Whitwell Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Mr. Higgins is a Nashville native. He attended the University of Tennessee where he graduated with honors and returned to home to work with a large insurance defense law firm. About 17 years ago Mr. Higgins left the defense practice and created a firm that only represents injured victims and their families. To better serve his clients the firm is broken down into specific litigation groups, such as the nursing home neglect division and serious injury division.

Mr. Higgins is a member of the million dollar advocates forum, recognized by Best Lawyers and is a board...

Valerie W. Epstein currently owns her own firm concentrating her practice in the areas of civil litigation, wills and estates, arbitration/mediation and business. She has been a practicing Rule 31 mediator for over 10 years and she has been a commercial arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association for over 15 years (by invitation only). She was awarded a contract with the State of Tennessee to perform Independent External Reviews and she is a neutral for the American Health Lawyers Association. She has had numerous cases in Chancery, Circuit and Sessions court in Hamilton County representing both plaintiffs and defendants. She...

Jeffrey W. Rufolo grew up in New Jersey and originally came to Chattanooga in 1983 to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on a wrestling scholarship. He liked the area so much he decided to stay. Since joining Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers, Mr. Rufolo has successfully represented those who have been injured on the job, or injured in car accidents, fall down cases, or other premises liability type cases due to the negligence of others. Recently, Mr. Rufolo successfully overturned an unfavorable decision from the trial court in a wrongful death lawsuit brought against Hamilton County, Tennessee, in which a...

Jerry H. Summers is a lifelong resident of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, Tennessee. Following his graduation from law school, he initially worked for two years as a prosecutor in the Hamilton County District Attorney's Office. Entering private practice in 1969, he became the founding member of what is now Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers. An experienced trial lawyer, Mr. Summers is one of a small number of attorneys who has been included in every yearly volume of "Best Lawyers in America" in both personal injury and criminal law. He is also only one of approximately five attorneys in the State of...

Matthew Harris is managing partner and trial counsel with The Harris Firm, P.C. in Manchester, Tennessee.   He practices on behalf of individuals and corporate entities in all state and federal courts in Tennessee and Mississippi.  He has personally tried personal injury matters including premises liability claims (i.e., "slip-and-fall" cases), motor vehicle accidents, as well as medical and dental malpractice lawsuits to verdict on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants.  Mr. Harris earned a B.S. in Political Science from Austin Peay State University in 2008 and a J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law in 2011.   The Harris Firm, P.C. represents litigants...

Jimmy W. Bilbo has been a practicing attorney in Cleveland, Tennessee since 1985. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the TN Commission on CLE and Specialization. He is Dual Board Certified as a Trial Specialist and in Civil Pretrial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a former president of the Tennessee Association for Justice.

Andy Peters Davis attended law school in San Diego, California, where he graduated from California Western School of Law and returned back to his hometown to join the law firm. Andy Davis was born in Winchester, Tennessee. His education and work experience took him to all corners of the world before returning to work in Tennessee.

After becoming licensed to practice law in Tennessee, Andy Davis joined the law firm and was thrown into the fire in his first year. Andy Davis demonstrated an acute ability to adapt and learn the local laws and continues to strive in the practice of...

Michael K. Pence is a founder of the Law Offices of Thornton & Pence in Nashville, Tennessee. Michael is a devoted personal injury lawyer who provides legal representation to individuals and families that have been harmed by the negligent and careless actions of others. Michael worked as a law clerk for 3 years before becoming an attorney, handling exclusively Personal Injury, Wrongful Death and Workers Compensation claims and Criminal Litigation. Michael has recovered millions of dollars for his clients and their families. Michael’s work doesn’t stop there, he has also successfully overturned two decisions at the Tennessee...

Brandon Bass is a shareholder at The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., located in Nashville, Tennessee, where he’s been practicing law since he graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2002. Brandon is active in several legal organizations, including: the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association Executive Committee, Board of Governors, Amicus Curiae Committee Chair, and Mentor; the American Association for Justice on their New Lawyers Division Board of Governors; the Tennessee Bar Association’s Leadership Law; and the Nashville Bar Foundation as a Fellow and Mentor.

Brandon has received many accolades throughout his career. He has been named in...

John A. Day is the founding partner of The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., located in the Nashville, Tennessee, area. John graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1981. He is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist and has more than 30 years’ experience trying cases. John has served as President of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association and Chair of the Council of State Presidents of the American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America). John has also served on the boards of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, Lawyers...

Mitch Grissim’s father, a prominent Nashville lawyer, taught him at an early age that it is the little things that make all the difference in the quality of the legal services offered and the level of client satisfaction. Simple but important actions, such as returning all phone calls before the end of the day and doing exactly what you say you’re going to, is the standard at Mitch Grissim and Associates.

Mitch lives on the lake east of Nashville in Sumner County and attends Bluegrass Baptist Church of Hendersonville. When not in the office, Mitch enjoys working out and training for...

Mark Hartsoe is dedicated to providing high-quality legal services to injured persons and their families in the Knoxville, Maryville and East Tennessee area. For over 33 years, Hartsoe has aggressively litigated on behalf of his clients to assist them in getting the justice they deserve. He has decades of experience with car accident, truck wreck, motorcycle wreck and premises liability/slip and fall cases. Mr. Hartsoe regularly works with other firms on a referral fee and co-counsel basis. He has been long recognized by his peers as one of the top injury lawyers in East Tennessee and has...

Cathy spent the early years of her life growing up on a farm in the Midwest. Following high school, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before attending Indiana University at South Bend. Cathy graduated from Indiana University at South Bend with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Administration. After graduation, she worked for several years for a consulting firm before deciding to attend law school. Cathy received her law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Cathy worked for several firms, and for the State of Tennessee’s Department of Human Services, before joining Hughes & Coleman in 2006....

Joe has litigated cases in Ohio to successful conclusion over the past 26 years with amounts in controversy ranging from several hundred thousand dollars to several million dollars in dispute. He has been recognized by his peers as an Ohio Super Lawyer, a recognition given to only 5 percent of the state’s attorneys. Mr. Griffith has been certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a National Civil Trail Advocacy since 2004. During his career, Mr. Griffith has conducted well over 100 trials and has had many successful jury verdicts for his clients. Joe Griffith is a native of Portsmouth,...

Dave has extensive courtroom experience as a military Judge Advocate, as a public defender, and as a private practice attorney. Born in Ohio, Dave grew up in the Appalachian region. After high school, he wanted to experience more of the world, and decided to enlist in the U.S. Army as an Infantryman. With a military career spanning two decades, Dave retired in February 2023 as a lieutenant colonel in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the Tennessee Army National Guard. During his military career, Dave worked on cutting edge military victims’ rights law at National Guard Bureau, leading the team of Army...

Scott grew up on a family farm just outside of Sparta, Kentucky. Since 1995, Scott has successfully represented injured clients in matters involving wrongful death, brain injury, dismemberment and disfigurement. Scott has successfully represented injured clients in civil actions against corporate giants such as Ford Motor Company, Firestone Tire, Kubota Tractor and Rifle Coal Company. Scott attended high school in Owen County, Kentucky. Following high school, he pursued his undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky and graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of the Arts in English. In his pursuit to follow his dreams, Scott received...

E. Michael Brezina, III’s career includes more than fifteen years of litigation experience in the private and public sectors, including extensive and diverse trial experience. Michael graduated Summa Cum Laude in three years from the University of Tennessee (“UT”) in Knoxville, where he was selected Phi Beta Kappa. He was also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. In 2004, he graduated Cum Laude from UT College of Law. He was a partner for many years at one of the region’s oldest and largest law firms, starting his practice there after graduating from law school in 2004. During his 15-year tenure...

Having been born and raised in Athens, Tennessee, Josh’s small-town conservative values have been motivation in achieving his goals of being an attorney and being a zealous advocate for individual’s rights. Josh attended McMinn County High School where he played football and baseball and graduated in 1990. In 1995, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Middle Tennessee State University. While attending college, he served as President of the MTSU chapter of Sigma Chi and is still an active member of the organization’s alumni association. After graduation, Josh attended Nashville School of Law while working full-time for the...

Winning is what matters! Brian has 20+ years of litigation experience successfully handling and trying medical malpractice and personal injury cases. He has obtained over $26,000,000.00 for his clients in just the past few years, which earned him a lifetime membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Less than 1% of attorneys are lifetime members of the Forum. He only takes on select cases so that he can personally handle every aspect of that client's important case. Other firms pass clients and cases off to junior attorneys who the client never would have selected. Brian never does that. Brian's dedication...

Justin completed his undergraduate education at the University of Mississippi, where he ended up graduating with honors and earning a Bachelor of Science Degree. After undergrad, he decided to further his education at Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where he also graduated with honors and earned his Juris Doctorate. During his career at Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School he received several awards, including: the Criminal Law Best Essay/Book Award Recipient, Civil Procedure Best Essay/Book Award Recipient, Taxation Best Essay/Book Award Recipient, Pre-Trial Skills Book Award Recipient and Trial Skills Book Award Recipient. Each of...

Mr. Coleman is now the Managing Partner and majority owner of Hughes and Coleman Injury Lawyers, a firm he cofounded in 1985 with J. Marshall Hughes. The firm has grown during its 37 years, and currently has 30 attorneys and 10 offices in Kentucky and Tennessee, and an affiliated firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lee is proud that two of his sons, Benjamin and Andrew, are attorneys practicing with H&C. Lee earned his Law Degree from the University of Louisville, graduating in 1981, and earned his undergraduate Business Administration degree from the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1978. In 1985 Lee...

Working multiple jobs throughout high school and college, Zack set out to obtain his Bachelor’s as quickly as possible, graduating from Western Kentucky University with a double major in History and Spanish in only two and a half years. Zack never stops moving, and he tries to do as much as he can as quickly as possible. He’s always seeking to expand his knowledge and gain perspective by setting and reaching new goals. While earning his law degree at Belmont University, Zack clerked at a law firm where he assisted on an unforgettable medical malpractice case. His client had a faulty...

Focused on building practical skills to assist his future career, C.J. spent the majority of his law school career working in litigation. C.J. gained experience as a law clerk working for a prominent family law firm in Memphis. Through this law firm, he was able to learn through court room trials, hearings, and deposition observations. He was also able to work on high profile cases such as one involving the legitimacy of marriages conducted by ministers who were ordained through online churches. On top of being a law clerk, C.J. served as a student attorney at the same time in the...

Andrew J. Gregory-Mabrey holds a Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University, and received his Juris Doctor from Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law in 2010. He is proud to have joined Hughes and Coleman as a member of the Social Security Disability team. While in law school, Mr. Gregory-Mabrey participated in the Kentucky Innocence Project (the post-conviction branch of the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy), and worked for the Children’s Law Center, Inc., a non-profit organization focused on protecting the legal rights of minors. He also interned for the Law Office of Katherine Siereveld and was employed by Chevalier, Fox...

As founder of Bailey & Greer, R. Sadler Bailey has battled his fair share of insurance giants and wrongdoers and has achieved numerous multimillion-dollar results for the victims of catastrophic injuries and their families. What’s more, he has been involved in more than 40 appellate court decisions affecting Tennessee personal injury law, including many landmark appearances before the Tennessee Supreme Court. In addition, he’s one of only a handful of lawyers in Memphis to have earned an advanced law degree in litigation. As a symbol of his respect within the Tennessee legal community, he is consistently called upon to teach...

Evan graduated from University of Tennessee Knoxville with degrees in political science and history. His legal career began at Belmont University College of Law, where he served as the Vice President of the Health Law Society and graduated with a health law certificate in addition to his law degree. During his last 2 years at Belmont, he served as a law clerk at a Nashville land use firm. After passing the Bar in 2018, his family moved to Chattanooga, where he worked for an insurance defense firm representing insurance companies in slip and fall, car accident, and workers’ compensation claims. After...

Jonaka grew up knowing she wanted a career of service to others. Inspired by that motivation, she loves the satisfaction she hears from clients when her conversation and work has made a difference in their day, especially those who are experiencing a very dark time in their lives. Jonaka White Hall focuses her practice on a variety of types of personal injury cases. Originally from Cromwell, Kentucky, Jonaka earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Western Kentucky University. Following her undergraduate career, Jonaka earned her Juris Doctor from Salmon P. Chase College of Law. Prior to joining...

Richard is a hometown lawyer, born and raised in Bowling Green. He attended Warren Central High School and continued his education at Western Kentucky University, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He then attended Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law, graduating cum laude in 2010. At NKU, Richard was an Associate Editor for the Northern Kentucky Law Review and had his law review article chosen for publication in 2010. After law school, Richard returned home again to begin his career with a defense firm focusing primarily on civil litigation, including insurance defense, personal injury...

Mr. Smith has been a trial attorney for 40 years and was a professor of law at Vanderbilt Law School. For the past twenty years, he has represented individuals in plaintiff's personal injury litigation. He is the founder of DRS Law, a top-rated personal injury law firm in Nashville, Tennessee. DRS Law has grown into a five-lawyer team that includes his three sons. EXPERIENCE Mr. Smith has been recognized by his peers as one of the Best Lawyers in America in Personal Injury Litigation and as one of the Best Lawyers in Tennessee. The Business Tennessee Best Lawyers List described Mr....

Kathryn dedicates herself to achieving success and accepting challenges. She graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Justice Administration. She then went on to obtain her Juris Doctor at Northern Kentucky University – Salmon P. Chase College of Law. After graduating, she decided it was time to see the world and traveled to twenty-seven countries over a span of five months. After her adventures abroad, she returned home to Bowling Green, Kentucky to study for the Kentucky bar exam. While studying for the bar exam, Kathryn decided to...

Michael A. Pohl is a personal injury lawyer with over 35 years of trial experience. He devotes his practice to represent people who have suffered serious injuries. He also has extensive experience in representing vehicle rollover accident victims. Michael has represented clients throughout the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. He received his J.D. from the University of Houston and is admitted to practice law in both Colorado and Texas.

Laura Baker is a shareholder at The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., where she represents clients in personal injury, wrongful death, and tort litigation cases. Laura's reputation and experience have earned her several accolades. Most recently, Laura was awarded the "Rising Star Award" by the Lawyers' Association for Women in 2016. She was also recognized as an Athena Young Professional Award Nominee in 2016. In 2015, Laura was a winner of the Nashville Business Journal's “40 Under 40” award. Laura has been recognized as one of the “Best of the Bar” by the Nashville Business Journal in 2015 and...

Darrell Douglas was born and raised in LaFollette, Tennessee. He attended the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2010. His Doctor of Jurisprudence was awarded in 2014 from Mississippi College in Jackson, Mississippi. Darrell was licensed to practice law in Tennessee in 2014.

Having grown up in East Tennessee, Darrell knew he wanted to return home to begin practicing law. Darrell’s upbringing gave him a strong desire to assist those who have been injured through no fault of their own; and to help them recover compensation for those injuries.

During his time in practice, Darrell has experience in...

Joy Day is one of only fourteen female lawyers in the State of Tennessee who is certified as a civil trial specialist by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification and serves as a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator. With more than 150 days of trial to her credit, Joy has significant trial experience in high-exposure, complex cases and is more than comfortable in the courtroom.

Joy has a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating, the highest rating possible, since 2004, and she has been named a Mid-South Super Lawyer every year since 2009. Joy is licensed in state...