resulting in oxygen deprivation, and/or failing to perform or delaying a necessary C-section.
- Anesthesia Negligence: Medical malpractice injuries can occur when anesthesia is improperly given or not given in a timely manner to a patient during a surgical procedure. If the failure of the anesthesiologist is the cause of injury or death to a patient, damages may be recoverable under the laws of medical malpractice.
Defective Products:
Products liability refers to a manufacturer or seller being held liable for placing a defective product into the hands of a consumer. Products liability cases may include defective or poorly designed machinery, tools, motor vehicle defects, recreational products, pharmaceuticals and other defective products and equipment. A person injured by a defective or dangerous product may be eligible to file a lawsuit for product liability. Damages can be recovered under one of the following categories: strict products liability; negligence or breach of warranty.
Workers' Compensation:
Workers' compensation is insurance that an employer is required by law to carry in case an employee is injured on the job or becomes ill, temporarily or permanently disabled, or fatally injured due to circumstances surrounding his or her job. Although workers' compensation laws vary from state to state, covered medical care generally includes: medical, surgical and hospital services; dental services; crutches; hearing aids; chiropractic treatment; physical therapy; nursing care and prescribed medications. Additional monetary compensation may be provided if an injured employee is temporarily unable to work for more than a certain number of calendar days set by state law, hospitalized as an in-patient, or becomes permanently disabled due to a job-related injury or illness. The right to receive medical treatment at the employer's expense typically continues as long as treatment is reasonable and necessary to treat the injury.
Wrongful Death:
A wrongful death occurs when a person is killed due to the negligence or misconduct of another individual, company or organization. A legal action for wrongful death belongs to the decedent's immediate family members, usually a surviving spouse and children, and sometimes parents. Under certain circumstances, unrelated minor children living with and supported by the decedent may also bring a claim for wrongful death. In order to bring a successful wrongful death cause of action, the following elements must be present:
- The death of a human being caused by another's negligent or intentional conduct.
- The survival of family members who are suffering the loss of financial support, love, care, comfort, supervision, guidance, household assistance and general society previously provided by the deceased.
The general rule in wrongful death cases is that one is entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages which are suffered as a result of the loss of a loved one. Economic damages in a wrongful death case include an award for the financial contributions which the decedent would have made to his or her spouse, children and/or parents had he or she survived. It also includes the recovery for funeral service expenses in memory of the decedent and for burial cost. Non-economic damages include loss of love, society, companionship, comfort, affection, solace or moral support.
Casino Litigation:
With Mississippi becoming the third largest gaming area in the world, tourists from across the world are descending upon Mississippi to enjoy "river boat gambling" along with other activities that surround the areas. Unfortunately, incidents that lead to the need for representation by an attorney are inevitable. From slip and falls, to disputes over winnings, our firm represents those individuals who have had unfortunate experiences at Mississippi casinos. If you have been injured at a casino, please contact us immediately as time is of the essence.
If you or someone you know needs the skilled representation of an experienced Clarksdale, Mississippi personal Injury attorney, call Merkel and Cocke, P.A. today at 866-304-2990, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule a free consultation.
Verdicts and Settlements
Merkel & Cocke's clients receive a $23.6 million verdict in medical malpractice case
Memphis, TN - A Shelby County, Tennessee jury returned a $23,600,000 verdict in favor of Plaintiffs Courtney Hill and Robert Hill of Desoto County Mississippi on July 10, 2009. Plaintiffs’ counsel are William B. Raiford of the Clarksdale, Mississippi law firm of Merkel & Cocke, Jim Lees of the Charleston, West Virginia law firm of Hunt & Lees, and Philip Stroud of the Southaven, Mississippi firm of Stroud & Harper.
Jury Returns Verdict in Favor of Merkel & Cocke Clients in Another Katrina Related Lawsuit
In Washington County Circuit Court, a jury recently returned a verdict in the amount of $80,000.00 in favor of a family represented by Merkel & Cocke, who lost their home to Hurricane Katrina. The jury found that an insurance agency breached an oral contract with the family to procure flood insurance and that the agent was negligent in failing to procure flood coverage which was requested more than one year prior to Hurricane Katrina. Charles M. Merkel, Jr. and Charles M. Merkel, III represented the family’s interests at trial.
Two Verdicts in Five Days
Merkel & Cocke recently received two favorable verdicts in five days. The first verdict was in favor of homeowners against USAA Casualty Insurance Co. in a bad faith denial of insurance case. The second verdict was in favor of an Air Force veteran in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Client Struck by 18 Wheeler
In a case dealing with a trucking accident, our client was operating a truck in Benton County Mississippi on U.S. Highway 78. Our client was struck from the rear by an 18 wheel truck, causing his vehicle to crash. Our client received substantial injuries and died approximately 3 weeks later. The case settled for well over a million dollars.
If you or someone you know needs the skilled representation of an experienced Clarksdale, Mississippi personal Injury attorney, call Merkel and Cocke, P.A. today at 866-304-2990, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule a free consultation.
If you or someone you know needs the skilled representation of an experienced Clarksdale, Mississippi personal Injury attorney, call Merkel and Cocke, P.A. today at 866-304-2990, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule a free consultation.
ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
Merkel and Cocke, P.A.
30 Delta Avenue
Clarksdale, MS 38614
Phone: 866-304-2990
Hours: M-F, 8:00AM-5:00PM
MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:
Charles M. Merkel, Jr. - Managing Partner
After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law in June 1966, Mr. Merkel accepted an appointment under the U.S. Department of Justice Honors Program and served for 4 years in the tax division of the Department of Justice in a refund trial section trying tax refund cases in the U.S. District Courts over a five state area.
Mr. Merkel has received multiple jury awards ranging from 1 million to 20 million dollars and many more million dollar settlements. He is active in trial lawyer activities and is a frequent lecturer on trial technique and advocacy, appearing at seminars sponsored by the Mississippi State Bar, Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, American Board of Trial Advocates, and others.
For more than 30 years, Mr. Merkel has personally delivered hundreds of jury presentations in the representation of personal injury victims whose cases involved complex medical and technical injury mechanisms and causation problems.
Bar Admissions:
- Mississippi, 1966
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1969
- U.S. Tax Court, 1969
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1970
- 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court ND, SD, & MS
Education:
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University of Mississippi School of Law, Oxford, Mississippi, 1966
- J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
- Honors: Magna Cum Laude
- Honors: 2nd in Class
-
Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia, 1969
- LL.M., Master of Law(s)
-
University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi, 1964
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: Magna Cum Laude
Honors and Awards:
- President, American Board of Trial Advocates
- Secretary, Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America
- Listed as a Super Lawyer
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- American Board of Trial Advocates, 1983 - Present Member
- Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, 1982 - Present Member
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1982 - Present Member
- Mississippi Bar Association, 1991 - Present Fellow
- Board Directors, Lula Rich Educational Foundation, 1983-1989
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Primerus
John Hartwell Cocke - Partner
After graduating from the University of Virginia Law School in 1975, Mr. Cocke moved to Clarksdale, MS to begin practicing in a general litigation firm. In 1982, Mr. Cocke and Mr. Merkel left that firm and established Merkel & Cocke, P.A., and since that time the emphasis of Mr. Cocke's practice has progressed more and more toward medical malpractice. At the present time his practice is exclusively devoted to handling medical negligence cases for the plaintiff, either as a result of direct contact by the client or as, more commonly occurs, on referral from other attorneys who are not familiar with the handling of medical negligence cases. Mr. Cocke handles all types of medical negligence cases, but a uniform requirement is that serious injury or death have occurred as a result of the medical mistake.
Mr. Cocke has handled many "brain damaged baby cases," as well as deaths as a result of the failure to treat in the emergency room setting and the premature discharge of patients after surgery, as well as failure to promptly diagnose cancer.
Mr. Cocke has developed a particular interest in the use of modern technology in medical negligence cases and has spoken at seminars on this subject. The Internet has developed into a very useful tool in conducting medical research and communicating with other attorneys handling similar cases via the Internet is also a major help in the handling of medical cases.
Current Employment Positions:
Partner
Bar Admissions:
- Mississippi, 1975
- Tennessee, 1992
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1975
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Mississippi, 1975
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Mississippi, 1975
Education:
- University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1975
-
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1969
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: With Distinction
- Major: Economics
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, 1992 - Present
- Member, Board of Governors
- American Bar Association, 1998
- Co-chair, Section of Healthcare Law
Honors and Awards :
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Lawdragon, and Super Lawyers.
Cynthia I. Mitchell - Partner
Bar Admissions:
- Mississippi, 1982
- U.S. Northern District of Mississippi, 1982
- U.S. Federal Court, 1982
- U.S. Fifth Circuit, 1984
- U.S. Eastern and Western Districts Arkansas, 1989
- U.S. Southern District of Mississippi, 2001
Education:
-
Harvard University Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1981
- J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
- Honors: Cum Laude
- Phi Beta Kappa
-
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 1978
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: Magna Cum Laude
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Member, Mississippi State Bar Association, 1981 - Present
- Member, Coahoma County Bar Association, 1981 - Present
- Member, American Association for Justice, 1986 - Present
- Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, 1986 - Present
- Member of Board of Governors 1989 – 1991
- Member of Board of Governors 2006 – 2007
- Co-Chairman, Amicus Committee
William B. Raiford III - Partner
Bar Admissions:
- Mississippi, 1989
- Tennessee, 1987
- USDC WD Tenn, 1989
- USDC Northern & Southern Districts, Mississippi, 1989
- United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, 1989
Education:
- Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, BSM Magna Cum Laude, 1984
- University of Mississippi School of Law, Oxford, Mississippi, J.D. Cum Laude, 1987
Edward (Ted) P. Connell, Jr. - Partner
Ted Connell's practice includes litigation, real estate, gaming law, wills, trusts, estates, and workers' compensation. He is admitted to practice before all state courts in Mississippi and Tennessee, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the U. S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas and the Eastern and Western Districts of Tennessee.
Mr. Connell received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mississippi in 1994, graduating Cum Laude. This was followed by receipt of his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1997.
While attending the University of Mississippi School of Law, Mr. Connell authored “Mississippi Casinos and the Detention of a Patron: What are the Parameters of a Casino’s Powers in Detaining a Patron and the Subsequent Liability Which Can Follow?” which was published in the National Gaming Law Review. He was also a member Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Eta Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Phi Delta Phi.
Bar Admissions:
- Mississippi
- Tennessee
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Mississippi
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Mississippi
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Arkansas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee
Education:
-
University of Mississippi School of Law, Oxford, Mississippi, 1997
- Juris Doctor
-
University of Mississippi, 1994
- Bachelor of Arts
- Honors: Cum Laude
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- American Bar Association
- The Mississippi Bar Association (Board of Directors of the Young Lawyers Division, 2006-07, Young Lawyers Assistance Committee, High School Mock Trial Committee, and Coahoma County Representative on the Disaster Legal Relief Committee.)
- Tennessee State Bar
- Coahoma County Bar Association (President, 2005-06)
- Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association
- American Trial Lawyers Association
- The University of Mississippi Alumni Board
- The University of Mississippi Law Alumni Board
- The University of Mississippi Young Alumni Board
Charles M. Merkel, III - Partner
Born Clarksdale, Mississippi, April 5, 1973, admitted to bar, 1998, Mississippi; also admitted to practice before U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi. Preparatory education, University of Mississippi (B.A., summa cum laude, 1995; J.D., cum laude 1998). Fraternity: Taylor Medal Award Winner: English; Phi Kappa Phi; Chancellor’s Scholar; Phi Eta Sigma; Moot Court Board Member; Moot Court: “Best Written Brief Award,” 1996; Law Clerk to Hon. Henry T. Wingate, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi, 1998-99. Member: Coahoma County Bar Association; Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association (Currently on Board of Governors representing the 11th Judicial District); The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Practice areas: Negligence, Medical Malpractice, Products Liability.
Christopher E. Kittell - Partner
Christopher E. Kittell practices primarily in the area of civil litigation, including the areas of consumer protection, Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) litigation, personal injury (both plaintiff and defense), and wrongful death. He is licensed to practice law in all courts in the State of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Supreme Court, all Mississippi Circuit and Chancery Courts, and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi. He is also licensed to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Chris has received nationwide notoriety for his practice regarding the FCRA. Chris was involved in a $4.47 million verdict against Trans Union, at the time the largest verdict against a credit bureau. Chris is involved in FCRA cases across the nation and is often associated by lawyers around the country less familiar with the inner workings of the credit reporting industry. Currently, Chris is representing consumers from Mississippi to Montana to New York. Chris also obtained a $2,273,000.00 verdict for a plaintiff in a slip and fall case in the Circuit Court of DeSoto County, Mississippi in August, 2006, which is believed to be the largest personal injury verdict to date in DeSoto County, Mississippi.
Chris has also enjoyed lecturing to both current and future lawyers, including speaking at local Continuing Legal Education seminars in Mississippi, lecturing for consumer law classes at the University of Mississippi School of Law, and lecturing each year at the National Association of Consumer Advocates FCRA Conferences since the Conference’s inception in 2001 and has served on the Conference’s steering committee since 2004.
Bar Admissions:
- Mississippi (Supreme Court, all Circuit and Chancery Courts)
- United States Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Mississippi
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Mississippi
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado
Education:
- Delta State University in 1996
-
University of Mississippi School of Law, 1999 - Juris Doctor
- Received James O. Eastland Scholarship
- Member of International Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- American Bar Association
- Mississippi Bar Association
- Coahoma County Bar Association (Former President)
- Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association
- American Association of Justice
- National Association of Consumer Advocates
- Trial Lawyers for Public Justice