We are one of the largest plaintiff law firms in Northern Mississippi as well as one of the largest in "The Mississippi Delta." For over 20 years, we have handled cases throughout Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas, and have handled cases from California to New York. To read about our attorneys, click here.
We utilize state-of-the-art technology and extensive research in our trials and trial preparations. We invite you to browse our website and discover the experience and legal services that Merkel & Cocke has to offer. » Read More
Since being formed in 1983, Merkel & Cocke has never had an attorney leave its practice other than through retirement. This allows us to provide greater continuity of representation to our clients and their cases, as well as demonstrating the excellent working environment at Merkel & Cocke.
PRESS RELEASE
Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, has named Charles M. Merkel, Jr. as the “Jackson, MS Best Lawyers Personal Injury Litigator of the Year” for 2010.
After more than a quarter of a century in publication, Best Lawyers is designating “Lawyers of the Year” in high-profile legal specialties in large legal communities. Only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is being honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”
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Charles Merkel, Jr. Receives MAJ's
Lifetime Achievement Award
The law firm of Merkel & Cocke is proud to announce that Charles M. Merkel, Jr., has received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mississippi Association for Justice.
Charles M. (Charlie) Merkel, Jr. has been a trial lawyer since 1966 when he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He was born and raised in Mississippi and attended the University of Mississippi for both his undergraduate and law degrees. After law school, he worked for four years with the U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division, trying tax cases in a five state area.
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John Cocke Receives The 'Beyond The Call Of Duty' Award From The Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project
John Cocke, a founding partner of Merkel & Cocke, received the 'Beyond The Call Of Duty' award from the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project (MVLP). The MVLP is a joint venture of The Mississippi Bar Association and Mississippi Legal Services Programs. More than 1,600 Mississippi attorneys volunteer their time and expertise to participate in the Project, and as a result, more than 5,000 low income citizens are assisted by the Project each year. The ‘Beyond The Call Of Duty’ award is presented to a member of the Mississippi Association for Justice who has accumulated the most pro bono hours in the previous calendar year.
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Merkel & Cocke lawyers recognized in Mid-South Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
Five partners of Merkel & Cocke were chosen by their peers for inclusion in the 2008 edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers & Rising Stars. The selective and prestigious Mid-South Super Lawyers & Rising Stars magazine lists Charles M. Merkel, Jr., John H. Cocke and William B. Raiford, III, as part of this year’s list of “Super Lawyers” in the Mid-South. Charles M. Merkel, Jr. is one of only eight lawyers in the tri-state area listed under the heading: “Personal Injury Plaintiff: Products Liability,” and he is also included in the “Top 50 Mississippi” list, which is comprised of the lawyers receiving the most points in the selection criteria. John H. Cocke and William B. Raiford, III are two of only seventeen lawyers from the tri-state area listed under the heading: “Personal Injury Plaintiff: Medical Malpractice.”
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Merkel & Cocke's clients receive a $23.6 million verdict in medical malpractice case.
Memphis, TN - A Shelby County, Tennessee jury returned a $23,600,000 verdict in favor of
Plaintiffs Courtney Hill and Robert Hill of Desoto County Mississippi on July 10, 2009. Plaintiffs’ counsel
are William B. Raiford of the Clarksdale, Mississippi law firm of Merkel & Cocke, Jim Lees of
the Charleston, West Virginia law firm of Hunt & Lees, and Philip Stroud of the Southaven,
Mississippi firm of Stroud & Harper.» Read More
Jury Returns Verdict in Favor of Merkel & Cocke Clients in Another Katrina Related Lawsuit
In Washington County Circuit Court, a jury recently returned a verdict in the amount of
$80,000.00 in favor of a family represented by Merkel & Cocke, who lost their home to
Hurricane Katrina. The jury found that an insurance agency breached an oral contract with the family to procure flood insurance and that the agent was negligent in failing to procure flood coverage which was requested more than one year prior to Hurricane Katrina. Charles M. Merkel, Jr. and Charles M. Merkel, III represented the family’s interests at trial.
Two Verdicts in Five Days
Merkel & Cocke recently received two favorable verdicts in five days. The first verdict was in favor of homeowners against USAA Casualty Insurance Co. in a bad faith denial of insurance case. The second verdict was in favor of an Air Force veteran in a medical malpractice lawsuit. » Read More
Client Struck by 18 Wheeler
In a case dealing with a trucking accident, our client was operating a truck in Benton County Mississippi on U.S. Highway 78. Our client was struck from the rear by an 18 wheel truck, causing his vehicle to crash. Our client received substantial injuries and died approximately 3 weeks later. » Read More
