Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC is pleased to announce that Matt Hart has joined the firm as senior counsel. “We are delighted to welcome Matt Hart to the firm as the head of our new white collar defense and investigations practice group,” said Bob Spotswood, the firm’s senior partner. “The skill set that Matt has […]
Firm News
Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC Names Josh Payne to Partnership
Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC has elected Josh Payne a partner effective January 1, 2019. “We are pleased to welcome Josh to the partnership,” said senior partner Bob Spotswood. “Josh is a talented, hard-working lawyer who consistently demonstrates our firm’s focus on client service. Josh has served in leading roles in some of the firm’s […]
Eleventh Circuit Adopts Legal Position Advocated by Spotswood Attorneys
In a case challenging an Alabama law on constitutional grounds, the plaintiffs subpoenaed information from state legislators, the current governor, and a former governor regarding passage of the law. The state officials moved to quash the subpoenas due to legislative privilege, but the district court refused. On appeal, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury and a leading […]
Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury Wins Top 100 Jury Verdict
Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury represented local charities and a gaming company in a federal lawsuit involving various business torts allegedly committed by another gaming company, its majority shareholder, and a local official to prevent the plaintiffs from doing business in the locality. After a three-week trial, the jury returned a verdict in excess of $60 […]
Spotswood Successfully Removes Claims to Federal Court
In a case involving an issue of first impression in the Eleventh Circuit, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC assisted in removing a case to federal court following a prior, unsuccessful removal. Spotswood attorneys developed the argument for the second removal, which was based on the absence of any duty for a co-defendant to investigate the […]
SCOTUS Adopts Preemption Principle Advocated by Spotswood
In a case involving important preemption principles, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC represented the nationwide trade association of cargo air carriers as an amici curiae in the United States Supreme Court. The firm filed briefs on behalf of the association in support of a passenger airline, which argued that a customer’s claims based on revocation […]
Spotswood Obtains Exclusion of Damages Experts & Partial Summary Judgment for Manufacturer
In an intellectual property case, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC was retained to represent a manufacturer accused of misappropriation of trade secrets, fraud, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment, among other business torts. The firm was retained for the liability and damages phase after an adverse, first-phase ruling regarding the existence of a trade secret. […]
SCOTUS Rules In Favor Of Positions Advocated by Spotswood Attorneys
Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC filed amicus curiae briefs with the United States Supreme Court on behalf of a nationwide association of air carriers to vindicate an issue of great significance to both motor and air carriers—federal preemption of state laws relating to carriers’ prices, routes, and services. The firm filed briefs at both the […]
Spotswood Represents Bond Insurer In Landmark Municipal Bankruptcy
Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC served as local counsel for one of the sewer bond insurers in the bankruptcy case filed by Jefferson County, Alabama, which at the time of its filing was the largest-ever municipal bankruptcy, involving nearly $4 billion in debt. The firm worked closely with national counsel based in New York in […]
5 of 6 Claims Dismissed After Spotswood Filed for Summary Judgment
After the close of discovery in a complex commercial dispute, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC was hired to develop summary judgment theories for a defendant. Spotswood attorneys developed a preemption theory, which had not been asserted in the defendant’s answer. Spotswood attorneys persuaded the court to allow the answer to be amended and, using an […]
SCOTUS Affirmed Spotswood’s Position Regarding the FAAAA
Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC was hired to brief the First Circuit, on behalf of amicus curiae, on important issues of federal preemption under the Federal Aviation Authorization Administration Act (FAAAA). In its published decision, the First Circuit accepted the position advocated by Spotswood attorneys. In the Supreme Court, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC again […]
Spotswood Persuades Alabama Supreme Court for Writ of Mandamus
After its client was sued in a “judicial hellhole,” Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC developed novel jurisdiction and venue theories in an effort to transfer the case to a more favorable venue. Though the trial court denied the motion for transfer, Spotswood attorneys persuaded the Alabama Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus, forcing the trial […]