Thomas W.H. "Tommy" Buck, Jr.

Tommy’s practice covers a variety of litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. He has defended clients in the health care and education industries against claims brought under the False Claims Act and has represented individual, corporate, and governmental clients across a wide range of proceedings, including whistleblower actions, commercial and employment disputes, class actions, and federal criminal prosecutions.

Tommy has extensive experience as an appellate lawyer, and he has secured numerous victories for his clients. He has presented oral argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and he frequently litigates before the Alabama Supreme Court. Having served as a law clerk to Alabama Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell, and as a member of the Supreme Court of Alabama’s Standing Committee on the Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure, Tommy is uniquely qualified to provide counsel to clients litigating appeals in Alabama’s highest court.

Tommy has been named to the Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum and has been recognized as One to Watch by Best Lawyers since 2021.

Before attending law school, Tommy served as a Surface Warfare Officer, Public Affairs Officer, and admiral’s aide in the United States Navy. Tommy received his J.D. from Emory University School of Law. He also holds a B.S. in Political Science and English from Vanderbilt University and an M.T.S. from Candler School of Theology.

• Sykes v. Majestic Mississippi, LLC, -- So. 3d --, 2024 WL 655794 (Ala. Feb. 16, 2024) (obtained affirmance of summary judgment for casino in case brought by passengers of charter bus involved in accident while traveling to casino)
• Volcano Enterprises, LLC v. Ensley District Developers, LLC, SC-2023-0143 (Ala. Nov. 9, 2023) (obtained affirmance of client’s dismissal based on appellants’ failure to prosecute in the trial court)
• Dolgencorp, LLC v. Gilliam, -- So. 3d --, 2023 WL 7095305 (Ala. Oct. 27, 2023) (obtained reversal of $381,000 jury verdict against client and rendering of judgment for client as matter of law)
• United States ex re. Mullen v. Cardinal Health, Inc., -- F. Supp. 3d --, 2023 WL 5807370 (D. Mass. Sept. 7, 2023) (obtained dismissal of False Claims Act lawsuit based on first-to-file rule)
• Milner v. Southeast ER Physicians, PA, SC-2022-0755 (Ala. Jan. 6, 2023) (obtained affirmance of trial court’s dismissal of state-law tort claims for failure to state a claim)
• States v. Posey, No. 21-11253, 2022 WL 17056662 (11th Cir. Nov. 17, 2022) (presented oral argument related to complex criminal law issue involving the effect of hemp legalization on sentencing enhancements)
• Ex parte Association of County Comm’ns of Ala. Liability Self-Insurance Fund, Inc., 368 So. 3d 823 (Ala. 2022) (secured writ of mandamus ordering trial court to dismiss claims against liability self-insurance fund)
• Naftel v. State ex rel. Driggars, 361 So. 3d 751 (Ala. Feb. 18, 2022) (successfully defended client's judicial appointment against constitutional challenge)
• Mays Mining, Inc. v. Nexgen Extractions, No. 6:20-CV-1723, 2021 WL 2139059 (N.D. Ala. May 26, 2021) (obtained dismissal of plaintiff’s fraud claims)
• Craig & Landreth Cars Inc. v. Protective Life Corp., No. 2020-CA-0119, 2021 WL 1431870 (Ky. Ct. App. Apr. 16, 2021) (successfully defended trial court’s dismissal of plaintiffs’ tort and contract claims against client)
• Milner v. Team Health, No. 2:19-CV-2041, 2020 WL 5658903 (N.D. Ala. Sept. 23, 2020) (obtained dismissal of employment discrimination and False Claims Act claims brought against hospital)
• Protective Life Ins. Co. v. Apex Parks Grp., LLC, 322 So. 3d 1027 (Ala. 2020) (obtained reversal of $11.4 million jury verdict against client and rendering of judgment for client as matter of law)
• United States ex rel. Gilbert v. Virginia College, LLC,305 F. Supp. 3d 1315 (N.D. Ala. 2018) (obtained dismissal of False Claims Act claims brought against educational institution)
• United States v. Parker, 696 F. App’x 443 (11th Cir. 2017) (as special prosecutor, successfully defended the trial court’s contempt order against city police chief)

Recognition

• Listed in Best Lawyers, "Ones to Watch" for Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2022-present), Health Care Law (2024)
• Alabama State Bar 2020 Leadership Forum