Phelps Achieves String of Appellate Wins in Quick Succession

Phelps recently earned a trio of appellate victories within eight days before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Jackson partner Todd Butler presented oral arguments in two of the cases and the third was decided on the briefs.

In the first case, Atkins v. Hopkins, Phelps successfully persuaded the appeals court to reverse the trial court’s summary judgment denial in a First Amendment case.  Along with Todd, counsel Trey Clark and associate Patrick Judd litigated the appeal.

In the second and third cases, Fry v. City of Hernando and Franks v. City of Oxford et al., Phelps secured summary judgment affirmances in employment cases. Todd and associate Mallory Bland litigated the appeals.     

These rulings highlight Phelps’ strong appellate practice. In 2024, the firm had the most filings of any law firm at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Our lawyers frequently appear in other federal circuits as well as state appellate courts across the Gulf South.