Free Initial Consultation

(Main Office)

In or about 1884, John C. Eyster embarked on the private practice of law in Decatur, Alabama. From those roots, the Eyster firm began and was a family firm until approximately 1964 when now senior partner John S. Key joined the firm. From its beginning to the present, the firm has engaged in the general practice of civil law, with later emphasis on insurance defense litigation and taxation. The firm has gradually grown to be one of the largest and most diversified firms in North Alabama, continuing to provide quality legal services for a cross-section of the entire community in Morgan and surrounding counties in the Tennessee Valley region. The firm engages in general civil litigation in all courts, including personal injury, product liability, professional liability, class actions, insurance, corporate, tax, probate, domestic, municipal, mediation and worker's compensation. The litigators in the firm are members of the Defense Research Institute and the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association. William Middleton is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association. John Key and Nick Roth are Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers while J. Glynn Tubb is the Decatur area representative of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. Seven members of the firm, including retired Circuit Judge Phillip Reich are registered mediators.

EysterKey has provided sophisticated advice and aggressive representation to meet the needs of public companies, small private businesses, government entities and individuals. From complex nationwide class action litigation to divorce disputes, from business start-ups to estate planning and will preparation, from products liability and injury lawsuits to insurance and worker's compensation cases, EysterKey attorneys have distinguished themselves by their expertise, responsive service and cost effective solutions for their clients. Large enough to have the resources the firm's clients need, EysterKey remains small enough to provide the personalized service and responsiveness the firm's clients want and deserve.

Statement of Practice

General Civil Practice in all Courts. Corporations, Insurance, Personal Injury, Workers Compensation, Real Estate, Taxation, Wills and Estates, Trials, Mediation, Complex Litigation, Divorce, Commercial Litigation.

Clients

LOCAL INSURANCE COUNSEL FOR: American International Adjustment Co.
C.N.A.
Colonial Penn Insurance Co.
Cotton States Insurance Co.
Employers Casualty Co.
Federated Elec. Insurance Co.
Firemens Fund
Hartford Group
Home Insurance Co.
Kemper Insurance Co.
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
Medical Assurance, Inc.
Attorneys Insurance Mutual of Alabama
State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company
Metropolitan Insurance Co.
American National Assurance Co.
Nationwide
National Security Fire & Casualty Co.
Royal Globe Group
St. Paul
Sedgwick James
Sheffield Risk
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.
The Travelers
ACCC.

Representative Clients:

General Electric
Brown & Root
Cerro Wire & Cable (Marmon Group)
3M
Deere & Co.
Ford Motor Co.
General Motors Corp.
Delphi Automotive Systems (Saginaw & Packard Divisions)
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
Deere Credit, Inc.
John Deere Construction and Forestry Company
Tankersley
Chiptec, Inc.
Hood Tractor and RV Center, Inc.
International Paper
General Electric
D & S Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Morgan Farmers Cooperative, Inc.
Intergraph, Inc.
Goss Electric Company, Inc.
Ronald Terry Electric, Inc.
Hutto Printing & Advertising, Inc.
Watkins Motor Lines
3M
Louisiana State Medical Association
Florida Medical Association
Texas Medical Association
and California Medical Association
Valspar
Peebles Oil Company
ProAssurance, Inc.

Clients

Delphi Automotive Systems
Joe Sartain Ford
Delphi
3M.

Rate Information

Fixed Hourly Rates
Free Initial Consultation

No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Persons accessing this site are encouraged to seek independent counsel for advice regarding their individual legal issues.

Address

Eyster Building
402 East Moulton Street, S.E. P.O. Box 1607
Decatur, AL 35602, (Limestone & Morgan Cos.)

Phone

Phone: 256-353-6761
Fax: 256-353-6767

Website

http://www.eysterkey.com

Office Hours

Monday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tuesday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wednesday: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Thursday: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Friday: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MEMBERS OF FIRM

J. Glynn Tubb (Partner) born Tuscaloosa, Alabama, March 15, 1948; admitted to bar, 1975, Alabama. Education: University of Alabama (B.S., 1970; J.D., 1975). Omicron Delta Kappa; Phi Delta Phi (President, 1974-1975). Member, Bench and Bar Honor Society. Member of Editorial Staff, Law and Psychology Review, 1974-1975. Certified Mediator. Former Member, Decatur Utilities Board of Directors. Calhoun Community College Foundation. Member, President's Cabinet, University of Alabama. Member: Morgan County (President, 1998) and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar; Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (Former Director and Former Vice President); Association of Defense Trial Attorneys; Defense Research Institute; Association of Attorney Mediators of Alabama. Reported Cases: Cross v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Corp., 793 So.2d 791 (Ala.Civ.App. 2000); Ex parte Martin, 733 So.2d 392 (Ala. 1999); Flesher v. Saginaw Div., General Motors Corp., 689 So.2d 113 (Ala.Civ.App. 1996); Billings v. K Mart Corp., 654 So.2d 530 (Ala. 1995); Oden v. Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. of Decatur, Inc., 621 So.2d 953 (Ala. 1993); Robertson v. Travelers Inn, 613 So.2d 376 (Ala. 1993); Guster v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., 611 So.2d 370 (Ala.Civ.App. 1992); Dixon v. Economy Co., 477 So.2d 353 (Ala. 1985); Landale Enterprises, Inc. v. Berry, 676 F.2d 506 (11th Cir. 1982). Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Workers Compensation; Automotive Negligence; Products Liability; Mediation.Email: J. Glynn Tubb

Nicholas B. Roth (Member) born St. Louis, Missouri, July 21, 1950; admitted to bar, 1980, Alabama and U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama. Education: Marion Institute and University of Alabama (B.S., 1977); University of Alabama (J.D., 1980). Omicron Delta Epsilon; Phi Delta Phi. Member, Bench and Bar. Certified Mediator. Member, Steering Committee and Litigation Management Committee, In re managed Care, MDL, 1334. Member, Decatur General Hospital Board of Trustees. Alabama State Bar Commissioner, 8th Judicial Circuit, 2002. Member: Morgan County and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar; Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association. [With U.S. Naval Reserve, 1969-1971]. Reported Cases: Ex Parte White, 775 So.2d 798 (Ala. 2000); Lipham v. General Motors Corp., 665 So.2d 190 (Ala. 1995); Wiginton v. Hagler, 585 So.2d 5 (Ala. 1991); PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. v. Book, 538 U.S. 401, 123 S.Ct. 1531, 155 L.Ed.2d 578 (2003); Ex parte Troncalli Chrysler Plymouth Dodge, Inc., 876 So.2d 459, 2003 WL 22113762, Ala., September 12, 2003; Cook's Pest Control v. Rebar, 852 So.2d 730, 2002 WL 31780946, Ala., December 13, 2002; Ex parte City of Haleyville, 827 So.2d 778, 2002 WL 254131, Ala., February 22, 2002; Ex parte White, 775 So.2d 798, 2000 WL 804604, Ala., June 23, 2000; Johnson v. Wagner, 678 So.2d 782, 1996 WL 293434, Ala., May 31, 1996; Tri-Tube, Inc. v. OEM Components, Inc., 672 So.2d 1303, 1995 WL 740222, Ala.Civ.App., December 15, 1995; Lipham v. General Motors Corp., 665 So.2d 190, 1995 WL 385879, Ala., June 30, 1995; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Tuck, 671 So.2d 101, 1995 WL 316560, Ala.Civ.App., May 26, 1995; McAlpin v. City of Decatur, 628 So.2d 611, 1993 WL 482353, Ala., November 24, 1993; Dodd v. Nelda Stephenson Chevrolet, Inc., 626 So.2d 1288, 1993 WL 292039, Ala., August 06, 1993; Dowdy v. Lewis, 612 So.2d 1149, 1992 WL 337030, Ala., November 20, 1992; Wiginton v. Hagler, 585 So.2d 5, 1991 WL 114028, Ala., June 21, 1991; Wilhite v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Ins. Co., 541 So.2d 22, 1989 WL 17685, Ala.Civ.App., March 01, 1989; Berness v. Regency Square Associates, Ltd., 514 So.2d 1346, Ala., October 02, 1987; Doran v. City of Decatur, 510 So.2d 813, Ala., June 30, 1987; Ex parte Jenkins, 510 So.2d 232, Ala., June 26, 1987; Orr v. Hammond, 460 So.2d 1322, Ala.Civ.App., November 07, 1984; Hartford Acc. and Indem. Co. v. Morgan County Ass'n of Volunteer Firefighters, 454 So.2d 960, Ala., July 13, 1984; PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. v. Book, 538 U.S. 401, 123 S.Ct. 1531, 2003 WL 1791225, 71 USLW 4280, 03 Cal.Daily Op. Serv. 2947, 16 Fla.L.Weekly Fed. S 223, 155 L.Ed.2d 578, RICO Bus.Disp.Guide 10,444, 2003 Daily Journal D.A.R. 3792, U.S., April 07, 2003; Woods v. Gamel, 132 F.3d 1417, 1998 WL 10235, 11 Fla.L.Weekly Fed. C 977, C.A. 11 (Ala.), January 14, 1998. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice Law; Products Liability Law; Class Actions; Complex and Multi-District Litigation.Email: Nicholas B. Roth

William L. Middleton, III (Member) born Birmingham, Alabama, February 25, 1959; admitted to bar, 1984, Alabama and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama. Education: University of Alabama (B.S., cum laude, 1981; J.D., 1984). Member: Morgan County and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar; Alabama Defense Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Automobile Negligence; Insurance Defense Law; Premises Liability; Products Liability; Workers Compensation Law.Email: William L. Middleton, III

James G. Adams, Jr. (Partner) born Fort Lee, Virginia, March 23, 1961; admitted to bar, 1986, Alabama and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama. Education: University of Alabama (B.S., 1983); Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J.D., 1986). Jimmy Adams is a partner with Eyster Key. A native of Decatur, he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in 1983. He graduated from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1986. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama in 1986. In his nearly quarter century of practicing law in North Alabama, and over 100 cases tried, Mr. Adams has obtained a reputation as one of the premier civil defense trial lawyers in North Alabama. Adams' practice focuses primarily on insurance defense litigation and worker's compensation law, but he has experience in a wide variety of areas of the law. His representative clients include State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, American National Property and Casualty Company, Cotton States Insurance, and Delphi Automotive Systems, Inc. Mr. Adams has lectured on the subjects of ethics and insurance law, and is frequently called upon by his peers to represent attorneys accused of legal malpractice. Adams is also a registered mediator. Mr. Adams is the past President of the Board of Directors of Hospice of the Valley. Member: Morgan County Bar Association; Alabama State Bar. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Civil Litigation; Automobile Negligence; Premises Liability; Products Liability; Workers Compensation.Email: James G. Adams, Jr.

Julia Smeds Roth (Partner) born Fort Benning, Georgia, June 26, 1951; admitted to bar, 1977, Alabama; 1980, District of Columbia; U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Alabama (B.A., with honors, 1973; J.D., 1977). Julia Smeds Roth, is an Eyster, Key, Tubb, Roth, Middleton & Adams, LLP partner, with over 30 years of litigation experience. Ms. Roth's experience is focused primarily in the area of family law, elder law, wills and estate planning, and litigation. Prior to joining EysterKey in 2008, she served as Jefferson County, Alabama's County Conservator and Guardian. She has also had substantial experience in other complex litigation, including class actions. She was the court appointed facilitator in In re Managed Care, MDL1334, Southern District of Florida. Ms. Roth has been involved throughout her career in professional services and activities. She is the Chair of the Client Security Task Force of the Alabama State Bar to evaluate the fund and to make recommendations regarding its funding. She also serves as the Secretary of the University of Alabama Law Foundation, and has served as a board member for a number of years. The Foundation assists the University of Alabama Law School with its fund raising and support. In the past, from 1986 to 1992, Ms. Roth served as special counsel to the Alabama House of Representatives, Judiciary Committee. She also served as a Law Clerk to The Honorable Sam C. Pointer, Jr., Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. She is a life-long Alabama resident, married with three children. Member: Alabama State Bar; District of Columbia Bar; American Bar Association. Transactions: Compliance Dispute Facilitator for Aetna and CIGNA settlements in In Re Managed Care, MDL 1334, 2004-2006, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida. Practice Areas: Probate and Estate Litigation; Complex Litigation; Environmental Litigation; Class Actions; Health Care.

Heather Necklaus Hudson (Member) born Huntsville, Alabama, January 23, 1975; admitted to bar, 2000, Alabama, U.S. District Court, Middle and Northern Districts of Alabama. Education: University of Alabama at Birmingham (B.S., summa cum laude, 1997); Washington and Lee University School of Law (J.D., 2000). Phi Delta Phi. Member: Morgan County and American Bar Association; Alabama State Bar. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Appellate Practice; Personal Injury; Class Actions; Fraud; Contracts.Email: Heather Necklaus Hudson

Carl A. Cole, III (Partner) born Gadsden, Alabama, November 22, 1974; admitted to bar, 2000, Alabama, U.S. District Court, Middle and Northern Districts of Alabama. Education: Troy State University (B.S., magna cum laude, 1997); University of Alabama (J.D., 2000; LL.M., 2010). Democratic Nominee, U.S. House of Representatives, 4th District of Alabama, 2004. Past Officer: Morgan County Bar Association; Alabama Bar Association; PACT, Board Member; FACES, Former Board Member; Leadership Morgan County Alabama Leadership Initiative; Trojan Shield Society; Princess Theater Community Board; Rotary Club of Decatur; Decatur Jaycees; Decatur Morgan County Chamber of Commerce Prosperity PAC Board of Directors; Troy University Young Alumni Council: Former Board of Directors Chairman, Rebuilding Together. Member: Morgan County Bar Association; Alabama State Bar; Alabama Defense Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Personal Injury; Products Liability; Fraud; Contract Fraud; Workers Compensation; Insurance Defense; Medical Malpractice Defense.Email: Carl A. Cole, III

OF COUNSEL

John S. Key (Of Counsel) born Camden, Tennessee, August 4, 1940; admitted to bar, 1964, Alabama. Education: University of Alabama (LL.B., 1964). Member, Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society. Editor in Chief, Alabama Law Review, 1963. Law Clerk for Federal District Judge Clarence Allgood, 1964. Member: Morgan County Bar Association (Past President); Alabama State Bar. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers; American Board of Trial Attorneys; International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Reported Cases: Kinney v. Williams, 886 So.2d (Ala. 2003); Bassie v. Ostertrics & Gynecology Associates of Northwest Alabama, P.C., 828 So.2d 280 (Ala. 2002); Sharrief v. Gerlach, 798 So.2d 646 (Ala. 2001); Mutual Sav. Life Ins. Co. v. James River Corp. of Virginia, 716 So.2d 1172 (Ala. 1998); Chalus v. Decatur Country Club, Inc., 686 So.2d 278 (Ala.Civ.App. 1996); Shockley v. Boston Mut. Life Ins. Co., 686 So.2d 1259 (Ala.Civ.App. 1996); Johnson v. Wagner, 678 So.2d 782 (Ala. 1996); Ravi v. Coates, 662 So.2d 218 (Ala. 1995); Crittenden By and Through Willard v. Bright, 652 So.2d 236 (Ala. 1994); Complete Family Health Care v. Sprinkle, 638 So.2d 774 (Ala. 1994); Dowdy v. Lewis, 612 So.2d 1149 (Ala. 1992); Gillespie v. Safeco Life Ins. Co., 599 So.2d 584 (Ala. 1992); Trammell v. Trammell, 589 So.2d 743 (Ala.Civ.App. 1991); Plitt v.Griggs, 585 So.2d 1317 (Ala. 1991); Brown v. Pound, 585 So.2d 885 (Ala. 1991); Wiginton v. Hagler, 585 So.2d 5 (Ala. 1991); Gillespie v. Safeco Life Ins. Co., 565 So.2d 150 (Ala. 1990); Knop v. McCain, 561 So.2d 229 (Ala. 1989); Patton v. Palmer, 555 So.2d 127 (Ala. 1989); Orr By and Through Orr v. Turney, 535 So.2d 150 (Ala. 1988); Gillespie v. Safeco Life Ins. Co., 533 So.2d 521 (Ala. 1988); Tapscott v. Allstate Ins. Co., 526 So.2d 570 (Ala. 1988); Ensor v. Wilson By and Through Wilson, 519 So.2d 1244 (Ala. 1987); King v. Travelers Ins. Co., 513 So.2d 1023 (Ala. 1987); Ex parte Jenkins, 510So.2d 232 (Ala. 1987); McMurray v. Johnson, 481 So.2d 887 (Ala. 1985); Wal-Mart Stores v. White, 476 So.2d 614 (Ala. 1985); Denney v. Serio, 446 So.2d 7 (Ala. 1984); Ex parte Bozeman, 420 So.2d 89 (Ala. 1982); Quick v. Campbell, 412 So.2d 264 (Ala. 1982); Flint City Nursing Home, Inc. v. Depreast, 406 So.2d 356 (Ala. 1981); Shirley v. Shirley, 397 So.2d 156 (Ala.Civ.App. 1981); Bibb v. Nelson, 379 So.2d 1254 (Ala. 1980); Morgan County Concrete Col v. Tanner, 374 So.2d 1344 (Ala. 1979); State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Borden, 371 So.2d 28 (Ala. 1979); Shirley v. Shirley, 361 So.2d 590 (Ala.Civ.App. 1978); State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v Boyer, 357 So.2d 958 (Ala. 1978); Conagra v. White, 348 So.2d 502 (Ala.Civ.App. 1977); Childers v. Couey, 348 So.2d 1349 (Ala. 1977); Shirley v. Shirley, 350 So.2d 1041 (Ala.Civ.App. 1977); Shaw v. State, 283 Ala., 555, 219 So.2d 382 (1969); Quick v. Peoples Bank of Cullman County, 993 F.2d 793 (11th Cir. 1993); Colbert County Hosp. Bd. v. Bellefonte Ins. Co., 725 F.2d 651 (11th Cir. 1984). Practice Areas: Insurance Defense Law; Malpractice Defense; Products Liability Law.Email: John S. Key

A. Philip Reich (Of Counsel) born Gadsden, Alabama, 1948; admitted to bar, 1977, Alabama; 1983, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Alabama (B.S., 1970; J.D., 1974); National Judicial College, University of Nevada. Retired Circuit Judge, 36th Judicial Circuit, elected four terms; Board of Directors, Alabama Circuit Judges Association, 1998-2009; President, Alabama Circuit Judges Association, 2008-2009; Adjunct Instructor, Calhouh Community College, 1997-2001; Criminal Law and Procedure, Criminal Evidence. Member: Alabama State Bar (State Bar Commissioner, 1981-1984; State Bar Executive Committee, 1984; Alabama Bar Disciplinary Panel, 1981-1984; Chairman, Alabama State Bar Disciplinary Panel, 1984).Email: A. Philip Reich