Richard M. Thayer

Richie explains the importance of a common-sense approach to litigation like this:

“Litigation is stressful and costly to our clients - even under the best of circumstances. The last thing the client should be burdened with is an attorney that feels the need to over-complicate and over-analyze the issues - to overwork a matter - whether to satisfy some insecurity, to feed an insatiable ego, or simply to line his pockets. If the client’s best opportunity for a favorable outcome is quick and easy, then that is the result I want to deliver.”

Richie’s common-sense approach has resulted in hundreds of favorable outcomes for clients from all walks of life and a wide variety of industries, including large commercial transportation carriers, owner-operators, national retail chains, developers of technology, small business owners, manufacturers of heavy equipment, healthcare corporations, start-ups, and even a handful of dogs and cats (a/k/a: the local humane society).

Away from the office, Richie enjoys spending time with his wife, Carrie, and their three children, Mary Marshall, Charlie and Sam. He also enjoys attending sporting events, cooking out and coaching youth baseball and basketball.

EDUCATION:

  • Birmingham-Southern College, 1998, B.S.

  • University of Mississippi, 2003, J.D.

ADMISSIONS:

  • Mississippi, 2003

  • Alabama, 2004

  • Georgia, 2019

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama

  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama

  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi

  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia

  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

  • Adjunct Professor of Business Law, University of Montevallo (2016-Present);

  • Alabama Bar Association: Member

  • Mississippi Bar Association: Member

  • Georgia Bar Association: Member

  • International Society of Primerus Law Firms: Member (2009-2022);

  • Primerus Defense Institute: Member; Transportation Defense Practice Group, Executive Committee (2014-2021);

  • American Transportation Association (ATA): Member (2016-2019);

  • Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA): Member (2016-2018);

  • Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA): Member (2013-2016);

  • National MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Society, Alabama-Mississippi Chapter: Leadership Class 2013; Alumni Panel (2014-2015);

  • Primerus Young Lawyers Section, Chairperson (2012-2013);

  • Trinity UMC Child Development Center: Board of Directors (2010-2012);

  • International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC): 2010 IADC Trial Academy, Stanford University;

  • Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (ADLA): 2009 ADLA Trial Academy;

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

  • AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell

  • Selected for inclusion by Mid-South Region Super Lawyers® (2018-2022) - Civil Litigation - Defense;

  • Selected for inclusion by Mid-South Region Super Lawyers® - “Rising Star” (2016) - Civil Litigation - Defense;

  • Selected for inclusion by Alabama Super Lawyers® - “Rising Star” (2014-2015) - Civil Litigation - Defense;

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE:

  • Defends commercial motor carriers in state and federal courts in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi with respect to personal injury claims, property and cargo damage claims, contractual disputes, and claims of negligent and wanton operation.

  • Represents technology developers, including Transportation Network Companies/Rideshare companies in all Alabama courts and in arbitration, defending personal injury claims and enforcing contractual matters.

  • Represents commercial contractors and sub-contractors with respect to breach of contract and defective workmanship claims in the state and federal courts of Alabama and Mississippi, as well as in arbitration.

  • Represents manufacturers of heavy equipment and defends product liability claims, including wrongful death actions and defective design claims.

  • Represents national retailers, restaurants and hospitality corporations, defending premises liability and related claims in all courts of Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

  • Handles a wide variety of contractual and commercial disputes in the state and federal courts of Alabama and Mississippi, as well as in arbitration.

REPORTED DECISIONS:

  • Borum v. Werner Co., et al., 2012 WL2047678 (N.D. Ala 2012)

  • Jones v. Sherrell, 52 So. 3d 527 (Ala. Civ. App. 2010)

  • Jinright v. Werner Enters., Inc., 607 F. Supp. 2d 1274 (Ala. 2009).

  • Ex parte Guar. Pest Control, Inc., 21 So. 3d 1222 (Ala. 2009).

  • Scruggs, Millette, Bozeman & Dent, P.A. v. Merkel & Cocke, P.A., 910 So. 2d 1093 (Miss. 2005).

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS: