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

1. Auto Accident
2. Aviation Accident
3. Brain Injury
4. Class Actions
5. Defective Building Design
6. Defective Highway Design
7. Defective Medical Device
8. Defective Product
9. Drug Injuries
10. Environmental
11. Fire & Burn Injury
12. Motorcycle Accident
13. Nursing Home Abuse
14. Ortho Evra®
15. Premises Liability / Slip & Fall
16. Truck Accident
17. Workers Compensation
18. Wrongful Death

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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