A native of middle Tennessee, Alan has been practicing law in Nashville since 2007, following his graduation from Vanderbilt University Law School. Alan began his career as an associate at Gideon, Cooper and Essary, PLC, and became a Member of that firm in 2015. In September 2019, Alan joined Starnes Davis Florie as a Partner in the firm’s Nashville office. Alan has represented numerous hospitals, medical groups, clinics, physicians, nursing homes, and other health care providers in all phases of health care liability, premises liability, products liability, and personal injury cases in Tennessee, Florida, Texas, New Hampshire, West Virginia, and Alabama. He has experience in state circuit courts, general sessions court, federal district courts, and matters pending in multi-district litigation panels. He also advises health care providers and handles administrative and peer review matters. He has tried numerous jury cases to verdict, and has also handled mediation and arbitration proceedings. Alan has also handled multiple appellate arguments, including several cases which have become published appellate decisions. Whether it be a “slip and fall ” personal injury case or complex birth injury case, Alan prioritizes outworking his adversary, keeping his clients well-informed, and providing excellent representation in order to obtain the best possible results.
Professional Recognition
•Member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
•Recognized by Super Lawyers as a 'Mid South Rising Star'
•Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Healthcare Litigation & Medical Malpractice Law
•AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
•Chair for the Tennessee Bar Association's Torts and Insurance Section
•Named as one of Nashville's '2009 Top 30 Under 30'
•Named Chief Justice of the Vanderbilt Law School Moot Court Board
•Served as President of the Associated Student Body at Ole Miss (2003-2004)
•Inducted into the Ole Miss Hall of Fame (Class of 2004)
Highlights
•Obtained decision in favor of a hospital after an administrative fair hearing and arbitration.
•Obtained the dismissal with prejudice of a lawsuit filed against a youth mental health facility alleging the failure to properly supervise and prevent a resident from being assaulted.
•Czoka v. Life Care Centers of America, Inc., et al: Enforced binding arbitration agreement after evidentiary hearing in case alleging sexual assault of a nursing home resident (affirmed on appeal).
•Baker v. Southern Tennessee Medical Center, et al: Helped secure a defense verdict at trial for a Tennessee acute care hospital in a case alleging a failure to timely diagnose and treat a cardiac arrhythmia.
•Shafer v. Southern Tennessee Medical Center, et al: Helped secure a defense verdict at trial for a Tennessee acute care hospital in a case alleging negligent care during a patient’s transfer for radiology imaging studies.
•Buchanan v. Morrison, M.D., et al: Helped secure a defense verdict at trial for a Tennessee family practice physician in a case involving the death of a young mother with postpartum preeclampsia.
•Warring v. Ballinger, M.D.: Helped secure a defense verdict at trial for a Tennessee surgeon in a case alleging a failure to timely diagnose and treat breast cancer.
•Borngne v. Caring Choice Women’s Clinic, et al: Helped secure a defense verdict at trial for a Tennessee nurse mid-wife and her group in a case alleging negligent care during labor and delivery, resulting in hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
•Sample v. Life Care Center of Cleveland, et al: Obtained summary judgment in a nursing home liability case alleging wrongful death and negligent care resulting in a resident’s aspiration and death (affirmed on appeal).
Presentations and Publications
•2023 Tennessee Health Care Liability Case Update, presented at a CLE for the Tennessee Bar Association (February 23, 2023).
•Nuances in Health Care Liability Actions, as part of the Virtual Medical Malpractice Law Conference for Tennessee Attorneys (May 13, 2021).
•Defending Healthcare Liability Cases, 2020 Tennessee General Law Conference (November 19, 2020).
•Medical Staff Credentialing Due Diligence: Avoid Negligence and Minimize Liability, Live Webinar (November 13, 2020).
•Examining and Challenging Experts, Tennessee Medical Malpractice Conference (October 2, 2020).
•Medical Malpractice Litigation: What Attorneys and Doctors Need to Know, National Webinar.
•Expert Examination - Daubert, Frye and Other Challenges and Presentation of Evidence, Personal Injury Seminar, Nashville, TN.
•Alan is frequently asked to present at CLEs addressing health care litigation and trial strategy.
News & Insights
• 35 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2026
•33 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2025
•30 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2024
•30 SDF ATTORNEYS LISTED IN BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA 2023
•STARNES ATTORNEYS BEAN AND CALLINS WIN ARBITRATION FOR HOSPITAL
•TWENTY-TWO ATTORNEYS NAMED TO THE 2021 EDITION OF MID-SOUTH SUPER LAWYERS
•29 SDF ATTORNEYS LISTED IN BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA 2022
•Alan Bean and Allen King Win in the Tennessee Court of Appeals to Enforce Clients’ Binding Arbitration Rights
•Twenty-Six Attorneys Named to the 2020 Edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers
•Tennessee Responds to COVID-19 Outbreak
•Tennessee Executive Order No. 18 Prohibits Elective Procedures
•THIRTY-ONE SDF ATTORNEYS NAMED TO THE 2019 EDITION OF MID-SOUTH SUPER LAWYERS
•Alan Bean Joins Starnes Davis Florie’s Nashville Office
Fun Facts
Aside from his work, Alan enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, attending sporting events, enjoying the outdoors, playing the drums, and exercising.
