Meet our Attorneys
Representing the injured, the wronged and their families
B. Kristian W. Rasmussen, III.
Email: krasmussen@cwcd.com
T: 205.328.2200
F: 205.324.7896
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Legal Secretary - Martha Clayton
E-mail: mclayton@cwcd.com
T: 205.328.2200
Paralegal -
Stephanie Hunter
E-mail: shunter@cwcd.com
T: 205.328.2200 x. 7154
Education:
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, B.A.
United States Naval War College
LAW SCHOOL
Mississippi College School of Law, J.D.
Areas of Practice:
Mass-Torts (Pharmaceutical)
Class Actions (Consumer Litigation)
Personal Injury
Litigation Percentage:
98% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
Florida
U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
AFFILIATIONS:
Judicial Nominating Commission, Florida First Judicial Circuit
American Association for Justice, Co-chair of the VIOXX / Cox-2 Litigation Group
Florida Justice Association, Board of Directors, member at large
Escambia / Santa Rosa County Bar Association
First Judicial Circuit Trial Lawyers Association
The American Trial Lawyers Association
NOTEWORTHY VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS:
2008: $3.75 million pharmaceutical products liability
2007: $1.2 million for client involved in an automobile collision; multiple injuries including the non-paralyzing fracture of a cervical vertebra
2007: $102 million co-lead trial counsel in consumer class action
2006: $2.7 million for pharmaceutical, products liability case
2006: $98 million working with national co-lead counsel in securities class action
2005: $2.8 million for pharmaceutical, products liability case
PUBLISHED OPINIONS AND REPRESENTATIVE CASES:
United States of America v. Hammond, 371 F.3d 776 (11th Cir. 2000); Lead Trial Counsel In re: High Sulfur Content Gasoline Products Liability Litigation, 344 F.Supp.2d 755; Appointed by United States District Court Judge, Elden Fallon, to lead all claims as a member of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee and Co-Lead Trial Counsel In re: Bextra and Celebrex Marketing, Sales Practices and Product Liability Litigation, 391 F.Supp.2d 1377; Appointed by United States District Court Judge, Charles Breyer, to lead all claims as a member of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee and Co-Chair of the Discovery Committee
AWARDS:
Selected “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by The American Trial Lawyers Association
New York City Trial Advocacy Award;
Various Military Awards and Distinction including the Navy Achievement Medal, Distinguished Graduate of OIS, and Officer of the Quarter.
PUBLICATIONS:
“Chantix: The Next Mass Tort” AAJ, Section on Toxic, Environmental & Pharmaceutical Torts; Vol. 15, No. 2, Spring 2008
Co-Author, "Bextra - No Different Than Vioxx" ATLA, Section on Toxic & Environmental Torts", Vol. 12, No. 2, Spring, 2005
LECTURES, CLASSES AND SEMINARES:
2008:
“Chantix: Cases, Claims and Liability” Pharmaceutical Litigation Super Conference, June 23-25, 2008 Chicago, IL.
“Chantix: Breaking News and Litigation” Professionally Speaking, Spring Seminar: May 17, 2008
2007:
Celebrex Clinical Trial Data and Hot Documents, American Association for Justice, Chicago, IL, 2007
Cox-2 Litigation - The Evidence and Trial Package, American Association for Justice, Miami, FL, 2007
2006:
Stevens Johnson Syndrome - Building Your Practice With Good Cases, Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, NV, 2006
Cox-2 Inhibitors A Mass Tort Update, American Association for Justice, Seattle, WA
Catastrophic Drug Reactions - Stevens Johnson Syndrome, Bextra and Other Culprit Drugs, Mass Torts
Made Perfect, Miami, FL, 2006
Bextra and the Increased Risk of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, American Association for Justice, Honolulu, HI, 2006
Host Tele-seminar, Multi-District Litigation Update, American Association for Justice, Pensacola, FL, 2006
Host Tele-seminar, Developing Scientific Evidence, American Association for Justice, Pensacola, FL, 2006
2005:
Bextra, NSAIDS and Stevens Johnson Syndrome, Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, NV, 2005
FDA Regulations and Requirements Regarding Warning for Stevens Johnson Syndrome, Harris Martin Publishing, San Francisco, CA, 2005
Bextra, NSAIDS and Stevens Johnson Syndrome, LexisNexis Mealey's Litigation Conference, Chicago, IL, 2005
Products Liability, Pharmaceutical Litigation, and Toxic Torts, American Association for Justice, West Palm Beach, FL, 2005
Host Tele-seminar, Filing Pharmaceutical Cases, American Association for Justice, Pensacola, FL, 2005
Cox-2 Inhibitor Litigation, American Association for Justice, Toronto, Canada, 2005
Expanding Your Law Practice - Multi-District Litigation Update for Bextra and Celebrex, Mass Torts Made Perfect, New York, NY, 2005
Vioxx Litigation Update and Similar Cases, LexisNexis Mealey Publication, 2005
2004:
Mass Torts and Products Liability - Cox-2 Inhibitor Drugs - Bextra and Celebrex are No Different Than
Vioxx, Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, NV, 2004
OTHER LEGAL APPOINTMENTS AND POSITIONS:
Florida law firm, member, mass torts department
United States Attorney, Northern District of Florida, Special Assistant
United States Navy, Officer, Judge Advocate General's Corps
Free Consultation!
Contact Cory Watson Injury Lawyers Today!
Have you been injured? Contact an Alabama injury lawyer at Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris today. Our office is located in Birmingham, but we have successfully advocated for clients throughout the country and overseas. Complete a FREE Online Consultation Form or call us today.
Practice Areas
- Auto Accident
- Aviation Accident
- Brain Injury
- Class Actions
- Defective Building Design
- Defective Highway Design
- Defective Medical Device
- Defective Product
- Drug Injuries
- Environmental
- Fire & Burn Injury
- Motorcycle Accident
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Ortho Evra®
- Premises Liability / Slip & Fall
- Truck Accident
- Workers Compensation
- Wrongful Death
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Attorneys, please complete the following form to be contacted by Cory, Watson, Crowder and DeGaris Attorneys at Law.
Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris, P.C.
2131 Magnolia Avenue
Birmingham, AL 35205
Phone: 800-852-6299
Local Phone: (205) 328-2200
Fax: (205) 324-7896


