Before Jim Carlson rode herd on products liability matters at Christian & Small, he ran cattle on 30,000 acres of national forest. For 14 years, he worked on different ranches, hunting for cattle on horseback. On some days, Jim and his group would ride for ten hours or more without finding a single cow. On other days, just before sundown, they’d locate the cattle at the bottom of the last hill, which meant they’d arrive back at the ranch well after dark.
Jim says his experience as a cowboy prepared him for his law practice. He often drives himself to look over just one more hill in his pursuit of the right solutions for the firm’s clients. He also compares litigation to riding bareback broncs in a rodeo. He says the worst part about getting ready for trial is waiting for, in rodeo parlance, the chute gate to open. That’s why Jim and his team are amply prepared for the case long before the gate opens, because you have to hold on tight no matter where the case cuts and runs.
Representative Experiences
- Successfully handled cases involving the following product lines:
- All terrain vehicles
- Hand guns
- Automobiles
- Textile machines
- Equipment
- Induction furnaces
- Industrial woodworking machinery
- Conveyors
- Tires
- Boats
- Medical devices
- Household appliances
- Industrial equipment
- Farm tractors
- Power tools
- Car seats
- Underground mining
- Forklifts
- Latex gloves
- Kerosene heaters
- Extruder machines
- Steering cables
- Pharmaceutical products
- Cranes
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (ADLA): Member
- Defense Research Institute (DRI): Member
- International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC): Member
- Birmingham Bar Association: Member
- Alabama State Bar: Member
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell*
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2011-2012 in the fields of product liability litigation and commercial litigation
- Selected for inclusion in Alabama Super Lawyers® 2010 – 2012 in the field of personal injury defense (products)