Rudy Hill is a partner in the firm’s Litigation and Intellectual Property Practice Groups. In his litigation practice, Rudy handles matters at both trial and appellate levels. At the trial level, he has first-chaired jury trials in both federal and state courts. Rudy has also briefed and presented oral arguments in both state and federal appellate courts.
Rudy regularly represents trucking companies and the manufacturers of automobiles, off road vehicles, and related component parts, including tires, seat belts, and air bags, in vehicular accident and product liability cases. Rudy has also handled product liability matters for a national HVAC manufacturer, a national consumer products manufacturer, an international manufacturer of engineered wood products, and a national home improvement retailer. He has handled matters for these clients in all phases of litigation, including pre-suit investigation, fact discovery, expert discovery, summary judgment, and trial.
Rudy’s litigation practice also involves the representation of corporate and individual defendants in personal injury litigation; the representation of insurers and annuity companies in life, health, and disability litigation; the representation of corporate and individual clients in civil and criminal investigations and prosecutions conducted by federal and state governments; and the representation of businesses and individuals in a wide variety of technology-related disputes, including patent, trademark, and copyright infringement litigation.
In his intellectual property practice, Rudy often advises businesses and individuals about their products, services, and operations to identify intellectual property assets and to develop strategies for protecting them. He also assists clients in obtaining, managing, and enforcing patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret rights, as well as the rights of publicity and privacy, and drafting and negotiating contracts and license agreements to further protect those rights. In addition, he assists venture capital and investment firms in performing due diligence with respect to intellectual property assets held by potential investment targets.
Rudy uses his technical background in mechanical engineering and his registration as a patent attorney to aid in his representation of clients within these fields.
Defended fishing reel manufacturer in patent infringement lawsuit filed against it by competitor in the Central District of California.
Defended manufacturer of off-road vehicles in product liability cases in state and federal courts in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Defended seat belt manufacturer in lawsuit based on logging truck rollover in Lowndes County, Alabama, resulting in summary judgment in favor of client.
Defended employers and manufacturers in multiple combined workers’ compensation and product liability cases.
Defended multiple employers and TPAs in combined workers’ compensation and tort of outrage cases.
Defended publicly traded healthcare company at jury trial in commercial dispute arising out of sale of hospital.