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Dale is a member of the Firm and has served as the Firm’s President since 2014. He represents several governmental entities including a utility district and several school systems (both public and private). He represents these governmental entities on a variety of legal matters including matters involving employment issues, constitutional issues, government contracts, student and employee discipline, civil rights, public funding, open meetings and public records, construction, tort liability, and general business practices. In addition, he represents several employers in employment matters such as discrimination, ADA, FMLA, Title VII, EEOC charges, Tennessee Public Protection Act, and workers’ compensation. He also handles general insurance defense matters including tort liability, trucking law, and insurance coverage.

Dale is a frequent speaker on issues of education law, governmental entity law, and employment and workers’ compensation law. Dale has served as an impartial hearing officer for several school districts in teacher dismissal and Section 504 matters.

In law school, Mr. Thomas served as Articles Editor for the University of Tennessee Law Review. He authored Prejudgment Interest in Personal Injury Actions in Tennessee, 15 Tenn. Judicial Newsletter No. 1 (1988).

 

Some representative cases in which Dale was counsel are as follows:

Education Law:

  • City of Covington Educ. Ass’n v. City of Covington, 2007 WL 1028589 (Tenn. Ct. App.)

Employment Law:

  • Terry v. Jackson-Madison Cty. Gen. Hosp. Dist., 572 S.W.3d 614 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018)

Governmental Liability:

  • Finister v. Humboldt General Hospital, Inc., 970 S.W.2d 435 (Tenn. 1998)

Workers' Compensation:

  • Beeler v. Lennox Hearth Products, Inc., 2009 WL 396121 (Tenn. Workers Comp. Panel)

Civil Procedure:

  • Banks v. Dement Construction Co., 817 S.W.2d 16 (Tenn. 1991);
  • Duke v. Replogle Enterprises, 891 S.W.2d 205 (Tenn. 1994);
  • Watson v. Garza, 316 S.W.3d 589 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008)

Trucking Law:

  • Canal Ins. Co. v. Coleman, 625 F.3d 244 (5th Cir. 2010);
  • Holliday v. Epperson, 2003 WL 23407496 (W.D. Tenn. 2003)

Insurance Coverage:

  • JACO Airfield Const., Inc. v. National Trust Ins. Co., 2007 WL 5114438 (W.D. Tenn);
  • Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London v. Paniagua, 957 F. Supp.2d 921 (W.D. Tenn. 2013)
  • Canal Ins. Co. v. Axley, 680 F. Supp. 2d 923 (W.D. Tenn. 2009)

Tort Liability:

  • Smith v. Frank, 2007 Fed. Appx. 617 (6th Cir. 2007)
  • Moore v. Butler, 2011 WL 6004010 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011)

Howell Edmonds Jackson American Inn of Court - Vice-president (2024);

Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce - Board of Directors (2022-present);

University School of Jackson - Board of Trustees (2004-2010 & 2012-2015) (Chairman, 2008-2010)

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Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation
Education
Insurance Defense
Labor & Employment
Local Government
Tort Litigation

Education

University of Tennessee, J.D., 1988 (with honors)

University of Tennessee at Martin, B.S., 1985 (with highest honors)

Bar Admissions

Tennessee Supreme Court

U.S. District Court for the Western District, Tennessee

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District, Tennessee

U.S. District Court for the Northern District, Mississippi

U. S. Court of Appeals (5th Cir. and 6th Cir.)

Interests

When he is not practicing law, Dale is spending time with his wife, two sons (and one daughter-in-law), and one granddaughter. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys cheering for the Tennessee Volunteers, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Reds. He also enjoys travelling and gardening.

Organizations

Tennessee Bar Association
Jackson-Madison County Bar Association
Tennessee Council of School Attorneys
Howell Edmonds Jackson American Inn of Court