Averie Armstead, a native of Birmingham, is an associate at Starnes Davis Florie. Averie’s practice is devoted to civil litigation to include professional medical liability, healthcare litigation, long term care and nursing home litigation, and surety and fidelity litigation. Averie also serves on the firm’s Recruiting Committee and Diversity Committee.
Prior to attending law school, Averie worked as a coordinator of University Programs Student Affairs at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Professional Recognition
- Selected to serve as an Adjunct Professor at Cumberland School of Law teaching Alabama Medical Malpractice Litigation to second-year and third-year law students. The course focuses on the law, issues, and practices involved in professional liability cases under the Alabama Medical Liability Act.
- 2019 Jack Davis Professional Achievement Award, The University of Alabama
- Merit Scholarship Recipient, Cumberland School of Law
- President, Cumberland School of Law Senior Class (2019)
- Judge Abraham Caruthers Fellow
- Senior Moot Court Competition – Finalist, Cumberland School of Law
- Scholar of Merit Book Award – Race & American Law and Scholar of Merit Book Award – Appellate Advocacy
- Member, American Journal of Trial Advocacy, Vol. 41, 42
- Secretary, Student Bar Association (2018)
Community Involvement
Averie has been selected to serve on the inaugural core leadership team for Birmingham Mayor Woodfin’s Women’s Initiative, which was created to improve the lives of women and children in Birmingham and to work with the city’s Division of Social Justice and Racial Equity to address community issues such as poverty, healthcare, domestic violence and police relations. Averie also serves as member of the Birmingham Bar Association, the Magic City Bar Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
She has served as a Dream Team Volunteer with Church of the Highlands, volunteered with Project Homeless Connect – Birmingham & Tuscaloosa and “Street Law” Community Services Program, and served on a mission trip in Yoro, Honduras.
While in law school, Averie served as a member of Judge James Edwin Horton Inn of Court; served on the Graduate Professional Council – Samford University (2018); and the Career Development Advisory Board – Cumberland School of Law (2018-19). She also worked as an Admissions Ambassador for Cumberland School of Law.
Highlights
- Prevailed in an appeal before the Alabama Supreme Court, in favor of the Defendant OBGYN and her practice group following a week-long trial in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County. On appeal, the Plaintiffs argued they were entitled to a new trial because the trial court erred by denying Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on causation, erred in its charge to the jury and the manner in which it framed to issues to be considered by the jury, and erred in prohibiting the Plaintiffs from employing Reptile Theory tactics.
- Obtained a favorable ruling from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirming the district court’s grant of summary judgment in a lawsuit involving Section 1981 claims that a water works board discriminated against a customer based on his race by denying his request for additional water and sewer taps.
- Obtained a defense verdict for a an OBGYN in a 6 day jury trial alleging negligence during the performance of diagnostic laparoscopy procedure, resulting a rectal perforation to the patient.
Presentations and Publications
- Black (enough?) Letter Law: What’s the Threshold to Qualify for Minority Race Status?, American Journal of Trial Advocacy, January 21, 2019.
- Executively Ordering the Prioritization of Veteran’s Mental Health, American Journal of Trial Advocacy, February 7, 2019.
News & Insights
- SDF Labor & Employment Newsletter Alert – September 2023
- Starnes Attorneys Prevail in an Appeal Before the Alabama Supreme Court
- SDF’s Young & Jones Obtain Favorable Ruling from The US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Discrimination Case
- Are your Policies & Practices Aligned with the Upcoming Enhanced Protections for Pregnant Workers?
- SDF’s Eagan, Newton, Huntley, and Jones Obtain Favorable Ruling from Alabama Supreme Court
- Labor & Employment Group News Alert: What Should You Do in Light of the FTC’s Effort to Ban Non-Compete Agreements?
- Eagan, Newton & Jones Secure Defense Verdict After a 6-Day Med Mal Trial
- Averie Armstead Selected to Serve on Birmingham’s Core Leadership Team for the Woman’s Initiative
- Alabama Closes Nonessential Businesses Statewide
- SDF Welcomes New Associates to the Firm
Fun Facts
Averie loves sports, music, movies, traveling, and being “Auntie Averie” to her nieces and nephews.