Spratlin, Jr.

Art is the coordinator of our 24-Hour Accident Investigation Team and our Autonomous Vehicle Technology Group. He has extensive experience in Product Liability Law, Transportation Law/Trucking Defense, and Automotive/Recreational Vehicle Law.

• Trucking Litigation
• Tort, Transportation & Specialized Litigation
• Machinery & Recreational Product Litigation
• Warranty
• Premises Liability
• Products, Catastrophic & Industrial Litigation
• Transportation & Trucking Rapid Response

Entertainment and Media

• Coordinator of Butler Snow’s Autonomous Vehicle Technology Group 
• Coordinator of Butler Snow’s Trucking Group.
• Coordinator of Butler Snow’s 24-Hour Accident Investigation Team.
• Served as National/Regional counsel for motor coach manufacturer from 1995-2002 and appeared in approximately 20 states.
• Zaniewski v. Tiffin Motor Homes, Inc., et al., USDC, Western District of Tennessee, Western Division (Trial – September 2019)
• Westbrook v. Jackson Public Transportation Co., Inc., Hinds County Circuit Court (Defense Verdict), 2012. 
• English v. Rebelwood Apartments, Hinds County Circuit Court (Deadlocked Jury), 2012. 
• Smith v. The Waggoners Trucking Corporation, Washington County Circuit Court (Greenville, MS) (Defense Verdict), 2012. 
• Fenelon v. Jackson Metrocenter Mall, Ltd., 2012 Miss. App. LEXIS 735 (Summary Judgment for Defense). 
• Suzette Smith v. The Waggoners Trucking Corporation and Antonio Watson, 69 So.3d 773 (Miss. App. 2011) .
• Patrick v Wal-Mart, Inc. – Store No. 155,  2011 WL 1085788 (N.D. Miss, March 21, 2011).
• Bendall v. GM, Genesee County Circuit Court, (Flint, Michigan), 2007.
• Spratlin Investments, LP, et al., v. Paul Tyler, Calhoun County Chancery Court (Tried in Lafayette County), 2004.
• Jack Blackwell v. Tiffin Motor Homes, Inc., Smith County Circuit Court, 2003 (Defense Verdict).
• King v. American RV Centers, Inc., 862 So. 2d 558 (Miss. App. 2003).
• McAlexander v. SMC Corporation and Randy’s RV’s of Wilmington, Inc., USDC, Eastern District of North Carolina, Southern Division (Wilmington), 2002.
• Simmons v. SMC Corp. and Beaver Motor Coaches, Inc., USDC, Southern District, MS, 1998.
• Delta Pride Catfish, Inc. v. Home Insurance Co., 697 So. 2d 400 (Miss. 1997).
• Beasley v. The Hardaway Company, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Texas, Dallas Division, 1996.
• Slay and USF&G v. Mr. Coffee, USDC, Eastern District, Meridian, 1996(Defense Verdict).
• Moody v. Mr. Coffee, County Court, Hattiesburg, MS, 1995 (Defense Verdict).
• Swanson v. Ellard Homes, Circuit Court, Madison County, 1995.
• Tony Burnett v. Ryder Truck Rental, Inc., USDC, S.D. Mississippi, Jackson Division, 1993.
• Barnes v. Consolidated Freightways, County Court, Hinds County, 1993.
• Utility Constructors, Inc. v. City of Vicksburg, Circuit Court, Warren County, Vicksburg, 1992.
• Michael Construction Co. v. FDOT, Circuit Court, Leon County, Tallahassee, FL, 1991.

• International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy, Boulder, Colorado, Graduate, 1996
• Martindale-Hubbell®
  • AV®-Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 2010-2021
• Best Lawyers in America®
  • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2014-2025
  • Transportation Law, 2015-2025
  • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2024-2025
  • Lawyer of the Year, Transportation Law (Jackson, Miss.), 2020
• Super Lawyers®
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2011-2016
• Client Choice Award, Recognized for Excellence in Client Service, USA & Canada, 2016

• Mississippi, 1991
• U.S. District Courts
• Mississippi: Northern, Southern
• U.S. Court of Appeals
• 5th Circuit
• 6th Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court
• Admitted pro hac vice in approximately 20 states

• University of Mississippi, J.D., cum laude, 1991
  • Business Manager, Mississippi Law Journal, 1990-1991
• Downing College, Summer Session, 1989
• University of Mississippi, B.Accy., cum laude, 1988

• The Harmonie Group
  • Board of Directors, 2012-2022
  • Transportation Committee, 2009-2021
    • Chair, 2009-2012
  • Product Liability Committee
    • Vice-Chair, 2015-2022
  • Butler Snow Liason
• Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)
• Transportation Lawyer Association (TLA)
• International Association of Lemon Law Administrators (IALLA)
• American Bar Association
  • Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
    • Commercial Transportation and Litigation General Committee (CTLGC)
• Defense Research Institute (DRI)
  • Transportation Law Committee/Trucking Subcommittee
  • Young Lawyers Committee
  • State and Local Defense Organizations Subcommittee
    • Chair
  • Substantive Liaisons Subcommittee
    • Chair
  • Trucking Law Committee
    • Liaison
  • Construction Committee
    • Marketing/Publicity Subcommittee
• Mississippi Bar Association
• Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
  • Young Lawyers Division
    • Chairman, 1996
• Capital Area Bar Association

• Author, "Autonomous Vehicles: The MS FAVE Act of 2023 Clears the Roadblock in Mississippi" The Mississippi Lawyer, Vol. LXX, No. 2, Winter 2024.
• Author, “Recent Issues in Trucking litigation: The Reptile Theory; Safety & Training Manuals; Direct Negligence & Vicarious liability; and Preventability Determinations,” ABA/TIPS, Commercial Transportation and Litigation Newsletter (2023).
• Presenter, "A View from the Backseat – Autonomous Vehicles in Mississippi - Our History and Regulation," The Mississippi Bar Annual Meeting and Summer School, July 18, 2023.
• Presenter, “Vision Session,” Mississippi Competes, University of Mississippi, November 8, 2022.
  Interviewed, "Spratlin helping define future of self-driving vehicles," Mississippi Business Journal, October 28, 2022.
• Presenter, “Insurance Coverage/Shipping Agreements/Experts and Related Issues for the New Autonomous (AV) Truck Partnerships,” 2022 Northwest Arkansas Transportation Seminar, The Harmonie Group, June 22, 2022.
• Presenter, “Admissibility of Preventability/Non-Preventability Determinations; Driver Manuals; and Reptile Tactics,” 2022 Northwest Arkansas Transportation Seminar, The Harmonie Group, June 22, 2022.
• Panelist, “From Foundations to the Future: The Rise of Autonomous Vehicles,” 2022 TLA Annual Conference & CTLA Midyear Meeting, May 12, 2022.
• Presenter, “Vision Session,” Mississippi Competes, University of Mississippi, November 5, 2021.
  Author, “Autonomous and Electric Cars and Trucks: Did They Survive COVID-19?” The Transportation Lawyer, Vol. 23, No. 2, October 2021.
• Presenter, "Update on Autonomous Vehicles," 2021 Denver Transportation Seminar, The Harmonie Group, August 24, 2021.
• Author, “Extensive and Exhaustive Update on Autonomous and Electric Cars and Trucks: Did They Survive COVID?” TIDA Quarterly Newsletter: Summer 2021. 
• Presenter, "Update on Autonomous Vehicles," 2021 Arkansas Transportation Seminar, The Harmonie Group, July 14, 2021.
• Author, "Autonomous and Electric Cars and Trucks: Did They Survive COVID?" The Brief, Volume 50, Number 2, Winter 2021.
• Presenter, "Autonomous Trucks – Rolling Down an Interstate Near You – With the Potential to Take Liability out of the Company/Driver’s Hands," Virtual Transportation Seminar, Harmonie Group, September 23, 2020 and November 30, 2020.
• Author and Presenter, “The Future Truck – Automated, Connected, Electric: When will it get here, and how will it impact Trucking Liability Claims?,” Harmonie Regional Transportation Seminar, Denver, Colo., August 13-15, 2019. (Paper also presented at Harmonie seminars in Chicago and NW Arkansas during 2019)
• Moderator/Speaker, "The Race for Autonomous Vehicles - Are We There Yet?" ABA Transportation Megaconference XIV, New Orleans, La., March 21, 2019.
• Attendee, “Autonomous Vehicles 2019 – Silicon Valley,“ Sponsored by IQPC, Santa Clara, Calif., February 25-27, 2019.
• Moderator/Speaker, “The Future Truck – Automated, Electric, Connected… Oh My!,” Arkansas Trucking Seminar, September 20, 2018.
• Panelist, “Smart Transportation and Logistics,” Data Summit 2018, Starkville, Miss., September 13, 2018.
• Panelist, “Driverless Cars and Our Future,” Mississippi Digital Government Summit, Jackson, Miss., September 12, 2018.
• Author and Presenter, “Update on Autonomous Vehicles including Self-Driving Trucks” Harmonie Regional Transportation Seminar, Denver, Colo., August 8-10, 2018.
• Presenter, Luncheon Speaker, “The Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Revolution,” ROAD 2018 (3rd Annual Roundtable on the Purpose of Autonomous Driving), Mississippi State University, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS), Starkville, Miss., May 29, 2018.
• Presenter, “Update on Autonomous Vehicles Including Self-Driving Trucks” Harmonie Group - Northwest Arkansas Trucking Seminar, Rogers, Ark., May 23, 2018. 
• Attendee, “Autonomous Vehicles 2018 – Silicon Valley,” Sponsored by IQPC, San Mateo, Calif., February 27-28, 2018.
• Author and Presenter, “Is it Time to Erase Chalkboard Damages? – The Collateral Source Rule and “Billed” versus “Paid” Medical Bills,” Harmonie Winter Conference, Orlando, Fla., January 25-27, 2018.
• Author, “The Autonomous Vehicle Revolution Expands to Trucks,” DRI magazine, For the Defense, December 2017.
• Author and Presenter, “The Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Revolution Expands to Trucks,” Harmonie North American Litigation Trends Seminar, London, England, October 18, 2017.
• Author and Presenter, “The Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Revolution,”  Harmonie Regional Transportation Seminar, Rogers, Ark., May 24, 2017 (Paper also used at Harmonie seminars in Dallas, Denver, and Atlanta during 2017).
• Author and Presenter, “The Autonomous Vehicle Revolution,” and “The Phantom of the Chalkboard – Collateral Source Rule,” and “John Boy v. Learned Hand – Dealing with Different Types of Plaintiff Attorneys,”  Harmonie Group In-House presentation for IAT Insurance Group, Raleigh, N.C., April 5, 2017.
• Author and Presenter, “The Autonomous Vehicle Revolution,” Harmonie TV (taping for Harmonie On-Demand video lecture series), Dallas, Texas, March 14, 2017.
• Author, “The Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Revolution,” Butler Snow Product Liability Update, January 2017.
• Co-Author, “Guilty By Association? Keeping Premises Owners Safe from Liability for Criminal Acts of Third Parties: Assignment of Fault to the Real Culprit,” (Part II) The MDLA Quarterly, Vol. 41, Number 1, Spring 2017.
• Co-Author, “Is It Time To Erase Chalkboard Damages?” DRI, Strictly Speaking, The Newsletter of the Product Liability Committee, Volume 13, Issue 4, December 2, 2016.
• Author, “The Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Revolution,” ABA/TIPS Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee Newsletter, Fall 2016.
• Co-Author, “Guilty By Association? Keeping Premises Owners Safe from Liability for Criminal Acts of Third Parties,” (Part I) The MDLA Quarterly, Vol. 40, Number 4, Winter 2016.
• Author, “The Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Revolution,” Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA) Fall Newsletter, September 29, 2016.
• Author, “The Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Revolution,” Mississippi Business Journal, September 9, 2016.
• Author and Presenter, “John Boy vs. Learned Hand – Sizing up Your Case Based on the Plaintiff’s Lawyer,” Harmonie Winter Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., January 28-30, 2016.
• Author and Presenter, “Cars and Truck of the (not so distant) Future,” ABA National Webinar, January 27, 2016.
• Author, “Future of Cars and Trucks (Plus the Litigation to Follow)” Mississippi Bar Litigation Section Newsletter, Fall 2015.
• Author and Presenter, “Who (or what) Ran the Red Light? A Shift in Trucking Warranty Cases from Negligence to Product Liability,” and “John Boy vs. Learned Hand: Sizing Up Your Case Based on the Plaintiff’s Lawyer,” Denver Regional Transportation Seminar, Denver, Colo., October 8, 2015.
• Co-Author, “Cars & Trucks of the Future,” ABA/TIPS Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee Newsletter, Summer 2015.
• Co-Author and Presenter, “Driving Innovations and Investigation Technologies – Brave New World for Drivers and Litigation?,” ABA Transportation Mega Conference, March 13, 2015. 
• Author and Presenter, “Updates on Passenger Vehicle Data Recorders: new Recording Devices Offered By Insurers to Track Individual Driving Habits and the Latest on V2V Communications,” and “Medical Damages at Trial: The Ongoing Tort Reform Battle Over the Collateral Source Rule and ‘Billed’ Versus ‘Paid’ Medical Bills,” The Harmonie Group, Denver Regional Transportation Seminar, Denver, Colo., October 1, 2014.
• Author and Presenter, “Cars of the Future,” Northwest Arkansas Transportation Seminar, Fayetteville, Ark., September 18, 2014 (with Don Page, RLI Transportation).
• Author and Presenter, “Updates on Passenger Vehicle Data Recorders: new Recording Devices Offered By Insurers to Track Individual Driving Habits and the Latest on V2V Communications,” and “Medical Damages at Trial: The Ongoing Tort Reform Battle Over the Collateral Source Rule and ‘Billed’ Versus ‘Paid’ Medical Bills,” The Harmonie Group, Dallas Regional Transportation Seminar, Dallas, Texas, August 27, 2014.
• Author and Presenter, “Updates on Passenger Vehicle Data Recorders: new Recording Devices Offered By Insurers to Track Individual Driving Habits and the Latest on V2V Communications,” and “Medical Damages at Trial: The Ongoing Tort Reform Battle Over the Collateral Source Rule and ‘Billed’ Versus ‘Paid’ Medical Bills,” The Harmonie Group, Atlanta Regional Transportation Seminar, Atlanta, Ga., July 23, 2014.
• Co-Author, “The Phantom of the Chalkboard – The Collateral Source Rule and ‘Billed’ versus ‘Paid’ Medical Bills,” The MDLA Quarterly, Vol. 38, Number 3, Fall 2014.
• Author and Presenter,  “Update on Passenger Vehicle Data Recorders: New Recording Devices Offered By Insurers to Track Individual Driving Habits and the Latest on V2V Communications,” and “Medical Damages at Trial: The Ongoing Tort Reform Battle Over the Collateral Source Rule and "Billed" Versus "Paid" Medical Bills,” The Harmonie Group, NW Arkansas CLE Presentation, Springdale, Ark., May 21, 2014.
• Mock Trial - Harmonie Regional Construction Seminar – Direct Exam of Defendant, and Jury Instructions Presentation, The Harmonie Group, Chicago, Ill., June 20, 2013.
• Author and Presenter, “Chalkboard Damages: Gross v. Actual Meds and the Collateral Source Rule,” The Harmonie Group Regional Transportation Seminar, Chicago, Ill., June 20, 2013.
• Author and Presenter, “Chalkboard Damages: Billed v. Paid Medical Bills and the Collateral Source Rule,” Mississippi Bar CLE Presentation, Oxford, Miss., June 14, 2013.
• Author and Presenter, “Chalkboard Damages: Gross v. Actual Meds and the Collateral Source Rule,” The Harmonie Group, NW Arkansas CLE Presentation, May 29, 2013.
• Author and Presenter, “Successfully Litigating Your Case Against an Experienced Trucking Attorney,” ABA National Webinar Presentation, May 22, 2013
• Author and Presenter, “Evidentiary Issues in Trucking Litigation,” Harmonie Group - Trucking & Transportation Industry Seminar, Springdale, Ark., June 6, 2012. 
• Co-Author, “Evidentiary Issues in Trucking Litigation,” MDLA Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 2, pgs. 12-19 (Summer 2012).
• Author and Presenter, “Use of Technology in Accident Investigation,” Harmonie Group Spring Conference - Transportation Seminar, May 2012. 
• Author and Presenter, “Identifying Common Evidentiary Issues in Trucking Litigation, ABA – The BRIEF (Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section) Fall 2011, Vol. 41, No.1.
• Author and Presenter, “Evidentiary Issues in Trucking Litigation,” Harmonie Group – Nashville Transportation Seminar, July 2011; Harmonie Group - Chicago, Transportation Seminar, May 2011.
• Author and Presenter, “Coping with Plaintiffs with Victim Syndrome” 2011 Arkansas Trucking Seminar, Springdale, Ark., September 14-16, 2011.
• Author and Presenter, “Evidentiary Issues in Trucking Litigation,” ABA Transportation Megaconference X, New Orleans, La., March 2011.
• Author and Presenter, “Trucking Liability - Accident Investigation, ECM Evidence, Common Legal Issues, and Strategy,” Performance Food Group, National Safety Meeting, Dallas, Texas, November/December 2010.
• Author, “John Boy vs. Learned Hand – Sizing up Your Case Based on the Plaintiff’s Lawyer,” Harmonie Group-Chicago Transportation Seminar, June 2010; Harmonie Group-Dallas Transportation Seminar, June 2010; Harmonie Group-Atlanta Transportation Seminar, July 2010; Harmonie Group-Nashville Transportation Seminar, August 2010.
• Presenter, What’s in the Black Box? Using Data from Car and Truck EDRs, Harmonie Group Chicago Transportation Seminar, July 2009; Harmonie Group Dallas Transportation Seminar, August 2009; Harmonie Group Phoenix Transportation Seminar, December 2009.
• Author and Presenter, “What’s in the Black Box? A Show and Tell with Car and Truck EDR’S”, ABA Tort, Trial and Insurance Committee, Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee Newsletter, Summary 2009. 
• Presenter, What's In the Black Box?  A Show and Tell With Car and Truck EDRS, Transportation Law Association Seminar, New Orleans, La., November 2008.
• Presenter, What’s in the Black Box?  A Show and Tell With Event Data Recorders and Electronic Control Modules, Trucking Litigation and D.O.T. Regulations in Mississippi, Lorman Seminar, May 2008.
• Presenter, “Trucking Liability – The Seat Belt Defense,” The Harmonie Group, Northwest Arkansas Regional Meeting, 2006.
• Mississippi Chapter of State & Local Public Construction Contracting Source Book, American Bar Association’s Section of Public Contract Law.
• Presenter, “Trucking Liability – Driver Honesty,” Transportation Lawyer’s Association, New Orleans, 1999.
• Presenter, “Motor Coach/Recreational Vehicle Warranty Law,” First Annual Meeting of RVDefense.com, 1999.
• Author and Presenter, “The Severin Doctrine – An Analysis of Pass-Through Claims of Subcontractors Against the United States,” International Association of Defense Counsel Construction Committee Newsletter, January 1995.
• Author and Presenter, “Modern Remedies for Oppression in the Closely Held Corporation, 60 Miss. L.J. 405, 1991.

• Boy Scouts of America, Andrew Jackson Council
  • Executive Board, 2016-2024
  • Eagle Scout Scholarship Coordinator, 2016-2024
  • Silver Beaver Award, 2023
• Mississippi Museum of Art
  • Board of Trustees, 2012-2022
    • Secretary, 2012-2015
  • Executive Committee, 2012-2016
  • Chair, Art by Choice, 2015
• American Heart Association
  • Annual Gala Chair, Heart Ball, 2014
  • Art Acquisitions Committee, Co-Chair, 2015-2024
• Butler Snow Art Committee
  • Co-Chair, 2010-2019
• Kappa Alpha Order, University of Mississippi
  • Alpha Upsilon Chapter House Corporation,
  • Vice President/Secretary 1996-2002
• President, 2002-2022
• River Hills Tennis Club, Membership Committee, 2017-2018
• St. Richard Catholic Church