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AWARDS AND HONORS

Richard G. Norris, II

Member

Richard G. Norris, II represents insurers and corporate clients in matters regarding commercial and business litigation, insurance coverage and disputes, product liability and manufacturing issues, employment matters, and commercial transportation issues.

Mr. Norris has substantial experience advising employers relating to employee policies, reductions in force, individual terminations, severance, protection of company trade secrets and confidential information and other employee and business related issues. He has prepared, interpreted and enforced company and employee contracts, handbooks, policy manuals, confidentiality and non-compete agreements. Mr. Norris has also defended numerous employers in administrative and judicial proceedings in matters involving claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Pay Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Americans With Disabilities Act, various “Pay-Day” statutes and regulations, as well as claims for breach of contract, allegations of wrongful termination, unfair competition, misappropriation of trade secrets and company data, and breach of confidentiality and non-compete agreements.

Mr. Norris has substantial experience representing large commercial carriers, private fleets and insurers in matters involving a host of commercial transportation issues, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and other Department of Transportation regulations, Compliance Safety Accountability scores, the Mississippi Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulations statutes, and other related statutes and regulations.

Mr. Norris also regularly defends major manufacturers in product liability cases involving power tools, outdoor power equipment, industrial equipment, home electronics and medical devices, recreational and sporting equipment and automotive issues. Mr. Norris’ experience with product liability cases includes dealing with products which have been recalled and/or investigated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Mr. Norris has handled and defended claims and complaints relating to allegations of design and manufacturing defects, failure to warn and/or instruct, insufficient warnings and instructions, and breach of warranty, among others.

Mr. Norris is admitted to practice law in all state and federal courts in State of Mississippi, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. He has been admitted on a pro hac vice basis in numerous additional states and has handled and/or consulted on cases in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, California, Florida and South Carolina. Mr. Norris previously served as an Associate Professor of Business Law at Belhaven University (formerly Belhaven College) in Jackson.

Mr. Norris is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management, Defense Research Institute, Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association, and Mississippi Manufacturing Association.

Mr. Norris holds the highest peer review rating awarded by Martindale Hubbell, an AV Preeminent rating; he has been named one of The Best Lawyers in America each year since 2018 in the areas of Insurance Law and Product Liability Litigation Defense, which is also a peer reviewed honor; he was named a Mid-South Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 and a Mid-South Super Lawyer in 2018 and 2019; he was selected by the American Society of Legal Advocates as a “Top 40 Under 40” litigation lawyer in Mississippi from 2014-2018; he was recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2013 “Top Rated Lawyer”; and he was selected for inclusion in the Mississippi Business Journal’s “Leaders in Law” in 2012, an honor awarded to only 50 attorneys from the state of Mississippi.

Areas of Practice
  • Bad Faith
  • Employment Contracts – Employer
  • Federal Appellate Practice
  • Life & Health
  • Premises Liability
  • Products Liability
  • State Appellate Practice
  • Trade Secrets
  • Trademarks
Litigation Percentage
  • 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
  • Mississippi, 2002
  • U.S. District Court – Northern District of Mississippi, 2002
  • U.S. District Court – Southern District of Mississippi, 2002
  • U.S. District Court – Northern District of Florida, 2008
  • U.S. District Court – Southern District of Indiana, 2009
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 2002
Education
  • Mississippi College School of Law
    • Jackson, Mississippi, J.D., 2002
    • Honors: magna cum laude
    • Dean’s List
    • Charles Clark Inns of Court
    • Honor Court- Prosecutor
    • LSBA Senator
    • American Jurisprudence Award: Property
    • American Jurisprudence Award: Commercial Paper
    • American Jurisprudence Award: Conflicts of Laws
  • Mississippi College
    • Clinton, MS, B.S., 1999
    • Major: Communications
    • Honors: summa cum laude
    • Dean’s List
    • Rhodes Scholarship Nominee
    • National Dean’s List
    • President’s List
    • Presidential Scholar
    • Alpha Chi
Honors and Awards
  • Selected by his peers as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” in 2018 -2025 in the areas of Insurance Law and Product Liability Litigation (Defendants)
  • Peer-Review rated by Martindale-Hubbell as an “AV Preeminent” (Highest rating given)
  • Selected as a Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2010-2017
  • Selected as a Mid-South Super Lawyer 2018- 2023
  • Recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2013 Top Rated Lawyer
  • Selected by American Society of Legal Advocates “Top 40 Under 40” Litigation Lawyer in MS for 2014-present
  • Named Mississippi Business Journal 2011 “Leaders in Law”
Published Works Reported Cases
  • Board of Supervisors of Clarke County, Mississippi v. BTH Quitman Hickory, LLC, 255 So.3d 1261 (Miss. Oct. 18, 2018)
  • The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America v. Pegram, 2017 WL 365646 (N.D. Miss. Jan. 20, 2017)
  • Myers v. Conair Corporation, 2017 WL 4765070 (S.D. Miss. Sept. 26, 2017)
  • Myers v. Conair Corporation, 2016 WL 9943258 (S.D. Miss. Nov. 8, 2016)
  • Hinson v. Techtronic Industries Outlets, Inc., 644 Fed. Appx 371 (5th 2016)
  • Hinson v. Techtronic Industries Outlets, Inc., 126 F.Supp. 3d 747 (W.D. La. 2015)
  • Turnage v. Messersmith Manufacturing, Inc., 2015 WL 197419 (S.D. Miss. Jan. 14, 2015)
  • Team Housing Solutions v. Beverly Vick, 2015 WL 11018001 (S.D. Miss. Jan. 1, 2015)
  • United States v. Dawn Properties, 64 F.Supp. 3d 955 (S.D. Miss. 2014)
  • Dean v. One Life America, Inc., 2013 WL 870352
  • Sharp v. Atwood Mobile Prods., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102598 (S.D. Miss. July 24, 2012)
  • Daniels v. Parker and Associates, Inc., 99 So.3d 797 (Ms.Ct.App. 2012)
  • Palmer v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 2011 WL 284495 (S.D. Miss Jan. 25, 2011)
  • Previto v. Ryobi North America, Inc., 2011 WL 197277 (S.D. Miss. Jan. 19, 2011)
  • Previto v. Ryobi North America, Inc., 2011 WL 135673 (S.D. Miss. Jan. 14, 2011)
  • Previto v. Ryobi North America, Inc., 2011 WL 124254 (S.D. Miss. Jan. 12, 2011)
  • Previto v. Ryobi North America, Inc., 2010 WL 5185055 (S.D. Miss. Dec. 16, 2010)
  • Previto v. Ryobi North America, Inc., 2010 WL 5185070 (S.D. Miss. Dec. 16, 2010)
  • Palmer v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 2010 WL 2773381 (S.D. Miss. July 13, 2010)
  • Stewart v. Prudential Life Ins. Co. of Am., 44 So.3d 953 (Miss. 2010)
  • Allgood v. Met. Life Ins. Co., 534 F. Supp. 2d 591 (S.D. Miss. 2008)
  • Whalen v. Abbott, Simses & Kuchler, 2008 WL 2477480 (S.D. Miss. June 17, 2008)
  • Flaig v. Hi-Line Electric Company, 2007 WL 7708633 (N.D. Tex 2007)
  • Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. v. Stewart, 969 So. 2d 17 (Miss. 2007)
  • Sun Life Ass. Co. of Can. (U.S.) v. Fairley, 485 F. Supp. 2d 731 (S.D. Miss. 2007)
  • McCrory v. Ryobi Tech., Inc., 2007 WL 1140663 (S.D. Miss.Apr. 13, 2007)
  • Landry v. Smith, 2006 WL 2990494 (S.D. Miss.Oct. 19, 2006)
  • Smith v. Am. Gen. Fin. Servs., Inc., 2006 WL 2571346 (N.D. Miss.Sept. 1, 2006)
  • Hutton v. Am. Gen. Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 909 So. 2d 87 (Miss. Ct. App. 2005)
Associations and Memberships
  • The Mississippi Bar, 2000 – Present
  • Madison County Bar Association, 2008 – Present
  • Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association, 2000 – Present
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Mississippi Manufacturers Association
  • Society for Human Resource Management
  • American Bar Association
Seminars
  • Served on the adjunct faculty of Belhaven University (formerly Belhaven College) as an instructor of Business Law
Fraternities / Sororities
  • Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity
Birth Information
  • Jackson, Mississippi
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