• Marc H. Harwell
  • Member
  • 801 Broad Street, Third Floor
  • Pioneer Building
  • Chattanooga,TN 37402
  • 423.265.0214 fax: 423.266.5490

Since 1989, Mr. Harwell’s practice has focused on civil litigation in defense of employers and insurers.  During the past 20 years, he has taken hundreds of depositions and has tried over 100 cases.  As reflected by his Representative Client Work, his practice is devoted to litigation and to counseling employers and businesses on the ways in which to successfully avoid litigation through proactive measures.
 
The successful results that he has achieved are primarily the result of diligent effort, attention to detail, experience and knowledge as a trial lawyer, a typically proactive/ aggressive attitude, and the resources of this firm.  The best gauge of his success in serving the needs, demands, and expectations of a very discerning and sophisticated client base are through the clients, and references are available upon request.

As is reflected in his professional associations and in his community involvement, he is committed to assisting businesses with insight, perspective, and developments in the law.  He is committed to giving of his time and energy for the betterment of his community and has worked in numerous leadership roles for various organizations in doing so.  These leadership roles also illustrate his ability to work with people in an organized, cooperative, and successful manner to fulfill the goals of the organization.

Mr. Harwell serves as Chairman of the Hiring Committee for Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan.

Representative Client Work

Represented architect in Malpractice/Premises Liability Case and obtained Summary Judgment

Represented contractor in Construction Defects Case involving owner, architect, structural engineer, geotechnical engineer, etc., and won

Represented Fortune 500 transportation company in Wrongful Death Case with an ad damnum of $600 Million Dollars and obtained a settlement for less than the plaintiffs’ expert expenses

Represented Fortune 500 transportation company in a tractor/trailer “Pull-Out” Case with significant, objective injuries and obtained settlement for approximately 2 times the special damages

Represented employers in Age, Race, and Gender Discrimination Cases with successful results obtained for the employers.

Prepared Rules of Conduct and Discrimination/Retaliation policies for employers.

Represented business owners in ADA Building Accessibility Discrimination Cases with successful results achieved for the owners.

Wrote FMLA policies for employers following the 2009 amendment to the FMLA.

Successfully defended employers on retaliation claims with summary judgments entered.

Successfully tried retaliation lawsuits for employers with defendant’s verdicts rendered at conclusion of trials.

Represented insurance carriers on complex coverage issues with advice rendered and strategies implemented for the ultimate, successful defense of the carriers.

Represented employers in cases concerning non-compete agreements and non-solicitation agreements with successful results achieved for the clients.

Counseled numerous employers on hiring and firing decisions; employment practices; reductions in force; WARN Act concerns; age discrimination issues; ADA and ADAA issues; FMLA issues; and retaliation concerns.

Represented health clinic in medical malpractice actions with successful results achieved in all instances.

Represented pharmacy (Fortune 500 company) in pharmaceutical malpractice litigation with successful result achieved.

Bar & Court Admissions

Tennessee; US District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee

Professional Affiliations

FDCC (Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel), since approx. 2006

ALFA International (Employment Law Practice Group Steering Committee and Transportation Practice Group Steering Committee since approx. 2003)

Tennessee Supreme Court's Board of Professional Responsibility Hearing Committee Member, 2009-2012

Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association

Defense Research Institute

Chattanooga Bar Association (served on the Board of Governors of the Young Lawyers Division of the Chattanooga Bar Association, 1993-94) 

Tennessee Law Review, Staff Member, 1988-89

Community Involvement

American Cancer Society's Annual Fundraiser for Breast Cancer, "Pink" Event, Co-Chairman
Elect 2010-11

Siskin Children’s Institute 365 Club Annual Campaign, 2006-2009

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Co-Chairman 2003 Stewardship Campaign, Co-Chairman, 2007-2009; 2006 Discernment Committee Member; 2009 Stewardship Committee Member

"The Arts & Education Council Annual Fundraising Event, Co-Chairman, 2003

Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Chattanooga, 2001-2005

American Heart Association, Hamilton County Unit – Board of Directors from 1992 to 2001

Siskin Physical Rehabilitation Foundation, Board Chairman, 2000-2001

Mardi Gras Fundraising Event, Co-Chairman - approx. 1997-99

Publications and Lectures

ALFA Employment Law Teleconference – “FMLA Update”, July, 2009

Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan Employment Seminar in Nashville, TN – “FMLA Update”, April, 2009

FDCC Quarterly – “Wage & Hour Issues in the Context of Class Actions”, Spring, 2008

FDCC; Banf, Canada – “Retaliation in the Workplace”; and “Class Action Issues Involving Wage-Hour Disputes” , July 30, 2008

ALFA International Transportation Seminar; Palm Beach, FL – “Winning at Trial”, April 30-May 2, 2008

ALFA Employment Law Conference; Half Moon Bay, CA – “Wage & Hour Issues in a Class Action Context”, October 3-5, 2007

Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan Employment Law Seminar; Nashville, TN – “Retaliation in the Workplace”, May 7, 2007

National Private Truck Council Safety Conference; Dulles, VA – “Responding to the Catastrophic Accident”, September 14-15, 2006

ALFA Transportation Practice Group Seminar; Lake Las Vegas, NV – “The Animated Witness – Demonstrative Evidence for a Catastrophic Accident”, approx. 2006

National Private Truck Council Conference; Nashville, TN – “Transportation Industry Best Practices for Accident Team Response”, 2005

ALFA’s Tennessee Employment Law Compendium, since approx. 2004

Co-Editor of ALFA’s Sixth Circuit Employment Law Compendium, from approx. 2005-2007

 “Constitutional Law – Eighth and Fourteen Amendments – Capital Punishment, “55 Tenn. L. Rev. 391 (1988) - Law School Case Note Published.

In The News

Appointed to Tennessee Supreme Court Board of Professional Responsibility Hearing Committee for the 2009-2012 term