G. Graham Thompson
Partner / Chattanooga
Graham Thompson is a partner in the Chattanooga office of Copeland, Stair, Valz & Lovell who practices in a broad range of areas, including automobile and trucking, professional malpractice, construction defect, and commercial disputes. Graham also has significant experience in workers’ compensation matters. Before joining CSVL, Graham was an associate with a civil litigation firm in Virginia Beach.
Graham is a graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law, where he was an editor of the Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment, and a member of the Judicial Council. Graham is also a graduate of Vanderbilt University and McCallie School. He lives in Chattanooga with his wife, and enjoys CrossFit and running marathons.
Results
Graham Thompson Secures Complete Dimissal for Tennessee LLC Client
August 29, 2020
In a recent trial, Graham Thompson obtained a complete dismissal of all claims on behalf of a Tennessee limited liability company. The Plaintiffs alleged breach of contract, misrepresentation, and fraud. After hearing the Plaintiffs’ evidence, testimony of the Defendant’s corporate representative, and closing arguments, the Court held that the Plaintiffs failed to carry the burden of proof and dismissed all claims with prejudice.
For informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in future cases.
Angela Cirina Kopet and Graham Thompson get Corporate Clients Dismissed from Federal Court
October 8, 2019
Angela Kopet and Graham Thompson were able to get their corporate clients dismissed from the Middle District Court of Tennessee. Plaintiff filed a lawsuit requesting over $750,000 in damages, including medical expenses, property damages, and lost wages. Ms. Kopet and Mr. Thompson were able to argue that Plaintiff’s claims should be dismissed from federal court because (1) Plaintiff missed the statute of limitations and (2) Plaintiff sued the wrong parties. The court agreed and dismissed both Defendants from the case.
For informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in future cases.
Angela Kopet Wins Summary Judgment in Georgia State Court
September 10, 2018
After a vehicle was driven through the home of Plaintiff causing alleged bodily injury to her person, Plaintiff alleged our client was responsible for the actions of the driver under the theories of agency and/or the family purpose doctrine and requested compensatory and punitive damages. Angela Kopet, with the assistance of Graham Thompson, was able to win summary judgment for her client by successfully presenting to the State Court in Georgia that her client was not the owner of the vehicle and did not exert any agency or control over the vehicle in question.
For informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in future cases.
Events
Copeland Stair’s Annual Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Seminar in Atlanta, GA – September 12, 2019
September 12, 2019
Copeland, Stair, Valz & Lovell's Annual Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Seminar was held on Thursday September 12, 2019. Located at the beautiful Atlanta Botanical Gardens, this two-track format addressed the emerging issues that keep you up at night. Some session topics included: the rise in tort litigation, putting together the pieces of the wrongful death case, effective use of recorded statements and the material misrepresentation defense, liability exposure in the age of active shooters and the impact bias has on case evaluation and jury deliberations. For more information on this seminar, please contact Michelle Mattox.
Carlock, Copeland & Stair Hosted Their Annual Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith Seminar
August 24, 2017
Carlock, Copeland & Stair hosted their annual Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith Seminar on August 24 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Presentations and Presenters: Have Traditional Rules Gone Up in Smoke? Impact of Growing Legalization of Medical Marijuana - Dave Root and Abby Grozine. Best Practices for Maintaining Your Claims File - Ryan Wilhelm, Jennifer Guerra, and Claire Sumner. Defending the Institutional Bad Faith Claim - Charlie McDaniel and Kathy Carlsten. New Technology, Old Policies: Are Aging Policies Equipped to Handle the Consumer Technology Boom? - Fred Valz and Melissa Bailey. Apportionment: Has It Gotten Insurers Where They Want To Go? - Charlie McDaniel, Graham Thompson, and Kristen Thompson. Additional Insured Jeopardy - Alex Davis, Laura Paton, Sarah Wetmore, Sally Bright and Nick Stewart. Why the Involvement of a Tractor Trailer Escalates a Case - Gary Lovell. Risk-Averse Insurers and the New Juror: Exploring Possible Links Between Fewer Trials, Millennial Jurors, and Seemingly Bigger Verdicts - Doug Smith and Lee Weatherly. Please contact Michelle Mattox at mmattox@csvl.law if you would like our attorneys to present in-house lunch & learn sessions or webinars.
Carlock, Copeland Welcomes New Attorneys to Our Atlanta, Charleston and Chattanooga Offices
February 5, 2016
Carlock, Copeland welcomes Stephanie Vari, Jennifer Guerra, Nick Stewart, Graham Thompson, Winter Wheeler, Sara Clayton and Alyssa Rogers to our firm. Stephanie Vari, Jennifer Guerra, Winter Wheeler, Sara Clayton and Alyssa Rogers are located in our Atlanta office. Nick Stewart is located in our Charleston office. Graham Thompson is located in our Chattanooga office.
News
***PRESS RELEASE*** CSVL 2022 Partnership Election Announcement
January 1, 2022
Copeland, Stair, Valz & Lovell, LLP is pleased to announce our newest elected partners. A handful of attorneys across each of our offices have achieved the honor of partnership in 2022, each showing profound talent and steadfast dedication to their practice, clients, and colleagues. Please help us congratulate each of the outstanding attorneys achieving partnership, Ryan D. Dixon, Caroline R. Niland, Jordan N. Teich, and G. Graham Thompson.
Click here to read the press release in full.
Publications and Presentations
Traffic Citations Can Extend the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Actions to Two Years in Tennessee – Insurance Coverage Corner Blog Post by Graham Thompson
February 2, 2021
Insurance Coverage Corner Blog Post by Graham Thompson. On January 28, 2021, the Tennessee Court of Appeals issued a ruling in the case of Reginald M. Younger v. Kibreab Kidane Okbahhanes, No. E202000429COAR10CV, 2021 WL 289332 (Tenn. Ct. App. Jan. 28, 2021). The Court held the one-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1) can be extended to two years pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(2). Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a) reads as follows: (a)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (a)(2), the following actions shall be commenced within one (1) year after the cause of action accrued:
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- Actions for libel, injuries to the person, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, or breach of marriage promise;
- Civil actions for compensatory or punitive damages, or both, brought under the federal civil rights statutes; and
- Actions for statutory penalties.
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- Criminal charges are brought against any person alleged to have caused or contributed to the injury;
- The conduct, transaction, or occurrence that gives rise to the cause of action for civil damages is the subject of a criminal prosecution commenced within one (1) year by:
- A law enforcement officer;
- A district attorney general; or
- A grand jury; and
- The cause of action is brought by the person injured by the criminal conduct against the party prosecuted for such conduct.
Is the Case Settled? Addressing Medicare/Medicaid/Hospital Lien Compliance Litigation Funding and the Use of Confidential Settlement Agreements – Presentation at Copeland Stair’s 2019 Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Seminar
September 12, 2019
Fred Valz, Claire Sumner, Graham Thompson and Lacey Houghton educated attendees on important features to think about that will ensure a case is resolved, and to focus on more than just the actual settlement sum. During the course of litigation, the Plaintiff is often continuing to receive significant medical treatment. With respect to varied guidelines to medical liens and claims for medical reimbursement, presenters focused on the rules within Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina. The goal of this presentation was to arm attendees with the knowledge and information to successfully negotiate a settlement that also includes resolution of all claims arising from the treatment given to the Plaintiff. For more information on this presentation and firm seminars, please contact Michelle Mattox.