J. William Manuel

Listed in Benchmark Litigation "Local Litigation Star," Mississippi, 2014-2021 "Litigation Star", 2023-2024 "Future Star," Mississippi, 2013 Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® Commercial Litigation, 2010-2025 Litigation – Environmental, 2011-2025 Mass Tort Litigation, 2007-2010 Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, 2011-2025 Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2019-2025 "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation – Environmental, 2020 "Lawyer of the Year," Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, 2021 Listed in Chambers USA Litigation: General Commercial, 2007-2022, 2024 Labor & Employment, 2015-2022, 2024 Construction, 2023 Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers Business Litigation, 2011-2023 "Top 50," Mississippi, 2016-2018, 2020, 2022-2023 Goodwill Salute: Outstanding Volunteer Award, 2023 Listed in Mississippi Business Journal, "Leaders in Law & Finance," 2023 American Bar Foundation (ABF), Fellow Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Diversity Leadership Award, 2016 2017 Client Choice Award for Excellence in Litigation - Mississippi Fair Labor Standards Act violations Successfully represented national storage corporation in four arbitrations from 2016-2017 in Texas alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act for store managers.  Transgender discrimination case Served as an arbitrator in a nationally reported transgender discrimination case from Louisiana. Morton v. Cooper Tire (2013) Obtained defense verdict in Americans with Disabilities Act jury trial. Padgett v. Starkville Academy (2013) Obtained summary judgment granted on behalf of defendant in sexual harassment case. Davis v. U-Haul Co. of Mississippi (2002) Obtained defense verdict in Fair Labor Standards Act jury trial. Graves v. Picadilly Rest., Inc. (1997) Obtained summary judgment granted on behalf of defendant in sexual harassment case. Calderera v. Timbertech, Inc. Products liability case involving the sale of a luxury log cabin kit. Won directed verdict at trial. White v. Nelson Legal malpractice jury trial. Defense verdict. Morton v. Cooper Tire Americans with Disabilities Act jury trial. Defense verdict. Davis v. U-Haul Co. of Mississippi Representation of a national moving, storage and rental company in the defense of a complex Fair Labor Standards Act case in a jury trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. After an hour of deliberation, the jury returned a defense verdict. This case involved unique issues of payroll record keeping, employee failure to comply with time recording policies, and alleged retaliatory practices. Denton v. New England Life Insurance Company Summary judgment granted in alleged insurance fraud case. Evans v. Jackson Coca-Cola Wrongful death case. Graves v. Picadilly Rest., Inc. (S.D. Miss. 1997) Sexual harassment case. In Re: Silica Products Litigation Products liability matter. Jordan v. New England Life Insurance Co. Tried one of the first "vanishing premium" cases to result in a defense verdict in Mississippi. Morton v. Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., No. 1:12cv28-A-S (N.D. Miss 2013) Lead attorney in jury trial of Americans with Disabilities Act case. After a three-day trial, the jury returned a defense verdict for our client on all claims. Peters v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., 164 F.Supp.2d 830 (S.D. Miss. 2001) Representation of a managing general agent in an alleged fraudulent insurance sales action (vanishing premium). Pike County National Bank v. Metropolitan Life, et al. Defended a financial services provider in a jury trial in state court in Hinds County, Mississippi, against a national bank that was seeking over $5 million in actual damages for alleged misrepresentations in establishment of a supplemental executive retirement plan. The case involved issues regarding indirect funding of benefits and how they uniquely apply in a banking situation. The jury returned a defense verdict in favor of our client. Rippey v. Pfizer, Inc. Defended manufacturer in products liability jury trial relating to allegations of failure to warn on an agricultural product. Robinson v. Ratliff Premises liability case. Vaughn v. Ambrosino Premises liability case. Ward v. Life Investors Insurance Co. Breach of contract and fraud matter. White v. Oak Grove Resources, LLC, 2011 WL 6272357 (Ala. 2011) Obtained a significant victory for the operator of the Concord Coal Preparation Plant by getting a final dismissal of a class action that had been pending since 1997 after an evidentiary hearing challenging the same. Mask and respirator litigation Mask and respirator litigation for 3M Company in products liability cases brought by plaintiffs alleging injury from exposure to asbestos, silica, or coal dust in connection with their claimed use of 3M respiratory protection products.