Earl W. Gunn
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3344 Peachtree Road, NESuite 2400Atlanta, GA 30326
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T: 404.832.9507F: 404.875.9433
Billy Gunn has tried over 240 cases in 19 states amassing an impressive track record in a trial practice spanning three decades. He has developed a solid reputation for his trial strategy and acumen, and is frequently retained for the most complex of product liability, medical malpractice, medical device, transportation and catastrophic injury cases.
Billy serves as trial counsel for manufacturers, including those in the highly regulated medical device industry, hospitals, transportation companies and excess insurers. He is consistently named in Best Lawyers in America© in Mass Tort, Product Liability and Personal Injury Litigation and selected to the Georgia Super Lawyers list in the area of Civil Litigation Defense for more than a decade.
As one of the founding partners of WWHGD, he continues in leadership roles through the mentoring of junior lawyers and externally and has been on the faculty for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and the Atlanta College of Trial Advocacy.
Practice Areas
Education
Dartmouth College, 1972-1973
University of Georgia, A.B., cum laude, 1976
University of Georgia School of Law, J.D., 1979
Bar & Court Admissions
- State Bar of Georgia
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Representative Experience
Trial counsel for the insureds of one of world's largest insurance providers in their litigation nationwide.
Achieved a verdict of more than $56 million below the original pre-trial demand, in a clear liability case, in which a guest was killed and their spouse permanently brain damaged due to carbon monoxide exposure. Defended an international hotel and resort in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Handled national litigation defense involving four trials and 750 separate cases in nearly all 50 states, after the recall of surgically implanted urological incontinence device on behalf of an international medical device manufacturer.
Trial counsel to international medical device manufacturers in litigation stemming from allegedly defective products.
Defended insurance company in two-week class action jury trial involving claims of independent contractor misclassification under ERISA involving approximately 7,000 class members.
Favorably represented global defense manufacturing company after pumper truck, during a response to a fire in New Mexico, became mobile with no driver, striking and pinning the plaintiff against a post.
Served as co-lead defense counsel in multiple district litigation (MDL) with more than 900 claimants.
Awards & Recognitions
Best Lawyers® 2010-2020, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Best Lawyers®, 2010-2020, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defense
Super Lawyers Magazine, Georgia Super Lawyers List, Civil Litigation Defense (2004-2020)
Best Lawyers® 2016 Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants "Lawyer of the Year" in Atlanta
Professional & Community Activities
Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
Defense Research Institute
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
Lawyers Club of Atlanta
Network of Trial Law Firms, Past Chairman
Old War Horse Lawyers Club
Trial Attorneys of America
News & Publications
- Best Lawyers
Events & Speaking Engagements
"Handling the Catastrophic Injury Case," The Daily Report's In-house Counsel CLE Seminar, July 25, 2013.
Faculty, National Institute of Trial Advocacy.
Faculty, Atlanta College of Trial Advocacy.
Frequent lecturer at Georgia Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) seminars.