Christopher S. Berdy
Christian & Small LLP
1800 Financial Center
505 North 20th Street
Birmingham, Alabama 35203

Tel:  205.250.6635
Fax: 205.328.7234
email: csberdy@csattorneys.com

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PARTNER

Practice Areas
Business & Commercial
  Litigation
Complex Litigation
Insurance
Premises Liability
Products Liability
Trade Secrets

Admitted to Practice
Alabama, 1996

Education
Washington & Lee University, 1991, B.A., Geology/Environmental Studies

Cumberland School of Law, 1996, J.D. (Dean's List; American Journal of Trial Advocacy, Articles Editor; Cordell Hull Legal Research & Writing Teaching Fellow)

Chris Berdy is a partner in the firm’s litigation practice group. Mr. Berdy has a broad civil trial practice defending a wide variety of clients. His practice focuses primarily on products liability, business, personal injury, and intellectual property litigation in state and federal courts throughout Alabama and the Southeast.

Representative Cases

• Defense of international manufacturer of steel fabricating system in federal court for multi-million dollar property damage claim arising out of massive molten steel spill and involving design defect claims, obtaining summary judgment in favor of system manufacturer
• Defense of domestic mobile, all-terrain crane manufacturer in wrongful death case in state court involving claims of design defect, obtaining summary judgment in favor of crane manufacturer
• Other product lines defended include all-terrain vehicles, automobiles, bar sealers, blow mold machines, concrete anchor lifting systems, extruders, gas valves, hydraulic transfer cars, commercial HVAC systems, kerosene heaters, medical devices, mobile cranes, overhead cranes, pharmaceuticals, PVC pipe, power tools, soot blowers, stainless steel wire rope, toasters, televisions, tractors, and underground mining equipment
  
• Defense of state mental health department in numerous wrongful death and personal injury suits involving residents who sustained injuries from patient-patient or patient-staff incidents
  
• Defense of numerous hunting clubs in wrongful death and personal injury claims arising out of hunting accidents
  
• Defense of national outdoor advertising company in claims arising out of breach of former advertising executive’s employment agreement, obtaining summary judgment in favor of advertising company
  
• Representation of air ambulance transport services provider in cyber-squatting and trademark infringement case, resulting in assignment of disputed domain name to transport provider
  
• Defense of national dog products manufacturer in trademark infringement suit, obtaining summary judgment in favor of manufacturer

Professional Honors and Affiliations

• International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC);Vice Chair (Newsletters), Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee; Member, Business, Product Liability, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees
• Defense Research Institute
• Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Alabama State Bar
• Birmingham Bar Association

Civic Involvement

• Sunrise Rotary Club
• Monday Morning Quarterback Club
• Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (Board of Directors, Alabama Chapter)
• Washington & Lee University Alumni Association (Chairman, Alumni Admissions Program for Birmingham region; Board of Directors, Birmingham Chapter; past-president, Birmingham Chapter, 2003-2005)
• Cathedral Church of the Advent

Court Admissions

• Alabama State Bar
• United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
• United States District Court, Northern District of Alabama
• United States District Court, Middle District of Alabama
• United States District Court, Southern District of Alabama

Publications

• “Alabama Has A Difference Of Opinion: When Does Testimony By An Out-Of-State Engineer Constitute The Practice Of Engineering?” IADC Product Liability Committee Newsletter (Jan. 2007)
• “What Every Product Manufacturer Needs To Know When Defending A Lawsuit In Alabama,” IADC Product Liability Committee Newsletter (Jan. 2006)
• “The Basics Of Applying Daubert and Frye In State Court,” Alabama Defense Lawyers Association Journal (April 2003) (Co-Author)

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