Attorney Information
Biography
Charles is a shareholder attorney at Wise Carter. His practice centers on litigation and appeals in Mississippi state and federal courts. He represents a litany of clients in the healthcare, financial services, insurance, and railroad industries. He also represents state agencies and other political subdivisions of the State of Mississippi in defense of them in litigation. In addition to his work in the courtroom, Charles regularly represents clients in administrative matters before state and federal administrative agencies, including protests of government procurements and defense of clients in state and federal regulatory investigations. Throughout his career, Charles has litigated major public policy matters on behalf of Mississippi governmental clients, extending to state and federal legislative redistricting, ballot initiatives, and state and federal constitutional cases.
Charles regularly first chairs appeals in Mississippi appellate courts and in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. When necessary, he obtains pro hac vice admission to other federal courts to handle clients’ litigation matters in other jurisdictions.
Charles is a proud graduate of the University of Mississippi and a law clerk alumnus of the Honorable E. Grady Jolly of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. In his free time, Charles enjoys exercising, fishing, hunting, golf, and traveling. Charles and his wife, Kristin, live in Madison, Mississippi.
Education
- The University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2013
- The University of Mississippi, B.A., magna cum laude, 2010
Work History
- Law Clerk for Hon. E. Grady Jolly, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2013-2014
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi
Professional Organizations
- The Federalist Society, President, Mississippi Lawyers Chapter
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
- Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
- Federal Bar Association
Special Designations
- Ranked in Chambers and Partners USA - Litigation: General Commercial, 2024
- Appointee, Mississippi Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch, Appellate Practice, 2021-2025
- Listed in Super Lawyers®: Rising Stars, Business Litigation, 2020-2024
Publications and Seminars
- Author, Creationism’s Public and Private Fronts: The Protection and Restriction of Religious Freedom, 82 Miss L.J. 223 (2013).
- Author, Constitutional Law-Arrest and Detention Under the Material Witness Statute-Objectively Reasonable Arrest Did Not Violate Fourth Amendment, 81 Miss. L.J. 621, (2011).
Featured Cases
- Renfroe v. Parker, 374 So.3d 1234 (Miss. Ct. App. 2023) (affirming entry of summary judgment in favor of Madison County Sheriff and Deputy in wrongful death case rising out of officer-involved shooting)
- SEL Business Services, LLC v. Lord, 367 So.3d 146 (Miss. 2023) (affirming entry of summary judgment in favor of community hospital and county clients in dispute over hospital's purchase of commercial property)
- United Healthcare, Inc. v. Mississippi's Community Mental Health Commissions, 335 So.3d 1055 (Miss. 2022) (affirming entry of permanent injunction in favor of community mental health center clients against managed care company and denial of company's motion to compel arbitration arising out of company's cutting of Medicaid reimbursement rates)
- Sims v. National Railroad Passenger Corp., et al., 2021 WL 6774575 (S.D. Miss. Dec. 30, 2021) (granting summary judgment in favor of railroad clients Amtrak and Norfolk Southern Railroad subsidiary company in wrongful death case)
- Hale v. Harrison County Board of Supervisors, et al., 8 F.4th 399 (5th Cir. 2021) (affirming dismissal of federal claims against correctional medical provider clients)
- Hoggatt v. Allstate Insurance, et al., 849 Fed. App’x 74 (5th Cir. 2021) (affirming dismissal of federal RICO and state law fraud claims against insurance company client)
- Thomas v. Tate Reeves, et al., 961 F.3d 800 (5th Cir. 2020) (en banc) (vacating as moot district court order finding that State of Mississippi violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in the apportionment of State Senate District 22)
- Butler v. PHC-Cleveland, Inc., 282 So. 3d 441 (Miss. Ct. App. 2019) (affirming dismissal of medical malpractice and wrongful death claims against hospital client)
- J.P. Milam v. Ann Kelly and Jim Kelly, 282 So. 3d 682 (Miss. Ct. App. 2019) (affirming entry of summary judgment in favor of homeowner clients in dispute over residential flooding)
- Harkins v. Jackson Municipal Airport Authority 936 F.3d 224 (5th Cir. 2019) (reversing district court order compelling production of legislative materials by state legislator clients in litigation over control of Jackson, Mississippi airport)
- Inland Family Practice Ctr. v. Amerson, 256 So. 3d 586 (Miss. 2018) (reversing and rendering judgment in favor of healthcare provider clients in defamation lawsuit brought by former patient)
- Keyes v. Gunn, 890 F.3d 232 (5th Cir. 2018) (reversed and rendered judgment in favor of state legislator clients in civil rights lawsuit over alleged unequal treatment in voting procedures)
- Legislature of State v. Shipman, 170 So. 3d 1211 (Miss. 2015) (reversing and rendering judgment in favor of client, Mississippi Legislature, in appeal over ballot title in statewide education initiative)
- Gunn v. Hughes, 210 So. 3d 969 (Miss. 2017) (remanding with instructions to dismiss claim against client, Mississippi’s Speaker of the House, in dispute in successful over application of the rules of the Mississippi Legislature)
- Kenneth Palmer v. Canadian National Railway, Administrative Review Board Case No. 16-035 (Sep. 30, 2016) (deciding the proper burden of proof for cases brought under the Federal Railway Safety Act in favor of railroad client)