Representing Plaintiffs Since 1895

While the firm fully appreciates the importance of each client's case regardless of its size, the cases discussed below have been selected primarily for their recognition value and as examples of the diversity of the firm's practice.

Hare Wynn has also handled a number of appeals which resulted in the establishment of important legal precedents. For example, at the firm's urging in the landmark Swartz v. U.S. Steel decision (1974), the Court acknowledged a wife's right to a claim for loss of her injured husband's services. Finally, it is important to note - as a result of litigation handled by the firm - many defective products and dangerous practices have been changed or abandoned altogether.

ATV Litigation

The firm participated in the organization of the group which was formed to assist plaintiffs' counsel handling these cases. One member served as national co-chair of the ATV Litigation Support Group.

Breast Implant Litigation

In 1992, when the silicone gel breast implant cases in the federal court system were consolidated into a single multi-district proceeding, one of the firm's members was appointed co-liaison counsel. Liaison counsel is charged with: facilitating interface between the court and the attorneys representing breast implant plaintiffs nationwide; bringing select motions to the court's attention, and advising the public on the status of the litigation - among other responsibilities.

Coach Paul W. Bryant v Saturday Evening Post

The firm represented the University of Alabama's head football coach in his libel suit against The Saturday Evening Post . The magazine had accused Coach Bryant of secretly fixing the outcome of a football game with then-head coach Wally Butts, University of Georgia. In the course of investigation, Hare Wynn attorneys discovered the published allegations were based on false and fabricated evidence - leading the magazine to offer Coach Bryant an out-of-court settlement.

Dalkon Shield

Hare Wynn helped form the Dalkon Shield Litigation support group, and maintained an active role in the group's activities before, during, and after the transfer of the litigation to the Multi-district Panel.

Dealer Antitrust Litigation

Hare Wynn represented more than 80 gas station owners throughout the Southeastern United States against major oil companies on claims of state and federal price discrimination.

False Claims Act Litigation

Hare Wynn has expanded its areas of practice into the field of False Claims Act litigation. The firm served as co-lead counsel in one of the largest False Claims Act case ever filed - US ex rel Johnson v. Shell. The whistleblowers in Johnson alleged 18 of the largest oil companies in the world systematically underpaid oil royalties to the United States. The joint prosecution of the lawsuit by the whistleblowers and the United States has resulted in settlements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars and one of the largest False Claims Act recoveries in history.

Fuel System Integrity Litigation

Hare Wynn tried one of the first Ford Pinto cases to completion. Based on that experience, a member of the firm was appointed as a key member of the legal team representing the plaintiffs in the landmark California case Grimshaw v. Ford Motor Company. A member of the firm now serves as Co-chair of the national Fuel System Integrity Litigation Group.

Helicopter Litigation

Hare Wynn represented the family of renowned NASCAR race driver, Davey Allison, who was killed in the crash of a McDonnell Douglas 500 helicopter. The news media reported it was pilot error, but after extensive flight testing, the accident was re-enacted and it was confirmed the crash occurred due to failure of a critical part in the aircraft. McDonnell Douglas settled the case soon thereafter.

Nursing Home Litigation

Over the past several years, the firm has placed an emphasis on protecting and advocating the rights of elderly persons injured or killed due to the negligence of nursing homes. One of the firm's most recent trials in this area resulted in a $2.98 million jury verdict in El Dorado, Arkansas, for the family of a man injured and killed as a result of his nursing home's negligence.

Medical Negligence

Over the past decade, the firm has placed great emphasis on cases involving medical negligence. With a full time registered nurse on staff and access to expert review by local physicians, the firm prides itself on taking and vigorously prosecuting only those cases of merit. With jury verdicts from Madison to Mobile county, the Hare Wynn lawyers involved in this area of practice are known throughout the state for their high level of expertise. In a case in South Alabama, the firm obtained the first jury verdict in Alabama history for personal injury and wrongful death damages where the plaintiff died after the original complaint for personal injury had been filed. This $22.5 million verdict was also notable in that the jury awarded $5 million to the injured plaintiff's spouse for her loss of consortium claim.

MedPartners Securities Litigation

Hare Wynn filed the first class action case in the country against MedPartners, when following MedPartners' failure to complete a major merger, its stock price fell over 50% in a few days. The litigation settled less than one year later for $56 million.

NCAA Infractions Appeal

In 1995, when the University of Alabama was dealt major NCAA sanctions, the University and its Faculty Athletics Representative turned to the firm for assistance in handling its much-publicized appeal. Working hand-in-hand with University counsel and Athletics Department officials, members of the firm prepared briefs and appeared before the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee. As a result of the appeal, a significant portion of the penalties assessed against the University were withdrawn, the probationary period was reduced by a full year, several football scholarships were restored, and the University's Faculty Athletics Representative was exonerated of all charges against him. The decision marked the first successful appeal of sanctions in NCAA history.

Reed v. Aeromexico

In one of the few cases in American Jurisprudence to overrule the Warsaw Convention pact limiting damages obtainable in international airline crashes, the firm successfully demonstrated that an Aeromexico airline crew was guilty of "willful misconduct" under Alabama Law. The court ruled the state's legal definition of willful misconduct was the same under the Warsaw Convention - thereby clearing the way to overturn the pact's limitation on damages.

Swine Flu Vaccine

During the Ford Administration, an executive order was given to vaccinate every man, woman, and child for protection against Swine Flu. When the vaccine was proven to cause neurological complications in several thousand victims - up to and including paralysis - Hare Wynn was one of twelve firms nationally (selected by the Multidistrict Panel) to represent plaintiffs in the Swine Flu Litigation.

Thalidomide

Members of the firm worked in cooperation with several other national firms handling Thalidomide cases in the early 1970's.

Thybony v. Grand Canyon Airlines

The firm represented the family of a passenger killed in a mid-air collision over the Grand Canyon. In the course of its investigation, the firm located and retrieved - from the floor of the Canyon - wreckage debris which ultimately established the cause of the accident. Subsequent to the firm's investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board modified its position as to the cause of the accident.

TWA-800

A Boeing 747 en route to Paris crashed into the Atlantic Ocean after an in-flight explosion due to faulty wiring insulation in the area of the center fuel tank. There were no survivors. The resulting investigation was one of the longest in aviation history. Hare Wynn represented family members of some of the victims who perished in this accident.

USAir - Pittsburgh

While descending out of 6,000 feet, the Boeing 737 flight crew lost control of the aircraft as a result of a malfunction in the rudder. The pilots were unable to recover control of the aircraft before it impacted the ground. All persons on board died. Hare Wynn represented some of the families of the victims. There was a settlement with Boeing Aircraft, the manufacturer, prior to trial.

ValuJet

The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 crashed in the Florida Everglades after the crew became incapacitated from smoke and fire on board the aircraft. Hare Wynn represented some of the families of those who perished in the accident.