Collegedale Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Mr. Higgins is a Nashville native. He attended the University of Tennessee where he graduated with honors and returned to home to work with a large insurance defense law firm. About 17 years ago Mr. Higgins left the defense practice and created a firm that only represents injured victims and their families. To better serve his clients the firm is broken down into specific litigation groups, such as the nursing home neglect division and serious injury division.

Mr. Higgins is a member of the million dollar advocates forum, recognized by Best Lawyers and is a board...

Jeffrey W. Rufolo grew up in New Jersey and originally came to Chattanooga in 1983 to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on a wrestling scholarship. He liked the area so much he decided to stay. Since joining Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers, Mr. Rufolo has successfully represented those who have been injured on the job, or injured in car accidents, fall down cases, or other premises liability type cases due to the negligence of others. Recently, Mr. Rufolo successfully overturned an unfavorable decision from the trial court in a wrongful death lawsuit brought against Hamilton County, Tennessee, in which a...

Valerie W. Epstein currently owns her own firm concentrating her practice in the areas of civil litigation, wills and estates, arbitration/mediation and business. She has been a practicing Rule 31 mediator for over 10 years and she has been a commercial arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association for over 15 years (by invitation only). She was awarded a contract with the State of Tennessee to perform Independent External Reviews and she is a neutral for the American Health Lawyers Association. She has had numerous cases in Chancery, Circuit and Sessions court in Hamilton County representing both plaintiffs and defendants. She...

Jimmy W. Bilbo has been a practicing attorney in Cleveland, Tennessee since 1985. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the TN Commission on CLE and Specialization. He is Dual Board Certified as a Trial Specialist and in Civil Pretrial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a former president of the Tennessee Association for Justice.

Jerry H. Summers is a lifelong resident of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, Tennessee. Following his graduation from law school, he initially worked for two years as a prosecutor in the Hamilton County District Attorney's Office. Entering private practice in 1969, he became the founding member of what is now Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers. An experienced trial lawyer, Mr. Summers is one of a small number of attorneys who has been included in every yearly volume of "Best Lawyers in America" in both personal injury and criminal law. He is also only one of approximately five attorneys in the State of...

Larry V. Roberts represents the injured and grieving. He is an experienced trial attorney actively and aggressively representing people who have been seriously injured and families who have lost loved ones. If you are seriously injured or lose a loved one, Larry V. Roberts will take the time to talk with you and your family to truly understand how a serious injury or death of a loved is effecting you and your family. Larry V. Roberts is committed to helping his clients obtain the compensation they deserve. The National Association of Distinguished Counsel has named Larry in the Nation’s Top...

John A. Day is the founding partner of The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., located in the Nashville, Tennessee, area. John graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1981. He is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist and has more than 30 years’ experience trying cases. John has served as President of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association and Chair of the Council of State Presidents of the American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America). John has also served on the boards of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, Lawyers...

Mark Hartsoe is dedicated to providing high-quality legal services to injured persons and their families in the Knoxville, Maryville and East Tennessee area. For over 33 years, Hartsoe has aggressively litigated on behalf of his clients to assist them in getting the justice they deserve. He has decades of experience with car accident, truck wreck, motorcycle wreck and premises liability/slip and fall cases. Mr. Hartsoe regularly works with other firms on a referral fee and co-counsel basis. He has been long recognized by his peers as one of the top injury lawyers in East Tennessee and has...

Michael K. Pence is a founder of the Law Offices of Thornton & Pence in Nashville, Tennessee. Michael is a devoted personal injury lawyer who provides legal representation to individuals and families that have been harmed by the negligent and careless actions of others. Michael worked as a law clerk for 3 years before becoming an attorney, handling exclusively Personal Injury, Wrongful Death and Workers Compensation claims and Criminal Litigation. Michael has recovered millions of dollars for his clients and their families. Michael’s work doesn’t stop there, he has also successfully overturned two decisions at the Tennessee...

Brandon Bass is a shareholder at The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., located in Nashville, Tennessee, where he’s been practicing law since he graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2002. Brandon is active in several legal organizations, including: the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association Executive Committee, Board of Governors, Amicus Curiae Committee Chair, and Mentor; the American Association for Justice on their New Lawyers Division Board of Governors; the Tennessee Bar Association’s Leadership Law; and the Nashville Bar Foundation as a Fellow and Mentor.

Brandon has received many accolades throughout his career. He has been named in...

Kelly Tanner is a Knoxville DUI attorney and Knoxville Car Wreck attorney. Before attending the Duncan School of Law, Kelly served as a law enforcement officer in Knoxville, TN. In fact, Kelly is highly skilled in the area of FIeld Sobriety Testing, having received countless hours of training in both administration and interpretation of these tests, and has been a part of actually training the police officers who administer them. To say that he has knowledge of how the prosecution makes their cases is an understatement. He knows the system from both sides.

His former career as a Law Enforcement Officer...

E. Michael Brezina, III’s career includes more than fifteen years of litigation experience in the private and public sectors, including extensive and diverse trial experience. Michael graduated Summa Cum Laude in three years from the University of Tennessee (“UT”) in Knoxville, where he was selected Phi Beta Kappa. He was also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. In 2004, he graduated Cum Laude from UT College of Law. He was a partner for many years at one of the region’s oldest and largest law firms, starting his practice there after graduating from law school in 2004. During his 15-year tenure...

Dan Pilkington is a member at the firm of Watson, Roach, Batson and Lauderback in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mr. Pilkington practices civil litigation in federal and state courts, with an emphasis on public officials and law enforcement. His experience includes defending municipal clients in civil rights actions, including police misconduct ligation.

An East Tennessee native, Dan Pilkington attended East Tennessee State University where he obtained his Bachelor Degree in Business Administration. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law. Mr. Pilkington was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 2005. In addition, he is also admitted before the United...

Gregory F. Coleman is the founder and Managing Partner of Greg Coleman Law PC. Greg received his B.A. with highest honors and distinction from Jacksonville State University in 1986. He attended the University of Tennessee College of Law, graduating in 1989. In addition to distinguishing himself academically, Greg was a member of the National Trial Moot Court Team and was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award for National Trial Team and was listed in Who's Who Among Rising Young Americans. In addition, the College of Law bestowed upon Greg the honor of inclusion into the National Order of...

Having been born and raised in Athens, Tennessee, Josh’s small-town conservative values have been motivation in achieving his goals of being an attorney and being a zealous advocate for individual’s rights. Josh attended McMinn County High School where he played football and baseball and graduated in 1990. In 1995, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Middle Tennessee State University. While attending college, he served as President of the MTSU chapter of Sigma Chi and is still an active member of the organization’s alumni association. After graduation, Josh attended Nashville School of Law while working full-time for the...

Justin completed his undergraduate education at the University of Mississippi, where he ended up graduating with honors and earning a Bachelor of Science Degree. After undergrad, he decided to further his education at Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where he also graduated with honors and earned his Juris Doctorate. During his career at Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School he received several awards, including: the Criminal Law Best Essay/Book Award Recipient, Civil Procedure Best Essay/Book Award Recipient, Taxation Best Essay/Book Award Recipient, Pre-Trial Skills Book Award Recipient and Trial Skills Book Award Recipient. Each of...

Laura Baker is a shareholder at The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., where she represents clients in personal injury, wrongful death, and tort litigation cases. Laura's reputation and experience have earned her several accolades. Most recently, Laura was awarded the "Rising Star Award" by the Lawyers' Association for Women in 2016. She was also recognized as an Athena Young Professional Award Nominee in 2016. In 2015, Laura was a winner of the Nashville Business Journal's “40 Under 40” award. Laura has been recognized as one of the “Best of the Bar” by the Nashville Business Journal in 2015 and...

Jonaka grew up knowing she wanted a career of service to others. Inspired by that motivation, she loves the satisfaction she hears from clients when her conversation and work has made a difference in their day, especially those who are experiencing a very dark time in their lives. Jonaka White Hall focuses her practice on a variety of types of personal injury cases. Originally from Cromwell, Kentucky, Jonaka earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Western Kentucky University. Following her undergraduate career, Jonaka earned her Juris Doctor from Salmon P. Chase College of Law. Prior to joining...

Joy Day is one of only fourteen female lawyers in the State of Tennessee who is certified as a civil trial specialist by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification and serves as a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator. With more than 150 days of trial to her credit, Joy has significant trial experience in high-exposure, complex cases and is more than comfortable in the courtroom.

Joy has a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating, the highest rating possible, since 2004, and she has been named a Mid-South Super Lawyer every year since 2009. Joy is licensed in state...

After receiving his Juris Doctorate, Daniel began his career in general practice, helping clients in a variety of areas ranging from business and family law to criminal defense and personal injury in circuit courts and the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. During this time, he also served as a Special Assistant to the Corporate Counsel of Walworth County, Wisconsin, and handled Child/Juvenile in Need of Protection or Services, as well as guardianships, protective placements, chapter 51, and zoning matters. In 2012, Daniel was elected to the position of District Attorney in Walworth County, Wisconsin. At the time, he was the youngest...

Scott grew up on a family farm just outside of Sparta, Kentucky. Since 1995, Scott has successfully represented injured clients in matters involving wrongful death, brain injury, dismemberment and disfigurement. Scott has successfully represented injured clients in civil actions against corporate giants such as Ford Motor Company, Firestone Tire, Kubota Tractor and Rifle Coal Company. Scott attended high school in Owen County, Kentucky. Following high school, he pursued his undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky and graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of the Arts in English. In his pursuit to follow his dreams, Scott received...

After earning her Bachelor of Science in Political Science, she went on to earn a Master of Science degree in education and a Master of Science degree in History from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She then went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from Nashville School of Law. Her family’s military background, including her grandfather (a WWII veteran) and father (a Vietnam veteran) instilled in her a sense of duty and started her personal journey. Theresa began her personal journey advocating for her father as he fought for veteran’s benefits while overcoming his war-related injuries. Through this process, she developed...

Matt grew up in Goodlettsville the son of a lawyer and grandson of a school principal who then re-invented herself as a lawyer in retirement, so it was pretty inevitable that Matt would also end up a lawyer. Predictably enough, he also has a younger brother who is ALSO a lawyer. Matt graduated from Tennessee Tech cum laude with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a minor in math. After working as an engineer with a global HVAC company, Matt realized engineering wasn’t his passion. He then went on to graduate magna cum laude from the University of...

After completing a six-year tour of duty as a Navy Corpsman (medic) assigned to a Marine Corps infantry battalion, Jason went to nursing school. He then enjoyed a 12-year career as a Registered Nurse (RN), where he worked in many different areas including emergency departments, intensive care units, renal dialysis centers, and post-anesthesia care units. He finished his nursing career serving as a charge nurse on a spinal cord injury unit. While working in healthcare, Jason witnessed first-hand the many ways in which negligence can lead to serious, sometimes fatal injuries. Unfortunately, the negligence of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers...

Shannon received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, where she majored in business and specialized in communication studies. This specialization in communication studies laid the groundwork for her to effectively advocate on behalf of her clients. After completing her undergraduate degree, Shannon earned a scholarship to attend Florida State University College of Law, a Top 50 law school in the country. There, she furthered her trial advocacy skills as a member of its prestigious mock trial team. All the while, she received recognition for making the Dean’s List. Shannon began her legal career in Central Florida in 2012. Her...

Darrell Douglas was born and raised in LaFollette, Tennessee. He attended the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2010. His Doctor of Jurisprudence was awarded in 2014 from Mississippi College in Jackson, Mississippi. Darrell was licensed to practice law in Tennessee in 2014.

Having grown up in East Tennessee, Darrell knew he wanted to return home to begin practicing law. Darrell’s upbringing gave him a strong desire to assist those who have been injured through no fault of their own; and to help them recover compensation for those injuries.

During his time in practice, Darrell has experience in...

Focused on building practical skills to assist his future career, C.J. spent the majority of his law school career working in litigation. C.J. gained experience as a law clerk working for a prominent family law firm in Memphis. Through this law firm, he was able to learn through court room trials, hearings, and deposition observations. He was also able to work on high profile cases such as one involving the legitimacy of marriages conducted by ministers who were ordained through online churches. On top of being a law clerk, C.J. served as a student attorney at the same time in the...

Tim McLaughlin was born in North Dakota and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. Tim moved to Knoxville, Tennessee in 1989 and graduated from the University of Tennessee Law School in 1992. Tim immediately began working for the Knox County Public Defender's Office where he gained extensive trial experience. Shortly thereafter, Tim chose to work with the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, a nationally recognized plaintiff's law firm at the Knoxville, Tennessee branch office. In 2003, Tim and Mike Nassios established the law firm of Nassios & McLaughlin.

Mr. McLaughlin's practice involves representing people...

Born and raised in Knoxville, Brent graduated from both the Memphis University School and the University of Memphis. He then went on to attend the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in Memphis, where he excelled as a Herff Scholar and served on law review. In 2005, he graduated with honors and began his legal career in Knoxville, specializing in civil insurance defense. Brent later gained experience in Connecticut while working in-house for Chubb insurance before returning to Nashville to continue his insurance defense practice. However, in 2020, Brent and his wife decided to return to their hometown, and he made...

Civil trial attorney in private practice since 1976. Mr. Burkhalter has extensive trial and appellate experience in both State and Federal courts. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

In 2004, Adam decided to return home to Knoxville and joined the firm of Dunn, McDonald, Coleman and Reynolds. While at the firm, the relationship was formed with attorney Greg Coleman that eventually led to his representation of individuals with serious personal injuries at Greg Coleman Law. His trial experience and diverse background of representing clients ranging from fortune 50 companies to the individual car accident victim have served him well in fighting for the rights of injury victims. His primary practice areas include: automobile, trucking and motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice and nursing home neglect claims, products liability/dangerous products...

Andy Peters Davis attended law school in San Diego, California, where he graduated from California Western School of Law and returned back to his hometown to join the law firm. Andy Davis was born in Winchester, Tennessee. His education and work experience took him to all corners of the world before returning to work in Tennessee.

After becoming licensed to practice law in Tennessee, Andy Davis joined the law firm and was thrown into the fire in his first year. Andy Davis demonstrated an acute ability to adapt and learn the local laws and continues to strive in the practice of...