Beasley Allen is proud to announce the promotion of six of its attorneys to principal.

Tyner Helms

Tyner joined Beasley Allen Law Firm in October 2017. He works in the firm’s Fraud Section, primarily handling whistleblower lawsuits, class action lawsuits, and business litigation.

Tyner was named by The National Trial Lawyers to the Alabama Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers List, an honor given to only a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in the field. He was also selected to the Mid-South Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list in 2022 and 2023.

Sydney Everett

Sydney works in Beasley Allen’s Mass Torts Section, where she previously worked as a law clerk. She focuses on litigation involving JUUL and social media.  

Sydney serves on the executive committee of the Young Lawyers Section of the Birmingham Bar Association and the Future Leaders Forum and is a member of the Alabama Association of Justice. 

Before joining Beasley Allen, Sydney worked throughout law school for a Vestavia Hills, Alabama law firm, practicing primarily corporate law and estate planning.

Benjamin Keen

Ben works in Beasley Allen’s Personal Injury Section. Based in the firm’s Atlanta office, he handles catastrophic injury cases, including tractor-trailer accidents. 

Ben says he approaches cases analytically to ensure not only effective representation but also impactful results. He has recovered millions for his clients and prides himself on developing and understanding a clients’ needs. 

Notable case results include $1,150,000 in an action against a rideshare entity in which liability for a wreck was disputed, $700,000 in a trucking settlement involving a plaintiff with $24,000 in medical bills, and numerous six-figure and policy limit results.

Jessica Haynes

Jessica “Jessi” Haynes joined Beasley Allen’s Consumer Fraud Section in 2021. She is part of our team that handles qui tam litigation cases under the False Claims Act and employment law cases. Jessi also plays a vital role in the Blue Cross Blue Shield multidistrict litigation. 

Her expertise lies in conducting case investigations from individuals and other attorneys. Through her investigations, Jessi has gained valuable insights into the many aspects of business and employment practices in Alabama and throughout the United States. She has had the privilege of researching intricate pieces of law, which have helped her become proficient in her field. 

Jessi was part of the trial team that secured a $4.6 million damage award under the False Claims Act against the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority. The court found that BJCTA made false claims to federal transportation officials.

Clinton Richardson

Clinton joined Beasley Allen in 2021. He works in the firm’s Mass Torts Section, handling cases involving the social media and the JUUL litigations, as well as assisting with investigating the viability of other prospective actions.

Before joining Beasley Allen, Clinton worked for other law firms, litigating matters in the areas of employment discrimination, federal criminal defense, and 42 USC § 1983 litigation. 

Clinton received the Alabama State Bar’s President’s Award in June 2022 for his work on “Implicit Bias and its Impact on the American Criminal Justice System.” He was a finalist for the 2014 Montgomery Volunteer Lawyers Program Lawyer of the Year Award and was named to the Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in 2017, 2018 and 2023.

Leslie LaMacchia

Leslie works in Beasley Allen’s Toxic Torts Section. She handles Camp Lejeune-related claims and paraquat cases. Leslie is on the Plaintiff’s Executive Committee in the Paraquat Multi-District Litigation (MDL) and has gained valuable experience while working on bellwether cases for trial in both the MDL and Judicial Council Coordinated Proceedings (JCCP) for In Re: Paraquat Litigation. 

Leslie joined our firm in 2022 after spending 17 years working for other top plaintiff mass tort law firms, where she handled pharmaceutical and product liability cases.  Leslie has also held court-appointed leadership positions in other mass tort MDLs and has attained multimillion-dollar settlements for thousands of injured plaintiffs in approximately a dozen MDLs.

“Being promoted to principal is a significant milestone in a lawyer’s career. It’s a testament to their hard work, dedication, and expertise in their field,” said Beasley Allen Managing Attorney Tom Methvin. “The firm is proud to have them on board.”

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Motor Vehicle Settlement

$6.7 Million Settlement in Alabama Motor Vehicle Case

For more than 40 years, the Beasley Allen Law Firm has been committed to “helping those who need it most.”  

Our attorneys are highly experienced in handling complex cases in courtrooms throughout the United States. In some situations, specific details are too intimate to disclose. 

We never stop working to bring our clients the justice they rightfully deserve. We can work for you too. Contact us for a free case evaluation. You pay us nothing if we do not win for you. 

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We are thrilled to announce that Leon Hampton has been awarded the prestigious Chad Stewart Award for 2023.

Leon is a highly skilled lawyer who devotes his life to God, family and the firm. His strong love for God drives him to continually find ways to serve others. Leon’s many years of successful trial work, his unwavering commitment to his family, and his active involvement in his church as pastor make him a truly exceptional nominee for this award.

From his days in college serving in ministry to his work with Mercy House, Mentors of Montgomery, and as a cherished pastor at First Baptist Church of Greater Washington Park (First Church). Leon truly epitomizes what it means to be a Godly man. His incredible talent and unwavering dedication to law have made him a respected and admired figure within the legal community.

The Chad Stewart Award is named after Beasley Allen lawyer Chad Stewart, who passed away unexpectedly in 2014 at 41. The award honors Chad’s spirit of service to God, his family, and law practice. Beasley Allen presents the award each year to a lawyer within the firm who best exemplifies the qualities Chad demonstrated in his life and law practice.

We congratulate Leon on this achievement and eagerly anticipate all the incredible successes he will continue to achieve in the years to come. We are privileged to have him as part of our team here at Beasley Allen. 

Congratulations, Leon!

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Super Lawyers has recognized 27 attorneys from the Beasley Allen Law Firm for their outstanding achievements and peer recognition for the 2023 Midsouth Region.

The law firm’s founder, Jere L. Beasley, and 12 other attorneys have been selected for the 2023 Super Lawyers list. 

Beasley Allen’s 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers also include:

• Greg Allen
• Ben Baker
• Andy Birchfield
• LaBarron Boone **
• Lance Gould **
• Rhon Jones
• Ben Locklar
• Dee Miles
• Mary Leah Miller
• Leigh O’Dell
• Cole Portis
• Frank Woodson

**New to the list

In addition, 14 attorneys were included on the Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list, which recognizes the top up-and-coming attorneys 40 years old or younger who have been practicing for 10 years or less. 

Beasley Allen’s 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars are:

• Evan Allen **
• Ryan Beattie
• Tiffany Birley
• Paul Evans
• Leon Hampton
• Ali Hawthorne
• Tyner Helms
• Warner Hornsby
• Gavin King
• Aigner Kolom
• Ryan Kral
• Stephanie Monplaisir 
• Clint Richardson
• William Sutton

**New to the list

The Super Lawyers lists are published in Super Lawyers Magazines, a Thomson Reuters business, and leading city and regional magazines across the country. The Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information, go to superlawyers.com.

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Wrongful Death Trucking Case

$15 Million Settlement in Alabama Wrongful Death Trucking Case

For more than 40 years, the Beasley Allen Law Firm has been committed to “helping those who need it most.”  

Our attorneys are highly experienced in handling complex cases in courtrooms throughout the United States. In some situations, specific details are too intimate to disclose. 

We never stop working to bring our clients the justice they rightfully deserve. We can work for you too. Contact us for a free case evaluation. You pay us nothing if we do not win for you. 

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Mass Tort Leaders Birchfield and Papantonio Spearhead Legal Initiative to Safeguard Plaintiffs’ Rights and Accountability

PENSACOLA, Florida- Seasoned trial attorneys Andy Birchfield from the Beasley Allen Law Firm and Mike Papantonio from Levin Papantonio Rafferty (LPR) have taken the lead in a strategic initiative to counter Johnson & Johnson’s third attempt at bankruptcy in talc litigation and support future trials. This pivotal move to protect plaintiffs’ rights and hold J&J accountable for alleged harm caused by the company’s talc products. Mr.Birchfield and Beasley Allen have long been at the forefront of this critical battle.

Leaders in the mass tort law field, the two firms have collaborated to equip 60 experienced trial attorneys from across the United States with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively coordinate the multiple trials slated to occur in multiple jurisdictions throughout 2024 and beyond. There are at least 18 talc-ovarian cancer trials scheduled in state courts across the nation for the upcoming year, involving plaintiffs who claim J&J’s talc products contributed to their ovarian cancer.

According to Mr. Birchfield, J&J’s bankruptcy strategy is a deliberate effort to obstruct justice in talc-cancer lawsuits and potentially shortchange plaintiffs. “Bankruptcy is too powerful a tool to be used responsibly by corporate giants like Johnson & Johnson,” he says. “We must be in a place where we can stand up as a Plaintiffs’ bar on behalf of our clients against J&J’s sinister tactics like bankruptcy. That’s what this bootcamp is all about. Equipping lawyers to do right by their clients by standing and banding together.”

Mr. Birchfield and Mr. Papantonio share a steadfast commitment to a central idea—unifying attorneys representing cancer victims to combat J&J’s tactics and secure just compensation within the tort system. They also extended specific praise to Leigh O’Dell, Michelle Parfitt, and the leadership team handling multidistrict litigation for the ovarian cancer claims for their unwavering dedication to advancing the talc litigation despite years of delay.

“Johnson & Johnson has its strategy, and we have ours, too,” says Mr. Papantonio “We’re building a massive team— of seasoned, trained trial lawyers, schooled on J&J’s disastrous history, in courtrooms anywhere in America.” 

Mr. Birchfield emphasized the immense power of bankruptcy when wielded by corporate giants like J&J, calling for the legal community to stand up on behalf of their clients and confront such tactics.

The talc litigation boot camp is taking place this week, November 6 through Wednesday, November 8, at the law offices of Levin Papantonio Rafferty in Pensacola, Florida. Faculty includes top-flight litigators and lawyers with deep, comprehensive understanding of talc-ovarian cancer tort claims and the J&J MDL (MDL 2738, IN RE: Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation).  

The Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm has been representing injured people across the globe since 1955. The firm has gained national recognition as one of the most successful personal injury firms in the world and has been featured on CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox, as well as Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time Magazine, Forbes, and National Law Journal.

Beasley Allen Law Firm, established in 1979, stands as a national leader in complex plaintiff litigation, working tirelessly to assist clients nationwide. Their attorneys are driven by the ethos of “helping those who need it most.”

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A California state judge ruled Friday that negligence and fraud claims on behalf of adolescents and parents can proceed against social media companies Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

This first-of-its-kind litigation seeks to hold these tech giants responsible for the physical harm youth face because of social media addiction. These cases allege that the platforms are all driven by features meant to maximize profits by manipulating and addicting kids and adolescents to social media.

In her 89-page order, Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl of the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County, allowed the plaintiffs’ negligence claim to proceed saying, “Plaintiffs here allege that the effect of defendants’ algorithms and operational features on plaintiffs’ frequency and intensity of use of the social media site was not only foreseeable but was in fact intended. And plaintiffs allege that defendants were on notice through their own research and independent medical studies that this intended frequency and intensity of use of defendants’ platforms risked adverse health effects for the minor users.”

Plaintiffs seek compensation for the alleged harmful health effects of their addiction to these platforms, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, eating disorders, self-harm, and suicide. The Court found that “It is sufficiently certain, based on the allegations of the master complaint, that plaintiffs suffered injury.” The Court also allowed the plaintiffs’ claims that the Meta defendants fraudulently concealed the health harms of its Facebook and Instagram platforms to move forward.

Beasley Allen attorney Joseph VanZandt serves as co-lead counsel over California consolidated cases against social media companies and on the Plaintiff Steering Committee for the federal multidistrict litigation. Beasley Allen lawyers served in major roles to help draft plaintiffs’ complaint and oppose defendants’ dismissal efforts.

“Beasley Allen is pleased with the Court’s decision and the opportunity to obtain justice for the thousands of injured children and parents we represent,” VanZandt said. “This decision is a key step forward into holding these companies accountable for the damage they have caused to youth. We look forward to continuing our advocacy on behalf of our clients.”

Beasley Allen began filing social media personal injury lawsuits nationwide in 2022 for adolescents harmed by social media addiction. Additionally, our firm represents numerous school districts across the country in claims of nuisance and negligence resulting from social media’s harmful impact on education systems.

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The Department of the Navy has released (and modified) a public guidance document explaining the voluntary settlement framework, called the “Elective Option” or “EO.”

According to the document, claimants can resolve certain Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) claims more quickly and efficiently than in litigation. The document suggests that “litigation might otherwise require resolution of uncertain legal and factual issues through potentially burdensome discovery, motions practice, and bellwether trials.”

But, simply put, the document is potentially at odds with the CLJA as to what is required to prove a claim and to be compensated. Additionally, the document attempts to compensate a very small portion of all claimants at a reduced value compared to what they could recover in trial or by settlement. Claimants must have been at Camp LeJeune for specified periods of time far beyond what the CLJA requires, and it imposes latency periods and limits compensation to one illness only.

These are just a few of the concerns with the EO.

Our goal remains to fight for maximum compensation for our clients and for all service members and their families who are making claims under the CLJA, and for that to happen as quickly as practical. We do not believe the EO is the proper course for the vast majority of CLJA claimants.

If you’re an attorney with a Camp Lejeune case, let us help you and your clients. We can competently and conscientiously assist you in handling any group of cases, no matter how large.

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Litigation is proceeding in federal court in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) and California state court in the Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding (JCCP) against social media platforms Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

The suits claim that children and teenagers experience negative effects such as eating disorders, depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and even suicide due to their addiction to social media. This behavioral addiction is much like substance addiction; it involves cravings, tolerance, withdrawal and relapse.

Beasley Allen attorney Joseph VanZandt serves in leadership on the Plaintiff Steering Committee for the MDL and is co-lead counsel of the JCCP.

In October 2021, whistleblower Frances Haugen testified before Congress and shared documents that revealed Meta’s awareness that children and adolescents were addicted to their social media products. Moreover, they knew about the resulting harm and increased attempts to keep them on the platforms for longer durations and to prompt them to view the platforms more frequently.

A study recently featured in JAMA Pediatrics, a monthly medical journal, examined the frequency of social media usage among sixth and seventh-grade students. The study also used brain imaging to determine if there was a link between social media use and functional brain development.

According to researchers, children who frequently checked social media exhibited notable differences in brain development compared to those who refrained from doing so.

Researchers also found that with excessive social media use, adolescents experience a decreased sensitivity to social reward over time, requiring additional and more frequent stimuli for emotional satisfaction. The U.S. Surgeon General recently issued an advisory about the “growing concerns about the effects of social media on youth mental health.”

Demurrers to dismiss the case were argued in the JCCP over two days, starting September 13, and were presided over by JCCP Judge Carolyn Kuhl in the Los Angeles Superior Court. The Demurrer highlighted the vulnerability of the developing brain and the design effects of social media platforms that create a profound risk of addiction and harm to children and adolescents’ mental health and overall well-being.

Plaintiffs’ lawyers are optimistic that the court will reject the Defendants’ motions and let the case enter the discovery phase. In the MDL, a hearing on motions to dismiss is scheduled for October 27 in front of Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.

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