205.871.4144
Richard A. Freese
Founding Partner
205.871.4104
Courtroom Success – Notable Cases
In February 2016, Mr. Freese represented Sharon Carlino and her husband against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon in Pennsylvania state court, winning a $13.5 million jury award for injuries she suffered from J&J’s TVT pelvic mesh product for stress urinary incontinence.
In March 2015, Mr. Freese represented Coleen Perry against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon in California state court, winning a $5.7 million jury award for injuries she suffered from J&J’s TVT-Abbrevo pelvic mesh product for stress urinary incontinence.
In March 2014, Mr. Freese represented Linda Batiste against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon in Texas state court, winning a $1.2 million jury award for injuries she suffered from J&J’s TVT-O pelvic mesh product for stress urinary incontinence.
Mr. Freese previously obtained a $19 million verdict against Chevron/Texaco for catastrophic birth injuries caused by the plaintiffs’ mothers’ exposure to lead, benzene, and toulene while pregnant. Mr. Freese also obtained a multi-million dollar verdict against a doctor for negligently causing the death of a patient by prescribing an overdose of the painkiller Dilaudid.®
In late 2010, Mr. Freese concluded a substantial confidential settlement on behalf of several thousand clients who were exposed to PCB (Polychlorinated Bi Phenyls) from a transformer manufacturing plant in Mississippi.
In July 2001, Mr. Freese represented 23 plaintiffs in the Carolyn Baker, et al case against Washington Mutual Finance Group, winning a jury verdict of $71,265,000.00 for damages resulting from abusive lending practices.
Bio & Experience
Biography
Born in Chicago, IL, Mr. Freese is a graduate of Auburn University (B.A. 1982). Mr. Freese graduated from Cumberland School of Law (J.D. 1985), where he served as the Articles Editor of the Cumberland Law Review (1984-1985). Mr. Freese is licensed to practice in Alabama (1985) and Mississippi (2000). He is admitted to the following courts: Alabama Supreme Court; Mississippi Supreme Court; United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth, Seventh, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits; United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Alabama and the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi.
Experience
Mr. Freese has 34 years of courtroom experience as a trial lawyer. Mr. Freese represents clients in several cases each year that result in multi-million-dollar jury verdicts and settlements. His practice takes him throughout the United States. Mr. Freese regularly practices in multiple state and federal courts. Mr. Freese has always focused his practice on catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and mass tort litigation. Mr. Freese has for two decades handled complex medical device and pharmaceutical litigation.
He currently focuses on product liability, mass torts, pharmaceutical litigation, environmental litigation, consumer and commercial fraud, and class actions. In the past, Mr. Freese has obtained many multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements in medical, commercial, environmental, and personal injury cases.
Educatioin & Distinctions
Educatioin
Auburn University, B.A.
Cumberland School of Law, J.D.
Distinctions
AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, since 1998
Admissions
Alabama Association of Justice
Alabama State Bar
Alabama Supreme Court
American Association for Justice
American Bar Association
Birmingham Bar Association
Mississippi Association for Justice
Mississippi State Bar
Mississippi Supreme Court
Practice Areas & Awards
Practice Areas
Wrongful Death
Dangerous Drugs
Consumer Fraud
Commercial Fraud
Products Liability
Toxic Torts
Premises Liability
Personal Injury
Legal Awards & Distinctions
Mr. Freese enjoys the 21st anniversary of his AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, which signifies the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards. This rating is achieved based on reviews submitted by his peers in the legal community.
Mr. Freese is a frequent speaker at CLE conferences. He has been an invited panelist at the Practicing Law Institute to lecture on predatory lending practices and consumer fraud. He has also lectured to the Alabama State Bar regarding environmental litigation and the Mississippi State Bar on medical malpractice and tort reform.
