The defense team of Preston Hawkins and Ronnie Isaacs won a defense verdict in a jury trial in the Knox County Circuit Court on April 27th.
Over the course of two days, the jury heard testimony from the plaintiff and several witnesses regarding a personal injury defense claim.
The trial judge granted a directed verdict on punitive damages, direct negligence of any kind against the defendant and vicarious liability under respondeat superior. The jury was left only to decide the issue of whether the defendant was strictly liable under a product liability theory. The jury retired for only 18 minutes and concluded that the answer as “no” resulting in a defense verdict.
We congratulate Preston Hawkins and Ronnie Isaacs on a fabulous victory!
Preston A. Hawkins, a shareholder in the Knoxville office, concentrates his practice in construction litigation, general commercial and tort litigation, and appellate advocacy. Mr. Hawkins has been lead trial counsel and successfully defended contractors, designers, and owners in various construction litigation matters. Mr. Hawkins has also represented business entities in various State and Federal courts in Tennessee and has obtained summary judgment on behalf of several corporate clients in state court cases.
Ronald K. Isaacs is an associate in the firm’s Knoxville office practicing in general civil litigation. He joined the firm in September 2013. Mr. Isaacs graduated cum laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2013. While in law school, he was awarded a Baker Law Fellowship and served as a member of the Transactions Journal, the American Association for Justice Trial Team and the Moot Court Board. He served as a summer associate for the firm’s Knoxville office during the summers of 2011 and 2012.