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AWARDS AND HONORS

Matthew I. Hetzel

Member

Matthew Hetzel’s legal practice has been heavily concentrated in the area of civil litigation, with an emphasis on personal injury, business defense and workers’ compensation.  With over twenty-five years of experience, he has pursued, and defended, a wide variety of claims in each of the U.S. District Courts in Mississippi, and before each level of state court in the State of Mississippi. His federal court experience includes cases involving breach of contract, copyright and trademark infringement, employment discrimination and retaliation, and diversity cases involving personal injury.  His state court experience includes cases involving personal injury, breach of contract, intentional business interference, intentional interference with contract, wrongful termination, bad faith denial of insurance coverage, the wrongful cutting of timber, debt collection, as well as Chancery Court cases involving divorce, child custody and support, will contests, guardianships, conservatorships, minor settlements and injunctive relief.  Over the last fourteen years, he has focused his practice almost exclusively in the area of workers’ compensation and is currently representing employers and carriers in workers’ compensation claims with Wells, Marble & Hurst, PLLC.

Areas of Practice
  • Civil Litigation
  • Workers’ Compensation Defense
  • Business Defense
  • Appellate Practice
Litigation Percentage
  • 100%
Bar Admissions
  • Mississippi (1999)
  • Alabama (2010)
  • S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1999
  • S. District Court – Southern District of Mississippi, 1999
  • U.S. District Court – Northern District of Mississippi,1999
Education
  • Mississippi College School of Law Jackson, Mississippi
    J. D., 1999
  • University of South Alabama Mobile, Alabama
    B.A. (Psychology), 1991
Honors and Awards
  • Best Lawyer in America- 2022-2025
Published Works
  • Outdoor Law, Mississippi Woods & Waters Magazine, February 2001 – October 2001
Representative Matters
  • Retained as defense counsel for numerous cases alleging breach of contract and the bad faith handling of industrial life insurance policies
  • Represented an out-of-state construction contractor as defense counsel in litigation involving the alleged breach of a construction contract relating to the construction of a casino on the Mississippi gulf coast
  • Individual Cases
    o Obtained summary judgment in a case alleging racial discrimination by a construction company
    o Obtained a defense verdict in a case involving the alleged bad faith handling of an industrial life insurance policy
Associations and Memberships
  • Former Member: Public Defender Panel, City of Raymond, Mississippi
  • Mississippi Bar Association
  • Alabama State Bar
  • Member of First Baptist Church of Jackson
  • Former 4th Grade RA Leader
  • Former Group Leader for AWANA classes
  • Former 7th Grade Boys Sunday School Teacher
Birth Information
  • 1968 Atmore, Alabama
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