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    William Shreve photograph

    William E. Shreve, Jr.

    Counsel

    Mobile
    251-441-8224
    william.shreve@phelps.com
    Areas Of Focus
    InsuranceAppellateLitigation

    William Shreve practices in the areas of appellate advocacy, insurance coverage and civil litigation. He has handled more than 100 appeals and petitions for extraordinary writ in the Alabama Supreme Court, Alabama Court of Civil Appeals and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He has represented insurers and insureds in numerous coverage matters, preparing coverage opinions, prosecuting declaratory-judgment actions, defending breach-of-contract/bad-faith cases, and intervening on behalf of insurers in actions against insureds. He has also defended construction accident, products liability, premises liability, outrageous conduct, civil rights, business interference, defamation, and other personal injury and commercial litigation.

    Experience

    • Successfully appealed $730,000 judgment against workmen’s compensation insurer to Alabama Supreme Court, based on insurer’s having effectively cancelled workmen’s-compensation policy before plaintiff-employee fell from roof.
    • Obtained affirmance by Eleventh Circuit of judgment on jury verdict for employer in case under Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
    • Successfully petitioned Alabama Supreme Court for writ of certiorari reversing Court of Civil Appeals’ decision that riparian owner could maintain pier beyond the point of navigability in front of neighboring riparian owner’s (our client’s) property.
    • Obtained affirmance by Alabama Supreme Court of $3.65-million judgment for property owner against vendor for breach of prepayment provision in promissory note resulting in lost sale of property.
    • Obtained affirmance by Eleventh Circuit of judgment on jury verdict for transportation company in action for assault and battery by company’s employee.
    • Successfully prosecuted federal declaratory-judgment action that insurer had no duty to defend or indemnify insured against plaintiff’s suit for injuries sustained in fall from man-lift basket, based on insured’s late notice of suit and exclusion for injuries to subcontractors’ employees.
    • Persuaded Alabama Court of Civil Appeals to reverse judgment that deceased employee’s estate, rather than employee’s widow (our client), was beneficiary of employee’s deferred-compensation plan, and ultimately obtained judgment for widow.
    • Obtained affirmance by Alabama Supreme Court of summary judgment for defendant-landlord in case involving near-drowning of minor tenant in drainage ditch.
    • Successfully petitioned Alabama Supreme Court for writ of certiorari reversing Court of Civil Appeals’ decision that reversed trial court’s dismissal of workmen’s-compensation cases, where prior dismissal for failure to comply with court order barred plaintiffs’ subsequent actions for same injuries.
    • Obtained affirmance by Fifth Circuit of dismissal of vessel owner’s action against vessel-inspection company under federal maritime Limitation of Liability Act, based on vessel owner’s not having timely filed action following written notice of plaintiff’s claim.
    • Successfully defended insurer in action by another insurer for garnishment of policy proceeds following damage to construction equipment, obtaining summary judgment based on exclusions for "property damage" to "[p]roperty loaned to [the insured]" and "[p]ersonal property in the care, custody or control of the insured".
    • Obtained affirmance by Eleventh Circuit of judgment on jury verdict for college on student’s claim for handicap discrimination under Rehabilitation Act.
    • Successfully moved to dismiss plaintiff-beneficiary’s action against life insurer for death benefits under group policy, based on insured’s death not having been independent of medical treatment and thus not having been “accident” as defined in policy.
    • Successfully applied to Alabama Supreme Court for rehearing of decision that deed conveyed right of way rather than fee-simple interest, with court holding on rehearing that deed conveyed fee-simple interest.
    • Successfully prosecuted federal declaratory-judgment action that insurer had no duty to defend or indemnify insured against plaintiff’s suit for injuries sustained in fall from man-lift basket, based on insured’s late notice of suit and exclusion for injuries to subcontractors’ employees.
    • Persuaded Alabama Court of Civil Appeals to reverse judgment that deceased employee’s estate, rather than employee’s widow (our client), was beneficiary of employee’s deferred-compensation plan, and ultimately obtained judgment for widow.
    • Obtained affirmance by Alabama Supreme Court of summary judgment for defendant-landlord in case involving near-drowning of minor tenant in drainage ditch.
    • Successfully petitioned Alabama Supreme Court for writ of certiorari reversing Court of Civil Appeals’ decision that reversed trial court’s dismissal of workmen’s-compensation cases, where prior dismissal for failure to comply with court order barred plaintiffs’ subsequent actions for same injuries.
    • Obtained affirmance by Fifth Circuit of dismissal of vessel owner’s action against vessel-inspection company under federal maritime Limitation of Liability Act, based on vessel owner’s not having timely filed action following written notice of plaintiff’s claim.
    • Successfully defended insurer in action by another insurer for garnishment of policy proceeds following damage to construction equipment, obtaining summary judgment based on exclusions for "property damage" to "[p]roperty loaned to [the insured]" and "[p]ersonal property in the care, custody or control of the insured".
    • Obtained affirmance by Eleventh Circuit of judgment on jury verdict for college on student’s claim for handicap discrimination under Rehabilitation Act.
    • Successfully moved to dismiss plaintiff-beneficiary’s action against life insurer for death benefits under group policy, based on insured’s death not having been independent of medical treatment and thus not having been “accident” as defined in policy.
    • Successfully applied to Alabama Supreme Court for rehearing of decision that deed conveyed right of way rather than fee-simple interest, with court holding on rehearing that deed conveyed fee-simple interest.

    Insights

    • November 21, 2024

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

    • August 15, 2024

      185 Phelps Lawyers Chosen for Best Lawyers in America, 20 Named "Lawyer of the Year," 26 Added to “Ones to Watch” List…

    More +
    • November 28, 2023

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

    • August 17, 2023

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 208 Phelps Lawyers, Names 12 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 47 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • November 29, 2022

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

    • August 18, 2022

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 158 Phelps Lawyers, Names 10 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 40 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • 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…

    • November 5, 2019

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

    • August 15, 2018

      Best Lawyers in America© 2019 Selects 7 Phelps Dunbar Lawyers as "Lawyer of the Year"…

    Recognition

    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
    • Appellate Practice (2007-2025), Insurance Law (2007-2025), "Lawyer of the Year" Insurance Law (2019), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers (2008-2023)
    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
    • Appellate Practice (2007-2025), Insurance Law (2007-2025), "Lawyer of the Year" Insurance Law (2019), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers (2008-2023)

    Education

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

    Credentials

    • Alabama
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • 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 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

    • Alabama State Bar, Appellate Practice Section
    • Mobile Bar Association
    • Defense Research Institute, Appellate Advocacy Committee, Amicus Subcommittee
    • Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
    • Alabama State Bar, Appellate Practice Section
    • Mobile Bar Association
    • Defense Research Institute, Appellate Advocacy Committee, Amicus Subcommittee
    • Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
    • Overview
    • Experience
    • Insights
    • Recognition
    • Education
    • Credentials
    • Memberships and Affiliations

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