Firm Honors & Distinctions

• We congratulate, Tere Steele, Esq., who was recently named as the “Lawyer of the Year” by the Mississippi Business Journal. Annually, MBJ honors the top lawyer in Mississippi, who has in-depth legal knowledge and success, strong legal skills and character, and a passion for clients and the community.
• Best Lawyers in America recognizes our attorneys: Ron Peresich (Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law and Toxic Tort, 2012 to present), Stephen Peresich (Insurance Law and Medical Malpractice – Defense 2012 to present) and Henry Dick (Corporate and Taxation, 2012 to present).
• 7 attorneys rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell: Ronald G. Peresich, Sr., Stephen G. Peresich, Henry N. Dick, Michael E. Whitehead, W. Mark Edwards,&  Cowles E. Symmes.
• 6 attorneys are SuperLawyers: Ronald G. Peresich, Sr., Stephen G. Peresich, Michael E. Whitehead, Ronald G. Peresich, Jr., and Cowles E. Symmes.
• Stephen Peresich co-authored chapter 17 of a Defense Research Institute (DRI) publication, the DRI Deposition Manual. Chapter 17 is entitled “Deposition of a Nurse,” from the personal injury or medical negligence defense perspective. Page Mannino partner Mary Van Slyke contributed.

Product Liability, Mass Torts, Toxic Torts, and Environmental Litigation

• Ronald G. Peresich, Sr., Mark Edwards obtained defense verdicts in 2 Mississippi state courts (Claiborne County and Hinds County) on behalf of a manufacturer of a non-air fed hood alleged to have caused silicosis.
• Ron Peresich, Jr. obtained several thousand orders of dismissal for manufacturers of mud drilling equipment and abrasive equipment in asbestos litigation.
• Mississippi Supreme Court affirms summary judgment obtained by Ron Peresich, Mark Edwards, and Johanna McMullan representing a manufacturer of abrasive blasting equipment in wrongful death suit related to silica exposure.
• Ron Peresich and Mark Edwards obtained thousands of dismissals for numerous clients in cases alleging injuries caused by silica exposure.
• Cowles Symmes and Lauren McCrory obtained numerous dismissals on behalf of clients in product manufacturing and supplier lawsuits.

Medical Malpractice & Healthcare

• August 2019- Litigators Stephen Peresich and Mary Van Slyke obtained dismissal with prejudice for a local hospital for failure to prosecute a decubitus septic stump case.
• Stephen Peresich and Johanna McMullan won a significant decision from the Mississippi Supreme Court which confirmed that plaintiffs are prohibited from splitting causes of action into separate lawsuits. All claims against the client were dismissed with prejudice.
• Stephen Peresich won a Daubert–type summary judgment for an orthopedic surgeon challenging the plaintiff’s expert failed to render appropriate medical causation opinions.
• Stephen G. Peresich has served as Board Attorney for The Board of Trustees of Merit Health Biloxi, formerly Biloxi Regional Medical Center, since 2011.
• Stephen Peresich and Johanna McMillan won an appeal to the MS Supreme Court for local physician reinstating the trial judge’s grant of a motion to dismiss for failure to prosecute where the Court made clear that delay alone may suffice to warrant dismissal (435 days) for failure to timely prosecute a case and that prejudice to the defendant may be presumed from the delay.
• Stephen Peresich and Mary Van Slyke, presented “Professional Behavior in the Workplace” for the annual Biloxi Regional Medical Center Medical Staff training seminar, covering workplace harassment claims against medical facilities and doctors, state law claims, recent verdicts, Title VII claims, practice tips and preventive methods on how to avoid claims.

Banking and Mortgage Law

• Nathan L. Prescott obtained an Order of Dismissal in the United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi, dismissing plaintiff’s complaint for $7,000,000.00 against the president of a local bank.
• Ronald G. Peresich defended a Mississippi bank in 16 cases filed in state and federal court alleging various lender liability and RICO claims. After the defense won the first three cases, the remaining cases were all resolved for nuisance value and dismissed.

Governmental Entity Law

• Stephen Peresich and Johanna McMullan successfully obtained Mississippi Supreme Court ruling finding Mississippi Forestry Commission employee did not act with reckless disregard related to an accident on a foggy morning.
• Ron Peresich, Jr. obtained a defense verdict in a Federal trial where Plaintiff alleged that a Defendant police officer acted with reckless disregard under the Mississippi Tort Claims Act by causing a serious automobile accident on the interstate.
• Stephen Peresich obtained summary judgment for state agency based on the immunity provisions of the Mississippi Emergency Management Act and the Mississippi Tort Claims Act.

Premises Liability

• Cowles Symmes and Mary Van Slyke successfully mediated a premises liability case involving allegations of significant injuries to the plaintiff.
• Cowles Symmes obtained dismissal as sanctions in premises liability action in state court action brought against local business client.
• Cowles Symmes obtained summary judgment for local business client in a negligence/negligence per se/premises liability action in federal court, particularly arguing against medical causation and a self-serving affidavit in opposition.
• Cowles Symmes obtain summary judgment on a premises liability claim in Paula Callender vs. Imperial Palace of Mississippi, LLC, 2008 WL 4372739 (S.D. Miss.2008).

Public Policy and Legislation

• Ron Peresich worked with the Gulf Coast Business Council, the Mississippi legislature, and the Lieutenant Governor on the passage of legislation providing tax credits to casinos for expenditures on non-gaming related projects which was recently signed into law by the Governor.
• Ron Peresich worked with the Gulf Coast Business Council, the Mississippi legislature and the Lieutenant Governor to increase the available money in the Mississippi Wind Pool to reduce insurance rates.

Real Estate Transactions and Litigation

• Michael McDermott won an appeal concerning a $5,000,000 land sale contract in the Mississippi Court of Appeals.
• Nathan Prescott successfully prevented foreclosure upon numerous commercial properties using protections afforded by legislation passed in response to Hurricane Katrina.
• Nathan Prescott successfully defended and negotiated settlement of suit to enforce right of first refusal and commercial lease regarding property damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Estate and Probate

• Nathan Prescott successfully defended matter at trial in which the Court established that powers of trustee and powers of conservator should vest or remain vested in client of firm.

Bond Closings

• Henry N. Dick, III served as bond counsel in connection with the issuance of $9,500,000 in Mississippi Development Bank Special Obligation Bonds, Series 2009 for the Gulfport, Mississippi Combined Water and Sewer System Project.
• Henry N. Dick, III served as bond counsel in connection with the issuance of $10,710,000 in Mississippi Development Bank Special Obligation Bonds, Series 2009 Ocean Springs, Mississippi Public Safety and Recreational Facilities Project.
• Henry N. Dick, III and Mandy Beard represented financial institution issuing the letter of credit in connection with the issuance of over 10 million dollars of Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Taxable Variable Rate Demand Revenue Bonds.
• Henry N. Dick, III and Mandy Beard represented financial institution issuing the letter of credit, in connection with the issuance of over 20 million dollars of Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Tax-Exempt Variable Rate Demand Revenue Bonds.
• Henry N. Dick, III and Mandy Beard represented financial institution issuing the letter of credit in connection with the issuance of four million dollars of State of Mississippi General Obligation Bonds related to the Mississippi Small Enterprise Development Finance Act.
• Henry N. Dick, III and Mandy Beard represented financial institution issuing the letter of credit in connection with the issuance of over seven million dollars of Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Variable Rate Demand Revenue Bonds.
• Henry N. Dick, III and Mandy Beard represented financial institution issuing the letter of credit in connection with the issuance of three million dollars of State of Mississippi General Obligation Bonds related to the Mississippi Small Enterprise Development Act.
• Henry N. Dick, III and Mandy Beard represented a private company in connection with the issuance of nearly two million dollars of State of Mississippi General Obligation Bonds related to the Mississippi Small Enterprise Development Finance Act.

Commercial Litigation

• Michael Whitehead successfully defended a local Gulf Coast casino and resort in an arbitration proceeding in which the claimant sought damages for breach of contract arising out of a fishing tournament.
• Nathan Prescott filed suit to dissolve corporation and successfully orchestrated buy-out of minority shareholders in presence of alleged corporate oppression.

Corporate Law

• Michael McDermott, Tere Steel, and Henry Dick assist with the formation of a parent and subsidiary companies for purpose of developing university specific, ESPN affiliated sports news websites, as well as ancillary employment, intellectual property, and revenue sharing matters.