Alex Purvis' experience includes litigation matters in state and federal courts across the country. He is currently handling disputes in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Minnesota, and Kentucky, and has prior litigation experience in Oklahoma, Missouri, Louisiana, North Carolina, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He is comfortable litigating beyond Mississippi and working with local counsel as necessary to achieve the client’s goals.
Alex’s practice is focused on two fields: (1) negotiation and litigation of complex insurance coverage matters, with significant experience handling construction disputes; and (2) products liability. He has handled all stages of the litigation and dispute resolution process from initial case consultation through appeal and works with his clients to define their goals early in the process. He recognizes that a client’s desire to win a dispute must be viewed in the context of other realities, including the cost of litigation, and he looks for creative opportunities for resolution throughout the matter. At the same time, Alex’s trial experience allows him to negotiate with confidence that the case can be tried if necessary. Alex’s interest in product liability started in law school. As a member of the Moot Court Board, he competed in the National Products Liability Competition at the University of Cincinnati and finished third, arguing before panels of state and federal Judges. From that early experience, Alex maintains his interest in understanding products and working with manufacturers to manage the risk related to their particular industry.
Alex has product liability experience from the early investigation stages through appeal. While some of Alex’s work includes management and supervision of local counsel, he is actively involved in the day-to-day handling of these complex litigation files. His successful results in products liability cases include the following:
Extraordinary Writ from Arkansas Supreme Court vacating trial court’s order requiring production of manufacturer’s confidential material and trade secrets;
Dismissal of cases arising from accidents in Mexico based on doctrine of forum non conveniens;
Dismissal during wrongful death trial at close of plaintiffs’ evidence;
Successful fraudulent joinder removal resulting in quick and favorable resolution;
Order requiring return of confidential material improperly removed from federal courthouse by plaintiffs’ counsel;
Multiple protective orders obtained despite substantial motion practice and efforts by plaintiffs’ counsel to disseminate confidential material and trade secrets beyond the case;
Successful and favorable resolution of multiple wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits.
Alex is a Fellow in the American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC).
Listed in Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial, 2019-2024 Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® Insurance Law, 2016-2025 Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2016-2025 Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2018-2025 Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars," Insurance Coverage, 2010, 2012-2016 Listed in Portico Jackson magazine, "Portico 10," 2014 Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rated Listed in Benchmark Litigation "Future Star," Mississippi, 2016-2021 "Litigation Star", 2023-2024 Listed in Mississippi Business Journal "Leader in Law," 2015 Top 50 under 40, 2015 Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar, Fellow American College of Coverage Counsel, Fellow Bolton v. John Lee, P.A., -- So. 3d --, No. 2020-CA-00344-COA, 2023 WL 140980 (Miss. Ct. App. Jan. 10, 2023) Successfully defended an order dismissing various claims against a bank, claims that arose out of a depositor’s criminal misconduct. Significantly, the court held that federal regulations regarding Suspicious Activity Reports do not create a private right of action. Adams v. Energizer Holdings, Inc., et al., WL 1791373 (S.D. Miss. April 19, 2013) Obtained 12(b)(6) dismissal for Energizer Holdings, Inc., Energizer Battery Manufacturing, Inc., and Energizer Battery, Inc. in products liability action seeking compensatory and punitive damages for alleged injuries sustained by individual after handling allegedly defective batteries. Conwill v. Marsh & McLennan Co., Inc., 2010 WL 2400423 (S.D. Miss. June 11, 2010) Obtained summary judgment for Marsh USA, Inc. and Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. against a $5.2 million claim arising from Hurricane Katrina. Delta & Pine Land Co. v. Nationwide Ins., 520 F.3d 395 (5th Cir. 2008) Reversal by Fifth Circuit in third-party coverage dispute arising under CGL policy for seed manufacturer. Great American Insurance Company of New York v. Lowry Development, LLC, 2007 WL 4268776 (S.D. Miss. 2007) Key spoliation ruling in coverage dispute arising out of Hurricane Katrina. Great American Insurance Company of New York v. Lowry Development, LLC, 576 F.3d 251 (5th Cir. 2009) Successfully represented Great American Insurance Company in its appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals from an adverse jury verdict in an insurance coverage dispute. The Fifth Circuit reversed the district court’s denial of summary judgment, finding no wind coverage for the destruction of a condominium complex in Hurricane Katrina. National Casualty Co. v. Franklin County, Miss., 2010 WL 1780197 (S.D. Miss. April 29, 2010) Obtained 12(b)(6) dismissal for Franklin County and the Franklin County Board of Supervisors of insurance company’s action seeking declaratory judgment that it had no duty to defend or indemnify Franklin County against a lawsuit under a law enforcement liability policy. The underlying lawsuit alleged violations of 28 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, and 1985(3) and arose out of alleged actions and omissions of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department in the 1960s. Nichols v. Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., 2007 WL 2475934 (N.D. Miss. 2007) Improper joinder removal opinion in products liability action.
