Decatur County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Attorney Amber Stephens was born and raised in rural West Tennessee, hailing from Halls, Tennessee, a small town in Lauderdale County. Ms. Stephens graduated from Halls High School in 2000, continued her studies at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee, from 2000 through 2003, and then transferred to the University of Tennessee at Martin where she graduated cum laude in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Ms. Stephens then attended the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, graduating in 2008 and earning her Juris Doctor degree.

Ms. Stephens believes that injured clients deserve not only an...

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...

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...

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....

Mariana was born and raised in Brazil until the age of fifteen when her family moved to the United States. During her childhood, Mariana learned her appreciation for hard work and commitment to the safety and well being of others from her father, an engineer, and her mother, a physician. These qualities drove her passion to become an attorney.

Following secondary school, Mariana attended the University of Louisville where she received a full athletic scholarship playing tennis. She graduated with an undergraduate degree in psychology and a minor in chemistry. Mariana then proceeded to attend the Louis D. Brandeis School 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...

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,...

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...

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...

Jill knew at a very early age that she wanted to become an attorney, but the journey to her chosen profession did not come easily. Attending law school was difficult, especially as a single mother. Jill started with Hughes & Coleman as a runner in 1996 while attending law school. During this difficult and strenuous time of her life, she worked, went to school and came home to be a mom. This conditioned her to fight harder than anyone else for the things she wanted in life.

After graduating from Nashville School of Law in 1997, Jill immediately began...

After receiving his Juris Doctorate, Daniel began his career in general practice, helping clients in a variety of areas ranging from business and family law to criminal defense and personal injury in circuit courts and the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. During this time, he also served as a Special Assistant to the Corporate Counsel of Walworth County, Wisconsin, and handled Child/Juvenile in Need of Protection or Services, as well as guardianships, protective placements, chapter 51, and zoning matters. In 2012, Daniel was elected to the position of District Attorney in Walworth County, Wisconsin. At the time, he was the youngest...

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...

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...

Ashley is a native of Bowling Green where she graduated from Bowling Green High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Communication Studies from Western Kentucky University in 2009. Ashley attended the College of Law at the University of Kentucky earning her Juris Doctorate in 2012. While in law school she was a staff editor for the Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture and Natural Resources Law. After law school, Ashley returned to Bowling Green as a law clerk for Warren Circuit Court Judge John Grise and Judge Steve Wilson. Following her tenure as a law...

Sabina is a first-generation immigrant and is bilingual in Bosnian and English. Her passion for helping others began early on. Sabina would translate for many members of the Bosnian community and volunteered at many international events. Following high school, Sabina attended Western Kentucky University where she pursued her undergraduate degree. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts as a double major in Political Science & Psychology with a minor in Criminology. Sabina obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law. During her college career, Sabina stayed involved in extracurricular activities and served as the president of Phi...

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...

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....

After earning her Bachelor of Science in Political Science, she went on to earn a Master of Science degree in education and a Master of Science degree in History from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She then went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from Nashville School of Law. Her family’s military background, including her grandfather (a WWII veteran) and father (a Vietnam veteran) instilled in her a sense of duty and started her personal journey. Theresa began her personal journey advocating for her father as he fought for veteran’s benefits while overcoming his war-related injuries. Through this process, she developed...

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...

After completing a six-year tour of duty as a Navy Corpsman (medic) assigned to a Marine Corps infantry battalion, Jason went to nursing school. He then enjoyed a 12-year career as a Registered Nurse (RN), where he worked in many different areas including emergency departments, intensive care units, renal dialysis centers, and post-anesthesia care units. He finished his nursing career serving as a charge nurse on a spinal cord injury unit. While working in healthcare, Jason witnessed first-hand the many ways in which negligence can lead to serious, sometimes fatal injuries. Unfortunately, the negligence of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers...

Shannon received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, where she majored in business and specialized in communication studies. This specialization in communication studies laid the groundwork for her to effectively advocate on behalf of her clients. After completing her undergraduate degree, Shannon earned a scholarship to attend Florida State University College of Law, a Top 50 law school in the country. There, she furthered her trial advocacy skills as a member of its prestigious mock trial team. All the while, she received recognition for making the Dean’s List. Shannon began her legal career in Central Florida in 2012. Her...

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...

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...

Eric was born and raised in Ohio and resided there while attending undergraduate and law school. Following law school, Eric moved to Kentucky and began practicing in a small office. Eric soon moved to a larger city and began narrowing his practice to personal injury. He has successfully represented plaintiffs throughout Kentucky and Tennessee for the last 22 years. For Eric, the legal profession continually challenges him to perform at his best while granting him the ability to serve others. In 2017, he was selected by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys as part of the 10 Best Attorneys for...

Matt grew up in Goodlettsville the son of a lawyer and grandson of a school principal who then re-invented herself as a lawyer in retirement, so it was pretty inevitable that Matt would also end up a lawyer. Predictably enough, he also has a younger brother who is ALSO a lawyer. Matt graduated from Tennessee Tech cum laude with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a minor in math. After working as an engineer with a global HVAC company, Matt realized engineering wasn’t his passion. He then went on to graduate magna cum laude from the University of...

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...

Carly is an attorney in The Higgins Firm's Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Division. Carly began her career working with a large Florida based nursing home defense firm where she defended long-term care facilities against negligence and wrongful death claims. She continued this carrier path after moving to Nashville with her husband. Fortunately, we were able to convince her to come over to the good side where she now only represents families who were victims of bad nursing home practices.

Carly earned her law degree, cum laude, from the University of Florida and graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in...

Leila is a member of the Long Term Care Litigation Team at The Higgins Firm. She is dedicated to her profession and community.

Ben primarily handles business disputes, product liability, nursing home neglect/abuse, medical malpractice, and complex personal injury cases. He spent the first eight years of his career with a firm which defended insurance companies and those they insured, but he now represents individuals and businesses who have been harmed by others. This experience often comes in handy through the course of his cases. Mr. Miller obtained his B.A. from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN and his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem, NC. During law school, he met his wife and fellow attorney, Elizabeth. Additionally, he enjoys...

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.

Ray Berk began practicing as a trial lawyer in 1977 upon graduating with Honors from The University of Texas School of Law. He soon left that firm to work with Mike Pohl at a start-up boutique litigation firm. He has successfully represented clients in many practice areas such as medical malpractice, 18 wheeler accidents, vehicle rollovers, and defective products. Ray focuses on representing individuals who have suffered serious injury because of the negligence of others. In addition to representing individuals in the United States, he is also currently advising clients in Lichtenstein and Pakistan. Ray is a member of many...