News Worthy

Best Lawyers 2012

Several of the firm's attorneys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2012. Their names and areas of practice are as follows

Top Ranked Tennessee Law Firm (12/2011)

Hodges, Doughty & Carson was listed in the December edition of Fortune magazine as part of Martindale-Hubbell's 1st ever Top Ranked Law Firms. Out of 254,000 firms rated by Martindale Hubbell, only 966 firms were selected nationally, for having at least one-third (33%) of their attorneys achieve an AV Preeminent rating. A total of 25 firms ranked for the entire state of Tennessee and there were four in Knoxville.

US News Best Law Firm Ranking (2011-2012) 

Hodges, Doughty & Carson was listed among the first and second tier national rankings in the November 2011 edition of U.S.News & World Report's special Money issue. The firm's first-tier national rankings also appeared in the 2011-2012 "Best Law Firms" stand-alone publication. The firm's rankings are:

Tier 1

• Construction Law
• Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
• Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
• Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Trusts & Estates Law
• Workers' Compensation Law - Employers

Tier 2

• Commercial Litigation
• Litigation - Construction
• Litigation - Trusts & Estates
• Mediation

The firm also takes pride in professional leadership positions held by several of its attorneys, including two former presidents of the Tennessee Bar Association and five past presidents of the Knoxville Bar Association.

Salute to an East Tennessee Rising Star

In the fifth annual edition of the Greater Knoxville Business Journal's 40 under 40, Alicia Cottrell was recognized as one of East Tennessee's 40 under 40 honorees. This recognition is awarded to professionals who excel in their respective field and who are making a difference in their profession, workplace and community.

Knoxville Bar Association President (1/2012)

J. William Coley, Member, has served as an officer of the Knoxville Bar Association since January 1, 2008. Mr. Coley's term as President of the Knoxville Bar Association commenced January 1, 2012.

We Proudly Welcome a New Member (1/2012) 

W. Michael Baisley became a Member of the firm effective January 1, 2012. Mr. Baisley joined Hodges, Doughty & Carson in 2009 after practicing with another Knoxville law firm for four years. He received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2005. Mr. Baisley practices in the areas of business transactions and commercial litigation which includes bankruptcy, commercial law, construction, corporate law, real estate and transactional matters.

Hodges, Doughty & Carson Managing Partner (1/2012) 

T. Kenan Smith became Managing Partner of Hodges, Doughty & Carson on January 1, 2012. Mr. Smith has been affiliated with the firm since 1987.

2012 Knoxville Bar Association Barristers President 

Josh Bond was elected Vice President of the Knoxville Bar Association Barristers for 2011 and has recently assumed the Presidency for 2012.

2011 Mid South Rising Star 

Joshua M. Ball was recently selected for inclusion on the Mid South Rising Stars 2011 list. This ranking is awarded to lawyers who have attained high peer recognition, meet ethical standards and have demonstrated some degree of achievement in their field. Mr. Ball was selected for his work in Personal Injury Defense: General.

Mid-South Super Lawyers 2011

Three of the firm's attorneys were also selected for inclusion on the Md-South Super Lawyers 2011 list. Included are: Thomas H. Dickenson and Dean B. Farmer for their work in Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights and Dalton L. Townsend for his work in Personal Injury Defense: General.

CityView Top Knoxville Attorneys (7/2011) 

Each year Citiview invites members of the local bar association to vote for local Knoxville attorneys in 57 categories who they would call on or make referrals to. More than 20,000 votes were cast during the 2011 voting process. Sixteen of Hodges Doughty & Carson attorneys were included among the winners of the Citiview 2011 Top Attorneys of Knoxville.

Recognition for Assuring Equal Access to Justice for Low-Income Persons

In a public ceremony on July 21, 2011, Justice Gary Wade presented Wesley Stone with an award from the Pro Bono Project with Legal Aid of East Tennessee recognizing his efforts in "assuring equal access to justice for low-income persons". Mr. Stone assisted a maternal grandmother in terminating the parental rights of a father who executed the children's mother. It was proved that there was clear and convincing evidence that grounds for termination existed and that it was in the children's best interest to terminate the father's rights. The father appealed and the Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the trial court's termination order. The grandmother was allowed to adopt the children.

Hodges Doughty & Carson welcomes new member (1/2011) 

E. Michael Brezina, III became a member of the firm on January 1, 2011. Michael Brezina graduated Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee, College of Law in 2004. Mr. Brezina's practice is devoted primarily to medical malpractice defense, general civil litigation and commercial litigation.

2010 Best Lawyers in America (2010)

Several of the firm's attorneys were included among those selected as 2010 Best Lawyers in America. Included are: Dean B. Farmer for his work in Commercial Litigation, Robert R. Campbell for Alternative Dispute Resolution, Albert J. Harb for Construction Law, Dalton L. Townsend for Personal Injury Litigation and Product Liability Litigation and David N. Wedekind for Workers' Compensation Law.

Super Lawyers Business & Transactions (2010)

Two of Hodges, Doughty & Carson's attorneys, Thomas H. Dickenson and Dean B. Farmer, were again selected as 2010 Super Lawyers Business & Transactions for their work in Bankruptcy.

Super Lawyers - Litigation (2010) 

Dalton L. Townsend was selected for inclusion as one of 2010's Super Lawyers - Litigation as well as 2010's Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition. Mr. Townsend was selected for his work in Personal Injury Defense: General.

2010 Mid-South Super Lawyers

The following Hodges, Doughty & Carson attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2010 Mid-South Super Lawyers list. Only five percent (5%) of the attorneys in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi are chosen each year.

Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights Thomas H. Dickenson
Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights Dean B. Farmer
Personal Injury Defense: General Dalton L. Townsend
Workers' Compensation John W. Wheeler

Knoxville Bar Association Officer (1/10)
J. William Coley. Managing Partner of Hodges, Doughty & Carson, began his term as Treasurer of the Knoxville Bar Association on January 1, 2010.

Lisa Hall	Kandi Yeager

We Proudly Welcome Two New Members (1/10)
Lisa Hall and Kandi Yeager became members of the firm on January 1. 2010. Ms. Hall graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1997. She joined Hodges, Doughty & Carson as an associate in 1997. Her practice is primarily devoted to general civil litigation, including motor vehicle, premises liability, construction, and insurance coverage matters. Ms. Yeager graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2002 and joined Hodges, Doughty & Carson as an associate in 2003. Her practice concentration is bankruptcy, commercial, corporate, and business law.

Newest Associate (11/09)
After practicing with another Knoxville law firm for four years, W. Michael Baisley became an associate with Hodges, Doughty & Carson on November 23, 2009. Mr. Baisley practices in the areas of business transactions and commercial litigation.

Welcome Aboard (3/09)
Alicia Cottrell received her MBA from the University of Tennessee, College of Buiness and JD from the College of Law in 2008. Following a clerkship with Hodges, Doughty & Carson during law school, Ms. Cottrell joined the firm as an associate on March 23, 2009. Her practice is devoted primarily to medical malpractice defense, healthcare regulatory affairs, and general civil litigation.

Best in Tennessee 2009 (1/09)
Edward (Ted) White has been included once again among Tennessee's Top 150 Lawyers. He has now been listed in the January 2009, 2008, and 2007 editions of Business TN Magazine. Ted White is recognized for his exceptional work in the area of medical malpractice defense.

Dean Farmer	Dalton Townsend

Mid-South Super Lawyers (12/08)
Dean B. Farmer and Dalton B. Townsend were selected for inclusion on the Mid-South Super Lawyers list for 2008. Selections are made through an extensive process of peer nominations, blue ribbon panel review and independent research. Only 5% of Arkansas, Mississipp, and Tennessee attorneys were named to the list. Dean Farmer was selected for his work in the area of bankruptcy and creditor/debtor rights, Dalton Townsend for his work in the area of personal injury defense: general.

KBA Golden Gala Honorees (11/08)
Three of Hodges, Doughty & Carson's own were among 52 of their colleagues honored by members of the Knoxville Bar Association at a Golden Gala held the evening of November 15, 2008. Robert C. Campbell, Of Counsel, Jonathan H. Burnett, Retired, and David E. Smith, Retired, began the practice of law more than 50 years ago. They were honored for their many years of service to the legal profession, as well as the community and citizens at large.

Kristi Davis	Chris Heagerty

HDC Lawyers Win Jury Verdict (10/08)
Kristi Davis and Christopher Heagerty recently tried a case in Hamilton County, where they alleged that their client had been wrongfully terminated from her employment. The jury found in their favor and returned a verdict of $518,000.00

Criminal Defense Associate (8/08)
After being engaged primarily in the private practice of law since 2000, Wesley D. Stone became an associate with Hodges, Doughty & Carson on August 1, 2008. Mr. Stone's practice focuses on criminal defense.

Knoxville's Top Attorneys 2008 (8/08)
Thomas (Tom) H. Dickenson was listed among CityView Magazine's Top Attorneys of 2008. More than 1,000 attorneys voted which lawyers they would send their family and friends to. Tom Dickenson is among them for his practice in bankruptcy and restructuring.

On January 2, 2008, Joshua J. Bond became a member of the firm. Josh Bond received his law degree from the University of Memphis in 2000. Prior to becoming an associate with Hodges, Doughty & Carson in 2002, he served a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Joe G. Riley. Josh's practice concentration is medical malpractice defense and general civil litigation.

Ted White	Tom Dickenson

Best in Tennessee (01/08)
Edward (Ted) White and Tom Dickenson were included among Tennessee's Top 150 Layers once again this year inthe January 2008 edition of Tennessee Business magazine. In 2007 both attorneys were among the Top 150 Tennessee Lawyers listed in the January edition of the Tennessee Business magazine. Ted White was included for his work in the area of medical malpractice defense and Tom Dickenson for his work in the area of bankruptcy. They were selected from among nearly 18,000 attorneys in Tennessee in a poll of leading attorneys, judges, and corporate executives across the state.

Knoxville Top Attorneys for 2007 (09/07)
Several attorneys with Hodges, Doughty & Carson, PLLC were voted top in their field by colleagues in the Knoxville legal community and were presented as Knoxville Top Attorneys for 2007 in the September publication of CityView Magazine. They are: Thomas H. Dickenson, Bankruptcy; Dean B. Farmer, Constitutional/Civil Rights Law; Albert J. Harb, Construction Law; Hiram G. Tipton, Environmental Law; Edward (Ted) White, II, Hospital and Health Care Law and Professional Malpractice; and Roy L. Aaron, Wills and Estate Planning.

Kristi Davis	Josh Ball

We Proudly Welcome Two New Members (12/06)
Kristi Davis and Josh Ball became members of the firm on January 1. 2007. Ms. Davis graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1998 and she served in a judicial clerkship for two years before joining Hodges, Doughty & Carson as an associate in 2000. Her practice is primarily devoted to tort law and appellate matters. Mr. Ball graduated from the University of Memphis law school in 2000 and served in a judicial clerkship for one year before joining Hodges, Doughty & Carson as an associate in 2001. His practice concentration is general civil litigation.

Leading by Example (11/06)
Joshua Ball has been accepted as a member of the Tennessee Bar Association's Class of 2007 Leadership Law Program. The Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law Program is for emerging leaders in the Tennessee legal community.

David Wedekind	Albert Harb

Named Best Lawyers in the U.S. (9/06)
David Wedekind has been selected as one of the best workers comp lawyers and Albert Harb as one of the best lawyers in commercial litigation and in personal injury litigation in the United States by The Best of the U.S. LLC. They were included among 14,268 lawyers chosen from 760,369 actively practicing lawyers in the United States. Their selection was based on recognition by their peers.

Welcome Aboard (9/06)
Oliver Adams has accepted an associate position with our firm following his graduation from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2007. Oliver ranks Number One in his class after two years at the University of Tennessee College of Law. He has clerked for the firm since May 2005.

The First 50 Years are in the Books (9/06)
Bob Campbell celebrated 50 years of practicing law on July 26. The firm's attorneys and staff honored him with a surprise reception. We are truly grateful for his leadership provided to our firm over the years.

Tabbed Best Bankruptcy Lawyer in Town (9/06)
Tom Dickenson was named in the August 2006 issue of CityView Magazine as the best bankruptcy lawyer in Knoxville. Other Knoxville attorneys made the selection from nominations. The article stated, "Our top bankruptcy attorney got the votes for being the person to call when the financial situation is looking bleak. It takes a smart, professional attorney to get the job done and this lawyer takes the win". He also received the 2005 DICTA award from the Knoxville Bar Association for a series of articles on amendments to the Bankruptcy Code.

We Don't Expect It, But It's Always Good to Hear
Source: Knoxville Bar Association February 2006 "DICTA" newsletter.

"The 2005 Knoxville Bar Association Pro Bono Award went to Hodges, Doughty & Carson and to each lawyer in the firm who participated in the Pro Bono Project during the year. In naming HDC the Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year, we recognized the firm's commitment to serving the community and our profession by dedicating a significant amount of its resources to ensure that justice is available to low income persons. A law firm, much like the Pro Bono Project, is a collaborative effort. By presenting an award to each of HDC's participating lawyers, the Pro Bono Project offered a token of thanks to those lawyers for their individual service."

We serve the needs of a range of clients, including Tennessee residents and out-of-state clients, throughout eastern Tennessee and the Smoky Mountain region.