Atkinson Haskins is one of the premier litigation firms in Oklahoma. The work of the Firm is concentrated primarily on civil litigation, which varies from simple personal injury litigation to litigation concerning complex business transactions and class action manufacturers’ products liability suits. The Firm takes pride in its ability to provide a full range of legal advice and litigation services to its clients, from the initial trial preparation through the full appellate process.
Medical Malpractice Defense
For over twenty years, the Atkinson Haskins law firm has successfully represented Oklahoma physicians against allegations of medical negligence. The firm’s success in this area is the result of combining years of litigation experience, legal research, and a team of medically trained professionals, including an M.D. pathologist and an attorney who is a medical technologist and a physician’s assistant. This unique depth of medical expertise represents the firm’s ongoing commitment to provide its health care clients with quick accessible knowledge regarding the issues that concern them. This law firm is well equipped to define and defend the complex issues of standard of care, causation, and damages. The medical staff is invaluable in other areas of the firm’s practice, including products liability and serious personal injury litigation.
Atkinson Haskins is one of the few defense firms in the state of Oklahoma approved by Physicians Liability Insurance Company (PLICO), Medical Assurance, Inc., and the Medical Protective Company to represent their insureds.
Legal Malpractice Defense
The firm is proud of its reputation for aggressive, yet fair and professional, advocacy for its clients. Because of its litigation success and professional reputation, Atkinson Haskins is often called upon to represent attorneys. The firm represents attorneys in legal malpractice actions, bar complaints, and other civil matters.
In defending those engaged in the legal profession, the firm is especially mindful of confidentiality issues and the privacy of work product which is essential to clients. The firm’s experience and successful performance has made Atkinson Haskins one of the few firms in the region approved by Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual, the primary legal insurance firm in the state.
Indian Law
The firm has formed and developed a department and practice committed to the representation of both tribes and tribal entities in tribal, state and federal courts. We are experienced in providing counsel to tribal governments and tribal officials on myriad issues involving the application and intersection of tribal statutes and ordinances, Federal Indian law and the law of the State of Oklahoma. These areas include employment litigation, tort and contracts defense, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act/Oklahoma Tribal-State Gaming Compact, tribal governmental development, real property disputes and general civil litigation. We have extensive experience representing clients from several Federally-recognized tribes within Oklahoma and are prepared to deliver high quality legal services to tribal clients throughout Indian Country.
Securities Law
Atkinson Haskins represents both businesses and individuals in a variety of litigation within the securities and financial services industries. The firm’s clients include banks, insurance companies, broker-dealers, financial/investor advisers as well as individual and institutional investors. This area of the firm’s practice spans contract disputes, securities fraud litigation, employment suits, shareholder right issues, class action lawsuits, and officer/director liability.
Commercial Litigation
Atkinson Haskins has formed and developed a department and practice to represent both institutions and individuals in all aspects of commercial and business litigation and trial. These areas include contract disputes, banking and lending disputes, anti-trust, construction disputes, business torts, unfair competition, fiduciary and trust litigation, closely held business association disputes and shareholder derivative lawsuits. This commercial litigation practice also includes bankruptcy and creditor’s rights, focusing primarily on representation of creditors and lenders.
Civil Rights Litigation
The firm has extensive experience in civil rights litigation with cases ranging from First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment employment issues to Fourth Amendment excessive force and police misconduct claims. Atkinson Haskins has represented numerous public employers, their employees, and elected officials in state and federal courts in Oklahoma, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. This representation has included the defense of municipalities, counties, school districts, and various public trusts in a wide variety of cases involving federal and state civil rights and constitutional claims.
Employment Law
The firm offers experience in all areas of employment related litigation, with an emphasis on the defense of employers and management, advice on compliance with existing law, and employment matters. This includes the defense of claims involving racial discrimination, gender discrimination and sexual harassment under state and federal law.
The firm is well versed in the area of individual employment rights and the concomitant duties placed upon employers. The firm also offers expertise in the areas of express and implied employment contracts, wrongful discharge, covenants not to compete, and notification requirements for mass layoffs and plant closings.
The best way to prevent litigation is to act before a claim arises. To this end, Atkinson Haskins consults with employers and management personnel in the development of policies and programs to prevent misunderstandings between management and employees.
Insurance Law
Although the scope of the firm’s practice has greatly expanded since its inception, the firm was originally established as an insurance defense law firm. Currently recognized as one of Oklahoma’s premier insurance litigation firms, Atkinson Haskins offers experience and expertise in all phases of bad faith actions against insurers, and the defense of insureds in personal injury actions. The firm’s insurance company clients include some of the nation’s largest insurance companies.
Manufacturers’ Product Liability
The firm has represented a broad range of manufacturing companies. From small single product manufacturers to multinational corporations, the firm has defended producers of consumer products and pharmaceuticals and manufacturers of heavy equipment and industrial machines. The firm’s attorneys recognize the unique character of products liability claims and the special concerns that companies have in regard to defending their products.
Premises Liability
The firm has represented numerous well known retail stores, restaurants, and other businesses in the defense of claims, accidents, and deaths which have occurred on the premises.
Tort Litigation
Atkinson Haskins has represented thousands of parties in jury trials throughout the state of Oklahoma in various types of tort litigation.
Aviation Law
The firm has represented a broad range of clients involved in aviation, including major airline companies, aircraft manufacturers, individual aircraft owners, municipalities, and aviation authorities. The firm has specialized in the defense of claims arising from accidents, negligence, premises liability, maintenance, safety, and purchase or lease contracts.
Partner Walt Haskins is an instrument-rated pilot and a member of the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association. Atkinson Haskins is one of the few firms in the region that is approved by the U.S. Aviation Underwriters and the Aviation Insurance Group (AIG).