Practice Areas

 

Insurance Defense Litigation

Our lawyers are experienced in handling a wide range of insurance law matters. We serve as counsel to major national and international insurance companies, and provide timely and succinct coverage opinions to primary and excess insurance companies and, when necessary, we pursue declaratory judgment actions in state and federal courts. We provide representation in simple and complex matters, including issues arising out of insurance coverage, premises liability, trucking and automobile accidents, products liability, assault and battery, first party claims, excess coverage, reinsurance and insolvency issues, and bad faith claims. We offer our clients services in all aspects of insurance law, including litigation, mediation, and arbitration.

Construction Litigation

Our firm has several lawyers with engineering degrees who offer invaluable technical and practical insight into complex construction litigation. Trey Ireland has a degree in Civil Engineering, Larry Harper has a degree in Electrical Engineering, and Mike Lunsford has a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. The firm’s insurance defense background coupled with expertise in the nuances of applicable Alabama law affords our clients a comprehensive defense to claims, from simple to complex. We frequently defend owners, prime contractors and subcontractors providing advice and guidance, and defending of claims and disputes. Our experience and practice involves a wide variety of commercial and industrial projects.

Product Liability Defense

The lawyers of Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow & Ireland, P.A. have years of experience representing corporations which have been sued as a result of claimed injuries or death cause by a product that was alleged to have been designed, manufactured, sold, and/or furnished in a defective manner. Product designers, manufacturers, retailers and their insurers face an increasingly difficult challenge as engineering and technological advances collide with tort liability law. Our products liability lawyers have technical expertise and experience in products liability litigation necessary to deal with these challenges. Clients include both domestic and foreign corporations, as well as designers, manufacturers and suppliers of diverse products and engineering services.

Banking Law

Several of our lawyers have developed the skill and experience to handle the most complex banking issues. With an emphasis on smaller banks, we can provide legal assistance in matters ranging from contract review to foreclosure and collections. We work with numerous banks on legal issues which encompass almost every issue faced in today’s banking environment.

Insurance Coverage

Our lawyers have extensive experience in insurance coverage matters, including first-party claims, third-party liability matters, and extra-contractual issues. As part of our insurance coverage practice, we are proud to provide our clients with a full range of services, including providing coverage advice, representing them in coverage litigation, and employing alternative dispute resolution procedures. In addition, we routinely assist clients in appraisal matters, examinations under oath, and providing advice in the investigation of claims. The following are representative types of coverage with which we are able to assist our clients:

Appellate Practice

Our lawyers are skilled at handling all aspects of the appellate process with experience as varied as the firm’s broad litigation practice. Our firm consistently handles appellate matters before state and federal courts as well as post-trial motions. The firm specializes in conducting the legal research necessary to prepare a well-reasoned brief that clearly and concisely advocates for our client.

Motor Vehicle Litigation / Trucking Litigation

The lawyers of Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow & Ireland, P.A. are very experienced with litigation involving all types of motor vehicle accidents. Our practice includes litigating simple motor vehicle accidents to complex accidents involving commercial tractors and trucks. We are familiar with all aspects of Alabama law governing such accidents as well as the specific laws relating to trucking companies such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the Carmack Amendment.

Class Action Defense

Our experienced litigators have been involved in numerous class action litigation matters and are comfortable with every facet of class action proceedings—from removal under the Class Action Fairness Act, to motions to dismiss, class certification proceedings, discovery, trial, settlement, and appeal.

Legal Malpractice Defense

Our firm has regularly defends a variety of professional malpractice claims in all state and federal courts in Alabama. Our professional clients include lawyers and law firms of every size and every field of practice. Our approach involves contact communication and consultation with the legal services through each phase of litigation from discovery to trial to appeal. We also consult with legal services providers to determine whether professional malpractice has occurred and provide guidance if a complaint is filed with the Alabama State Bar.

Medical Malpractice Defense

The lawyers of Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow & Ireland, P.A. are experienced in medical professional malpractice law and can help clients determine if professional malpractice has occurred. Our professional clients include hospitals, physicians, nurses, dentists, chiropractors, veterinarians and other health care providers. Our basic approach involves the health care provider in all stages of the litigation process, beginning with an initial case review and continuing through discovery, trial preparation, and the appeals process.

Premises Liability Litigation

The lawyers of Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow & Ireland, P.A. have litigated numerous claims arising from injuries that occurred on individual as well as business premises. We are very familiar with all the nuances of Alabama law as it relates to Premises Liability cases. We also have the experience to make sure all the medical aspects of Premises Liability cases are explored to give our clients the best opportunity to prevail in the litigation.

Correctional Healthcare Defense

The experience of the lawyers at Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow & Ireland in the areas of professional and medical malpractice defense providers our correctional healthcare clients with a unique advantage. This experience is utilized to assist specialized healthcare providers, such as those who provide medical, nursing, and dental services to inmates in jails and in prison. The defense of these actions requires not only an expertise in the defense of medical malpractice actions but also a comprehensive knowledge of the federal court system and the Federal Prison Reform Litigation Act.

Workers' Compensation

The lawyers of Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow & Ireland, P.A. represent employers, insurance, and third-party administrators in workers’ compensation claims throughout the state of Alabama. Our practice includes the defense of workers’ compensation claims throughout the state of Alabama at trial, mediation, and at the appellate level.

Wrongful Death

The litigation process can cause feelings of uncertainty for businesses, regardless of size or sector. This uncertainty can be compounded if the litigation involves a claim for wrongful death. Our lawyers are familiar with Alabama’s unique statutory provisions that govern a claim predicated on wrongful death. The firm is adept at navigating the difficult and sensitive issues involved in a wrongful death case, regardless of the nature of the claim involved.

Mediation and Arbitration

Several of our lawyers have been through numerous hours of alternative dispute resolution training and as such are certified to serve in most civil and appellate situations. This training, along with our years of courtroom experience, make the mediators of Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow & Ireland, P.A. an excellent choice for cost effective, efficient mediation.

Landlord-Tenant Litigation

The firm has handled various residential landlord-tenant disputes, representing both landlords and tenants in disputes related to constructive evictions, recovery of security deposits, unlawful detainers, and other actions under Alabama’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. Our lawyers are capable of recognizing unscrupulous behaviors of both landlords and tenants and can ensure that your rights are protected. In order to avoid future litigation, the firm also provides services such as drafting, negotiating and reviewing leases to make sure both tenants and landlords operate within the confines of the law. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Transactional Practice

Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow & Ireland, P.A. has also developed a transactional practice. Clients can comfortably rely on our experience and knowledge to successfully guide them through a myriad of commercial transactions, including drafting and reviewing lease agreements, contract negotiations and drafting, drafting vendor management agreements, non-disclosure and non-compete agreements, for-profit and non-profit corporation, LLP, and LLC organization and more. Regardless of the type of legal issue presented, we efficiently and effectively work to ensure that your interests are protected and put you in the most advantageous position as possible.

Trucking Litigation

The lawyers of Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow & Ireland, P.A. are very experienced with litigation involving all types of motor vehicle accidents. Our practice includes litigating simple motor vehicle accidents to complex accidents involving commercial tractors and trucks. We are familiar with all aspects of Alabama law governing such accidents as well as the specific laws relating to trucking companies such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the Carmack Amendment.

Other Specific Types of Representation Include: