Craig C. Conley has significant experience in litigation in a variety of areas with an emphasis in medical malpractice defense, long term care litigation, commercial litigation, construction litigation, products liability defense, premises liability, insurance defense, personal injury defense and labor and employment.

Featured Experience

Won a jury verdict for a defendant hospital in a case involving a patient who suffered extensive injuries associated with a bowel perforation.

Obtained favorable outcomes for long-term care clients in federal and state survey appeals.

Obtained favorable rulings for long-term care clients in administrative involuntary discharge proceedings.

Professional Biography

Overview

Mr. Conley is also experienced in class action defense, particularly in employment related matters.

Mr. Conley has served as lead counsel as well as co-counsel in jury and non-jury trials in state and federal courts in Tennessee and throughout the United States. Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Mr. Conley was in house counsel for Federal Express Corporation within the litigation department with a focus on labor and employment. Mr. Conley also served as law clerk to the Honorable W. Frank Crawford of the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Section.

Representative Matters

Won a jury verdict for a defendant hospital in a case involving a patient who suffered extensive injuries associated with a bowel perforation.
Obtained favorable outcomes for long-term care clients in federal and state survey appeals.
Obtained the dismissal of an action against a hospital in a health care liability action, with the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Division upholding the lower court's decision after oral argument.
Obtained favorable rulings for long-term care clients in administrative involuntary discharge proceedings.
Obtained a favorable ruling in an arbitration on behalf of a nursing home facility in a long-term care negligence action.
Obtained a favorable ruling in arbitration dismissing all negligence claims against the defendant nursing home facility as a result of the plaintiff's failure to comply with the Tennessee Healthcare Liability Act.
Obtained a favorable jury verdict for the defendant nursing home facility in a long-term care negligence action arising out of the plaintiff's fall.
Obtained a jury verdict in favor of the defendant thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon in a medical malpractice action concerning a retained sponge.
Obtained a jury verdict in favor of the defendant physician in a wrongful death case stemming from a gastric bypass procedure.
Defended a neurosurgeon in a personal injury action stemming from a back surgery, resulting in a mistrial due to a hung jury in favor of the defendant.
Obtained a jury verdict in favor of the defendant pain management physician in a wrongful death case stemming from an epidural block procedural.
Obtained a jury verdict for the defendant employer in an employment discrimination and retaliation case in federal court in the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirming.
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a defendant employer in an employment discrimination case in federal court in the Northern District of Oklahoma, with the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirming.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of a defendant employer in a federal employment discrimination case based on a failure to promote.
Obtained a jury verdict in federal court in favor of the defendant beverage manufacturer, in a personal injury action stemming from a consumer's slip-and-fall.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of the defendant subcontractor in a personal injury action arising from the construction of a manufacturing facility, with the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Division affirming after oral argument.
Extensive court appearances in state courts and federal courts in Tennessee and in various jurisdictions throughout the United States on motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, motions to compel as well as extensive experience in numerous arbitration proceedings as well as mediations involving medical malpractice cases, commercial litigation matters and personal injury action.

Professional Honors & Activities

AV^® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America^® in Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants (2013 – 2020); Health Care Litigation (2018 – 2020); Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2020)
Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers in Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice (2013 – 2018)
Tennessee Bar Association
- Young Lawyers Division, Board Member, Affiliate Representative (2004 – 2005)
- Leadership Law Program (Participant, 2008)
Memphis Bar Association (Board of Directors, 2006, 2007, 2011; Member, Litigation Section; Participant, Mentoring Program, 2006 – present)
- Recipient, Sam A. Myar Jr. Award (2010)
- Memphis Young Lawyers Division (Board of Directors, 2001, 2002, 2003; Secretary/Treasurer, 2002, 2003; Vice President/President-Elect, 2004; President, 2005; Past President, 2006)
- Leadership Forum (Participant, 2005 – 2006; Steering Committee, 2006 – 2007, 2007 – 2008, 2008 – 2009; Mentor, 2006 – 2007, 2007 – 2008)
Fellow – Memphis Bar Foundation
Federal Bar Association
American Bar Association
Mississippi Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Arkansas Bar Association
Association of Corporate Counsel
American Health Lawyers Association
American Board of Trial Advocates
American Inns of Court, Leo Bearman Sr. Chapter (Barrister Member, 2003 – 2006)
Phi Beta Kappa
Diversity Memphis Walks, Team Captain – 2006, 2007
SCALES (Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education in Schools) Program, Volunteer – 2006

Publications

"Top Ten Ways to Avoid Litigation in Long Term Care" (July 2018)

Speaking Engagements

Panelist – "#MeToo in Long Term Care – When Resident Rights and Employee Rights Clash," 2018 Baker Donelson Long Term Care Symposium (November 2018)
Moderator – "Learning from the Enemy: Plaintiffs' Counsel Panel," 2018 Baker Donelson Long Term Care Symposium (November 2018)
"How to Avoid Long Term Care Litigation," Birchwood Operator Conference (August 2018)
"The Gambler: Managing Risk in Today's Challenging Environment," 2016 Baker Donelson Long Term Care Symposium (November 2016)
"Best Practices in Mediation," MBA Bench Bar Conference (May 2012)

Webinars

Involuntary Discharges of LTC Residents: Best Practices for Facilities (October 2018)
How to Avoid Long Term Care Litigation (May 2018)

Press Releases

86 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 43 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 8, 2018)
94 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 53 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 7, 2017)
98 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2016 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 57 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 14, 2016)
78 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2015 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 43 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 12, 2015)
87 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2014 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 43 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 10, 2014)

Awards

Craig Creighton Conley

Practices

Industries

Education

University of Memphis, J.D., cum laude, 1998
- The University of Memphis Law Review, Comments Editor
University of Tennessee, B.A., magna cum laude, 1993

Admissions

Tennessee, 1998
Arkansas, 2011
Kentucky, 2012
Mississippi, 2017
U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, Sixth Circuit and Tenth Circuit

Featured Media

86 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 43 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars

Press Release / November 8, 2018

Involuntary Discharges of LTC Residents: Best Practices for Facilities

Webinar / October 25, 2018

Press Release / August 15, 2018

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