Practice Areas
- Construction Accident & Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Trucking Accidents
- Product Liability - Dangerous Products
- Medical Malpractice
- Premises Liability
- Serious Personal Injury
- Nursing Home Negligence
- Consumer Protection
- Business Torts
- Pharmaceutical Drug Litigation
- Environmental Litigation
- Fraud/Bad Faith
- Aviation
Contact Us
Representing Individuals, Consumers, and Small
Businesses for Over 20 Years
For more than 20 years, Pittman, Dutton, Kirby & Hellums, P.C. has been a civil trial firm concentrating on wrongful death, serious personal injury, consumer litigation, and business litigation at both the state and federal levels.
We are a full service plaintiffs law firm located next door to the Jefferson County courthouse in Birmingham, Alabama.
The attorneys at Pittman, Dutton, Kirby & Hellums have expertise representing those who have been injured or killed by defective products, vehicular accidents, such as tractor trailer (18-wheeler) accidents and car and motorcycle wrecks, premises liability, medical malpractice, and nursing home negligence.
We are ever vigilant in our pursuit for justice in every county in Alabama. We pride ourselves in providing the highest level of representation to each client.
The lawyers at Pittman, Dutton, Kirby & Hellums have years of experience handling complex cases, often against some of the largest corporations in the world.
Our entire staff shares one philosophy: to put clients’ interests first and to achieve the best possible results. We give each client high quality service and personal attention.
Over the years, we have settled or tried hundreds of multi-million dollar cases with the single focus of getting the results our clients deserve. We are tenacious advocates for our clients’ legal interests. We do not give up on our commitment to our clients.
If you or someone you know has been injured or wronged and needs legal representation in Alabama, please contact Pittman, Dutton, Kirby & Hellums for a free consultation. Let someone with experience help you navigate Alabama's judicial system.
Learn about the Current Cases our firm is handling.
Learn about the firm's Community Involvement.
Recent News
Vioxx Settlement
In response to the announcement in November of 2007 that Merck was settling the personal injury lawsuits arising out of its withdraw painkiller drug Vioxx for a total amount of $4.85 billion, Merck recently announced that more than 44,000 individuals have enrolled for the settlement. Individuals that have enrolled and otherwise qualify will be eligible for an interim payment this year.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Verdict
In the case of Scroggin v. Wyeth, a Little Rock, Arkansas jury returned a verdict in favor of Ms. Scroggin in February of 2008. The jury awarded $2.75 million in compensatory damages and $27 million in punitive damages. Ms. Scroggin alleged that she developed breast cancer from the use of Premarin and Prempro. Wyeth has indicated that it will appeal the verdict.
Medical Device Immunity
In February of 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court stripped away a key consumer health protection by affording legal immunity to manufacturers of federally approved medical devices under certain circumstances. As a result of the legal opinion, patients who have been injured by certain medical devices will be unable to pursue a lawsuit in state court and are seemingly left with no legal recourse.
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Case Results
Roger Presley vs. Burns & Wilcox (Circuit Court of Chambers County, Alabama)
Roger Presley purchased a policy of insurance for his business, a lounge located in Chambers County, Alabama. Burn & Wilcox was the insurance broker. Presley alleged that the broker wrongfully cancelled his policy and then failed to reinstate it. Moreover, after learning of his error, the broker then lied to cover up his wrongdoing. Specifically, the broker stated that he had issued a "desk binder" that would provide coverage until a new policy could be written. A new policy was written, but, unfortunately, there was an incident at Presley's business for which Presley was sued. When Presley made a claim for coverage, Burns & Wilcox informed him that there was no policy of insurance or desk binder. Presley incurred approximately $100,000 in legal fees successfully defending himself in the underlying lawsuit.
Chris Cochran and Lee Pittman tried the case for Presley against Burns & Wilcox. The jury returned a verdict for Presley and ordered Burns & Wilcox to pay $600,000 in compensatory damages and $1,000,000 in punitive damages.
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