Jeffrey W. Melcher

Deeply experienced commercial and business litigator in areas including Contract and Business Disputes, Health Care, Insurance, Real Estate, Transportation, Labor, and Employment. Acts as regional and national counsel for various businesses, and defense and coverage counsel for numerous transportation, liability, casualty defense, EPLI, and D&O and E&O carriers. He has successfully litigated numerous matters of all kinds nationwide.

Jeff's experience further includes representing clients in the medical and allied health care, trucking and transportation fields, insurance and bad faith claims, toxic tort and product liability matters, and a full array of real estate litigation. He has successfully handled numerous business disputes and comprehensive general liability, premises liability, and casualty defense claims.

Jeff also has substantial experience with professional malpractice defense, including claims against physicians, nurses, dentists, and other medical providers; hospitals and other treatment centers, and attorneys, accountants, architects, and surveyors.

Jeff also regularly defends employers in employment law litigation such as employment discrimination claims, restrictive covenant litigation, and employment contract litigation. He also has extensive and successful appellate experience.

Education & Credentials

Education

Vanderbilt University

B.A., 1985
  • With Honors

Wake Forest University School of Law

J.D., 1988
  • Moot Court Board

Bar Admission

  • Alabama
  • Georgia
  • North Carolina
  • Tennessee

Prominent Assignments

• Obtained summary judgment in favor of plaintiff manufacturer in multimillion-dollar federal suit for property damages, business interruption, and lost profits.
• Successfully defended and resolved a half-billion-dollar D&O action against a nationally renowned architectural firm, with zero personal contribution.
• Obtained dismissal of D&O action against an officer of national restaurant chain.
• Obtained summary judgment in major commercial licensing dispute.
• Obtained summary judgment and attorney fees against major TV personalities in defense of a bad faith/fraud claim.
• Obtained numerous dismissals in transportation, employment, premises and medical negligence cases.
• Obtained summary judgment in a D&O action against the U.S. officers of a major international residential/commercial product supply company.
• Recent seven-figure trial verdict against a Southeastern U.S. state in commercial collection/business tort dispute.

Professional Involvement

• Atlanta Bar Association
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• American Bar Association
• DRI (Defense Research Institute)
• DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar Lawyers Club of Atlanta
• Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)
• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
• International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
• Atlanta Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program
• Professional Legal Underwriting Society (PLUS)

Court Admissions

• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
• U.S. Supreme Court
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