HGD’s Jeanie Sleadd honored by This is Alabama as one of the “Women Who Shape the State for 2019

 

HGD is excited to announce that attorney Jeanie Sleadd is being honored by This is Alabama as one of the “Women Who Shape the State for 2019.” This is Alabama will recognize and celebrate the 2019 class of Women Who Shape the State on November 14 at a luncheon at The Club. This year’s luncheon will honor thirty Alabamians making a difference in their community. These women are united in their commitment to driving movements, businesses and industries that change lives and make a difference in our state.

Raised in Eufaula, Alabama by two teachers, Jeanie Sleadd learned the value of hard work early in life. That doggedness carried on through her adult years and now, as a class action attorney, she represents people from all over the country who have been injured by products or betrayed by their employers. “One of my most impactful cases is currently going on in my ‘backyard,’ so to say,” Sleadd says. “I represent over 100 residents from the historic Fountain Heights community who are suffering from environmental injustices.” Outside of her career, Sleadd also advocates for Alabama youth and improving public education.

Biggest woman power moment: “There hasn’t been a single ‘woman power moment,’ but a progression, an acknowledgment, and an acceptance that I can be a leader, should be a leader, must be a leader. One of my most empowering moments practicing was at a hearing where on one side were 30 attorneys—30 male attorneys—and on the other side just me.”

Jeanie practices in the firm’s mass tort group with a focus on pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. In addition to mass torts and class actions, Jeanie represents clients in an array of matters including product liability, worker’s compensation, FELA, wrongful death, slip and falls, contract disputes, and ERISA cases. Jeanie received her law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law.

Jeanie is a member of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham, serves as the President of the Young Alumni Council for her alma mater, and sits on the Downtown YMCA Advisory Board.

 

Meet the 2019 Women Who Shape the State honorees

HGD’s Tim Davis named to Who’s Who in Law 2019

HGD’s Managing Partner, Tim Davis, is featured as one of Birmingham’s Who’s Who in Law 2019 this month by the Birmingham Business Journal.

While Birmingham attorneys have always played important roles advising businesses and navigating regulations, law firms are increasingly relied upon to fill important roles in the philanthropic world and in the business scene at large.

Fortunately, the Magic City has a legal community that has proven to be up to the challenge.

In our annual Who’s Who in Law feature, we put the spotlight on key leaders to know in the local legal scene. Meet them all in the gallery above.

The bulk of individuals on the List are the local managing partners for the firms ranking on our most recent Law and Litigation firm lists. But we’ve also included key names to know in the legal education world, as well as officers for bar associations in the Magic City, among other notable legal industry leaders.

Erik Heninger Selected as a Fellow in The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society by the Litigation Counsel of America

HGD congratulates partner Erik Heninger on his invitation to become a Fellow in The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society by the Litigation Counsel of America. The Litigation Counsel of America (LCA) is an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society established to reflect the new face of the American bar. Membership is limited to 3,500 Fellows, representing less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. The composition of the LCA is aggressively diverse, with recognition of excellence among American litigation and trial counsel across all segments of the bar.

The purpose of the LCA is to recognize deserving, experienced, and highly qualified lawyers, to provide an outlet for scholarly authorship of legal articles on trial and litigation practice, to provide additional sources for professional development, to promote superior advocacy and ethical standards in the practice of law, to assist in community involvement by its membership, and to advance a superior judiciary, by taking relevant positions on issues or legislation affecting judicial compensation and/or benefits, as well as those affecting the American litigation processes.

Erik is a founding partner of Heninger Garrison Davis law firm and is located in the Birmingham office. In addition to assisting clients, Erik believes that serving in state and national bar associations is essential to being a complete lawyer. Given that belief, Erik makes a point of being active in city, state, and national legal organizations. He is very active in the American Association of Justice (AAJ) where he teaches trial advocacy and litigation techniques to other lawyers across the country. These trial colleges allow Erik to offer his knowledge and experience and also expose him to innovative ideas being used by other lawyers. Erik also focuses on the State of Alabama through his involvement with the Alabama Association of Justice (ALAJ), serving as an Officer since 2017.

Currently, Erik represents the 10th Judicial Circuit (Birmingham) as an elected member of the Board of Bar Commissioners for the Alabama State Bar. As part of his Commissioner responsibilities, Erik sits on the Alabama State Bar Character & Fitness Committee and the Disciplinary Rules & Enforcement Committee. Finally, he has been a member of the Birmingham Bar Executive Committee since 2016. Erik is “AV Preeminent” Rated by Martindale-Hubbell – the highest possible distinction conferred by both professional peers and judges. In 2013, he was inducted as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), an invitation only organization committed to preserving the right to trial by jury. 

Huge Win for Plaintiff in Class Action Against Virginia College

Today, in a big victory for the plaintiff, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s denial of Virginia  College’s motion to compel arbitration. The Court found that the plaintiff’s claims were related to being a student at Virginia College and not related to his employment there.  Therefore, the scope of the plaintiff’s arbitration agreement did not encompass the claims he brought against Virginia College.

The plaintiff in this case, Keven Robinson, sued Virginia College and its parent company, Education Corporation of America, on behalf of himself and others similarly situated, for allegedly awarding worthless degrees, deceiving former and current students, and depriving students of postgraduation services and employment opportunities. The case is Keven Robinson, on behalf of himself and others similarly situated, versus Virginia College, LLC, and Education Corporation of America. The attorneys representing the plaintiffs are Lew Garrison, Taylor Bartlett, Chris Hood, and Mark Ekonen with Heninger Garrison Davis law firm in Birmingham.

HGD Holds Awards Ceremony for 2019 Closing Argument Competition Winners!

L-R: Drew Haskins, Erik Heninger, Ray Foushee, Malia Tartt, Glen McCord, Tzena Gauldin, and Tim Davis

HGD held the official awards presentation today for the 6th Annual “In Summation” Closing Argument Competition in the Stephen D. Heninger Moot Court Room. Tim Davis, Erik Heninger, Drew Haskins – all attorneys, along with Tzena Gauldin, Firm Administrator, presented each winner with an awards plaque and a cash prize. Ray Foushee, a 3L at Birmingham School of Law, won first place in the competition. Glen McCord, a 3L from Birmingham School of Law, took home the second place, and Malia Tartt, a 2L from BSL, won third place.

Held in the Stephen D. Heninger Moot Court Room at the downtown Birmingham office, the original field of competitors was narrowed down to a top six who paired off in the final rounds last week. The jury was comprised of HGD attorneys and staff, and HGD attorney Drew Haskins presided over the competition as the judge.

HGD holds this competition for local law school students to help promote advocacy and reward those law students for advancing their advocacy skills. Congratulations to the winners and all the law students who participated in this competition.

Congratulations to HGD’s Closing Argument Competition 2019 Winners!

Congratulations to the winners in HGD’s 5th Annual “In Summation” Closing Argument Competition: BSL’s Ray Foushee wins 1st Place and $1000; BSL’s Glen McCord wins 2nd Place and $750; and Malia Tartt from BSL wins 3rd Place and $500. HGD holds this competition for local law school students to help promote advocacy and reward those law students for advancing their advocacy skills.

Held in the Stephen D. Heninger Moot Court Room, the original field of competitors was narrowed down to a top six who paired off in the final rounds last night. The jury was comprised of HGD attorneys and staff, and HGD attorneys Drew Haskins presided over the competition as the judge.

An official presentation of the winning prizes is forthcoming. HGD congratulates all the law students who competed the last two weeks.

Congratulations to the 6 Finalists in HGD’s Closing Argument Competition 2019!

Congratulations to the top 6 finalists in HGD’s 5th Annual Closing Argument Competition 2019, “In Summation.” The six finalists who will be competing for the top three spots this week are John Banks, Ray Foushee, Sheila Goodwin, Glen McCord, Ashley Smith, and Malia Tartt.

Heninger Garrison Davis takes great pride in this event and the learning opportunity it provides for students attending Cumberland School of Law and Birmingham School of Law. Our goal is to encourage advocacy and reward those law students for advancing their advocacy skills.

Each participant was given a trial problem and asked to present a closing argument before a mock jury that includes judges, lawyers and laypersons. The final round is Thursday, October 3 in the Stephen D. Heninger Moot Court Room in our downtown Birmingham office.

The prizes for the top three are: 

1^st Place will receive $1,000 & an engraved plaque

2^nd Place will receive a check for $750 & an engraved plaque

3^rd Place will receive a check for $500 & an engraved plaque

Good luck to all our finalists!