William S. Haynes

Mr. Haynes joined the firm in 1987 and became a shareholder in 1991.  He is a member of the litigation group and currently serves as the chairman of the firm’s recruiting committee. Mr. Haynes has over twenty-five years’ experience litigating a broad range of civil liability cases. His primary focus is on the defense of medical malpractice cases involving physicians, dentists, hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare professionals. He also has experience handling other complex litigation matters in the areas of professional liability, healthcare, and insurance defense.

Mr. Haynes has been recognized by his peers for his outstanding trial skills. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, which is by invitation only and requires extensive experience as lead counsel in numerous civil trials.

Recent Practice Highlights

With Philip Sellers, achieved defense verdict in nursing home wrongful death trial in Talladega County.  The Plaintiff alleged that the defendant breached the standard of care by allowing a resident in the long-term care facility to develop decubitus ulcers thereby causing the resident’s death. At trial, the defendant produced evidence that established that the defendant’s care was reasonable and appropriate at all times and that the resident’s decubitus ulcers were the result of pre-existing medical conditions rather than any breach of the standard of care on the part of the defendant’s nursing staff.

With Tommy Keene, obtained a directed verdict in favor of a physician in a medical malpractice/wrongful death case involving the death of a patient who was given 80 units of Levemir, rather than 8 units, due to an error in transcription in India.

With Tommy Keene, obtained a defense verdict in a wrongful death case where the plaintiff alleged that negligent prescription of a controlled substance led to suicide.

Obtained defense verdict in favor of hospital and nurse in medical malpractice/wrongful death case involving patient who died after being seen and treated in the hospital’s emergency department for an allergic reaction

Obtained defense verdict in favor of family practice physician in medical malpractice/wrongful death case involving a patient who was alleged to have aspirated barium during an attempted upper GI study with small bowel follow-through

Obtained defense verdict in favor of internist in medical malpractice/wrongful death case involving an ICU patient who became profoundly hypotensive and died

Secured summary judgment in favor of radiologist in medical malpractice case involving patient who received an MRI with contrast and suffered an adverse reaction

Secured summary judgment in favor of surgeon in medical malpractice/wrongful death case involving allegation that surgeon failed to consult with patient’s treating physician regarding the placement of a stent for dialysis

Obtained defense verdict for general dentist against charges of malpractice in the delivery of implants, dentures, and associated reconstruction of patient’s dentition

Obtained defense verdict for nursing home in malpractice case involving a patient who fell out of a wheelchair and suffered subdural hematoma

Honors and Awards

Mr. Haynes has been AV peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has also been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® (2010-2019).

Presentations

Lecture to the Okaloosa Study Club, “What’s a Dentist to Do? – A lawyer’s comments on dentists’ involvement in the legal system”

Various lectures, presentations, and speeches on malpractice, loss prevention, and other medical/legal issues to medical professional groups

Community Involvement

Mr. Haynes is a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Montgomery, where he has served as senior warden.

• Healthcare and Medical Liability
• Professional Liability and Licensure Matters
• Insurance Defense and Coverage Law

• B.A., University of Alabama, 1984
• J.D., University of Alabama School of Law, 1987

• Alabama State Bar
• Montgomery County Bar Association
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Alabama Nursing Home Association Defense Lawyers Group
• Defense Research Institute
• American Board of Trial Advocates

• Alabama
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama
• Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
• United States Supreme Court