Walter W. Dukes

Walter W. Dukes was born in Jackson, Mississippi on June 29, 1953. He was educated in the Gulfport, Mississippi public school system, graduating Gulfport East High School in 1971.

Active in various defense and insurance organizations, Walter is honored to hold membership in the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC), which is composed of leaders in legal communities worldwide. Membership in the FDCC is held exclusively for those who have been judged by their peers to have achieved professional distinction. Walter is also a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honor society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. He also is a member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association.

Walter has the reputation of vigorously defending his clients and has been successful in achieving many dismissals of cases, thus eliminating unnecessary expenditures by his clients. During the past 10 years, Walter has worked exclusively with major case units and catastrophic units of major insurers, handling the defense of only the worst of cases such as burns, quadriplegia, paraplegia, head injuries, multiple injuries and death. Many of those cases have been resolved through dispositive motion without the necessity of any settlement proceeds being paid.

In addition to his aggressive motion practice, Walter has tried many cases over the years, some of which are reported, but many of which are not, as they were not appealed. Such trials include litigation in Charleston, West Virginia; Austin, Texas; Dallas, Texas; and venues throughout the State of Mississippi.

Community and civic involvement are very important in Walter's life. His services have included the following:

• University of Mississippi Foundation, Board of Directors
• University of Mississippi Business Advisory Council, Board of Directors
• Gulfport Police Athletic League, Board of Directors
• Ethics Committee member of the Mississippi State Bar Association
• And recently, Walter accepted an appointment to the Mississippi State Bar Pilot Project on mentoring young lawyers entering the practice of law.

Walter is married to the former Elaine Carolyn Wiggs of Butler, Alabama; and they have two children, Jessica and Bill, and two granddaughters. Walter and his family are members of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Walter serves as an Elder on the Session.

Year Joined Firm

• 1983

Litigation Percentage

• 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Representative Cases

• Vo v. Hancock County, 989 So. 2d 414 (Miss. 2008)
• Estate of Hazelton v. Cain, 950 So. 2d 231 (Miss. 2007)
• Hayes v. Greene County, 932 So. 2d 831 (Miss. 2005)
• Satchfield v. R.R. Morrison & Son, Inc., 872 So. 2d 661 (Miss. 2004)
• Dowdle Butane Gas Co. v. Moore, 831 So. 2d 1124 (Miss. 2002)
• Speed v. Scott, 787 So. 2d 626 (Miss. 2001)
• Western World Ins. Co. v. Fernandez (U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16690 2000)

Representative Clients

• Zurich North America, Panel Counsel
• CNA, Panel Counsel
• ACE-INA, Panel Counsel
• ESIS, Panel Counsel

References

• Business References Available Upon Request

Classes/Seminars

• Ethics in Mass Tort Litigation, FDCC, 2008

Honors and Awards

• Martindale-Hubbell, "AV" Rating
• American Jurisprudence Award
• Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2011
• Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2007

Past Employment Positions

• Dukes, Carruba and Dukes, Partner, 1980 - 1985
• Daniel, Coker, Horton, Bell and Dukes, Attorney, 1978 - 1980

Pro Bono Activities

• Serve as Counsel For Police Athletic League of Gulfport Which Provides Assistance and Support To At-Risk Children and Teenagers, 2008 - Present

Fraternities/Sororities

• Pi Kappa Alpha