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Joe was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1953 and graduated from Hattiesburg High School in 1971. He then earned a bachelor’s degree from Millsap’s College in May, 1975 and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in December, 1977. While in law school, Joe received Am Jur awards in Federal Jurisdiction and Federal Procedure.

For the past 20 years, he has practiced with Bryan Nelson, P.A., and its predecessors. In his active career as a general litigator spanning over 35 years, Joe has represented both plaintiffs and defendants and carried a wide variety of cases to final judgment, through either dispositive motion, trial, or appeal. In his practice, he has routinely handled cases with claims predicated on product defects, breaches of warranty, toxic torts, workers compensation, medical negligence, premises liability, oilfield accidents, and civil rights violations. He has also successfully handled suits arising from other diverse claims: breaches of construction contracts, a franchise agreement, and a longterm coal delivery contract; bad faith denials of insurance benefits; trademark infringement; dilution of voting rights; and life insurance claims involving potential suicides and efforts to recover accidental death and double indemnity benefits.

During Joe’s practice with Bryan Nelson, P.A., he has been authorized to handle “high exposure” cases for Mid-Continent Casualty Company, Admiral Insurance Company, Schlumberger Technology Corporation, its affiliates, and insurers, and Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations, Inc., and its insurers. Baker Hughes has also designated Joe as an ‘emergency” counsel and authorized him to lead immediate post-incident investigations involving potential toxic exposure and major motor vehicle collisions. Joe is currently admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Mississippi, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the South Central Mississippi Bar Association, the Mississippi State Bar, and the American Bar Association.

On multiple occasions, Joe has served on the board of the United Way of Southeast Mississippi and the Vestry or governing body of Trinity Episcopal Church in Hattiesburg. He and his wife, Jane, reside in Hattiesburg and have two adult children and one grandchild.