Christian & Small’s appellate practice spans a wide variety of substantive legal issues, ranging from questions of constitutional law to complex corporate matters and personal injury cases.  In addition to assisting with strategy and briefing in the trial court and advising clients and other lawyers on preserving error for appeal, our appellate attorneys handle interlocutory appeals, petitions for writs of mandamus, post-verdict motions, and appeals –  in cases within the firm, in cases in which lawyers from outside the firm are lead trial counsel, and in cases in which nonparties wish to submit amicus curiae briefs. 

Our appellate team has successfully briefed and argued appeals before the United States Supreme Court, the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, the Alabama Supreme Court, intermediate appellate courts, and appellate courts in various other jurisdictions. 

Resources

Practitioners-Guide-to-Post-Judgment-Motions

A post-judgment motion can accomplish several purposes. At best, it changes the trial result in your favor, either by overturning the previous decision or by reopening the case. In some instances, a post-judgment motion is required to preserve issues for appeal. Even where denied, the post-trial motion can aid the cause by forcing the trial court to explain its decisions, thereby establishing a better record for appeal. This article  provides an overview of the weapons in the post-judgment arsenal and discusses some of the traps that can result in dismissed or lost appeals.
This in depth guide was prepared by former Managing Partner Deborah Alley Smith who retired in 2022.