Robertson Overbey
Our law firm offers a wide variety of legal services ranging from major civil litigation involving complex antitrust and commercial issues and defending physicians and other health care providers in professional negligence cases.
Robertson Overbey
Our law firm offers a wide variety of legal services ranging from major civil litigation involving complex antitrust and commercial issues and defending physicians and other health care providers in professional negligence cases.
Our law firm offers a wide variety of legal services ranging from major civil litigation involving complex antitrust and commercial issues and defending physicians and other health care providers in professional negligence cases to serving as bond counsel, issuer's counsel, and underwriter's counsel in more than $7.7 billion dollars worth of tax-exempt financings. Our firm also serves various clients, including a continuing care retirement community, professional engineering firm, utility districts and a municipality as general counsel. We have completed transactions ranging from the acquisition and merger of major area hospitals to the start-up of an environmental research company, a construction company, and the sale of a multi- physician family practice to a major health system.
At the same time, we have represented various commercial enterprises and individuals in federal antitrust grand jury and Department of Justice investigations, handled child custody disputes and family law matters, and given counsel to persons setting out with their first corporate and partnership endeavors.
The firm has a long history. It was founded in 1982 by Claude K. Robertson, J. Edward Ingram, Norman H. Williams, Shannon D. Faulkner, III, and J. Douglas Overbey. Doug Overbey is the current senior and managing partner. He is a resident of Maryville and represents the 2nd District in the Tennessee General Assembly. His legal experience ranges across the gamut from antitrust and commercial litigation to major transactional endeavors. He is the former Chancellor of the Diocese of East Tennessee, and serves as general counsel to a number of corporations in the area as well as City Attorney for the City of Alcoa.
Shelly Wilson moved to Tennessee from Florida in 1999. She worked in Florida for more than eleven years practicing primarily criminal defense, and has worked over the last ten years for clients who need help with antitrust and general corporate law issues including corporate formation and employment law, contract negotiation, land development issues, estate settlement issues, family law, and criminal prosecution.
John Owings was Chief Deputy Law Director and Law Director for Knox County for a combined total of eighteen years. Prior to his experience with Knox County, John was the first pro se law clerk and staff attorney for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and, while in law school, he worked as an investigator for the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. John has also been a certified federal and state court mediator since 1995. Having practiced law in Knoxville for over 22 years, John's concentrations are in business, corporate, employment, labor, personal injury, products liability, municipal, governmental and public utilities law, mediation and civil litigation, including defending individual police officers, officials, cities and counties in civil rights actions.
David Waite is a litigator who has been recognized as a medical malpractice specialist by both the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. He also litigates nursing home, class action, products liability, toxic tort and catastrophic injury cases. Although he often represents the defendants in these cases, he also represents plaintiffs in selected cases and is proud to be a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, whose membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements.
Stephanie Coleman is the newest associate to the firm. Thus far she has gained experience working on a wide variety of civil cases including products liability and civil rights defense. She also does contracts, powers of attorney, and other drafting work.
The firm is also proud to have the Of-Counsel association of Frederick Fields, who served as Vice President and General Counsel of St. Mary's Health System.
The firm carries an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. We would welcome the opportunity
to serve you.
Main Office
900 South Gay Street
800 Riverview Tower
Knoxville, TN 37902
865-522-2717
The law office of Robertson Overbey will represent your business legal matters.
-Civil Litigation and Appeals
-Medical Malpractice Defense
-Health Care Law
-Business Law
-Corporate Law
-Commercial Law
-Antitrust and Unfair Competition
-Insurance
-Labor Law
-Employment Discrimination Defense
-Civil Rights Defense
-Municipal Law
-Governmental Law
-Domestic Relations
-Public Utility Law
-Corporate Counsel
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1974
University of Tennessee - B.S., 1962
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1974
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
American Academy of Hospital Attorneys
Fred Fields has been practicing law for 32 years and focuses his practice in the field of health care law.
Fred is the former Vice President and General Counsel of St. Mary's Health System, where he served in that capacity from 1985 to 1995. In that position, he supervised the legal work of St. Mary's Health Systems, Inc., and its affiliated corporations. He also directed the legal aspects of physician-hospital organization formation, malpractice defense, physician credentialing, medical and corporate bylaws revisions and applications, physician recruitment, medical records confidentiality, employment conflicts, construction projects, real estate acquisitions and divestitures, corporate restructuring, and other health care law speciality areas.
Mr. Fields is a former reporter with the Associated Press.
University of Tennessee
Juris Doctorate, 1974
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1974
University of Tennessee - B.S., 1962
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1974
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
American Academy of Hospital Attorneys
Fred Fields has been practicing law for 32 years and focuses his practice in the field of health care law.
Fred is the former Vice President and General Counsel of St. Mary's Health System, where he served in that capacity from 1985 to 1995. In that position, he supervised the legal work of St. Mary's Health Systems, Inc., and its affiliated corporations. He also directed the legal aspects of physician-hospital organization formation, malpractice defense, physician credentialing, medical and corporate bylaws revisions and applications, physician recruitment, medical records confidentiality, employment conflicts, construction projects, real estate acquisitions and divestitures, corporate restructuring, and other health care law speciality areas.
Mr. Fields is a former reporter with the Associated Press.
University of Tennessee Juris Doctorate, 1974
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1979
Carson Newman College - B.A., 1976, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1979
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1980
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1981
U.S. Supreme Court, 1995
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
State Senator Doug Overbey, senior partner and co-founder of Robertson Overbey, graduated magna cum laude from Carson-Newman College in 1976 with a B.A. degree and first in his class from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1979, where he was named to the Order of the Coif and Phi Delta Phi Roosevelt Inn's Graduate of the Year. He received American Jurisprudence Awards in Contracts, Conflicts of Law, and Criminal Law. He is a member of the American, Tennessee, Knoxville and Blount County Bar Associations, has served as a member of the House of Delegates of the Tennessee Bar Association, and has been a presenter at various continuing legal education seminars. On Law Day, May 1, 2009, Sen. Overbey received the prestigious Law and Liberty Award from the Knoxville Bar Association for his contribution to the advancement and protection of law through liberty.
Sen. Overbey is presently serving his first term in the State Senate from District 8, after representing the 20th district in the House of Representatives for eight years. He has served on the powerful Finance Committees and the Health Committees in both the House and Senate and is also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Overbey was first spotlighted in the General Assembly for his leadership and work on legislation requiring smoke detectors and sprinkler systems in long term care facilities after two tragic nursing home fires occurred in the state. He also headlined legislative action by successfully passing a major medical malpractice insurance reform bill.
Since that time, Sen. Overbey has continued to be known for passage of many thoughtful laws that positively impact the state, including legislation passed in 2010 to prevent potentially catastrophic cuts to Tennessee hospitals, a new law providing assistance to homeowners who are about to lose their homes due to non-payment, and an innovative job growth bill creating the TNInvestco program that has become a model for other states and helps provide investment capital to small and start-up businesses. He is an ardent supporter of veterans and known for his efforts to assist and improve services for Tennesseans who need specialized care as a result of intellectual disability, mental illness or addictions.
Sen. Overbey currently serves on the boards of Maryville College, A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee, Presbyterian Homes of Tennessee, SunTrust Bank of East Tennessee Advisory Board, and Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the East Tennessee Development District and the Policy Council for the East Tennessee Human Resources Agency. He is a member of the Sevier County Ruritan Club, 2009 Class of Leadership Sevier, and 2004 Class of Leadership Blount. Sen. Overbey also holds the rank of Captain in the Tennessee Civil Air Patrol.
Sen. Overbey has been active in the community for many years, having served two terms on the Blount County Commission (82-90), President of Maryville Kiwanis, President of the United Way of Blount County, Chairman of Maryville-Alcoa College Community Orchestra, Chairman of the Johnson Girls Group Home, and board member of the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Blount County Children's Advocacy Center, and Knoxville Museum of Art.
In recognition of his work in the Tennessee General Assembly, Sen. Overbey has been named or received:
-2010 Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Network of Community Organizations (TNCO), the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), the Tennessee Hospitality Association, and the Tennessee Development District Association.
-2008 Legislative Victory Award by the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations.
-2007 Statesman of the Year by the Tennessee Optometric Association.
-2006 Tennessee Legislator of the Year by the American Physical Therapy Association and recognized by the Tennessee Silica Justice Coalition for his sponsorship and passage of the Silica Claims Priority Act of 2006.
-2004 Legislative Champion by the Tennessee Association of Retired Persons, 2004 Tennessee Fire Service Coalition's Life Safety Award, 2004 Community Service Award for Public Service from the Tennessee Hospital Association, and 2004 Outstanding State Representative by the County Officials Association of Tennessee
-2003 Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Association of Utility District.
Sen. Overbey and wife, Kay, live in Maryville, Tennessee, have three daughters, and are active members of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.
University of Tennessee
Juris Doctorate, 1979
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1979
Carson Newman College - B.A., 1976, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1979
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1980
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1981
U.S. Supreme Court, 1995
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
State Senator Doug Overbey, senior partner and co-founder of Robertson Overbey, graduated magna cum laude from Carson-Newman College in 1976 with a B.A. degree and first in his class from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1979, where he was named to the Order of the Coif and Phi Delta Phi Roosevelt Inn's Graduate of the Year. He received American Jurisprudence Awards in Contracts, Conflicts of Law, and Criminal Law. He is a member of the American, Tennessee, Knoxville and Blount County Bar Associations, has served as a member of the House of Delegates of the Tennessee Bar Association, and has been a presenter at various continuing legal education seminars. On Law Day, May 1, 2009, Sen. Overbey received the prestigious Law and Liberty Award from the Knoxville Bar Association for his contribution to the advancement and protection of law through liberty.
Sen. Overbey is presently serving his first term in the State Senate from District 8, after representing the 20th district in the House of Representatives for eight years. He has served on the powerful Finance Committees and the Health Committees in both the House and Senate and is also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Overbey was first spotlighted in the General Assembly for his leadership and work on legislation requiring smoke detectors and sprinkler systems in long term care facilities after two tragic nursing home fires occurred in the state. He also headlined legislative action by successfully passing a major medical malpractice insurance reform bill.
Since that time, Sen. Overbey has continued to be known for passage of many thoughtful laws that positively impact the state, including legislation passed in 2010 to prevent potentially catastrophic cuts to Tennessee hospitals, a new law providing assistance to homeowners who are about to lose their homes due to non-payment, and an innovative job growth bill creating the TNInvestco program that has become a model for other states and helps provide investment capital to small and start-up businesses. He is an ardent supporter of veterans and known for his efforts to assist and improve services for Tennesseans who need specialized care as a result of intellectual disability, mental illness or addictions.
Sen. Overbey currently serves on the boards of Maryville College, A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee, Presbyterian Homes of Tennessee, SunTrust Bank of East Tennessee Advisory Board, and Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the East Tennessee Development District and the Policy Council for the East Tennessee Human Resources Agency. He is a member of the Sevier County Ruritan Club, 2009 Class of Leadership Sevier, and 2004 Class of Leadership Blount. Sen. Overbey also holds the rank of Captain in the Tennessee Civil Air Patrol.
Sen. Overbey has been active in the community for many years, having served two terms on the Blount County Commission (82-90), President of Maryville Kiwanis, President of the United Way of Blount County, Chairman of Maryville-Alcoa College Community Orchestra, Chairman of the Johnson Girls Group Home, and board member of the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Blount County Children's Advocacy Center, and Knoxville Museum of Art.
In recognition of his work in the Tennessee General Assembly, Sen. Overbey has been named or received:
-2010 Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Network of Community Organizations (TNCO), the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), the Tennessee Hospitality Association, and the Tennessee Development District Association.
-2008 Legislative Victory Award by the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations.
-2007 Statesman of the Year by the Tennessee Optometric Association.
-2006 Tennessee Legislator of the Year by the American Physical Therapy Association and recognized by the Tennessee Silica Justice Coalition for his sponsorship and passage of the Silica Claims Priority Act of 2006.
-2004 Legislative Champion by the Tennessee Association of Retired Persons, 2004 Tennessee Fire Service Coalition's Life Safety Award, 2004 Community Service Award for Public Service from the Tennessee Hospital Association, and 2004 Outstanding State Representative by the County Officials Association of Tennessee
-2003 Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Association of Utility District.
Sen. Overbey and wife, Kay, live in Maryville, Tennessee, have three daughters, and are active members of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.
University of Tennessee Juris Doctorate, 1979
Education
Stetson University College of Law - J.D., 1987
Florida Southern College - B.A., 1982
Bar Admissions
Florida, 1987
Tennessee, 1999
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1999
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2010
Memberships
Florida Bar Association
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association and Antitrust Division
American Association for Justice
East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women
Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association
Shelly Wilson joined the firm in June of 1999 as an associate attorney and became a partner in 2000. Shelly's practice includes General Litigation, Complex Litigation and Antitrust, Commercial and Corporate Law, Municipal and Government Law, Employment Law, and Family Law. Shelly was born in Saginaw, Michigan, and grew up in Orlando, Florida.
Ms. Wilson received her undergraduate degree from Florida Southern College, in Lakeland, Florida, where she graduated cum laude. She earned her law degree from the Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. Before joining the firm as an associate attorney in 1999, Shelly worked for over eleven years as an Assistant Public Defender for the State of Florida, defending persons charged with a variety of crimes including capital cases. Ms. Wilson is currently admitted to the bars in Florida, Tennessee and the United Stated District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Shelly is a member of the Florida, Knoxville, Blount, and Tennessee Bar Associations. She is also a member of the American Bar Association and American Association for Justice. Shelly serves as co-chair on the Knoxville Bar Association's Committee on Continuing Legal Education, the Tennessee Bar Association Litigation Section Executive Counsel, the Tennessee Transitional Legal Education Joint Committee, and is a delegate to the Tennessee Bar Association's House of Delegates. She previously served on the Knoxville Bar Association's Pro Bono Advisory Board.
Stetson University College of Law
Juris Doctorate, 1987
Education
Stetson University College of Law - J.D., 1987
Florida Southern College - B.A., 1982
Bar Admissions
Florida, 1987
Tennessee, 1999
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1999
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2010
Memberships
Florida Bar Association
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association and Antitrust Division
American Association for Justice
East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women
Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association
Shelly Wilson joined the firm in June of 1999 as an associate attorney and became a partner in 2000. Shelly's practice includes General Litigation, Complex Litigation and Antitrust, Commercial and Corporate Law, Municipal and Government Law, Employment Law, and Family Law. Shelly was born in Saginaw, Michigan, and grew up in Orlando, Florida.
Ms. Wilson received her undergraduate degree from Florida Southern College, in Lakeland, Florida, where she graduated cum laude. She earned her law degree from the Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. Before joining the firm as an associate attorney in 1999, Shelly worked for over eleven years as an Assistant Public Defender for the State of Florida, defending persons charged with a variety of crimes including capital cases. Ms. Wilson is currently admitted to the bars in Florida, Tennessee and the United Stated District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Shelly is a member of the Florida, Knoxville, Blount, and Tennessee Bar Associations. She is also a member of the American Bar Association and American Association for Justice. Shelly serves as co-chair on the Knoxville Bar Association's Committee on Continuing Legal Education, the Tennessee Bar Association Litigation Section Executive Counsel, the Tennessee Transitional Legal Education Joint Committee, and is a delegate to the Tennessee Bar Association's House of Delegates. She previously served on the Knoxville Bar Association's Pro Bono Advisory Board.
Stetson University College of Law Juris Doctorate, 1987
Education
University of Kentucky, B.S., cum laude 1981
University of Kentucky, J.D., 1984
Bar Admissions
Kentucky, 1984
Tennessee, 1990
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 1985
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1991
U.S. Claims Court, 1991
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1991
U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Tennessee Association for Justice (Associate)
Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association
Defense Research Institute
American Health Lawyers Association
American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
The Million Dollar Advocates Forum
David is certified as a specialist in medical malpractice by both the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization.
While he was still in law school, David acted as a special Assistant County Attorney in Bourbon County, Kentucky, prosecuting misdemeanor cases as a legal intern under a special student practice rule. He continued to serve in that capacity for a short time after graduating from law school, but soon went into private practice, handling probate matters and divorces, and trying both civil and criminal cases. During those years he also represented the Paris-Bourbon County Joint Planning Commission and served as the city attorney for North Middletown, Kentucky. His interest in civil litigation grew and, in 1990, he and his family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was able to devote 100% of his professional time to trying personal injury cases. Since he joined Robertson, Overbey in August of 2001, his practice has been primarily devoted to the defense of medical malpractice cases, although he continues to represent plaintiffs in selected catastrophic injury cases. Nursing home defense is now the most rapidly growing part of his practice.
David is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Business and Economics and the University of Kentucky School of Law. He is admitted to the Tennessee Bar, the Kentucky Bar, the United States District Courts for the Eastern Districts of Tennessee and Kentucky, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the United States Claims Court and the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association and the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. He has taught numerous continuing legal education courses in the areas of litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
David is a Rule 31 Listed Mediator for Civil Law matters in Tennessee. He has a particular interest in mediating medical malpractice cases.
David is proud to have been recognized by Legal Aid of Tennessee for his commitment to assuring equal access to justice for low-income persons by his service through The Pro Bono Project during 2010.
University of Kentucky
Juris Doctorate, 1984
Education
University of Kentucky, B.S., cum laude 1981
University of Kentucky, J.D., 1984
Bar Admissions
Kentucky, 1984
Tennessee, 1990
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 1985
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1991
U.S. Claims Court, 1991
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1991
U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Tennessee Association for Justice (Associate)
Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association
Defense Research Institute
American Health Lawyers Association
American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
The Million Dollar Advocates Forum
David is certified as a specialist in medical malpractice by both the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization.
While he was still in law school, David acted as a special Assistant County Attorney in Bourbon County, Kentucky, prosecuting misdemeanor cases as a legal intern under a special student practice rule. He continued to serve in that capacity for a short time after graduating from law school, but soon went into private practice, handling probate matters and divorces, and trying both civil and criminal cases. During those years he also represented the Paris-Bourbon County Joint Planning Commission and served as the city attorney for North Middletown, Kentucky. His interest in civil litigation grew and, in 1990, he and his family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was able to devote 100% of his professional time to trying personal injury cases. Since he joined Robertson, Overbey in August of 2001, his practice has been primarily devoted to the defense of medical malpractice cases, although he continues to represent plaintiffs in selected catastrophic injury cases. Nursing home defense is now the most rapidly growing part of his practice.
David is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Business and Economics and the University of Kentucky School of Law. He is admitted to the Tennessee Bar, the Kentucky Bar, the United States District Courts for the Eastern Districts of Tennessee and Kentucky, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the United States Claims Court and the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association and the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. He has taught numerous continuing legal education courses in the areas of litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
David is a Rule 31 Listed Mediator for Civil Law matters in Tennessee. He has a particular interest in mediating medical malpractice cases.
David is proud to have been recognized by Legal Aid of Tennessee for his commitment to assuring equal access to justice for low-income persons by his service through The Pro Bono Project during 2010.
University of Kentucky Juris Doctorate, 1984
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1988
University of Tennessee - B.A., 1985
Roane State Community College - A.S., 1983
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1988
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1989
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1991
U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association, Past Chair of Gov't Lawyers Section
Roane County Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
Tennessee County Attorney's Association, President 2008-2009, Secretary-Treasurer 2009-Present
Tennessee School Boards Association
Hamilton Burnett Inns of Court, Emeritus Member
Tennessee Society of Sons of the Revolution, direct descendent of
Capt. William Sumpter, a patriot of the Revolutionary War and brother of Gen. Thomas Sumpter, the "Gamecock of the Carolinas"
Certifications
Certified Federal and State Court Mediator since 1995
John Owings joined the firm of Robertson Overbey on September 1, 2008, and has been practicing law in Knoxville and Knox County for over 22 years. As special counsel with Robertson Overbey, John provides reliable traditional legal services and maintains practice concentrations in business, corporate, employment, labor, personal injury, products liability, municipal, governmental and public utilities law, mediation and civil litigation, including defending individual police officers, officials, cities and counties in civil rights actions. John is the current Secretary-Treasurer of the Tennessee County Attorney's Association.
John graduated cum laude from Roane State Community College with an A.S. degree in Pre-Law in 1983. He graduated with High Honors from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a B.A. degree in 1985 and from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1988. For two years while in law school, John was employed as an investigator for the Tennessee Human Rights Commission investigating and analyzing complaints, making findings, and writing formal opinions for the Commission related to all forms of employment discrimination.
For his first two years after law school, 1988-1990, John was employed as the first Pro Se Law Clerk and Staff Attorney for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. As the Pro Se Law Clerk and Staff Attorney, John examined all State of Tennessee and Federal prisoner petitions and complaints, including civil rights complaints, state habeas corpus petitions, and motions to vacate sentences, reviewed all pleadings in prisoner cases, determined the issues involved, the basis for relief from the federal court, performed substantive legal research, managed a case load of over 400 cases, and drafted appropriate dispositive and non-dispositive orders and opinions for the approval of the four federal district court judges - Judges James H. Jarvis, II, R. Leon Jordan, R. Allan Edgar and Thomas G. Hull. John also performed administrative legal duties for the Federal Court Clerk.
Between 1990 and 2006, John was the Chief Deputy Law Director for Knox County, Tennessee. During that time, John represented, defended, advised and served as in-house counsel for the entity of Knox County and all of its elected officials, including the Knox County Commission, County Mayor, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Property Assessor, Sheriff, General Sessions Court Judges, Juvenile Court Judge and Referees, Knox County Schools and Board of Education, and Knox County's directors, officers, Clerks of Court and employees in all civil matters and cases, including civil rights, education, employment, Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, contract claims and numerous other causes of action and prosecuted Knox County Code violations.
On September 1, 2006, John was elected by the Commission of Knox County to serve the remainder of his predecessor's four year term of office - through August 31, 2008. The Knox County Law Director is an elected official of Knox County that is charged with executing and administering all of the legal affairs of the County, including litigation, drafting of contracts or other documents, instruments and papers, the investigation of titles, and to advise and counsel County officials and the Commission on all legal matters affecting their respective offices. As the Knox County Law Director, John had a staff of seventeen, including seven attorneys, a certified paralegal, and an investigator. As the Chief Deputy and the Law Director for Knox County, John represented Knox County in countless civil rights and personal injury lawsuits with successful jury verdicts and trial court decisions in the State of Tennessee and Federal Court, the Tennessee Appellate Courts and the Federal Appellate Court (Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals), and the Tennessee Supreme Court.
University of Tennessee
Juris Doctorate, 1988
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1988
University of Tennessee - B.A., 1985
Roane State Community College - A.S., 1983
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1988
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1989
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1991
U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association, Past Chair of Gov't Lawyers Section
Roane County Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
Tennessee County Attorney's Association, President 2008-2009, Secretary-Treasurer 2009-Present
Tennessee School Boards Association
Hamilton Burnett Inns of Court, Emeritus Member
Tennessee Society of Sons of the Revolution, direct descendent of
Capt. William Sumpter, a patriot of the Revolutionary War and brother of Gen. Thomas Sumpter, the "Gamecock of the Carolinas"
Certifications
Certified Federal and State Court Mediator since 1995
John Owings joined the firm of Robertson Overbey on September 1, 2008, and has been practicing law in Knoxville and Knox County for over 22 years. As special counsel with Robertson Overbey, John provides reliable traditional legal services and maintains practice concentrations in business, corporate, employment, labor, personal injury, products liability, municipal, governmental and public utilities law, mediation and civil litigation, including defending individual police officers, officials, cities and counties in civil rights actions. John is the current Secretary-Treasurer of the Tennessee County Attorney's Association.
John graduated cum laude from Roane State Community College with an A.S. degree in Pre-Law in 1983. He graduated with High Honors from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a B.A. degree in 1985 and from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1988. For two years while in law school, John was employed as an investigator for the Tennessee Human Rights Commission investigating and analyzing complaints, making findings, and writing formal opinions for the Commission related to all forms of employment discrimination.
For his first two years after law school, 1988-1990, John was employed as the first Pro Se Law Clerk and Staff Attorney for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. As the Pro Se Law Clerk and Staff Attorney, John examined all State of Tennessee and Federal prisoner petitions and complaints, including civil rights complaints, state habeas corpus petitions, and motions to vacate sentences, reviewed all pleadings in prisoner cases, determined the issues involved, the basis for relief from the federal court, performed substantive legal research, managed a case load of over 400 cases, and drafted appropriate dispositive and non-dispositive orders and opinions for the approval of the four federal district court judges - Judges James H. Jarvis, II, R. Leon Jordan, R. Allan Edgar and Thomas G. Hull. John also performed administrative legal duties for the Federal Court Clerk.
Between 1990 and 2006, John was the Chief Deputy Law Director for Knox County, Tennessee. During that time, John represented, defended, advised and served as in-house counsel for the entity of Knox County and all of its elected officials, including the Knox County Commission, County Mayor, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Property Assessor, Sheriff, General Sessions Court Judges, Juvenile Court Judge and Referees, Knox County Schools and Board of Education, and Knox County's directors, officers, Clerks of Court and employees in all civil matters and cases, including civil rights, education, employment, Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, contract claims and numerous other causes of action and prosecuted Knox County Code violations.
On September 1, 2006, John was elected by the Commission of Knox County to serve the remainder of his predecessor's four year term of office - through August 31, 2008. The Knox County Law Director is an elected official of Knox County that is charged with executing and administering all of the legal affairs of the County, including litigation, drafting of contracts or other documents, instruments and papers, the investigation of titles, and to advise and counsel County officials and the Commission on all legal matters affecting their respective offices. As the Knox County Law Director, John had a staff of seventeen, including seven attorneys, a certified paralegal, and an investigator. As the Chief Deputy and the Law Director for Knox County, John represented Knox County in countless civil rights and personal injury lawsuits with successful jury verdicts and trial court decisions in the State of Tennessee and Federal Court, the Tennessee Appellate Courts and the Federal Appellate Court (Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals), and the Tennessee Supreme Court.
University of Tennessee Juris Doctorate, 1988
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 2008
Lee University, B.A., 2005 summa cum laude
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 2008
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women
Stephanie D. Coleman joined the firm in 2008 as an associate attorney. She was born and grew up in Lenoir City, Tennessee.
Stephanie graduated summa cum laude from Lee University in Cleveland, TN, with a B.A. degree in Political Science and minors in Math, Bible, and English. She earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2008. While there, she was named to the Order of Barristers, achieved Dean's List, and received Certificates of Excellence in Contracts II, and Contract Drafting. She also participated in the Labor and Employment Law Moot Court team for two years.
Stephanie is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Blount County Bar Association, the East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women, and the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity.
University of Tennessee
Juris Doctorate, 2008
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 2008
Lee University, B.A., 2005 summa cum laude
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 2008
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women
Stephanie D. Coleman joined the firm in 2008 as an associate attorney. She was born and grew up in Lenoir City, Tennessee.
Stephanie graduated summa cum laude from Lee University in Cleveland, TN, with a B.A. degree in Political Science and minors in Math, Bible, and English. She earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2008. While there, she was named to the Order of Barristers, achieved Dean's List, and received Certificates of Excellence in Contracts II, and Contract Drafting. She also participated in the Labor and Employment Law Moot Court team for two years.
Stephanie is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Blount County Bar Association, the East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women, and the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity.
University of Tennessee Juris Doctorate, 2008
Our law firm offers a wide variety of legal services ranging from major civil litigation involving complex antitrust and commercial issues and defending physicians and other health care providers in professional negligence cases to serving as bond counsel, issuer's counsel, and underwriter's counsel in more than $7.7 billion dollars worth of tax-exempt financings. Our firm also serves various clients, including a continuing care retirement community, professional engineering firm, utility districts and a municipality as general counsel. We have completed transactions ranging from the acquisition and merger of major area hospitals to the start-up of an environmental research company, a construction company, and the sale of a multi- physician family practice to a major health system.
At the same time, we have represented various commercial enterprises and individuals in federal antitrust grand jury and Department of Justice investigations, handled child custody disputes and family law matters, and given counsel to persons setting out with their first corporate and partnership endeavors.
The firm has a long history. It was founded in 1982 by Claude K. Robertson, J. Edward Ingram, Norman H. Williams, Shannon D. Faulkner, III, and J. Douglas Overbey. Doug Overbey is the current senior and managing partner. He is a resident of Maryville and represents the 2nd District in the Tennessee General Assembly. His legal experience ranges across the gamut from antitrust and commercial litigation to major transactional endeavors. He is the former Chancellor of the Diocese of East Tennessee, and serves as general counsel to a number of corporations in the area as well as City Attorney for the City of Alcoa.
Shelly Wilson moved to Tennessee from Florida in 1999. She worked in Florida for more than eleven years practicing primarily criminal defense, and has worked over the last ten years for clients who need help with antitrust and general corporate law issues including corporate formation and employment law, contract negotiation, land development issues, estate settlement issues, family law, and criminal prosecution.
John Owings was Chief Deputy Law Director and Law Director for Knox County for a combined total of eighteen years. Prior to his experience with Knox County, John was the first pro se law clerk and staff attorney for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and, while in law school, he worked as an investigator for the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. John has also been a certified federal and state court mediator since 1995. Having practiced law in Knoxville for over 22 years, John's concentrations are in business, corporate, employment, labor, personal injury, products liability, municipal, governmental and public utilities law, mediation and civil litigation, including defending individual police officers, officials, cities and counties in civil rights actions.
David Waite is a litigator who has been recognized as a medical malpractice specialist by both the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. He also litigates nursing home, class action, products liability, toxic tort and catastrophic injury cases. Although he often represents the defendants in these cases, he also represents plaintiffs in selected cases and is proud to be a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, whose membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements.
Stephanie Coleman is the newest associate to the firm. Thus far she has gained experience working on a wide variety of civil cases including products liability and civil rights defense. She also does contracts, powers of attorney, and other drafting work.
The firm is also proud to have the Of-Counsel association of Frederick Fields, who served as Vice President and General Counsel of St. Mary's Health System.
The firm carries an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. We would welcome the opportunity
to serve you.
Main Office
900 South Gay Street
800 Riverview Tower
Knoxville, TN 37902
865-522-2717
The law office of Robertson Overbey will represent your business legal matters.
-Civil Litigation and Appeals
-Medical Malpractice Defense
-Health Care Law
-Business Law
-Corporate Law
-Commercial Law
-Antitrust and Unfair Competition
-Insurance
-Labor Law
-Employment Discrimination Defense
-Civil Rights Defense
-Municipal Law
-Governmental Law
-Domestic Relations
-Public Utility Law
-Corporate Counsel
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1974
University of Tennessee - B.S., 1962
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1974
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
American Academy of Hospital Attorneys
Fred Fields has been practicing law for 32 years and focuses his practice in the field of health care law.
Fred is the former Vice President and General Counsel of St. Mary's Health System, where he served in that capacity from 1985 to 1995. In that position, he supervised the legal work of St. Mary's Health Systems, Inc., and its affiliated corporations. He also directed the legal aspects of physician-hospital organization formation, malpractice defense, physician credentialing, medical and corporate bylaws revisions and applications, physician recruitment, medical records confidentiality, employment conflicts, construction projects, real estate acquisitions and divestitures, corporate restructuring, and other health care law speciality areas.
Mr. Fields is a former reporter with the Associated Press.
University of Tennessee
Juris Doctorate, 1974
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1974
University of Tennessee - B.S., 1962
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1974
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
American Academy of Hospital Attorneys
Fred Fields has been practicing law for 32 years and focuses his practice in the field of health care law.
Fred is the former Vice President and General Counsel of St. Mary's Health System, where he served in that capacity from 1985 to 1995. In that position, he supervised the legal work of St. Mary's Health Systems, Inc., and its affiliated corporations. He also directed the legal aspects of physician-hospital organization formation, malpractice defense, physician credentialing, medical and corporate bylaws revisions and applications, physician recruitment, medical records confidentiality, employment conflicts, construction projects, real estate acquisitions and divestitures, corporate restructuring, and other health care law speciality areas.
Mr. Fields is a former reporter with the Associated Press.
University of Tennessee Juris Doctorate, 1974
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1979
Carson Newman College - B.A., 1976, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1979
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1980
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1981
U.S. Supreme Court, 1995
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
State Senator Doug Overbey, senior partner and co-founder of Robertson Overbey, graduated magna cum laude from Carson-Newman College in 1976 with a B.A. degree and first in his class from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1979, where he was named to the Order of the Coif and Phi Delta Phi Roosevelt Inn's Graduate of the Year. He received American Jurisprudence Awards in Contracts, Conflicts of Law, and Criminal Law. He is a member of the American, Tennessee, Knoxville and Blount County Bar Associations, has served as a member of the House of Delegates of the Tennessee Bar Association, and has been a presenter at various continuing legal education seminars. On Law Day, May 1, 2009, Sen. Overbey received the prestigious Law and Liberty Award from the Knoxville Bar Association for his contribution to the advancement and protection of law through liberty.
Sen. Overbey is presently serving his first term in the State Senate from District 8, after representing the 20th district in the House of Representatives for eight years. He has served on the powerful Finance Committees and the Health Committees in both the House and Senate and is also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Overbey was first spotlighted in the General Assembly for his leadership and work on legislation requiring smoke detectors and sprinkler systems in long term care facilities after two tragic nursing home fires occurred in the state. He also headlined legislative action by successfully passing a major medical malpractice insurance reform bill.
Since that time, Sen. Overbey has continued to be known for passage of many thoughtful laws that positively impact the state, including legislation passed in 2010 to prevent potentially catastrophic cuts to Tennessee hospitals, a new law providing assistance to homeowners who are about to lose their homes due to non-payment, and an innovative job growth bill creating the TNInvestco program that has become a model for other states and helps provide investment capital to small and start-up businesses. He is an ardent supporter of veterans and known for his efforts to assist and improve services for Tennesseans who need specialized care as a result of intellectual disability, mental illness or addictions.
Sen. Overbey currently serves on the boards of Maryville College, A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee, Presbyterian Homes of Tennessee, SunTrust Bank of East Tennessee Advisory Board, and Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the East Tennessee Development District and the Policy Council for the East Tennessee Human Resources Agency. He is a member of the Sevier County Ruritan Club, 2009 Class of Leadership Sevier, and 2004 Class of Leadership Blount. Sen. Overbey also holds the rank of Captain in the Tennessee Civil Air Patrol.
Sen. Overbey has been active in the community for many years, having served two terms on the Blount County Commission (82-90), President of Maryville Kiwanis, President of the United Way of Blount County, Chairman of Maryville-Alcoa College Community Orchestra, Chairman of the Johnson Girls Group Home, and board member of the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Blount County Children's Advocacy Center, and Knoxville Museum of Art.
In recognition of his work in the Tennessee General Assembly, Sen. Overbey has been named or received:
-2010 Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Network of Community Organizations (TNCO), the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), the Tennessee Hospitality Association, and the Tennessee Development District Association.
-2008 Legislative Victory Award by the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations.
-2007 Statesman of the Year by the Tennessee Optometric Association.
-2006 Tennessee Legislator of the Year by the American Physical Therapy Association and recognized by the Tennessee Silica Justice Coalition for his sponsorship and passage of the Silica Claims Priority Act of 2006.
-2004 Legislative Champion by the Tennessee Association of Retired Persons, 2004 Tennessee Fire Service Coalition's Life Safety Award, 2004 Community Service Award for Public Service from the Tennessee Hospital Association, and 2004 Outstanding State Representative by the County Officials Association of Tennessee
-2003 Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Association of Utility District.
Sen. Overbey and wife, Kay, live in Maryville, Tennessee, have three daughters, and are active members of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.
University of Tennessee
Juris Doctorate, 1979
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1979
Carson Newman College - B.A., 1976, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1979
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1980
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1981
U.S. Supreme Court, 1995
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
State Senator Doug Overbey, senior partner and co-founder of Robertson Overbey, graduated magna cum laude from Carson-Newman College in 1976 with a B.A. degree and first in his class from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1979, where he was named to the Order of the Coif and Phi Delta Phi Roosevelt Inn's Graduate of the Year. He received American Jurisprudence Awards in Contracts, Conflicts of Law, and Criminal Law. He is a member of the American, Tennessee, Knoxville and Blount County Bar Associations, has served as a member of the House of Delegates of the Tennessee Bar Association, and has been a presenter at various continuing legal education seminars. On Law Day, May 1, 2009, Sen. Overbey received the prestigious Law and Liberty Award from the Knoxville Bar Association for his contribution to the advancement and protection of law through liberty.
Sen. Overbey is presently serving his first term in the State Senate from District 8, after representing the 20th district in the House of Representatives for eight years. He has served on the powerful Finance Committees and the Health Committees in both the House and Senate and is also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Overbey was first spotlighted in the General Assembly for his leadership and work on legislation requiring smoke detectors and sprinkler systems in long term care facilities after two tragic nursing home fires occurred in the state. He also headlined legislative action by successfully passing a major medical malpractice insurance reform bill.
Since that time, Sen. Overbey has continued to be known for passage of many thoughtful laws that positively impact the state, including legislation passed in 2010 to prevent potentially catastrophic cuts to Tennessee hospitals, a new law providing assistance to homeowners who are about to lose their homes due to non-payment, and an innovative job growth bill creating the TNInvestco program that has become a model for other states and helps provide investment capital to small and start-up businesses. He is an ardent supporter of veterans and known for his efforts to assist and improve services for Tennesseans who need specialized care as a result of intellectual disability, mental illness or addictions.
Sen. Overbey currently serves on the boards of Maryville College, A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee, Presbyterian Homes of Tennessee, SunTrust Bank of East Tennessee Advisory Board, and Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the East Tennessee Development District and the Policy Council for the East Tennessee Human Resources Agency. He is a member of the Sevier County Ruritan Club, 2009 Class of Leadership Sevier, and 2004 Class of Leadership Blount. Sen. Overbey also holds the rank of Captain in the Tennessee Civil Air Patrol.
Sen. Overbey has been active in the community for many years, having served two terms on the Blount County Commission (82-90), President of Maryville Kiwanis, President of the United Way of Blount County, Chairman of Maryville-Alcoa College Community Orchestra, Chairman of the Johnson Girls Group Home, and board member of the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Blount County Children's Advocacy Center, and Knoxville Museum of Art.
In recognition of his work in the Tennessee General Assembly, Sen. Overbey has been named or received:
-2010 Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Network of Community Organizations (TNCO), the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), the Tennessee Hospitality Association, and the Tennessee Development District Association.
-2008 Legislative Victory Award by the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations.
-2007 Statesman of the Year by the Tennessee Optometric Association.
-2006 Tennessee Legislator of the Year by the American Physical Therapy Association and recognized by the Tennessee Silica Justice Coalition for his sponsorship and passage of the Silica Claims Priority Act of 2006.
-2004 Legislative Champion by the Tennessee Association of Retired Persons, 2004 Tennessee Fire Service Coalition's Life Safety Award, 2004 Community Service Award for Public Service from the Tennessee Hospital Association, and 2004 Outstanding State Representative by the County Officials Association of Tennessee
-2003 Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Association of Utility District.
Sen. Overbey and wife, Kay, live in Maryville, Tennessee, have three daughters, and are active members of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.
University of Tennessee Juris Doctorate, 1979
Education
Stetson University College of Law - J.D., 1987
Florida Southern College - B.A., 1982
Bar Admissions
Florida, 1987
Tennessee, 1999
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1999
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2010
Memberships
Florida Bar Association
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association and Antitrust Division
American Association for Justice
East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women
Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association
Shelly Wilson joined the firm in June of 1999 as an associate attorney and became a partner in 2000. Shelly's practice includes General Litigation, Complex Litigation and Antitrust, Commercial and Corporate Law, Municipal and Government Law, Employment Law, and Family Law. Shelly was born in Saginaw, Michigan, and grew up in Orlando, Florida.
Ms. Wilson received her undergraduate degree from Florida Southern College, in Lakeland, Florida, where she graduated cum laude. She earned her law degree from the Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. Before joining the firm as an associate attorney in 1999, Shelly worked for over eleven years as an Assistant Public Defender for the State of Florida, defending persons charged with a variety of crimes including capital cases. Ms. Wilson is currently admitted to the bars in Florida, Tennessee and the United Stated District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Shelly is a member of the Florida, Knoxville, Blount, and Tennessee Bar Associations. She is also a member of the American Bar Association and American Association for Justice. Shelly serves as co-chair on the Knoxville Bar Association's Committee on Continuing Legal Education, the Tennessee Bar Association Litigation Section Executive Counsel, the Tennessee Transitional Legal Education Joint Committee, and is a delegate to the Tennessee Bar Association's House of Delegates. She previously served on the Knoxville Bar Association's Pro Bono Advisory Board.
Stetson University College of Law
Juris Doctorate, 1987
Education
Stetson University College of Law - J.D., 1987
Florida Southern College - B.A., 1982
Bar Admissions
Florida, 1987
Tennessee, 1999
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1999
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2010
Memberships
Florida Bar Association
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association and Antitrust Division
American Association for Justice
East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women
Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association
Shelly Wilson joined the firm in June of 1999 as an associate attorney and became a partner in 2000. Shelly's practice includes General Litigation, Complex Litigation and Antitrust, Commercial and Corporate Law, Municipal and Government Law, Employment Law, and Family Law. Shelly was born in Saginaw, Michigan, and grew up in Orlando, Florida.
Ms. Wilson received her undergraduate degree from Florida Southern College, in Lakeland, Florida, where she graduated cum laude. She earned her law degree from the Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. Before joining the firm as an associate attorney in 1999, Shelly worked for over eleven years as an Assistant Public Defender for the State of Florida, defending persons charged with a variety of crimes including capital cases. Ms. Wilson is currently admitted to the bars in Florida, Tennessee and the United Stated District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Shelly is a member of the Florida, Knoxville, Blount, and Tennessee Bar Associations. She is also a member of the American Bar Association and American Association for Justice. Shelly serves as co-chair on the Knoxville Bar Association's Committee on Continuing Legal Education, the Tennessee Bar Association Litigation Section Executive Counsel, the Tennessee Transitional Legal Education Joint Committee, and is a delegate to the Tennessee Bar Association's House of Delegates. She previously served on the Knoxville Bar Association's Pro Bono Advisory Board.
Stetson University College of Law Juris Doctorate, 1987
Education
University of Kentucky, B.S., cum laude 1981
University of Kentucky, J.D., 1984
Bar Admissions
Kentucky, 1984
Tennessee, 1990
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 1985
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1991
U.S. Claims Court, 1991
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1991
U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Tennessee Association for Justice (Associate)
Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association
Defense Research Institute
American Health Lawyers Association
American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
The Million Dollar Advocates Forum
David is certified as a specialist in medical malpractice by both the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization.
While he was still in law school, David acted as a special Assistant County Attorney in Bourbon County, Kentucky, prosecuting misdemeanor cases as a legal intern under a special student practice rule. He continued to serve in that capacity for a short time after graduating from law school, but soon went into private practice, handling probate matters and divorces, and trying both civil and criminal cases. During those years he also represented the Paris-Bourbon County Joint Planning Commission and served as the city attorney for North Middletown, Kentucky. His interest in civil litigation grew and, in 1990, he and his family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was able to devote 100% of his professional time to trying personal injury cases. Since he joined Robertson, Overbey in August of 2001, his practice has been primarily devoted to the defense of medical malpractice cases, although he continues to represent plaintiffs in selected catastrophic injury cases. Nursing home defense is now the most rapidly growing part of his practice.
David is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Business and Economics and the University of Kentucky School of Law. He is admitted to the Tennessee Bar, the Kentucky Bar, the United States District Courts for the Eastern Districts of Tennessee and Kentucky, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the United States Claims Court and the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association and the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. He has taught numerous continuing legal education courses in the areas of litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
David is a Rule 31 Listed Mediator for Civil Law matters in Tennessee. He has a particular interest in mediating medical malpractice cases.
David is proud to have been recognized by Legal Aid of Tennessee for his commitment to assuring equal access to justice for low-income persons by his service through The Pro Bono Project during 2010.
University of Kentucky
Juris Doctorate, 1984
Education
University of Kentucky, B.S., cum laude 1981
University of Kentucky, J.D., 1984
Bar Admissions
Kentucky, 1984
Tennessee, 1990
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 1985
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1991
U.S. Claims Court, 1991
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1991
U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Tennessee Association for Justice (Associate)
Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association
Defense Research Institute
American Health Lawyers Association
American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
The Million Dollar Advocates Forum
David is certified as a specialist in medical malpractice by both the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization.
While he was still in law school, David acted as a special Assistant County Attorney in Bourbon County, Kentucky, prosecuting misdemeanor cases as a legal intern under a special student practice rule. He continued to serve in that capacity for a short time after graduating from law school, but soon went into private practice, handling probate matters and divorces, and trying both civil and criminal cases. During those years he also represented the Paris-Bourbon County Joint Planning Commission and served as the city attorney for North Middletown, Kentucky. His interest in civil litigation grew and, in 1990, he and his family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was able to devote 100% of his professional time to trying personal injury cases. Since he joined Robertson, Overbey in August of 2001, his practice has been primarily devoted to the defense of medical malpractice cases, although he continues to represent plaintiffs in selected catastrophic injury cases. Nursing home defense is now the most rapidly growing part of his practice.
David is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Business and Economics and the University of Kentucky School of Law. He is admitted to the Tennessee Bar, the Kentucky Bar, the United States District Courts for the Eastern Districts of Tennessee and Kentucky, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the United States Claims Court and the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association and the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. He has taught numerous continuing legal education courses in the areas of litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
David is a Rule 31 Listed Mediator for Civil Law matters in Tennessee. He has a particular interest in mediating medical malpractice cases.
David is proud to have been recognized by Legal Aid of Tennessee for his commitment to assuring equal access to justice for low-income persons by his service through The Pro Bono Project during 2010.
University of Kentucky Juris Doctorate, 1984
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1988
University of Tennessee - B.A., 1985
Roane State Community College - A.S., 1983
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1988
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1989
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1991
U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association, Past Chair of Gov't Lawyers Section
Roane County Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
Tennessee County Attorney's Association, President 2008-2009, Secretary-Treasurer 2009-Present
Tennessee School Boards Association
Hamilton Burnett Inns of Court, Emeritus Member
Tennessee Society of Sons of the Revolution, direct descendent of
Capt. William Sumpter, a patriot of the Revolutionary War and brother of Gen. Thomas Sumpter, the "Gamecock of the Carolinas"
Certifications
Certified Federal and State Court Mediator since 1995
John Owings joined the firm of Robertson Overbey on September 1, 2008, and has been practicing law in Knoxville and Knox County for over 22 years. As special counsel with Robertson Overbey, John provides reliable traditional legal services and maintains practice concentrations in business, corporate, employment, labor, personal injury, products liability, municipal, governmental and public utilities law, mediation and civil litigation, including defending individual police officers, officials, cities and counties in civil rights actions. John is the current Secretary-Treasurer of the Tennessee County Attorney's Association.
John graduated cum laude from Roane State Community College with an A.S. degree in Pre-Law in 1983. He graduated with High Honors from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a B.A. degree in 1985 and from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1988. For two years while in law school, John was employed as an investigator for the Tennessee Human Rights Commission investigating and analyzing complaints, making findings, and writing formal opinions for the Commission related to all forms of employment discrimination.
For his first two years after law school, 1988-1990, John was employed as the first Pro Se Law Clerk and Staff Attorney for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. As the Pro Se Law Clerk and Staff Attorney, John examined all State of Tennessee and Federal prisoner petitions and complaints, including civil rights complaints, state habeas corpus petitions, and motions to vacate sentences, reviewed all pleadings in prisoner cases, determined the issues involved, the basis for relief from the federal court, performed substantive legal research, managed a case load of over 400 cases, and drafted appropriate dispositive and non-dispositive orders and opinions for the approval of the four federal district court judges - Judges James H. Jarvis, II, R. Leon Jordan, R. Allan Edgar and Thomas G. Hull. John also performed administrative legal duties for the Federal Court Clerk.
Between 1990 and 2006, John was the Chief Deputy Law Director for Knox County, Tennessee. During that time, John represented, defended, advised and served as in-house counsel for the entity of Knox County and all of its elected officials, including the Knox County Commission, County Mayor, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Property Assessor, Sheriff, General Sessions Court Judges, Juvenile Court Judge and Referees, Knox County Schools and Board of Education, and Knox County's directors, officers, Clerks of Court and employees in all civil matters and cases, including civil rights, education, employment, Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, contract claims and numerous other causes of action and prosecuted Knox County Code violations.
On September 1, 2006, John was elected by the Commission of Knox County to serve the remainder of his predecessor's four year term of office - through August 31, 2008. The Knox County Law Director is an elected official of Knox County that is charged with executing and administering all of the legal affairs of the County, including litigation, drafting of contracts or other documents, instruments and papers, the investigation of titles, and to advise and counsel County officials and the Commission on all legal matters affecting their respective offices. As the Knox County Law Director, John had a staff of seventeen, including seven attorneys, a certified paralegal, and an investigator. As the Chief Deputy and the Law Director for Knox County, John represented Knox County in countless civil rights and personal injury lawsuits with successful jury verdicts and trial court decisions in the State of Tennessee and Federal Court, the Tennessee Appellate Courts and the Federal Appellate Court (Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals), and the Tennessee Supreme Court.
University of Tennessee
Juris Doctorate, 1988
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 1988
University of Tennessee - B.A., 1985
Roane State Community College - A.S., 1983
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1988
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 1989
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1991
U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association, Past Chair of Gov't Lawyers Section
Roane County Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association
Tennessee County Attorney's Association, President 2008-2009, Secretary-Treasurer 2009-Present
Tennessee School Boards Association
Hamilton Burnett Inns of Court, Emeritus Member
Tennessee Society of Sons of the Revolution, direct descendent of
Capt. William Sumpter, a patriot of the Revolutionary War and brother of Gen. Thomas Sumpter, the "Gamecock of the Carolinas"
Certifications
Certified Federal and State Court Mediator since 1995
John Owings joined the firm of Robertson Overbey on September 1, 2008, and has been practicing law in Knoxville and Knox County for over 22 years. As special counsel with Robertson Overbey, John provides reliable traditional legal services and maintains practice concentrations in business, corporate, employment, labor, personal injury, products liability, municipal, governmental and public utilities law, mediation and civil litigation, including defending individual police officers, officials, cities and counties in civil rights actions. John is the current Secretary-Treasurer of the Tennessee County Attorney's Association.
John graduated cum laude from Roane State Community College with an A.S. degree in Pre-Law in 1983. He graduated with High Honors from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a B.A. degree in 1985 and from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1988. For two years while in law school, John was employed as an investigator for the Tennessee Human Rights Commission investigating and analyzing complaints, making findings, and writing formal opinions for the Commission related to all forms of employment discrimination.
For his first two years after law school, 1988-1990, John was employed as the first Pro Se Law Clerk and Staff Attorney for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. As the Pro Se Law Clerk and Staff Attorney, John examined all State of Tennessee and Federal prisoner petitions and complaints, including civil rights complaints, state habeas corpus petitions, and motions to vacate sentences, reviewed all pleadings in prisoner cases, determined the issues involved, the basis for relief from the federal court, performed substantive legal research, managed a case load of over 400 cases, and drafted appropriate dispositive and non-dispositive orders and opinions for the approval of the four federal district court judges - Judges James H. Jarvis, II, R. Leon Jordan, R. Allan Edgar and Thomas G. Hull. John also performed administrative legal duties for the Federal Court Clerk.
Between 1990 and 2006, John was the Chief Deputy Law Director for Knox County, Tennessee. During that time, John represented, defended, advised and served as in-house counsel for the entity of Knox County and all of its elected officials, including the Knox County Commission, County Mayor, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Property Assessor, Sheriff, General Sessions Court Judges, Juvenile Court Judge and Referees, Knox County Schools and Board of Education, and Knox County's directors, officers, Clerks of Court and employees in all civil matters and cases, including civil rights, education, employment, Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, contract claims and numerous other causes of action and prosecuted Knox County Code violations.
On September 1, 2006, John was elected by the Commission of Knox County to serve the remainder of his predecessor's four year term of office - through August 31, 2008. The Knox County Law Director is an elected official of Knox County that is charged with executing and administering all of the legal affairs of the County, including litigation, drafting of contracts or other documents, instruments and papers, the investigation of titles, and to advise and counsel County officials and the Commission on all legal matters affecting their respective offices. As the Knox County Law Director, John had a staff of seventeen, including seven attorneys, a certified paralegal, and an investigator. As the Chief Deputy and the Law Director for Knox County, John represented Knox County in countless civil rights and personal injury lawsuits with successful jury verdicts and trial court decisions in the State of Tennessee and Federal Court, the Tennessee Appellate Courts and the Federal Appellate Court (Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals), and the Tennessee Supreme Court.
University of Tennessee Juris Doctorate, 1988
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 2008
Lee University, B.A., 2005 summa cum laude
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 2008
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women
Stephanie D. Coleman joined the firm in 2008 as an associate attorney. She was born and grew up in Lenoir City, Tennessee.
Stephanie graduated summa cum laude from Lee University in Cleveland, TN, with a B.A. degree in Political Science and minors in Math, Bible, and English. She earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2008. While there, she was named to the Order of Barristers, achieved Dean's List, and received Certificates of Excellence in Contracts II, and Contract Drafting. She also participated in the Labor and Employment Law Moot Court team for two years.
Stephanie is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Blount County Bar Association, the East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women, and the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity.
University of Tennessee
Juris Doctorate, 2008
Education
University of Tennessee - J.D., 2008
Lee University, B.A., 2005 summa cum laude
Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 2008
Memberships
Knoxville Bar Association
Blount County Bar Association
East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women
Stephanie D. Coleman joined the firm in 2008 as an associate attorney. She was born and grew up in Lenoir City, Tennessee.
Stephanie graduated summa cum laude from Lee University in Cleveland, TN, with a B.A. degree in Political Science and minors in Math, Bible, and English. She earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2008. While there, she was named to the Order of Barristers, achieved Dean's List, and received Certificates of Excellence in Contracts II, and Contract Drafting. She also participated in the Labor and Employment Law Moot Court team for two years.
Stephanie is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Blount County Bar Association, the East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women, and the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity.
University of Tennessee Juris Doctorate, 2008
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