Rip Andrews

• At Marsh, Rickard & Bryan, P.C., a major part of our personal injury practice involves representing TBI survivors and their loved ones. We are passionate about helping these clients build a brighter future. We also help connect them with the support and resources they need when they’re grappling with the devastating aftermath of a TBI., Super Lawyers Legal Leader

• Trucking Death – Confidential Settlement in Calhoun County, Alabama: Jeff Rickard and Rip Andrews represented the family of a 34-year-old woman who died when the car she was riding in was struck by a commercial tractor-trailer rig. The wreck happened at a major intersection in Calhoun County. The driver of the tractor trailer rig failed to stop and struck our client’s car in the middle of the intersection on the driver’s side. The driver claimed an air leak in the line to the trailer brakes caused the brakes to overheat. Jeff and Rip developed expert testimony disproving that claim and proved the driver of the tractor trailer made serious driving errors that caused the wreck including “cooking” the rig’s brakes making them useless by the time the truck reached the intersection.
• Pedestrian Crossing Case – $4 Million Verdict In Jefferson County, Alabama: The case grows out of injuries Trudy Roy suffered in 2006 when a police motorcycle operated by Officer Jerry Suttles collided with her while she was crossing the street. Mrs. Roy suffered serious personal injuries as a result, but later died from unrelated causes. Because police officers are not typically subject to suit, in order to award damages in Mrs. Roy’s case, the jury first had to decide that the officer violated the law. In fact, just to get this case to trial before a jury, attorney Rip Andrews had to first win several appeals at the Supreme Court of Alabama. For nearly two weeks, the jury heard evidence of how Mrs. Roy got hurt. It happened while Officer Suttles and other officers were providing a police escort for a charity parade. The speed limit in the area was 25 miles per hour, but the jury found that the officer exceeded the speed limit even though there was no emergency and he did not use his siren. Before Mrs. Roy stepped into the road, another police officer told her she was clear to cross. Officer Suttles couldn’t explain why he didn’t see Mrs. Roy in the middle of the road.
• Automobile Injury – $833,709 Verdict In Jefferson County: A Birmingham police officer who was hurt while working an accident on Interstate 65 North was awarded $833,709 by a Jefferson County jury. The injured police officer was represented by MRB attorneys Rip Andrews and Ben Ford. Sergeant Demus Smith was standing on the roadway at the scene of a wreck when a drunk driver hit his parked patrol car, which then struck Sergeant Smith. The drunk driver was said to have been traveling at about 65 mph when he crashed into the line of four patrol cars, all of which had emergency lights activated. Sergeant Smith suffered a crush injury to his right foot and ankle. He was out of work for about six months. The lawsuit was brought against the driver, the owner of the car and Sergeant Smith’s uninsured motorist insurance carrier, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. The driver and the owner of the car were never found again, so the trial proceeded to verdict against State Farm. The jury awarded $33,709.21 in compensatory damages and $800,000 in punitive damages.
• Trade Secrets – Confidential Settlement In Birmingham Federal Court: Mike Beard, Rip Andrews, Derrick Mills, David Marsh and Jane Mauzy settled an intellectual property case for an Alabama-based small business against a national corporation recognized as one of the world’s largest makers and suppliers of professional audio equipment. The Alabama business came up with a unique design for a wakeboard tower speaker. The allegation was that the national corporation wrongfully used the design in violation of a confidentiality agreement entered into between the parties. Once its trade secret was misappropriated, the Alabama business found it impossible to exercise its ownership rights and locate a new manufacturer capable of bringing the product to market. As a result, the Alabama business was forced to file a lawsuit in order to recover the value of the trade secret and right this wrong.
• Automobile Death – $4.5 Million Verdict In Cullman County, Alabama: A Cullman County jury returned a $4.5 million verdict against the city of Hanceville and one of its police officers. David Marsh and Rip Andrews tried this case involving a police officer who failed to follow the rules of the road. One winter night, a 77-year-old Hanceville woman was on her way home from work when her car was struck broadside by a Hanceville police vehicle. The officer was not in pursuit or responding to an emergency call at the time of the wreck. David and Rip told the jury that our client could not see the police car because the officer did not turn on his vehicle’s siren or blue lights, in violation of both state law and the policies and procedures of Hanceville Police Department. They also presented expert testimony that the police officer was traveling at approximately 90 miles per hour at the time of the wreck; the speed limit on this stretch of Highway 91 was 45 miles per hour. Defense counsel blamed the wreck on our client.

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• Alabama Association for Justice
• Alabama, 2007
• Alabama State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section

• Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, B.A. in Government

• Co-Author, "Defeating Immunity in Suits Against Law Enforcement in Alabama Courts", Alabama Association for Justice Journal, Summer, 2007

“Very prepared, through, great demeanor. Gets great results.”

“Not like Rip needs my endorsement, but adding it anyway because he is that good and it bears repeating.”