Bio
Joe is a partner in Cornelius & Collins, LLP, where he has been practicing law since 1987. He is also Chairman of the firm’s Development Committee. The focus of Joe’s practice is civil litigation, with an emphasis on products liability, general automotive and accident litigation, professional liability, personal injury, governmental liability, and federal civil rights actions. He represents plaintiff and defendants, and is admitted to practice in all state courts, as well as the United States District Court for the Middle and Western Districts of Tennessee and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Over the years, Joe has served as lead trial counsel and local counsel in defense of product liability claims in both federal and state courts in Tennessee. He has gained significant experience in the product liability field, defending a wide variety of complex catastrophic personal injury and property damage claims on behalf of various national and international product manufacturers, as well as regional and local distributors and retailers. His product liability experience includes the defense of claims involving automobiles, trucks, heavy lift equipment, cement mixers, automotive tools, presses, extrusion equipment, disposable butane lighters, seat belt equipment, airbags, fuel tanks, steering systems, plumbing equipment, and electrical components, among others. In addition to his product liability practice, Joe has represented a considerable number of physicians and health care providers in complex professional medical malpractice and wrongful death litigation. He also represents private physicians, health care entities, and correctional health care services.
Joe received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Tennessee Law Review, and received the Dean’s citation for Extraordinary Contributions to the College of Law. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Bar Admissions:
Tennessee Supreme Court
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
Representative Cases:
Coffey v. Dowley Manufacturing, Inc.,
187 F.Supp.2d 958
(M.D. Tenn. 2002).
Pride v. Bic Corp., 218 F.3d 566
(6th Cir. 2000).
Pride v. Bic Corp., 54 F.Supp.2d 757
(E.D. Tenn. 1999).
MacDonald v. General Motors Corp.,
784 F.Supp. 486 (M.D. Tenn. 1992)
Honors & Awards:
The Best Lawyers in America (2011)
Professional Associations & Memberships:
Nashville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
National Institute of Trial Advocacy
Defense Research Institute
Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association
Publications:
Note, Torts - The Occupied Crossing Doctrine -
Determining Contributory Negligence as a
Matter of Law in Railroad Accident Cases,
53 Tenn. L. Rev. 435 (1986).
Civic & Community Activities:
Nashville Bar Association, Pro Bono Program
Vice President of the Crieve Hall Youth
Athletic Association
Alumni Board Member for Baylor School,
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America
Nominating Committee, James West District
Local Pack Cubmaster, Pack 78
Fraternities:
Kappa Alpha Order
