Melvin Wright
| Melvin Wright | |
|---|---|
 Melvin_Wright.jpg Melvin B. Wright | |
| Born | Melvin Bowen Wright August 1, 1959 |
| 🏳️ Nationality | American |
| Other names | Melvin B. Wright, Mel Wright |
| 🏳️ Citizenship | U.S. citizen |
| 🎓 Alma mater | Mercer University University of Georgia |
| 💼 Occupation | Personal injury lawyer |
| Twitter= | |
Melvin Bowen Wright is an award-winning personal injury attorney who tries cases involving dangerous drugs, medical malpractice, vehicle accidents, nursing home abuse and neglect, wrongful death, defective products, and class-action lawsuits.
He was a key participant in multi-district litigation against New England Compounding Center for its production of steroid shots tainted with fungal meningitis, representing 50 clients and sitting on the unofficial committee of unsecured creditors that voted to approve several multi-million dollar settlements in the compounding pharmacy's bankruptcy proceedings.[1][2]
Biography[edit]
Wright was born in Albany, Georgia, on August 1, 1959. He grew up on his family's peanut and cotton farm, which is still in operation.[3]
Wright is married and has two children, a son and a daughter.
Education[edit]
Wright received a bachelor of science degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia in 1981. In 1985, he earned his juris doctor from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University and was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia the same year.
Along with being licensed to practice law in Georgia, Wright has also been admitted to the state bar in Florida and Tennessee.[4]
Career Experience[edit]
From 1985 to 1993, Wright represented both injury victims and insurance companies in civil litigation. He began representing plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death claims in 1993.[4]
Wright joined the Florida law firm Morgan Colling and Gilbert as a senior staff attorney in 1993.[5] In 2005 he exited the firm with partners Stewart Colling and Ronald Gilbert, as well as associate attorney Nathan Carter, to found Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter, a personal injury law firm headquartered in Orlando.[6]
In 1996, Wright appealed before the Florida Supreme Court the case of a woman injured in a car accident during a funeral procession. Her lawsuit against the funeral home was dismissed by the trial court, but the decision was reversed by the state supreme court on appeal.[7]
As an attorney at Morgan Colling and Gilbert and Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter, Wright has been frequently interviewed by local media on issues related to nursing home abuse and neglect litigation, including facility liability and damage caps,[8][9][10] and groups like the Florida Justice Association have asked Wright to present seminars on the subject.[11] After trying the case of a nursing home resident who was sexually assaulted and unknowingly carried a child to full term, Wright co-wrote an article that was published in the American Journal of Nursing.[12]
In 1996, Wright earned board certification in civil trial law from The Florida Bar. The National Board of Trial Advocacy certified Wright in civil trial law in 1999.[13] Wright is one of the few attorneys to achieve dual board certification as a civil trial specialist.
Wright is a member of the following legal associations:[4]
- Trial Masters[14]
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and fellow of the ABOTA Foundation
- Southern Trial Lawyers Association
- Florida Justice Association, Eagle Member
- American Association for Justice
- National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 - Florida
Chief Judge Belvin Perry in 2014 appointed Wright to the Professionalism Panel of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.[15] The panel investigates incidents of unprofessional conduct. Wright's term is set to last for two years, ending in 2016.
In 2010, Wright was selected to serve on The Florida Bar's Standing Committee on Advertising of The Florida Bar. His term will last until June 2016.[4][16]
Tainted Steroid Litigation[edit]
Wright represented 50 clients in legal action against New England Compounding Center in the wake of the fungal meningitis outbreak caused by tainted steroid injections manufactured by the company.[17] Beginning with the initial meningitis and related injury claims in 2012, Wright was frequently interviewed by television news programs and print outlets in the Orlando area to comment on the case,[18] and also presented at a fungal meningitis seminar hosted by the American Association for Justice.[19]
After the formation of a plaintiffs' steering committee for multidistrict litigation against New England Compounding Center, Wright acted as co-chair of the Florida subcommittee. He also served with seven other attorneys on the unsecured creditors committee as part of the New England Compounding Center bankruptcy proceedings in federal court.
In May 2015, Wright and the other members of the official committee of unsecured creditors approved a settlement that set aside $200 million for the victims and families affected by meningitis and other injuries caused by contaminated steroids. The settlement was subsequently approved by the judge presiding over New England Compounding Center's bankruptcy case.[2]
Awards and Recognition[edit]
Wright has received the following honors over the course of his career:[4]
- Membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum for attaining verdicts or settlements of $1 million or more for clients.
- Selection since 2006 as a top attorney by the rating service Super Lawyers.[20]
- Selection by Florida Trend magazine as a member of "Florida's Legal Elite" since 2009.[21]
- Recognition as a Top 100 Lawyer by the American Society of Legal Advocates in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
- AV 5.0 Preeminent Peer Rating on Martindale-Hubbell.[22]
- "Top Attorneys in Florida" recognition by the Wall Street Journal and Miami Magazine in 2013.[23]
References[edit]
- ↑ Bartlett, Jessica (2015-05-19). "Judge approves $200M settlement in New England Compounding Center case". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "$200 Million Settlement Approved in Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Proceedings" (Press release). Springfield, Massachusetts: 24-7 Press Release Distribution. 2015-05-27. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
- ↑ "Wright, Melvin Bowen". American Society of Legal Advocates. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Melvin B. Wright: Orlando Personal Injury Lawyer". Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ "Lawyer Melvin Wright". Avvo.com. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ Boyd, Christopher (2005-02-24). "Morgan, Colling & Gilbert Breaks Up". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ Union Park Memorial Chapel v. Hutt, 670 So.2d 64 (Supreme Court of Florida 1996-03-21).
- ↑ Saunders, Jim (2011-04-12). "Senate committee approves limits on nursing home lawsuits". Health News Florida. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
- ↑ Groeller, Greg and Jeff Kunerth (2001-10-06). "Deadline Spurs Rush of Nursing Home Suits". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
- ↑ Groeller, Greg and Bob LaMendola (2001-03-04). "Skyrocketing Suits Spur Crisis in Care". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
- ↑ "Annual Review: 2015 Legislative Changes & Notable Cases Influencing Your Practice". Florida Justice Association. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
- ↑ Burgess, Ann Wolbert; Wright, Melvin B. (April 2004). "Born into a Diaper". American Journal of Nursing. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 104 (4): 66–69.
- ↑ "Attorney Melvin Bowen Wright". Legal Information Institute - Cornell University Law School. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ "Orlando Lawyers Melvin B. Wright and Ronald S. Gilbert Are Approved for Trial Masters Membership" (Press release). Orlando, Florida: 24-7 Press Release Distribution. 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ "Local Professionalism Committee". Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ "Standing Committee - Advertising". The Florida Bar. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ Hiers, Fred (2014-12-17). "14 charged for roles in meningitis outbreak". Ocala Star Banner. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ "Melvin Wright on the Meningitis Outbreak Cases in Marion County". WOFL. 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ "Handling Fungal Meningitis Cases Teleseminar: What You Need to Know". American Association for Justice. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
- ↑ "Melvin B. Wright Attorney Profile". Super Lawyers. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ "Florida's Legal Leaders - 2015". Florida Trend. 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ "Melvin B. Wright Lawyer Profile on Martindale.com". Martindale-Hubbell. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ↑ "Five Attorneys at Colling, Gilbert, Wright & Carter Named 'Top Attorneys in Florida' by Wall Street Journal and Miami Magazine" (Press release). Orlando, Florida: PRWeb. 2013-07-21. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
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