Rusty has a civil trial practice concentrating in First Party Bad Faith Cases – Defense, Premises Liability, Professional Negligence, Insurance Fraud, Construction, Bodily Injury, and Insurance Coverage. He has served as lead counsel in high exposure/complex cases in state and federal courts in Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, and Louisianna. Rusty has also had extensive appellate experience in the Courts of Appeal in all three grand divisions in TN as well as before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Rusty also serves as a mediator in all types of litigation in or prior to litigation reaching an amicable resolution in over 90% of the cases mediated.
In addition, Rusty has a passion for writing publications for and presenting at continuing education programs mainly for attorneys, particularly younger attorneys with limited trial experience, but also to other professional groups and law enforcement.
Rusty has tried well over 100 jury trials across the State of Tennessee and in neighboring states with a very high success rate in both state and federal court. He has also successfully handled many appeals in Court of Appeal in the Western, Middle, and Eastern Courts of Appeal in Tennessee, the Tennessee Supreme Court, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and is also admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Rusty has a passion for writing publications for and presenting at continuing education programs mainly for attorneys, particularly younger attorneys with limited trial experience, but also to other professional groups and law enforcement. The programs have literally dealt with every aspect of pre-trial, trial, and appellate practice.
Recepient of the 2025 University of Memphis Pillars of Excellence Award for exemplary service in the legal community and significant contrbutions to the practice of law in West Tennessee.
Selected as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Certified Civil Trial and Pre-Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Selected as Member of the Federated Association of Defense Lawyers and the International Association of Defense Lawyers.
Recognized in Top 100 Lawyers in Tennessee and Top Civil Litigation - Defense in the Mid-South (TN, MS, and AL) as well as Attorney of the Year Insurance Coverage in the Memphis Area twice by Super Lawyers.
Also included in the publication Best Lawyers Insurance.
