Richard E. Davis

Richard represents clients in environmental, natural resources, commercial, healthcare fraud, and white collar criminal matters, including trials and appeals and investigations by regulatory and law enforcement agencies. He has decades of experience navigating parallel proceedings in which civil and criminal issues arise from the same set of facts.

Although much of Richard’s work involves defending clients, he has obtained millions of dollars in value for plaintiffs and counter-claimants, and obtained an injunction protecting a rare wetlands area. He has also obtained, pro bono, the release from federal prison of an individual incarcerated for 30 years for a non-violent crime.

Professional Recognition

AV-Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America Trial Lawyer Honorary
Top Leading Litigator by Chambers USA
Best Lawyers in America®—Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law, Litigation-Environmental, and Natural Resources. In addition, Best Lawyers in America® has named Richard Davis the “Birmingham Natural Resources Law Lawyer of the Year” for 2017, 2019, and 2021.
Mid-South Super Lawyers
Chair, Birmingham Bar Association Federal Practice Section (2015-2016)
Chair, Alabama State Bar Environmental Law Section (2010-2011)
Editor-in-Chief, Cumberland Law Review (1988-1989)

Community Involvement

Volunteer, Northern District of Alabama Pro Bono Counsel for Unrepresented Indigent Parties in Civil Cases

Highlights

Environmental: Representing Lee County Commission in effort to protect local water supply and unincorporated communities from impacts by a proposed granite quarry
Commercial: Defending corporation, CEO, and CFO in federal lawsuit by customer alleging breach of contract, fraud, and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) violations with damages claim exceeding $50,000,000
Environmental: Defending public water authority in multiple putative class action/mass tort cases regarding PFOA, PFOS, and related chemicals released into the Tennessee River by upstream manufacturers
Environmental/Commercial: representing recycling and transport services company in state civil enforcement proceeding and related federal commercial litigation after successful representation in federal criminal investigation of hazardous waste disposal practices (no charges filed)
Healthcare: representing multiple healthcare providers—including nursing homes, pharmacists, pharmacies, and a psychologist—in False Claims, Stark, and Anti-Kickback and other fraud investigations
Environmental: Defending Clean Water Act citizen suit against landowner for alleged unpermitted discharges of pollutants into Black Warrior River from fully reclaimed mine site
Environmental: Represented City of Opelika and additional parties in successful rejection of proposed granite quarry that threatened Saugahatchee watershed, city water supply, and charitable equine and canine therapy farm for at-risk children

Environmental Crimes: Represented trucking company in investigation of alleged discharge of hazardous waste; represented corporate client in conjunction with negotiated plea agreement for single-count misdemeanor Clean Water Act violation; obtained reinstatement for compliant client after mandatory debarment from federal programs; defended client charged with criminal violations of Clean Water Act and related charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy in federal jury trial
Healthcare/False Claims: Advised multiple physicians and physician practices in conjunction with audits, investigations, and overpayment recoupment actions involving claims totaling millions of dollars, including obtaining on administrative appeal revision of $2,700,000.00 overpayment to $2,100.00 through the presentation of statistical, independent audit, and medical necessity evidence; obtaining complete dismissal of state Medicaid overpayment claim; and obtaining 75% reduction of an overpayment claim by a third-party administrator
White Collar Investigation/Securities and Accounting Fraud: Represented corporate officer in parallel securities and accounting fraud investigations of company by the Department of Justice (USAO SDNY) and the Securities Exchange Commission (New York) and in conjunction with SEC administrative proceeding
Commercial Litigation: Defended wastewater operations and management company against fraud and breach of contract claims totaling over $2,100,000 related to a decentralized cluster wastewater management system
Healthcare/White Collar Crimes: Represented healthcare providers in DEA drug diversion-prescribing investigation (Alabama, resolved without criminal charges); advised medical device manufacturer in conjunction with federal grand jury investigation (Detroit, MI) (no charges against client); investigated allegations of illegal conduct by nursing home employee in making referrals to home health care providers (Alabama)
Environmental: Birmingham Water Works Board v. Alabama Surface Mining Commission and Reed Minerals, Inc.: Represented client in trial of water quality issues in state court
Criminal Defense: In a case The American Lawyer named “Most Inspiring Pro Bono Win of 2015” [United States v. Rivera] Richard and co-counsel obtained the release from federal prison of an individual incarcerated for 30 years on drug charges
Commercial Litigation (for plaintiff): Obtained settlement valued in excess of $2,500,000 for plaintiff policyholder in federal lawsuit for bad faith claims denial on pollution policy
Banking and Financial Services (for plaintiff): Prosecuted claims for bad faith violation of federal Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA), for failure to maintain commercially reasonable security procedures, and for other related torts on behalf of victims of identity theft/account hacking and obtained full recovery of clients’ funds (six-figures +) along with attorneys’ fees
Environmental: Woods Knoll, LLC v. City of Lincoln: Obtained defense judgment for City of Lincoln in federal trial of Clean Water Act and inverse condemnation claims brought by adjacent property owner complaining of $1,840,000 in damage to 239-acre property, including wetlands, allegedly caused by discharges of storm water from 160-acre city property being developed as an industrial park; presented oral argument and obtained affirmance of defense judgment before 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
Environmental: Represented clients in over a dozen CERCLA matters including the LWD, Inc. (Calvert City, Kentucky), Anniston PCB and lead sites (Calhoun and Talladega Counties, Alabama), Alabama Plating (Vincent, Alabama), B&B Manufacturing (Mobile, Alabama), M & J Solvents (Fulton County, Georgia), and Interstate Lead (Leeds, Alabama) Superfund sites and the Reef Environmental (Sylacauga, Alabama), Shredders, Inc. (North Birmingham, Alabama), Alabama Wood Treating (Mobile, Alabama), and Allworth (Tarrant, Alabama) sites
Environmental: University of Montevallo, et al. v. Middle Tennessee Land Development Company, LLC: Obtained anticipatory injunction for plaintiffs, university and university foundation, after a two-week trial consisting largely of technical hydrogeological and quantitative expert testimony, to protect the Ebenezer Swamp Wetlands Preserve—the “scenic highlight” of the University of Montevallo (Ranked by Thrilllist as one of the “20 most beautiful college campuses in the country”)—from proposed limestone quarrying activity.

Presentations and Publications

“Surprise! You May Be an Environmental Criminal: Recognizing the Quagmire as a Prerequisite to Managing Risk, Manufacture Alabama Environmental Conference (November 16, 2016, Millbrook, Alabama)(presentation)
“Working with Environmental Experts in Litigation, Regulation, and Transactions,” 25th Annual Southern Environmental Law & Regulation Conference (June 10, 2016, Destin, Florida)(presentation)
“Healthcare Audits and Investigations as Pathways to Criminal and Civil Liabilities for Providers,” Etowah County Medical Group Management Association (October 20, 2015, Gadsden, Alabama)(presentation)
“Strategic Legal Risk Management—Contingency Planning to Avoid or Mitigate Legal Crises,” Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (August 13, 2015, Mobile, Alabama and August 31, 2015, Huntsville, Alabama) (presentations)
“Investigations—Internal and Governmental,” Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (August 13, 2015, Mobile, Alabama and August 31, 2015, Huntsville, Alabama) (presentations)
“What Accountants Should Know About White Collar Crime,” Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (August 13, 2015, Mobile, Alabama and August 31, 2015, Huntsville, Alabama) (presentations)