Business Practice and Business Litigation Practice

The firm represents businesses and individuals in many aspects of the legal/business environment.  Examples of some of the areas in which the firm represents clients in their business practices include:

• Contract and business disputes (negotiations, litigation pre-litigation, arbitration, mediation and appeals)
• Fraud and bad faith claims
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Interference with contracts and business relations
• Collection of debts, including foreclosures
• Property disputes
• Loan closings (representing both lenders and borrowers)
• Franchising (representing both franchisors and franchisees)
• Employment contracts and employment matters, including non-compete and non-solicitation issues
• Securities law violation claims against stockbrokers
• Federal Government contracts

The firm’s business clients are diverse in size and industry.  The firm represents clients in real estate development, banking, auctions, retail sales, and franchising. The firm represents the second largest homeowners association in the country.

The Zieman, Speegle firm handles trials of contract disputes ranging from thousands of dollars to multimillion dollar claims for lost profits, fraud and other causes of action.

Representative clients include:  Accelerated Freight Group, Inc.; Ball Healthcare, Inc.; Compass Bank; GAT-Airline Ground Support, Inc.; Lake Forest Property Owners Association, Inc.; M.A. Norden Paper Company, Inc.; Merritt Oil Company, Inc.; Mobile County Water, Sewer and Fire Protection Authority; P.J. Lumber Co., Inc.; PRM Realty Group, L.L.C.; The Utilities Board of the City of Daphne; United Bank; Woodlands Bank.

Insurance Defense Practice

Our insurance defense practice consists of defending insurance carriers, insureds, and self-insured companies.  Matters typically include defense of fraud claims, bad faith claims and other direct actions as well as liability claims, workers’ compensation claims, and property and casualty claims. 

We currently represent standard line carriers, nonstandard carriers, third party administrators, self-insured companies, managing general agents, and independent agencies and their employees.

Representative clients include:  AIG Aviation, Inc.; AIG Personal Lines Claims; American Hallmark Insurance Group; American International Group, Inc.; American Mining Insurance Company; Broadspire; Business Insurance Co.; Canal Insurance Company; Chubb Insurance Company; Florida School Board Insurance Trust; Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc.; GuideOne Mutual Insurance Companies; Legacy Insurance; Liberty Mutual Insurance Company; National Security Fire & Casualty Company, Inc.; National Security Group; Omega One Insurance; Safety Plus; Skilstaff; Southern United Fire Insurance Company; Wausau Insurance Companies.

General Litigation Practice

Each principal of the firm is an experienced litigator who regularly tries civil cases.  Our extensive trial experience reaches back 38 years.  Examples of two of the roots of our firm’s diverse trial experience include a partner who was a criminal prosecutor, defense counsel and military judge for the United States Marine Corps in the 1970’s, and a partner who tried 50 felony jury trials with the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office in the late 1980’s.

Representative clients include:  AAA Cooper Transportation; Bridgestone/Firestone; Bruno’s; City of Daphne, Alabama; Con-way, Inc.; Cory Eversons Fitness for Women; Essential Pet Products, Inc.; Georgia-Pacific LLC; Herzog’s Automotive Parts, Inc; Millennium Risk Managers; RSKCo. Inc.; Risk Reduction, Inc.; Santa Rosa County School Board; Standard Furniture Manufacturing Co., Inc.; USA Truck Inc.; Wiltew, Inc.

Financial Institutions Practice

Our financial institutions practice includes commercial loan closings and collection practice in state and federal courts, including bankruptcy courts in Alabama and Mississippi.

Representative clients include:  Compass Bank; United Bank; and Woodlands Bank.

Aviation and Aerospace Practice

We represent aviation and aerospace clients in a full range of business and litigation needs.  We represent these clients before the U.S. Department of Transportation, FAA, IRS, U.S. Customs Service, TSA, Department of Commerce and other regulatory agencies.  We advise on commercial matters, including drafting and negotiating contracts for the charters, sales and leases of aircraft and/or crew.  We actively represent clients in aviation and other commercial litigation in federal and state courts across the nation.

Representative clients include: Air Italy S.p.A. (Italy); Air Italy Polska (Poland); Polet Airlines (Russia); Polet U.S.A. (United States); Transcontinental Aircraft Leasing and Financing; Monarch Airlines, Ltd. (UK); and Thomson Airways, Ltd. (US).