Representing Plaintiffs Since 1895

Mr. McKenna was admitted to the Alabama bar in 1995. After a few years with another litigation firm, Mr. McKenna joined Hare Wynn in 1997 and became a partner in 2000. He and his wife Stephanie settled in Alabama after attending college at Auburn University. They have three children – two daughters and a son.

Mr. McKenna graduated from Auburn in 1992 where he was named to the Spades honorary, an honor reserved for the top ten seniors on campus. He received his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law, Samford University where he was a member of the Cumberland Law Review and named a Scholar of Merit in toxic torts. Mr. McKenna was named 2009 Whistleblower Lawyer of the Year by the Tax Payers Against Fraud Education Fund.

During his career Mr. McKenna has litigated cases for plaintiffs resulting in jury verdicts and settlements totaling more than $1,613,000,000. Mr. McKenna handles cases covering many different fronts including: serious personal injuries; tractor trailer accidents; wrongful death; automobile accidents; products liability; explosions; burn victims; class actions; complex commercial litigation; False Claims Act whistleblower cases; consumer fraud; health care fraud; insurance fraud; as well as toxic torts and environmental cases.

Mr. McKenna's co-counsel often remark on his relentless pursuit of discovering the truth and dogged determination to never be outworked by the defense. Mr. McKenna has handled cases throughout the country including: Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. His cases have been presented to the Supreme Court of the United States, State Supreme Courts and have been the subject of several precedent-setting decisions favoring Plaintiffs in the State of Alabama and across the United States.

He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Alabama Association for Justice. He is also a member of the Birmingham and Alabama Bar Associations as well as the American Association for Justice. Mr. McKenna has published several articles in legal journals and law reviews and is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education seminars.

Mr. McKenna is an active member of his Church where he serves on several committees, has been a Sunday School teacher, and regularly participates in and leads local and international missions. He serves on the advisory board of Restoration Academy.  He also enjoys competative running with his oldest daughter and coaching Little League baseball.

Mr. McKenna regularly blogs about two of his passions: Reporting fraud on the Government and running.

Affiliations

• Alabama Association for Justice (Alabama Trial Lawyers Association)
• American Association for Justice (Association of Trial Lawyers of America and American Trial Lawyers Association)

Publications

• Report the Fraud Blog
• Effective Mediation Presentations In Personal Injury And Wrongful Death Cases - May 2009
• False Claims Act Primer - April 2009
• Taking Control: How A False Claims Act Will Allow Alabama To Stop The Leaching Of Its Treasury - Spring 2008
• Why Alabama Needs A False Claims Act - 2004
• False Claims Act Litigation: Sources Of Business & Theories Of Recovery - June 2000
• Litigating The Non-Intervened Case - May 2000

News

• McKenna Discusses RealtySouth Class Action Claims Process in Birmingham News - October 2010
• McKenna Discusses Technology in Litigation in Business Alabama - November 2009
• Don McKenna honored by 2009 Whisteblower Lawyer of The Year award - October 16, 2009
• Don McKenna discusses RealtySouth class action ruling with National Public Radio - April 23, 2009
• Birmingham News comments on Summary Judgment for the RealtySouth Plaintiffs' Class - April 22, 2009