Knowing the law is one thing.  Knowing the community is an entirely different matter.  Only one firm has represented Jasper and the surrounding region for almost a century, in every kind of case, in every kind of situation, with only one kind of approach.

We are Jackson, Fikes & Brakefield.  We represent individuals and businesses alike.  More importantly, we represent your interests whether in settlement or in a courtroom anywhere in the state.  Rated A+ by Martindale Hubbell, we are committed to effective and efficient client service regardless of what your needs might be.  When settlement is not an option, we have the necessary trial experience you can count on.

While we represent every kind of client, we stand for our community as well, serving in churches, charitable organizations, and even on a local volunteer fire department.  To us, it’s further evidence of our passion for doing what is right, both on the job and off.

Spend much time with our attorneys and you will be convinced  of more than their knowledge.  You will come away understanding their passion for law and the desire to do what is right.  Read our profiles and learn how we can help, and see the face of leadership in the profession.

Our founder, mentor and friend. While he passed away in 2013, Harvey remains very present in the spirit of how we represent clients. He set a very high standard indeed for fealty to clients and the continual striving for the best possible outcome, standards that we try to live up to each and every day, for each and every case.

• Served in Army Air Corps from February 1943 to August 1945
• Graduated with Bachelor of Science Degree from Auburn University in 1947
• Graduated from University of Alabama School of Law in 1949, Juris Doctor
• Admitted to Alabama State Bar in August of 1949
• Entered Federal Bureau of Investigation on October 10, 1949
• Entered private practice on January 1, 1952
• Formed the law firm of Tweedy, Jackson & Beech on March 1, 1970, the predecessor to Jackson, Fikes & Brakefield

A veteran of the practice of law in Jasper since 1976, Eddie Jackson has practiced with us every single day of his career.

He started with Tweedy, Jackson & Beech, which has become Jackson, Fikes & Brakefield.

Eddie provides mediation services for the firm. He is an Alabama State Court mediator certified by the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution. Please contact him or his legal assistant, Annetta Waldrop, to schedule your case for mediation.

PRACTICE

Eddie’s practice has been devoted to civil and criminal litigation. He has tried a broad variety of cases including pollution, products liability, medical malpractice-wrongful death, medical malpractice-serious injury, fraud, breach of contract, negligence, wantonness, wrongful death involving trucking and other vehicular accidents, blasting, condemnation, nuisance, trespass, capital murder, murder, rape, kidnaping, robbery and drug trafficking. He has tried well over 200 civil and criminal cases to a conclusion, for both the plaintiff and defendant in state and federal courts, in local and out of state venues, with over 70 jury trials. He has been involved in numerous class actions involving credit and financing issues.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

• He has represented descendants in a mass torts case in Jefferson County involving approximately 300 plaintiffs in four separate suits and has represented plaintiffs in mass tort actions in Alabama, Oklahoma and Georgia.

• As trial co-counsel, he helped obtain a $20,000,000.00+ verdict in Federal Court in a pollution/trespass/nuisance case in favor of residents and business owners and the City of Columbus, Georgia against a foreign corporation across the river in Phenix City, Alabama. Action Marine, Inc., et al v. Continental Carbon, Inc., et al, CV-01-T-994-E, In the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Eastern Division.

• As trial co-counsel, he helped obtain a $22,000,000.00+ verdict in a fraud and breach of contract case involving an Alabama coal company against an electric power company in Tampa, Florida. (This case was settled on appeal for a confidential amount). Laguna Resources, Inc., et al v. Seminole Electric Cooperative, et al, CV-98-561, Walker County, Alabama.

• As co-counsel, he settled a case for the plaintiff, Cherokee Nitrogen Company, against Dynegy, Inc. involving fraud and breach of contract from the setting of natural gas prices which were a primary component of Cherokee Nitrogen’s manufacturing business. This case was settled for an undisclosed confidential amount. Nelson Brothers, et al v. Dynegy Marketing & Trade, et al, CV-03-142, Colbert County, Alabama.

• He acted as trial co-counsel for Southwest Royalties, Inc. against Chevron, Inc. which resulted in a settlement after three days of trial. Allegations in that case were that Chevron was converting, to its own use, coal bed methane gas belonging to Southwest Royalties. This case was settled for an undisclosed confidential amount. Nelson Brothers Management Services, Inc., et al vs. Chevron USA, Inc., et al, CV-03-028, Fayette County, Alabama.

• He was co-counsel for John Crump Toyota against General Motors Corporation AMG (Hummer) in a breach of contract/fraud claim in which Hummer and General Motors attempted to restrict dealer territory of John Crump Toyota which had a Hummer franchise. This case was settled for an undisclosed confidential amount. John Crump Automotive, Inc., et al v. American General Corporation, et al, CV-02-134, Walker County, Alabama.

• He represented the plaintiff, Wade “Foots” Gibson against Joy Manufacturing in an underground mine explosion case where Mr. Gibson received second and third degree burns over 70% of his body. Wade Gibson, et al v. Joy Technologies, Inc., et al, CV-95-554, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.

• Acted as co-counsel in obtaining a defense verdict in a wrongful death trucking accident case where a passenger in an eighteen wheel truck, allegedly exceeding the speed limit under dangerous conditions (wet road, rainy, stormy weather), lost control, went out of its lane of travel striking another eighteen wheel truck. The plaintiffs’ vehicle burst into flames. The plaintiff passenger and the eighteen wheel truck that lost control burned in the accident. Lisa Dixon, et al v. Hot Shot Express, Inc., et al, CV-03-191, Walker County, Alabama.

• Obtained a defense verdict in a medical malpractice case in which the plaintiff suffered a stomach rupture after a stomach stapling. Merchant vs. Dr. Barry McKernan, Walker County, Alabama.

• As co-counsel, he recently settled cases in Ponca City, Oklahoma and Phenix City, Alabama involving claims of pollution where he represented the City of Ponca City, businesses and homeowners there and homeowners and businesses in Phenix City and Columbus, Georgia. Both cases were settled. City of Ponca City, Oklahoma, et al v. Continental Carbon Company, et al, In the District Court for State of Oklahoma, CJ-2005-16PC and Charles Riley, et al v. Continental Carbon, et al, CV-04-182, Circuit Court of Russell County.

• In his criminal jury trials, he has successfully defended capital murder, murder, rape and kidnapping.

HONOR AND AWARDS

• Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
• Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
• Member of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association.
• He has been named among the Best Lawyers in Alabama in personal injury and commercial litigation.
• He has been named a Super Lawyer in Alabama.
• He has been selected for The Best Lawyers in America in categories of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation.

EDUCATION

• B.S., University of Alabama, (1973).
• J.D., Cumberland Law School (1976).

PRACTICE AREAS

• Medical malpractice
• Commercial litigation
• Criminal law
• Fraud
• Personal injury
• Environmental
• Product liability

COURTS

• All Alabama State Courts
• United States Supreme Court
• United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit.
• United States District Court, Northern District of Alabama.
• United States District Court, Middle District of Alabama.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Board of Directors of First National Bank of Jasper Alabama.
• Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts of America Black Warrior Council.
• Board of Directors of Walker Area Community Foundation.
• Board of Directors of Walker College Foundation.
• Board of Directors of Equines Assisting Special Individuals (EASI).

Richard practices in all areas of litigation with an emphasis on personal injury, worker’s compensation, premises liability, and contracts. Richard received his B.A. from The University of Alabama in 1982 and his J.D., cum laude, from Cumberland Law School at Samford University in 1985, where he served as an associate editor for the Cumberland Law Review and was also inducted into the Curia Honoris. Richard is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Alabama State Bar Association, and a member and past president of the Walker County Bar Association.

Richard participated in his first jury trial in 1985, a few weeks after his bar admission, and has continued to try cases to a jury verdict every year since then. He practices at both the State and Federal court levels with more than 55 cases being tried to a jury verdict. He has also served as a municipal judge. Richard was selected as the First Annual Readers Choice Award as Best Attorney by readers of The Daily Mountain Eagle.

Richard is also active in his community. He has served as a board member and past chairman of the Walker County Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he has served as president of the Walker County Firefighters Association since 2017 and is a past member and president of the Jasper Rotary Club. Richard also serves his community as a volunteer firefighter and EMT and has served as a board member and past president of the Walker County Firefighters Association and currently serves as an officer with the Walker County EMS Council. Richard has also served as a trustee for Curry Elementary School and Curry Middle School. 

Jim received his Juris Doctor from the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University in 1995. During his time at Cumberland School of Law he served as a Member and Associate Justice on the Henry Upson Sims Moot Court Board. He was also recognized for his abilities in legal research and writing while at law school. Jim was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1995. He is also admitted to practice in United States District Courts for the Northern District and Middle District of Alabama, as well as admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He received his degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama in 1990.

Jim practices in all areas of litigation with a focus on personal injury, worker’s compensation, premises liability, and mining and blasting litigation. He engaged in his first jury trial shortly after joining the firm and has continued trying cases to a jury. While his practice is focused in all areas of litigation, Jim also represents several municipal water works and sewer boards, and engages in the formation of corporations and limited liability companies, as well as, the drafting of contracts, residential leases, and mining leases, to name a few.

Jim is active in his community currently serving on the President’s Cabinet of the Walker Area Community Foundation and as a board member of the Walker County Humane Society, the Capstone Rural Health Center, and the Walker County Chamber of Commerce. He is an active member of the First United Methodist Church where he currently serves as chairman of the finance committee and where he teaches adult Sunday school classes. He loves baseball and coaches youth baseball each year. His love for baseball may only be surpassed by his passion for fishing.

Lindsey graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 2019 with a B.A. in English and a minor in History. While at Birmingham-Southern, she served as Philanthropy Chair for Alpha Omicron Pi, Managing Editor for Bagheera Student Magazine, and President of Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society. Lindsey received her J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 2022, where she was a founding member and officer of the Transactional Law Advocacy Organization, a 1L Mentor, and a member of Women in Law, the Christian Legal Society, and the Alabama Student Bar Association. She also received the Scholar of Merit Award for her Payment Systems course during her second year.

Upon graduating from Cumberland, Lindsey returned to her hometown of Jasper, where she is excited to begin the practice of law.  She is involved with First United Methodist Church, where she leads a high school girls’ small group. Lindsey looks forward to finding more opportunities in which she can engage with the community and give back to the town that raised her!

ANNETTA WALDROP:

Secretary to Edward R. Jackson

SUSIE VANN:

Secretary to Richard E. Fikes and Jim Brakefield