Source: https://www.brunini.com/lawyers/matt-allen/
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 07:03:59+00:00

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Matt Allen has successfully litigated civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts in Mississippi and other states around the nation. He has represented clients through trials and appeals in matters related to commercial litigation, product liability litigation, mass torts, alleged white collar crime, the redistricting of the Mississippi legislature and the Voting Rights Act, public records issues, First Amendment litigation, and commercial tax assessment contests.
Matt has received numerous recognitions for excellence in the practice of law in multiple practice areas from organizations such as Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, Benchmark Litigation, The Mississippi Business Journal, the American Society of Legal Advocates, and Portico Magazine.
In November of 2018, Matt advanced to a runoff as a candidate for Hinds County Circuit Court Judge, garnering 46.30% of the vote as a first-time political candidate against a long-time state legislator. He is passionate about criminal justice reform and is studying towards a PhD in Criminal Justice. He clerked for the Honorable William H. Barbour Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi from 2004 to 2005.
Matt is an avid runner and has run in numerous marathons and half-marathons in destinations around the country and even in Canada. He and his wife, Megan, are members of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral and are proud parents of a daughter, Hartley, and son, Thatcher.
Service in the past on numerous boards of directors: Jackson Rotary Club, New Stage Theatre, Greater Jackson Arts Council, Capital Club, Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar, Mississippi State University Central Mississippi Alumni Association, and I.S. Sanders (Farish Street) YMCA. Similarly, past Chair of the Torts, Trials, & Insurance Committee of the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association.
Obtained a ruling from the Supreme Court of Mississippi reversing and remanding the trial court’s denial of CSpire’s (f/k/a Cellular South) petition to revoke a protective order, which had prevented disclosure of AT&T’s (a/k/a BellSouth) contract with the Mississippi Department of Information Technology to provide telecommunications services for all state agencies and institutions. Cellular South, Inc. v. BellSouth Telecommunications, LLC, f/k/a BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc., –So.3d–, 2017 WL 841132 (Miss. March 2, 2017).
Obtained summary judgment in federal district court for silica defendants dismissing plaintiff’s personal injury claims on the grounds they were barred by the statute of limitations. Langston v. Pangborn, et al., 2014 WL 347718 (S.D. Miss. 2014).
Obtained summary judgment in federal district court for a natural gas provider dismissing plaintiff’s wrongful death action, which sought damages for the death of his father allegedly caused by a residential natural gas explosion, on the grounds plaintiff failed to show defendant breached a duty. Spurlock v. CenterPoint Energy, Case No. 3:12-cv-00515-WHB-RHW (S.D. Miss. 2013).
Obtained a ruling for the Mississippi Secretary of State before a three judge federal panel dismissing plaintiffs’ request to set aside the 2011 state legislative election results in Mississippi and order new state legislative elections in 2013. Mississippi State Conference of N.A.A.C.P. v. Bryant, et al., Case No. 3:11-cv-TSL-EGJ-LG-MTP (S.D. Miss. 2012). Later obtained a ruling by the United States Supreme Court affirming the three judge panel’s decision. Case No. 12-1019 (June 21, 2013).
Obtained a ruling for the Mississippi Secretary of State before a three judge federal panel in favor of the Secretary’s position regarding legislative redistricting in Mississippi in which he successfully sought to prevent the federal court from redrawing Mississippi’s legislative districts. Mississippi State Conference of N.A.A.C.P. v. Barbour, et al., 2011 WL 1870222 (S.D. Miss. 2011). Later obtained a ruling by the United States Supreme Court affirming the three judge panel’s decision. See 132 S. Ct. 542 (2011).
Obtained a ruling from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirming the district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s claims against nursing home owners on the grounds plaintiff’s purported breach of contract claims were in fact medical malpractice claims and therefore required a 60-day notice of intent to sue. Rutherford v. Beverly Enterprises, et al., 289 Fed.Appx. 33 (5th Cir. 2008).
Obtained summary judgment in federal district court for nursing home owners ruling that its insurer had a duty to defend it in an underlying state court lawsuit. Lexington Ins. Co. v. Hattiesburg Medical Park Management Corp., et al., 2007 WL 2011288 (S.D. Miss. 2007).
Obtained a dismissal with prejudice before trial of the claims of an Alabama welder against welding rod manufacturers in a case that was to be the second bellweather trial in the national welding fume litigation in the MDL court in Cleveland, Ohio. Morgan v. Lincoln Elec. Co., et al., Case No. 1:04-cv-17251-KMO, Doc. No. 86 (N.D. Ohio March 9, 2006).
Successfully defended welding rod manufacturers in the first welding fume exposure lawsuits tried in Arkansas and West Virginia. Calloway v. Lincoln Elec. Co., Case No. CV04-0473-6 (Cir. Ct. Union County, Ark. Sep. 2006) (defense verdict); Belcher v. Airco, Inc., Case No. 06-C-103N (Cir. Ct. Mason County, W. Va. Aug. 5, 2009) (defense verdict).
Obtained summary judgment for Honeywell in a large industrial plant explosion case on the grounds Plaintiff had failed to present any evidence to support his claims. Stewart v. Reliance Elec. Co., et al., Case No: 05-0267-CI (Warren County Circuit Court, Mississippi Feb. 15, 2006).
Approximately fifteen radio appearances to discuss “Current issues facing the Hinds County Judiciary” in the summer and fall of 2018 on numerous shows hosted on 90.1 FM, 97.3 FM, 97.7 FM, and 103.5 FM.
“Current issues facing the Hinds County Judiciary.” Presentation to the Phoenix Club, Jackson, Mississippi, November 20, 2018.
“Breaking In: Preliminary Results from a Program Evaluation of the Mississippi Department of Corrections’ Reentry Program.” Presentation to the Southern Criminal Justice Association Annual Convention, September 14, 2018.
“Experiences in Civil and Criminal Litigation and Public Records Disputes.” Presentation to the Jackson Legal Professionals Association, June 26, 2018.
“Current issues facing the Hinds County Judiciary.” Presentation to the Lions Club, Jackson, Mississippi, March 12, 2018.
“Red Hot Topics in Litigation: Arbitration.” Distributed at the 2008 Mississippi Bar Convention for continuing legal education.
“Covenants Not to Compete.” Delta Business Journal, November 2007.
Assisted teaching Introduction to Criminal Justice Theory at the University of Southern Mississippi through numerous classes, 2017-2018.
Adjunct Professor of Appellate Advocacy, Mississippi College School of Law, 2014.
Former high school mock trial coach.

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