Gingi Gautier, Elizabeth Hooper, Suzy Turner, Katie Pearson, Mallory Street, and incoming associate, Meagan Guyse, attended the Constance Slaughter-Harvey Chapter of the Black Law Students Association Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet at the University of Mississippi on April 1, 2023. Wise Carter Child & Caraway, PA was proud to be a gold sponsor of the event and looks forward to continuing to support the endeavors of this organization at the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Author Archives: Kimber Riley
Wallace Represents Republicans in the Mississippi Redistricting
Michael B. Wallace of our Jackson office represented the Republican Party with a favorable outcome for his client regarding the Mississippi Congressional Redistricting Plan.
Based on federal and state law, the Legislature is required to redraw Congressional districts every 10 years to match population shifts. For the first time since the 1990s, the federal courts did not draw Mississippi’s Congressional districts. The Mississippi Legislature adopted a new plan of Congressional districts to be used for elections based on the 2020 census in January 2022.
The new redistricting plan in 2022 was challenged by the Democratic Party and others. The Republican Party and individual state officers defended the plan.
The argument was held in front of a three-judge federal panel, composed of Circuit Judge Grady Jolly, Judge David Bramlette, and Judge Henry Wingate. The Court rejected the challenge and dismissed the complaint. A contrary ruling might well have delayed elections for a significant period of time. The imposition of new districts might well have changed the result of those elections. The dismissal of the action permitted the elections to be conducted as the Legislature had directed.
The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court but then was dismissed on February 21, 2023, leaving the District Court’s judgment in place.
DOM REVERSES $47M IN HOSPITAL DSH RECOUPMENTS
Wise Carter attorneys George Ritter, Collier Graham, and Becky Hawkins, with strategic assistance from Mike Wallace, achieved a significant victory for Mississippi hospitals, resulting in the Division of Medicaid (DOM) withdrawing approximately $47 million in recoupments of disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments. DSH payments, generally, are supplemental Medicaid payments to hospitals that provide a disproportionate share of uninsured care. The initial recoupments imposed by DOM were for fiscal years 2012, 2013, and 2014 and totaled $23,267,790 against 14 Mississippi hospitals represented by Wise Carter. Wise Carter challenged the recoupments arguing that DOM’s auditors had applied the incorrect methodology for calculating the hospitals’ DSH cap, known as the hospital specific DSH limit. Later, DOM announced recoupments for FY 2017 totaling $26,628,618 against 15 hospitals. Wise Carter challenged these recoupments on the same grounds. On December 29, 2022, after protracted administrative and federal proceedings, DOM announced that it would apply the methodology advocated by the hospitals. The end result was that virtually all of the $47 million in recoupments were withdrawn.
For over 50 years, Wise Carter has served Mississippi hospitals through good times and bad. From contracting and certificates of need to malpractice defense and reimbursement litigation, and all other areas of healthcare law, our healthcare attorneys provide a full array of legal services for hospitals, physicians, clinics, and other care facilities. Wise Carter is proud to serve as counsel for the Mississippi Hospital Association and its affiliated organizations. For more information, visit www.wisecarter.com.
Mallory Street Joins MDLA Board of Directors
Wise Carter proudly recognizes Mallory Street for her selection and commitment to join the 2023 Board of Directors for the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association (MDLA).
Mallory Street, an Associate to Wise Carter’s Jackson Office, was inducted to the 2023 MDLA Board at the 2023 MDLA Annual Membership Meeting on January 27, 2023. Mallory’s litigation practice focuses on general insurance defense, including personal injury, premises liability, and medical malpractice defense.
Founded in 1965, the MDLA is comprised of over 400 members who practice primarily in the defense of civil litigation claims in Mississippi’s state and federal courts. The MDLA seeks to enhance the practice of its membership through Continuing Legal Education and skills training seminars, as well as through networking and service opportunities. Wise Carter is excited to see the impact Mallory will make as she serves on the MDLA Board of Directors.
Wise Carter Granted Summary Judgment in Challenging Medical Malpractice Case
Wise Carter attorneys continue to deliver successful results for medical provider clients who find themselves in litigation. The team of Ashley Gunn and Mark Hodges recently teamed up in the defense of a challenging medical malpractice case that arose from treatment at a Mississippi gulf coast hospital.
In an opinion and order released by Judge Lisa Dodson on January 5th, the court granted summary judgment for the three firm clients who were sued for care provided in the hospital’s emergency department. The case, which involved permanent neurological injuries and several hundred thousand dollars in medical expenses and future care costs, was set to be tried on January 23rd in Harrison County Circuit Court. Although the Plaintiffs designated multiple expert witnesses, Judge Dodson agreed with the defendants that the designations were inadequate to avoid summary judgment. Ashley argued the motions at a hearing on December 9.
Wise Carter is pleased to recognize Ashley Gunn and Mark Hodges for this excellent outcome in favor of Wise Carter clients.
Amtrak Returns to Mississippi Gulf Coast
As a Mississippi-proud firm, Wise Carter celebrates the economic wins for the state of Mississippi, including the 2022 announcement of Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, returning to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Amtrak stopped running along the Mississippi Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Since Katrina, the Mississippi Gulf Coast region has worked hard to build back the local cities to create attractive tourist locations. The proposed route is two daily trains running with stops to Bay St. Louis, Pascagoula, Gulfport, and Biloxi. Service expects to begin in the early part of 2023.
Wise Carter’s second largest office is in Gulfport, overlooking the Port of Gulfport and Gulfport Station. Wise Carter has been providing top legal services to Amtrak for half a century, and they are excited to see the impact of how their clients can improve the state.
Wise Carter Supporting Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth, Inc.
Wise Carter and their employees have always been committed to fulfilling the needs of the community and the state of Mississippi. Wise Carter has been a proud supporter of Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth, Inc through the years and continued their efforts through the 2022 holiday season.
Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth, Inc. is a local Mississippi non-profit organization focused on the needs of Mississippi’s youth through foster care, group homes, and adoption services. Wise Carter worked to fulfill some of the needs of their programs in an effort to give back to the state.
Wise Carter is proud of the positive impact made with P.A.L.S. (Preparing Adolescents to live Successfully) Transitional Living Program and the Therapeutic Foster Care program for Southern Christian Services. Wise Carter employees were able to fill the P.A.L.S. Food Pantry just in time for Thanksgiving and fill 15 Christmas Stockings for foster children across the state of Mississippi, as well as contributing monetary donations.
Wise Carter enjoyed being able to support such a wonderful organization. Working on the Southern Christian Services project was a true testament of when we all work together, we can always achieve more.
2022 AMERICA’S TOP 100 HIGH STAKES LITIGATORS®
December 29, 2022 – Announcing the selection of Charles E. Ross among America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® for 2022. Selection to America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® is by invitation only and is reserved to identify the nation’s most exceptional trial attorneys in high value, high stakes legal matters.
To be considered for selection, an attorney must have litigated (for either plaintiff or defendant) a matter (1) with at least $2,000,000 in alleged damages at stake or (2) with the fate of a business worth at least $2,000,000 at stake. These minimum qualifications are required for initial consideration. Thereafter, candidates are carefully screened through comprehensive Qualitative Comparative Analysis based on a broad array of criteria, including the candidate’s professional experience, litigation experience, significant case results, representative high stakes matters, peer reputation, and community impact in order to rank the candidates throughout the state.
Only the top 100 qualifying attorneys in each state will receive this honor and be selected for membership among America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators®. With these extremely high standards for selection to America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators®, less than one-half percent (0.5%) of active attorneys in the United States will receive this honor — truly the most exclusive and elite level of attorneys in the community.
Wise Carter is a Mississippi leading law firm with a legacy of providing legal expertise for over a century. Wise Carter has offices located in Jackson, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport, Mississippi. For more information on the firm, please visit www.wisecarter.com.
SUPER LAWYERS 2022
Wise Carter is pleased to announce the Wise Carter attorneys selected for The Super Lawyer 2022. Only five percent of attorneys from each state are chosen in the selection of The Super Lawyers list. The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state. Wise Carter is honored to have two of our attorneys recognized on the Rising Stars list as well as five listed on the Super Lawyers list. We are proud of the reputation our attorneys uphold in our state. Congratulations to the attorneys listed below.
Jackson, Mississippi
- Charles Cowan
- Mid-South Rising Star – Business Litigation
- Gaye Nell Currie
- Mid-South Super Lawyers – PI Med Mal: Defense
- Eugene Naylor
- Mid-South Super Lawyers – PI Med Mal: Defense
- James Robertson
- Mid-South Super Lawyers -Business Litigation
- Michael Wallace
- Mid-South Super Lawyers – Appellate
Gulfport, Mississippi
- Ashley Gunn
- Mid-South Rising Star – Civil Litigation: Defense
- Henry Laird
- Mid-South Super Lawyers – Business Litigation
Wise Carter Sponsors HBCU Law Preview Day
Wise Carter proudly supports The University of Mississippi School of Law’s HBCU Law Preview Day. Suzette Turner represented Wise Carter on the discussion panel at this event and attended alongside our Diversity Committee Chair, Virginia Gautier.
Being a recent University of Mississippi Law Student and having attend a HBCU, Suzette Turner was a well-suited representative on the panel discussion. The panel offered candid conversations about varied experiences in dealing with racism, classism, and sexism throughout their legal education and careers. They were able to share strategies and methods with students on how to overcome and navigate those occurrences to find pathways to success. As well as reaffirm many of the old stigmas in practicing law are fading.
Unaware of the HBCU Law Preview Day during her time of education, Suzette shared of the volumes it spoke of the active steps Ole Miss Law continues to take towards increasing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Suzette felt the value of Wise Carter’s presence and stated, “Simply meeting lawyers that looks like them and it is equally as important meeting lawyers that don’t look like them that are willing to show up and support creates impact.”
Wise Carter’s Diversity Committee is committed to growing the firm with diversified talent to provide a more dynamic perspective. These events are crucial in gaining diversity on all fronts in the legal field and provides underrepresented students the simple tools that allow them to be successful in their endeavors.