Tom defends property and casualty, life and health insurers in class action, coverage, and extra-contractual litigation in state and federal courts across the U.S.
In recent years, he has defended insurance class actions involving homeowners insurance, premiums, claims practices, and coverage questions, commercial general liability coverages, automobile claims handling and coverage questions, medical payments coverages, catastrophe claims, and reinsurance, among other topics. In that capacity, Tom also has served as national coordinating counsel in mass tort litigation implicating various property and casualty insurance products. Outside the class-action area, Tom represents insurers in bad faith and coverage litigation and counseling.
Tom defends national and regional law firms in professional liability matters arising out of corporate transactions, franchising, securities, trusts and estate planning, and litigation, among other practice areas. These matters range from defending against claims of professional negligence to claims of aiding and abetting alleged Ponzi schemes.
For more than 15 years, Tom also has advised automobile manufacturers on state regulatory and licensing issues, and regularly defended them in federal and state court litigation, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings involving disputes with dealers, suppliers, and customers. His experience includes litigation stemming from add-point and relocation challenges, buy-sells, dealer candidate turn-downs, sales performance and fraud-based terminations, and reverse discrimination claims.
- Won in the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Van Tassel v. State Farm (2021) defeating certification of a Rule 23 (b)(3) damages class action alleging underpayment of “diminished value” with auto insurance claims.
- Won defense verdict after three-week jury trial in legal malpractice action against Florida attorneys arising out of estate planning, trusts and asset protection practices.
- Defended auto manufacturers in dealer litigation across the US, including trials and appeals in Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana and Virginia and lead counsel in appeals in the federal Second, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits.
- Defended an AmLaw 50 law firm against claims of professional malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud.
- Webcast: Supreme Court review/preview – high court cases the business community should watch, October 4, 2018
- Webcast: Insurance Litigation Trends to Watch in 2016, February 18, 2016
- Webcast: U.S. Supreme Court Review/Preview: High Court Cases Insurers Should Watch September 24, 2015
- Webcast: Insurance Litigation Trends to Watch in 2015, February 10, 2015
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America in the area of legal malpractice law – defendants (2010-20234, insurance law (2014-2024), commerical litigation (2021-2024) and professional malpractice law – defendants (2022-2024)
- Recognized by Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers in the area of litigation: general commercial (2010-2023)
- Selected for inclusion in Georgia Super Lawyers® (2008-2009, 2011-2016-2021)
- Recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the area of general commercial disputes (2017-2020, 2022)
- Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America in the area of legal malpractice law - defendants (2016)
- Executive Committee Member and Founding Member, State Bar of Georgia Professional Liability Section
- Member, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
- Member, Litigation Section, Torts Trial and Insurance Practice Section and Forum on Franchising, American Bar Association
- Member, International Association of Defense Counsel
- Member, Insurance and Reinsurance Committee, International Association of Defense Counsel
- Member, D.R.I. Professional Liability Steering Committee
- Member, Atlanta Bar Association
- Member, Federalist Society Atlanta Lawyers Division
- Member, Board of Directors, Boy Scouts of America Atlanta Area Council
- Member, Board of Directors, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF)
- Georgia
- Court of Appeals of Georgia
- State Courts of Georgia
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- A.B., magna cum laude, University of Miami,
Phi Beta Kappa
- J.D., magna cum laude, University of Notre Dame Law School,
Lead Notes Editor, Notre Dame Law Review
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Nine Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 137 Attorne...
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29 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 112 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s ...
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34 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 81 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s B...
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Three Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 111 Attorn...