The Cochran Firm
Law Offices serving locations Nationwide
The Cochran Firm Dothan presented the Downtown Dothan Hoops Classic Raising $32,800 for Participating Schools
At the Downtown Dothan Hoops Classic check presentation today, it was announced that proceeds totaling $32,800.00 would be presented to the sixteen participating teams. Each school received $1,025.00 for each game played, which is a substantial increase from the $850 per game that was awarded in 2008!
Dothan High School was crowned champions of the 4th Annual Downtown Dothan Hoops Classic by defeating Northview High School in the championship game. Houston County defeated Headland in the consolation game.
Other teams participating included: Abbeville High School, Ashford High School, Dale County High School, Early County High School, Geneva High School, Houston Academy, Malone High School, Providence Christian School, Rehobeth High School, Samson High School, Slocomb High School, Wicksburg High School.
The 4th Annual Hoops Classic was presented by Hobo Pantry Food Stores, The Cochran Firm and The City of Dothan. Sponsors included WTVY News 4, Flowers Hospital, Blue Deese Construction, SAMC, Knology, Waste Management, Globe Motors, and Screentech.
Attorneys Ibiere Seck and Jamon Hicks with The Cochran Firm Los Angeles have been selected by SuperLawyers magazine for inclusion on the 2010 Southern California Rising Stars list which features outstanding, young attorneys in Southern California. Selection as a Rising Star is based upon peer recognition and professional achievement. Ms. Seck and Mr. Hicks will appear in the July 2010 issue of Los Angeles magazine, Southern California Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition, and on the web at www.superlawyers.com.
Attorney Joseph Barrett, partner with The Cochran Firm Los Angeles was elected to serve on the Executive Board of CAALA (Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles). Currently serving as secretary, Mr. Barrett will fulfill the duties as president of this organization in 2015.
Monica C. Sanchez, Managing Partner, The Cochran Firm -Latino-The Sanchez Firm (Metaine, LA) received the Top Lawyers Under Forty Award from The Hispanic National Bar Association. Given to only five attorneys in the U.S., the HNBA highlights younger HNBA members who have demonstrated professional excellence, integrity, leadership and commitment to the Hispanic community. The HNBA will present the Top Lawyers Under Forty Awards at its upcoming Mid-Year Conference and 15th Annual Uvaldo Herrera National Moot Court Competition Awards Gala that will be held on March 6, 2010 in San Diego, California. For more information please visit www.hnba.com.
On Saturday, January 16th, 2010, the annual Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Basketball Classic Tournament took place. Founded in 2006 by Ernest Baskerville, long time colleague and confidant of Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., the tournament was host to 14 California and 2 Nevada high schools. The all day event at the Los Angles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES) High School generated approximately $2,000 for the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Foundation which was founded to aid brain tumor research. http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1040397
During the 2009 holiday break, the Dothan, Alabama, office of Cochran Cherry Givens Smith Lane & Taylor was the presenting sponsor to two area basketball tournaments. The Downtown Hoops Classic hosted sixteen area high school basketball teams. The Dothan Eagle / Progress Prep Classic tournament highlighted sixteen teams from south Alabama and Georgia. Proceeds from both tournaments were presented to the participating schools. Presented by Cochran Cherry Givens Smith Lane & Taylor, Shooting for Dollars provided halftime entertainment at each game of the tournaments.
Cochran Cherry Givens Smith Lane & Taylor Hosts An Angel Tree Christmas Party For Wiregrass Children and Their Families
The Holiday Season is that magical time of the year when the smiles and excitement of children’s faces looking at beautifully wrapped presents warms everyone’s heart.
On December 15th, The Law Offices of Cochran Cherry Givens Smith Lane & Taylor partnered with The Salvation Army to host an Angel Tree Christmas. The law firm hosted an evening of holiday fun and celebration for children and their families in the Wiregrass community.
The event kicked off at 5:30 p.m. with Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving by vintage fire truck. All of the children attending had the chance to talk with Santa and let him know their Christmas list. In addition to presents of bikes, scooters and toys, the children received a goodie-bag and a souvenir, framed photo of their visit with Santa and his elves.
Chairman of the Angel Tree Christmas, Sharon Cherry said, “Each year, as the children see Santa approaching on the city’s antique fire truck, their laughter and excitement is infectious to everyone attending. You can’t help but smile at their joyful spirit.”
This is the fourth year that Cochran Cherry Givens Smith Lane & Taylor supported the Angel Tree program. This year, the party was held inside the law firm’s offices located at 163 West Main Street in Dothan, Alabama. In addition to the excitement of Santa, gifts, and holiday music, everyone enjoyed hot dogs, soft drinks, cookies, and treats.
“For the past three years, our law firm has supported The Salvation Army during the holiday season. Their organization does so much to help our community throughout the year. With 1500 children in the Angel Tree program this year, The Salvation Army is made sure each one would be touched by our community’s generosity,” stated Sam Cherry, Senior partner of Cochran Cherry Givens Smith Lane & Taylor.
Although The Salvation Army accepts contributions throughout the year, the Angel Tree program was created by The Salvation Army to help children experience the magic of the holiday season. Cochran, Cherry, Givens, Smith, Lane & Taylor purchased bikes, toys and clothing for the Angels of this special evening. These gifts were distributed to the children and their families at the Angle Tree Christmas party.
“The Salvation Army has a saying that says ‘Need knows no season,’” said Jonathan Howell, Lieutenant of Dothan’s Salvation Army. “Each year, this community is so generous with help for our Angels. Being able to see the kids’ faces light up as they sit on Santa’s lap is a feeling that is second to none.”
In addition to the Angel Tree Christmas party, the law firm also placed a large Christmas tree filled with Angels in their lobby, giving the community another location to stop by and choose an Angel for Christmas.
Businesses, organizations, and individuals graciously donated their time, goods and talent for this year’s Angel Tree Christmas. Compass Bank, DSI Security, Mark Broadway Photography, The Image Agency, Screentech, The City of Dothan, Buffalo Rock, 360 Productions, McLane Southeast, and Inside Accents, as well as the numerous volunteers helped make the 2009 Angel Tree Christmas a success for so many children.
THE COCHRAN FIRM ATTORNEYS INCLUDED IN 2009 SUPER LAWYERS LIST
Hezekiah Sistrunk, Managing Attorney with The Cochran Firm Atlanta, Derek Sells, Managing Attorney with The Cochran Firm New York, Paul Marber also with The Cochran Firm New York, and Will Techmeier with The Cochran Firm - Wisconsin have been named to this years Super Lawyers list.
Audrey Tolson with The Cochran Firm Atlanta has been recognized on the Rising Stars list.
MONICA SANCHEZ: HONOREE FOR NEW ORLEANS CITYBUSINESS 2009 WOMEN OF THE YEAR
Monica Sanchez with The Cochran Firm Latino has been chosen as an honoree for CityBusiness 2009 Women of the Year. In its 11th year, the New Orleans CityBusiness Women of the Year award recognizes 50 innovative women whose energy, achievements and a commitment to excellence have set the pace for the future of New Orleans. As an honoree, Monica is nominated for the New Orleans CityBusiness 2009 Woman of the Year award which will be announced in November.
THE COCHRAN FIRM RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION
The Cochran Firm has been selected by The National Law Journal as one of the top plaintiffs’ law firms in the country. As part of The 2008 Plaintiffs’ Hot List, The Cochran Firm is one of 15 firms recognized in the annual survey of the country’s most impressive plaintiffs’ law firms. The National Law Journal is one of the most respected national legal trade periodicals.
Sam Cherry, a Senior Partner with The Cochran Firm, said, “It’s such an honor to once again be recognized in The Plaintiffs’ Hot List. This is a reflection of the accomplishments of our attorneys and their dedication to bringing about change for our clients.”
A survey of the year’s litigation scene, The National Law Journal looked at U.S. firms that did “exemplary, cutting-edge work” for the plaintiffs’ side. To be selected to the Hot List, firms must devote at least half of their resources to plaintiff’s work, have a significant verdict or settlement in the past year, and have established an impressive track record in the past three to five years.
According to The National Law Journal, a significant case means prevailing in a bench or jury trial when the stakes are high or the case can impact the litigation strategy or outcome of similar case in the future. The 2008 Plaintiffs’ Hot List highlighted a number of noteworthy cases of the attorneys of The Cochran Firm including the following:
•Perrine v. E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Co-lead counsel Farrest Taylor, Joe Lane, Keith Givens and Angela Mason. The plaintiffs won a $381 million jury verdict against DuPont for negligence in creating a West Virginia zinc waste site that put neighbors at risk of cancer, heart disease and lead poisoning.This was the fifth largest verdict in the country in 2007 and the largest civil plaintiff verdict in 2007. The attorneys of this case were finalists for Trial Lawyer of the Year (Public Justice Foundation).
•Grant v. 69 W. Washington Mgmt. Co., Counsel James D. Montgomery and James D. Montgomery Jr. The firm won a $9.6 million settlement from a building management company for the estate of an attorney who was among five people killed in an October 2003 high-rise office building fire in Chicago. The plaintiffs sued the building management company for improperly evacuating occupants of the building, failing to inform firefighters of the evacuation plan and ignoring security console signals that the evacuees were trapped.
•Gandy v. Thomas, Counsel Jane Sams, Shean Williams and Kenneth Lester. The Cochran lawyers won a jury verdict of $20.2 million in the death of a 62-year-old teacher killed when a truck driven by a sleep-deprived driver hit his car. The firm argued that the company violated regulations by failing to ask their employees about second jobs that might impede their performance. This is the largest verdict in the history of Clayton County, Georgia and the largest verdict in a wrongful death case with a female and an African American as lead attorneys.
The late Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. founded The Cochran Firm in 1998 with Dothan attorneys Sam Cherry, Keith Givens and Montgomery attorney Jock Smith. Attorneys with The Firm have obtained 11 verdicts exceeding $100 Million. Currently, The Cochran Firm has 27 offices in 16 states with more offices slated to open in 2009.
THE COCHRAN FIRM ATTORNEYS NOMINATED FOR TRIAL LAWYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Four attorneys with the The Cochran Firm’s Dothan office, Cochran Cherry Givens Smith Lane & Taylor, were chosen as finalists for the esteemed 2008 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award presented by the Public Justice Foundation.
Farrest Taylor, Joe Lane, Angela Mason and Keith Givens were nominated for their work as part of the legal team who litigated the environmental class action lawsuit against chemical giant E.I. DuPont.
After nearly four years of litigating Perrine v. DuPont de Nemours and Company, a jury verdict awarded approximately $380 million for a class of 8,000 citizens in and around the town of Spelter, West Virginia. This was the largest verdict for individuals in America in the last year.
The Trial Lawyer of the Year Award is presented annually by the Public Justice Foundation to the trial attorney or attorneys who have made the greatest contribution to the public interest within the past year by trying or settling a precedent-setting case. Finalists and recipients exemplify how trial lawyers use their skills and determination to create a more just society.
An extremely complex environmental lawsuit filed in 2004, a team of 20 attorneys spent more than 30,000 hours on the case over a period of four years. In October 2007, the four-phase trial lasted six weeks with the jury finding DuPont liable for its pollution and “wanton, willful and reckless behavior” when it created a 112-acre waste site, putting residents at risk of disease.
Class members were awarded $135 million for 40 years of medical monitoring, $55 million for soil and residential clean-up, and $196 million in punitive damages.
The legal team of attorneys for the DuPont case was one of three finalists for the award given by the foundation. Twenty cases were nominated this year for issues ranging from fraudulent pricing practices by a major pharmaceutical company to Hurricane Katrina victims’ rights.
Also nominated for their work as part of the legal team for the Perrine v. DuPont de Nemours case were Mike Papantonio, Virginia M. Buchanan, Ned McWilliams and Brian H. Barr of Levin Papantonio Law Firm in Pensacola, Florida and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. of Kennedy & Madonna, LLP in Hurley, New York.
ATTORNEY JOCK SMITH RECEIVES PRESTIGOUS AWARD
Jock Smith, President and Co-Founder of The Cochran Firm, received the prestigious Wiley A. Branton Issues Symposium Award presented by the National Bar Association at the Nineteenth Annual convention earlier this month.
The NBA presents the award annually at its symposium to a person or persons demonstrating or have demonstrated "leadership on the cutting edge of law for civil, social, and economic justice."
Wiley A. Branton handled a number of civil rights cases, and along with Thurgood Marshall, represented the Little Rock Nine during the 1957 school desegregation case in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The NBA established the Wiley A. Branton Issues Symposium as its principle vehicle for gathering lawyers and other citizens from across the country to address national issues advocated by the organization.
Mr. Smith has obtained numerous, record setting verdicts and settlements including an $80 million verdict and a $1.6 billion verdict, the largest verdict in America for the year 2004, as well as the top verdict in the history of the nation by an African American lawyer as lead counsel.
He was inducted into the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and served as the nation's first African American Trial Trustee for the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association. The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory has given Jock an AV rating, the highest achievable rating given to an attorney. Lawdragon named Smith as one of the top litigators in the country in 2006 and 2007.
BYRON PERKINS SELECTED CO-GENERAL COUNSEL TO NFL DIVERSITY TASK FORCE
Byron Perkins, Managing Partner of The Cochran Firm in Birmingham, has been named Co-General Counsel to the Fritz Pollard Alliance (FPA), an influential group of minority sports professionals leading the charge of promoting diversity, equality and opportunity in the coaching, front office and scouting staffs of the National Football League (NFL).
The FPA was created in the wake of a groundbreaking 2002 report authored by The Cochran Firm's founder, the late legendary trial attorney Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., and coauthored by noted civil rights attorney Cyrus Mehri. The report illustrated that despite being more successful than their white counterparts, black coaches were not considered for the vast majority of head coaching positions. The report has been a catalyst for change and directly contributed to the creation of the Rooney Rule, which requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for open head coaching positions.
Perkins is nationally recognized in his representation of clients in landmark racial and gender discrimination cases as well as personal injury litigation. In 2001, he served as co-counsel in one of the nation's most significant racial discrimination class actions that resulted in a $192 million settlement against The Coca-Cola Company. Perkins also obtained a major settlement on behalf of client Kenney Edwards against the John Deere Company in 2004. He also represented FOX Television's American Idol winner Ruben Studdard in his lawsuit against 205Flava for misappropriation of his image in 2003.
THE COCHRAN FIRM ATTORNEY JOCK SMITH JOINS PRESTIGIOUS CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION
Jock Smith, senior, managing partner with The Cochran Firm, has been inducted into the President's Advisory Council of the National Wildlife Federation. Jock is the first African American, as well as the first Alabamian to be installed to this position.
The President's Advisory Council is a group of community and business leaders from around the country who contribute their time and resources to the conservation issues tackled by the National Wildlife Federation. Council members are a resource of advice on the Federation's environmental initiatives including connecting people with nature, seeking solutions to global warming, and protecting wildlife habitat.
Members of the Council are charged with the role of ambassador for conservation in their communities and in their own circle of friends and associates. The objective of the President's Advisory Council is to develop a strong network of advocates and supporters to help the National Wildlife Federation fulfill its mission of inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.
THE COCHRAN FIRM-LOS ANGELES PARTNER NAMED TO "TOP 20 UNDER 40" LIST BY DAILY JOURNAL
Brian T. Dunn, 37, was selected by the Daily Journal as one of California's top 20 lawyers under the age of 40. With over 50,000 attorneys under the age of 40, the Daily Journal, a legal publication serving northern and southern California, selected these leaders for having an impact on the global legal landscape.
Brian's work has included numerous civil rights, wrongful death and police brutality cases. Not only has he obtained remarkable verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, Brian said the tragic circumstances of these cases and injustices in general compel him to seek larger procedural and policy changes.
Recently, Brian has worked on the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2006 with Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley. The proposed initiative would mandate 25 years-to-life sentences be imposed after a third offense only if that offense falls under specified exceptions or is a serious or violent felony.
ROBERT T. EGLET RECEIVES 2004 BADGER AWARD
The Cochran Firm is proud to announce that Robert T. Eglet, partner in the Las Vegas office, has been awarded the 2004 Badger Award by the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association. The Badger Award is given to the NTLA member who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and has worked to promote the cause of the association and to further its goals and ideals. Robert Eglet has served on the NTLA Board of Governors for the past two years and has continued to help protect the trial lawyers' ideals and profession.
The prestigious Badger Award was started in 1987 in honor of Ray Badger, an advocate in the Nevada Legislature for victims of workplace injuries. His pursuit of justice for these victims was unpaid and went virtually unrecognized. The NTLA wanted to recognize Ray's years of tireless effort by creating the Badger Award.
The Badger Award is NTLA's most honored award and we congratulate Robert Eglet as the 2004 recipient.
