The law firm of Tidwell, Izell and Richardson announces its formation and new office location in the SunTrust Bank building at 736 Market St., Suite 1550, in downtown Chattanooga.
Partners W. Gerald “Jerry” Tidwell and W. Adam Izell are formally associated with attorney Michael E. Richardson. Joining the firm is retired Circuit Court Judge Jackie Schulten Bolton serving of counsel. Two new associates, Todd A. Davis and Bart Mathews, are also affiliated with the firm.
Tidwell, Izell & Richardson specializes in civil and criminal litigation representing individuals, businesses, and municipalities.
Areas of concentration include general litigation, insurance defense litigation, commercial litigation, construction litigation, civil rights defense, business torts, probate, and business law. The firm’s attorneys also serve as qualified mediators.
Attorney Tidwell comments, “With over a century of combined trial experience, this firm offers a unique opportunity for clients to be represented by not only an experienced lawyer but one with a great deal of practical knowledge as to how the court systems in east and middle Tennessee work.”
Mr. Tidwell, a lifelong Chattanooga resident, defends construction suits, fire loss and arson claims, premises liability and civil rights lawsuits. His experience also includes automobile accident defense, personal injury and commercial actions for plaintiffs, probate, and criminal defense. Representative clients include Auto Owners Insurance Company, National Lloyd’s Insurance Company, the Police Benevolent Association, for which he is general counsel for the state of Tennessee, and the Fraternal Order of Police. Mr. Tidwell has represented such entities as Wichita County Texas and Prince William County of Virginia in federal lawsuits here in Chattanooga.
Mr. Izell is also a native of Chattanooga. His primary area of practice is defending civil lawsuits including car accident cases, construction negligence, fire loss claims, premises liability and civil rights lawsuits. Mr. Izell is an active member of the Brock-Cooper American Inn of Court and is on the Criminal Justice Act panel for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. He works closely with Mr. Tidwell on a similar list of clients.
Mr. Richardson is a seasoned trial attorney who primarily concentrates on cases involving professional negligence, personal injury, and criminal defense, including white-collar crime. He has achieved an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell for nearly 20 years. Mr. Richardson has also been recognized for both employment discrimination and professional negligence cases in Best Lawyers in America for several years.
Mr. Richardson represented Bethlehem Steel Corporation in an accounting malpractice case against Ernst and Whitney and scored a major verdict making new law in Tennessee. He continues to represent clients in personal injury, tort claims, including automobile accidents, tractor-trailer incidents and business torts. He also has experience with high-profile criminal cases.
Judge Bolton is a retired Circuit Court Judge who served sixteen years on the bench. She mediates cases for parties and attorneys using her perspective from the bench and as a trial lawyer. She is also a certified civil trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. A member of the Tennessee judicial conference, Judge Bolton holds membership in numerous professional associations and has served on several civic and charitable organizations.
The firm is open for business and welcomes calls, inquiries and consultations.