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James T. Irvin III

James T. Irvin III

Partner

Meridian
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
T 803.255.9450
F 803.256.7500
jim.irvin@nelsonmullins.com
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Jim focuses his practice on product liability and class action defense, as well as complex business litigation. Jim has helped companies develop and execute defense strategies for nationwide product liability cases. Many of these matters have involved complex electronic-discovery challenges, and Jim leverages this experience to advise clients on electronic discovery strategies. He has tried...

Jim focuses his practice on product liability and class action defense, as well as complex business litigation. Jim has helped companies develop and execute defense strategies for nationwide product liability cases. Many of these matters have involved complex electronic-discovery challenges, and Jim leverages this experience to advise clients on electronic discovery strategies. He has tried cases to verdict in state and federal courts. Jim has been recognized by Chambers USA and the Legal 500.

James T. Irvin III

cases to verdict in state and federal courts. Jim has been recognized by Chambers USA and the Legal 500.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Complex Business Litigation

  • Represented consumer-product manufacturer against component supplier to recover costs of recall and brand damage caused by malfunction of component.
  • Defended component supplier from claims brought by another supplier whose components had malfunctioned, causing damage to suppliers' customer.
  • Defended lending institution in claims arising from allegedly unauthorized transactions through an internet-based product.
  • Represented steel manufacturer in claims against transformer manufacturer for lost production arising from malfunction of industrial transformer.
  • Defended software developer against claims arising from joint software development agreement.

Electronic Discovery and Litigation Preparedness

  • Advised leading consumer-product manufacturers on electronic discovery processes and strategies.
  • Advised companies on enterprise-wide and case-specific risk mitigation strategies.
  • Defended manufacturers against plaintiffs' bar’s attempts to access privileged enterprise databases in an effort to create leverage in mass-tort litigation.

Product Liability and Consumer Class Action Defense

  • Defended lithium-ion battery manufacturer in personal-injury, product-liability cases brought in jurisdictions across the country. 
  • Obtained defense verdicts in state and federal court and developed experience with complex medical causation, accident reconstruction, and engineering issues.
  • Defended product liability claims against manufacturers of automobiles, motorcycles, personal watercraft, all-terrain vehicles, industrial lifts, forestry equipment, recreational products, exercise equipment, ladders and scaffolding, children's products, allegedly adulterated foods, press brakes, and other types of industrial and consumer products.
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Complex Business Litigation

  • Represented consumer-product manufacturer against component supplier to recover costs of recall and brand damage caused by malfunction of component.
  • Defended component supplier from claims brought by another supplier whose components had malfunctioned, causing damage to suppliers' customer.
  • Defended lending institution in claims arising from allegedly unauthorized transactions through an internet-based product.
  • Represented steel manufacturer in claims against transformer manufacturer for lost production arising from malfunction of industrial transformer.
  • Defended software developer against claims arising from joint software development agreement.

Electronic Discovery and Litigation Preparedness

  • Advised leading consumer-product manufacturers on electronic discovery processes and strategies.
  • Advised companies on enterprise-wide and case-specific risk mitigation strategies.
  • Defended manufacturers against plaintiffs' bar’s attempts to access privileged enterprise databases in an effort to create leverage in mass-tort litigation.

Product Liability and Consumer Class Action Defense

  • Defended lithium-ion battery manufacturer in personal-injury, product-liability cases brought in jurisdictions across the country. 
  • Obtained defense verdicts in state and federal court and developed experience with complex medical causation, accident reconstruction, and engineering issues.
  • Defended product liability claims against manufacturers of automobiles, motorcycles, personal watercraft, all-terrain vehicles, industrial lifts, forestry equipment, recreational products, exercise equipment, ladders and scaffolding, children's products, allegedly adulterated foods, press brakes, and other types of industrial and consumer products.

Media

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Recognitions

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

Professional Activities

  • DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar, Product Liability & Electronic Discovery Committees
  • Member, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association
  • American Bar Association, Litigation and Business Sections

Community

  • Cabinet Member, Tocqueville Society, United Way of the Midlands (2023-2024)
  • Finance Committee, Shandon United Methodist Church (2023-2024)
  • Co-Chair, Columbia Appearance Commission (2020-2024)
  • Co-Chair, Advisory Board, City Year Columbia (2016-2019)

Leadership

  • Member, DRI Product Liability Steering Committee (2018-2023)
  • Board Member, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association (2016-2019)
  • Chair, Electronic Discovery Substantive Law Group ("SLG") of DRI, Product Liability Committee (2016)
  • Chair, Trial Techniques & Technology Substantive Law Group ("SLG") of  DRI, Product Liability Committee (2013)
  • Chair, Product Liability Committee for the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association (2013-2014)

Jim focuses his practice on product liability and class action defense, as well as complex business litigation. Jim has helped companies develop and execute defense strategies for nationwide product liability cases. Many of these matters have involved complex electronic-discovery challenges, and Jim leverages this experience to advise clients on electronic discovery strategies. He has tried... cases to verdict in state and federal courts. Jim has been recognized by Chambers USA and the Legal 500.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Complex Business Litigation

  • Represented consumer-product manufacturer against component supplier to recover costs of recall and brand damage caused by malfunction of component.
  • Defended component supplier from claims brought by another supplier whose components had malfunctioned, causing damage to suppliers' customer.
  • Defended lending institution in claims arising from allegedly unauthorized transactions through an internet-based product.
  • Represented steel manufacturer in claims against transformer manufacturer for lost production arising from malfunction of industrial transformer.
  • Defended software developer against claims arising from joint software development agreement.

Electronic Discovery and Litigation Preparedness

  • Advised leading consumer-product manufacturers on electronic discovery processes and strategies.
  • Advised companies on enterprise-wide and case-specific risk mitigation strategies.
  • Defended manufacturers against plaintiffs' bar’s attempts to access privileged enterprise databases in an effort to create leverage in mass-tort litigation.

Product Liability and Consumer Class Action Defense

  • Defended lithium-ion battery manufacturer in personal-injury, product-liability cases brought in jurisdictions across the country. 
  • Obtained defense verdicts in state and federal court and developed experience with complex medical causation, accident reconstruction, and engineering issues.
  • Defended product liability claims against manufacturers of automobiles, motorcycles, personal watercraft, all-terrain vehicles, industrial lifts, forestry equipment, recreational products, exercise equipment, ladders and scaffolding, children's products, allegedly adulterated foods, press brakes, and other types of industrial and consumer products.

Education

  • University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1994)
    • Editor-in-Chief, South Carolina Environmental Law Journal
    • Member of the Order of Wig and Robe
    • American Jurisprudence Award, Constitutional Law (1991)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA, Economics and English (1990)

Admissions

  • South Carolina
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina

Practice Areas

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar, Product Liability & Electronic Discovery Committees
  • Member, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association
  • American Bar Association, Litigation and Business Sections
  • Cabinet Member, Tocqueville Society, United Way of the Midlands (2023-2024)
  • Finance Committee, Shandon United Methodist Church (2023-2024)
  • Co-Chair, Columbia Appearance Commission (2020-2024)
  • Co-Chair, Advisory Board, City Year Columbia (2016-2019)
  • Member, DRI Product Liability Steering Committee (2018-2023)
  • Board Member, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association (2016-2019)
  • Chair, Electronic Discovery Substantive Law Group ("SLG") of DRI, Product Liability Committee (2016)
  • Chair, Trial Techniques & Technology Substantive Law Group ("SLG") of  DRI, Product Liability Committee (2013)
  • Chair, Product Liability Committee for the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association (2013-2014)