Michael Patton

Michael C. Patton has significant experience in litigation involving commercial and residential construction and in commercial litigation involving mechanics’ and materialmen’s liens, property issues and title insurance issues, litigation for financial institutions involving both loan recovery/workouts and lender liability, as well as litigation involving general business disputes. Mr. Patton is in the Firm’s Memphis office.

EDUCATION:

• University of Tennessee College of Law, J.D., 1986, with high honors
• University of North Carolina, B.A., 1982

ADMISSIONS:

• Tennessee, 1986
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee, 1992
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1989
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1987
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee, 1987

Representative Matters:

• Successfully represented the Community Development Enterprises arm of a national lender (the CDE) as to a failed mixed retail and grocery store project in south Memphis involving a potential foreclosure, the resolution of property tax liens, a Chapter 11 proceeding with a court ordered sale of the project and payment of net proceeds to the CDE and a negotiated settlement of the general contractors claims against the CDE as to the distribution of loan proceeds during construction.
• Successfully convinced plaintiffs’ counsel to dismiss a wrongful foreclosure action against a bank in Shelby County, Tennessee, Chancery Court. A third party purchased the subject property at a foreclosure auction. When the new owner sought to evict the borrower’s tenant, the borrower filed an action seeking an injunction in Chancery Court and asserted a number of meritless claims. After receiving a letter addressing the actual facts and the applicable law, counsel for the borrower voluntarily dismissed the action.

Professional Honors & Activities:

• Member – American (Past Chair, Title Insurance Litigation Committee from 1999-2000, Trial, Tort and Insurance Practice Section; Construction Law Committee, Litigation Section), Tennessee and Memphis Bar Associations
• Member – ABA Forum on the Construction Industry