For the Win

DRI Richard H. Krochock Award

August, 2022

Attorney Baxter Drennon of Hall Booth Smith PC received the 2022 DRI Richard H. Krochock Award. The award honors an individual who has provided exemplary leadership to the DRI Young Lawyers Committee and service as a mentor to its members.

FDCC Joseph R. Olshan Award

August, 2021

Attorney Jamie Huffman Jones of Friday, Eldredge & Clark was presented with the prestigious Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Joseph R. Olshan Award for her leadership and outstanding work with the Amicus & Public Policy Committee in advancing the positions of our members on a variety of issues relevant to our profession and the fair administration of justice.

The Olshan Award is presented annually to the chair of a committee whose work has made the most outstanding contribution to the advancement of the Federation's aspirational goals. Jamie was honored for her work which epitomizes Mr. Olshan's organizational skills and dedication to the FDCC.

DRI Davis Carr Outstanding Committee Chair Award

October, 2019

Congratulations to Baxter Drennon, Wright Lindsey & Jennings, on the honor of being named the 2019 recipient of the DRI Davis Carr Outstanding Committee Chair Award.

Verdict in favor of Johnson & Johnson in talcum powder
asbestos exposure case

October, 2019

Steven W. Quattlebaum and Brittany S. Ford, along with Julia Romano from King & Spalding LLP, achieved a defense verdict in favor of Johnson & Johnson in a talcum powder asbestos exposure case. After deliberating roughly one day following a three-week trial, the jury rejected the plaintiff’s claim that his pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs often associated with asbestos exposure, was caused by his use of Johnson’s Baby Powder. The trial was held in September and October 2019, before the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles.

Limits of business and dwelling insurance
in the Tony Alamo case

January, 2017

Victims of defrocked prophet/minister/cult leader Tony Alamo have filed numerous lawsuits over the last six years. Over the course of several declaratory judgment suits, approximately ten insurance carriers contended the various business and dwelling policies provided no coverage for the victims’ heinous allegations against Alamo.

In the most recent, Alamo adherent and alleged leader Steve Johnson held title to though did not reside in two homes. These homes were occupied by other Alamo followers who used the children as unpaid labor in restoring and maintaining the homes and several allege they were beaten by residents of the homes. The underlying child plaintiffs allege Johnson was aware of these actions and failed to protect the child plaintiffs or was himself responsible for the actions against the child plaintiffs.

Though numerous policy defenses were raised, Judge Susan Hickey of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas held the underlying allegations did not arise from Johnson's "ownership, use or maintenance" of the insured homes and granted the insurers motion for summary judgment.

In Cameron Mutual Insurance Company v. Johnson, Case No: 4:15-cv-4081 W.D. Ark., Cameron Mutual insurance Company was represented by Carolyn Harder Ryburn and Scott Strauss of the Barber Law Firm

CGL policy does not apply
when only damage is to insured's product

December, 2016

S.E. Arnold and Company Inc. v. Cincinnati Insurance Company, Arkansas Court of Appeals 16-73. In the first appellate review of the Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) policy following the statutorily mandated amendment to the policy's definition of "occurrence" to include "faulty workmanship", the court affirmed the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of the insurer. Both the trial court and the appellate court found the policy unambiguously excluded coverage when "faulty workmanship" damaged nothing other than the insured's product, even when the work was done by subcontractors. The court adopted decisions from other jurisdictions indicating the CGL policy was not intended to serve as a warranty for an insured's damaged or defective products. The insured/appellant, S.E. Arnold and Company (DBA Arnold's Flooring America) was represented by David Hodges.

The Appellee, Cincinnati Insurance Company was represented by Scott Strauss and Carolyn Harder Ryburn of The Barber Law Firm.