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    Cooper Thurber photograph

    Cooper C. Thurber

    Senior Partner

    Mobile
    251-441-8264
    cooper.thurber@phelps.com
    Areas Of Focus
    Products LiabilityProfessional LiabilityInsurance

    Cooper Thurber practices in the area of commercial and tort litigation. His practice concentrates in product and professional liability, insurance coverage, bad faith, trucking, toxic tort, premises liability and banking law. He represents businesses and insurers in significant commercial and tort litigation. Clients have included insurers, banks, manufacturers, universities, lawyers, judges and developers. Cooper has worked with insurance carriers as coverage, extra contractual and casualty counsel for the past 48 years. He has defended commercial carriers in bad faith, fraud and breach of contract matters in courts throughout Alabama both state and local. He has put on numerous seminars for carriers on avoiding bad faith in Alabama under the L.& S. Roofing doctrine.

    Cooper was with Lyons, Pipes & Cook and served as managing partner before the firm joined Phelps Dunbar.

    Experience

    • Represented Chinese company in acquisition of U.S. manufacturing company.
    • Successfully defended U.K. manufacturing company in 47 toxic tort cases involving carbon disulfide poisoning.
    • Defended products liability cases throughout the State of Alabama, including chainsaws, after market pick-up truck performance enhancers, hair curlers, motor vehicle glazing, rocket launchers, football/racing helmets and many other products.
    • Successfully defended national grocery store chain in nationwide class action involving out-of-date food products.
    • Represented U.K. manufacturing company during plant closure and transfer of property to Mobile County in Greenfield State.
    • Defended numerous insurers in bad faith, extra contractual suits.
    • Successfully defended rayon manufacturer in suit arising from airborne emission claiming injury to livestock on adjoining farmland.
    • Defended numerous insurers in bad faith, extra contractual suits.
    • Successfully defended rayon manufacturer in suit arising from airborne emission claiming injury to livestock on adjoining farmland.

    Insights

    • November 21, 2024

      18 Phelps Lawyers Named to 2024 Mid-South Super Lawyers Lists…

    • November 28, 2023

      Sixteen Phelps Lawyers Honored on 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers Lists…

    More +
    • November 29, 2022

      Super Lawyers Names 22 Phelps Lawyers to 2022 Mid-South Lists…

    • November 30, 2021

      Super Lawyers Names 23 Phelps Attorneys to 2021 Mid-South Lists…

    • November 30, 2020

      15 Phelps Lawyers Honored by 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars…

    • August 20, 2020

      127 Phelps Lawyers Selected to Best Lawyers in America, 16 Named "Lawyer of the Year" and 37 Chosen for First Class of "Ones to Watch"…

    • November 5, 2019

      16 Lawyers Named 2019 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars…

    Recognition

    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
    • Bet-the-Company Litigation (2010-2021), Commercial Litigation (2007-2021), Insurance (2007-2021), Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (2011-2021), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (2008-2023)
    • Alabama Law Foundation - Fellow
    • Who’s Who in American Law
    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
    • Bet-the-Company Litigation (2010-2021), Commercial Litigation (2007-2021), Insurance (2007-2021), Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs (2011-2021), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (2008-2023)
    • Alabama Law Foundation - Fellow
    • Who’s Who in American Law

    Education

    • University of Alabama, J.D., 1970
    • University of Mississippi, B.A., 1966
    • University of Alabama, J.D., 1970
    • University of Mississippi, B.A., 1966

    Credentials

    • Alabama
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama
    • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
    • Alabama
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama
    • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama

    Memberships and Affiliations

    Professional

    • Alabama State Bar
    • Mobile Bar Association - Former President
    • The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Admissions Committee - Chairman Emeritus
    • Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
    • American Board of Trial Advocates - President (2015)
    • American Judicature Society
    • National Conference of Bar Presidents

    Civic

    • Mobile Chamber of Commerce - Board of Advisors (1995-2014)
    • Downtown Mobile District Management Corporation - Board of Directors (2006-Present), President (2009), President Emeritus (2010-Present)
    • Downtown Mobile Alliance, Inc. - Board of Directors (2006-Present), President (2009), President Emeritus (2010-Present)
    • Judicial Study Commission’s Subcommittee on Judicial Discipline, appointed by Chief Justice Alabama Supreme Court
    • U. S. District Court Magistrate Selection Committee of the Southern District of Alabama (1999-2005)
    • Civil Justice Reform Act Committee (1995-2005)
    • Federal Defender Organization - Board of Directors (1994-2000)
    • Mobile County Solid Waste Authority - Chairman (2015-Present)

    Professional

    • Alabama State Bar
    • Mobile Bar Association - Former President
    • The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Admissions Committee - Chairman Emeritus
    • Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
    • American Board of Trial Advocates - President (2015)
    • American Judicature Society
    • National Conference of Bar Presidents

    Civic

    • Mobile Chamber of Commerce - Board of Advisors (1995-2014)
    • Downtown Mobile District Management Corporation - Board of Directors (2006-Present), President (2009), President Emeritus (2010-Present)
    • Downtown Mobile Alliance, Inc. - Board of Directors (2006-Present), President (2009), President Emeritus (2010-Present)
    • Judicial Study Commission’s Subcommittee on Judicial Discipline, appointed by Chief Justice Alabama Supreme Court
    • U. S. District Court Magistrate Selection Committee of the Southern District of Alabama (1999-2005)
    • Civil Justice Reform Act Committee (1995-2005)
    • Federal Defender Organization - Board of Directors (1994-2000)
    • Mobile County Solid Waste Authority - Chairman (2015-Present)
    • Overview
    • Experience
    • Insights
    • Recognition
    • Education
    • Credentials
    • Memberships and Affiliations

    Related Services

    • Products Liability
    • Professional Liability
    • Insurance
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