Attorney Profiles

FRANK L. WATSON
fwatson@watsonburns.com

Mr. Watson, formerly a partner with Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, the largest law firm in Tennessee, has been trying cases for 17 years, having represented clients before courts throughout the nation, including courts in Arkansas, Alabama, California, Illinois, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia.  He has substantial experience representing both plaintiff and defendants in significant personal injury matters; however, his career has also involved a number of complex/multi-district litigation and class action cases in the areas of securities fraud, antitrust violations, NASD arbitrations, and corporate governance claims.

Representative Cases:
Bass v. First Pacific Networks, Inc., No. C 92-20746 JW, 1993 WL 255481 (N.D.Cal. June 30, 1993) -- Represented former officer and director of publicly traded company for conversion of his stock certificates, and defended against the company’s claims that his stock had been issued for inadequate consideration and under economic duress.  Following a lengthy bench trial, Mr. Watson’s client prevailed and the company was ordered to return his stock certificates which were valued at $6.38 million.

In re Taxable Municipal Bond Securities Litigation, Civ. A. No. MDL 863, 1995 WL 766339 (E.D. La. Dec. 29, 1995) – Successfully represented 20 secondary market broker dealers in connection securities class action involving housing and farming bonds underwritten by Drexel Burnham Lambert (a principal of which was Michael Milkin) and guaranteed by Executive Life Insurance Company.

Slusser v. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 210 F.3d 783 (7th Cir. 2000) – Successfully represented former manager of commodity pool by vacating $10 million civil monetary penalty imposed by the CFTC, then the largest monetary penalty that the CFTC had ever levied against an individual or corporation.

Madero v. Refco, Inc., 934 F. Supp. 282 (N.D. Ill. 1996) – Successfully defended futures commission merchant in connection with customer’s churning and unauthorized transactions claims, achieving a dismissal of claims under a shortened statute of limitations imposed by merchant’s contract.

Vickers v. Hill Equpment Co.,LLC v. Yamaha Motor Corporation USA et al, Case No. 1:96-cv-00379-GHD (N.D. Miss. Dec. 24, 1996) – Represented watercraft dealer in connection with alleged vertical anti-trust conspiracy entered into watercraft manufacturer and other retail dealers to terminate dealer for price discounting.  After discovery, a confidential settlement was reached.

Mediasia, Ltd. V. Morgan Keegan & Co., Inc., Case No. 2:96-cv-03222 (W.D. Tenn. Nov. 21, 1996)  - Represented broker-dealer in connection with private sale of Rule 144 stock which could not be completed due to lock up agreement.

Guiliano v. Cleo, Inc., 995 S.W.2d 88 (Tenn. 1999) – Represented former officer who had been denied salary continuation agreement after his constructive termination.  Client prevailed, resulting in substantial payment of back salary and a change in Tennessee law concerning liquidated damages.

Gazabo S.A de C.V. v. Chase Manhattan Bank et al, Case No. 2:00-cv-0291 (W.D. Tenn. Aug. 3, 2003) – Represented foreign investor who lost several million dollars in a fraudulent investment scheme known as “prime bank notes” and recovered client’s entire investment as well as attorney’s fees after securing a temporary and preliminary injunction under the Securities Act of 1933 which froze the defendants’ assets and bank accounts.   

Syncor Intern. Corp. v. Newbaker, 12 F.Supp.2d 781 (W.D. Tenn. 1998) – Represented radiopharmaceutical manufacturer in RICO action against various defendants who were diluting and misappropriating its product.

Babb v. Wilsonart International, Inc., Civil Action 01818-04, Division 4 (Cir. Ct. Shelby County, Tennessee) – Represented nationwide consumer class in action against acrylic kitchen countertop manufacturer for deceptive trade practices and breach of warranty, resulting in the certification and settlement of a nationwide consumer class for approximately $23.5 million in class claims.  

Stephenson v. Equity Title & Escrow of Memphis, LLC, et al, Civil Action 0667 (Dyersburg Co. Cir. Ct., Tennessee) – Represented state-wide class of clients against title insurance company and law firm for overcharging title insurance premiums, resulting in payments to class members for twice the overpayment.

Talib v. Skyway Communications Holding Corp., No. 805CV282T17TBM, 2005 WL 161070 (M.D. Fla. July 7, 2005) – Represented investor group against publicly traded company for securities laws violations and achieved preliminary injunction freezing all of the company’s assets.

The Estate of Willard R. Sparks v. First Tennessee Bank, N.A and Farmers Bank and Trust, Case No. C-11423 (Probate Court, Shelby Co., Tenn. 2005) – Represented estate against banks’ claims in probate court that estate should pay approximately $23 million in loan guaranties executed by decedent.  Following discovery, banks agreed to release approximately $15 million in loan guaranties in exchange for a payment of $8.3 million from the estate.

 Education:
Washington & Lee University, B.A. in English, cum laude, 1988
Tulane University School of Law, cum laude, 1991
Admitted to practice in all federal and state courts of Tennessee; admitted in the United States Courts for the Northern District of Mississippi and Western Arkansas; admitted in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eleventh Circuits.
Member of the Memphis Bar Association and the American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA)

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