Blog

Recently, Congress has passed, and the President has signed, H.R. 2192 the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021. The Bill creates a right to bring an action to recover damages for injuries caused by exposure to toxic water for an individual who resided, worked, or was otherwise exposed to water at Ca...

Chancellor Percy Lynchard rendered his opinion in the Olive Branch Annexation case on April 5, 2021.  Tony Nowak and I represented the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors in opposing the massive annexation sought by Olive Branch.  The Chancellor's opinion found that there was a need for Olive Bran...

Due to the increased concerns regarding the public health risks related to COVID-19 (coronavirus), and recommendations of public health officials, Smith Phillips will temporarily close its offices to public business until further notice. We believe this step is part of our responsibility to our c...

The 2020 census process has begun! Conducted just once every ten years, the census results are incredibly important to communities. First, the census data will determine the Congressional seats for states and the drawing of Congressional boundaries. Second, the census results drive the allocation of federal resources including the funding of many federally funded programs.

Sam Barber recently successfully represented DeSoto County, Mississippi in the Northern District of MS in a federal lawsuit filed by Verizon Wireless. Verizon sued the County under the federal telecommunications act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. 332(c)(7), seeking equitable relief and a declaratory judgment to set aside the Board of Supervisors decision to deny a conditional use application to build a 190 ft telecommunications tower and to issue a mandate allowing Verizon to build the tower in northwestern DeSoto County.

Ryan Revere has been named Chairman of the Business Law Section of the Mississippi Bar for 2019-2020. Revere has previously served as Vice-Chair and Secretary of the Business Law Section in years past. The Business Law Section is made up of attorneys practicing in the areas of corporate and com...

Paul Scott addressed the ALI CLE conference in Nashville on eminent domain about assessing, organizing, and trying inverse condemnation cases. He also spoke about tips for a successful eminent domain practice. It's always fun to share our results on behalf of our clients.

Smith Phillips is proud of Rebecca Thompson, who will be presenting in a workshop on how to start a 501(c)3 EZ.  This workshop, put on in conjunction with The Community Foundation of North Mississippi, is perfect for those who want to learn how to easily start their own nonprofit organization.  T...

Attorney Samuel Barber is excited to give back and participate in an upcoming pro bono clinic in conjunction with the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project and Ole Miss Law's Pro-Bono Initiative.  Sam will provide legal services for free to those in need of divorces, guardianships, name changes, ...

5G is the next standard for wireless services and is currently expected to launch sometime in the year 2020. The 5G technology will provide faster data transmission, and very stable connections, to cell phones, tablets, and other wireless devices. Current demands for data cannot continue to be su...

American Land Title Association Best Practices Certified

We are proud to announce that two of our Hernando attorneys, Tony Nowak and Paul Scott, were selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers of America© 2015 and 2016. The selection process is exhaustive and rigorous. Tony was selected for his work in municipal litigation, while Paul wa...

Smith Phillips attorney Ryan Revere has been named to the Mississippi Business Journals Top 40 Under 40 for 2014.  The Top 40 Under 40 recognizes outstanding Mississippibusiness leaders under 40 who have made significant contributions to Mississippis overall economic progress.  Congratulations ...

The Fresenius products GranuFlo and NaturaLyte have been implicated in a national epidemic of deaths of dialysis patients.  In June of 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) announced a Class I Recall of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte.  According to the FDA, these Fresenius products result in a ...

Corban v. USAA, a unanimous opinion by the Mississippi Supreme Court, clears up a question of tremendous importance to homeowners across the country. The Corban case has been watched by courts and legal scholars throughout the nation. The Mississippi Supreme Court rejected the Fifth Circuit “Eri...

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, in SPMSamp;N class action, Roberts, et al v. First Financial Planners, Inc., et al, 1:05cv38-D-D, N.D. Miss., has certified a class of investors who participated in an Insured Money Management Program (“IMMP”) marketed na...

Smith Phillips nationwide class actions completed include one on behalf of purchasers of health insurance through Group Associations, and another on behalf of holders of interest sensitive life insurance. Golebiowski v. Mega Life, National Association for the Self Employed, et al. sought relief ...

A Harrison County jury in Gulfport, Mississippi, recently returned a verdict in excess of one million dollars for Smith Phillips client, Penny Rodrique, in a Katrina eminent domain case. For more than twenty-five years prior to Hurricane Katrina, Ms. Rodrique operated her business, Mississippi C...

Smith Phillips attorney Richard (Flip) Phillips is serving as Adjunct Professor this year at the University of Mississippi School of Law.  While retaining his position as senior partner at the Smith Phillips Mitchell Scott amp; Nowak, Flip is teaching Class Actions and Multi-District Litigation ...

Smith, Phillips, Mitchell, Scott amp; Nowak, LLP is pleased to announce that Anthony “Tony” Nowak is the recipient of the “Lawyer of the Year” award for Municipal Law in the Memphis metropolitan area.  Tony is the only attorney to receive this award in his area of practice and geographic locatio...

Richard T. (Flip) Phillips is one of only nine plaintiffs lawyers from the States of Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas named as MidSouth Super Lawyer in the field of Class Actions and Mass Tort multi-district litigation.  The enforcement of economic legal rights today is changing rapidly as th...

Paul Scott and Robert Quimby, with Smith, Phillips, Mitchell, Scott amp; Nowak, LLP, obtained a jury verdict against the State of Mississippi. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, our clients used and maintained their sand beach in downtown Bay St. Louis in conjunction with their restaurant. After Katrin...

On March 21, 2014, SPMSamp;N Partner Flip Phillips spoke at the 2014 Insurance Law Symposium presented by the American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel (ACCEC). The national symposium took place at the Robert C. Khayat Law Center on the campus of the University of Mississippi, a...

Smith Phillips Partner Flip Phillips has been appointed to the Board of Regents for the American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel.  The ACCEC is composed of preeminent coverage and extracontractual counsel in the United States and Canada, representing the interests of both insurer...

Energy prices have new pipeline construction increasing throughout the Southeast United States. Three new gas pipelines in Mississippi are in various stages of development, regulatory approval, and/or construction. Ozark Gas Transmission will cross the north part of the State, cutting through pri...