Ernest Cory |

Bio

Ernest “Ernie” Cory has practiced law for more than 35 years with a focus on dangerous drugs, defective medical devices, products liability, mass torts, and class actions. He has represented clients across the U.S. and in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Ernie is nationally recognized for his ability to level the playing field against corporate America, and is frequently appointed as lead counsel and to other leadership positions in high-profile complex litigation, mass torts, and class actions.

A founding principal of Cory Watson, Ernie’s legal roots are local; he tried his first jury trial just 11 months after becoming an attorney in Gadsden, Alabama and over his career has helped thousands of people across the state. Ernie realized early that it was essential to establish client trust, and that successful results require hard work. Every client mattered. This commitment to service and unwavering integrity provided the foundation for the firm he founded more than two decades ago, and those values serve as guiding principles for Cory Watson Attorneys today.

He’s proud to have helped assemble a legal team that has served more than 150,000 families and recovered more than $2.7 billion in settlements and verdicts. According to Ernie, “We know corporations and insurance firms are going to hire the best lawyers they can afford. I have made it my goal for 35 years to be the best, to hire the best, and to never back down from a fight. Our clients deserve nothing less.”

Ernie grew up in Birmingham, Alabama where he graduated from Vestavia Hills High School. He went on to study at the University of Alabama, graduating magna cum laude. He earned his Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Ernie feels it is important to give back to the community and profession that have provided him with so many opportunities, and he serves in a number of philanthropic and leadership positions within the bar and legal profession.

Ernie is an avid Alabama football fan and on Saturdays in the fall, he can generally be found in Tuscaloosa at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Ernie is an active member of Church of the Highlands where he and his wife, Vivian, lead a weekly small group. They enjoy supporting local causes serving children and supporting education. Ernie spends his free time with his family, in his gardens and traveling.

BAR ADMISSIONS

Alabama State Bar

COURT ADMISSIONS

The Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court of Rhode Island

APPOINTMENTS

Lead Counsel and Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, In Re: Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate) Products Liability Litigation MDL 2691
Plaintiffs Lead Settlement Counsel in In Re: Abilify (Aripiprazole) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2734
Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee In Re: MDL No. 2502, Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation
Lead Counsel and Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, In Re: Chantix (Varenicline) Products Liability Litigation MDL 2092
Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, In Re: Trasylol Products Liability Litigation MDL No. 1928
Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and Co-Chair for Discovery Committee, In Re: Bausch & Lomb Contact Lens Solution Products Liability Litigation, MDL No.1785
Co-Lead Counsel, In Re: Kugel Mesh Hernia Patch Product Liability Litigation, MDL No.1842
Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, In Re: General Motors Corporation Dex-Cool Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1562
Lead Counsel and Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel, In Re: ProteGen Sling and Vesica Systems Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1387
Class Counsel, Denney v. Jenkins & Gilchrist, et al, USDC Southern District of New York, CV 03-5460

HONORS, AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators^®
The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100
Mass Tort Trial Lawyers Association – Top 25
Business Tort Trial Lawyers – Top 10
AV Preeminent^® Peer Review Rated Martindale-Hubbell
Best Lawyers^® Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions “Lawyer of the Year” in Birmingham, 2018
The Best Lawyers in America©, 2014-2020
2018 Mid-South Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers, Top 50 Alabama Attorneys
Birmingham Magazine, Top Birmingham Attorneys
B-Metro Magazine, 2019 TopFlight Attorney and Hall of Fame Honoree
Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Stars, 2009-2018
The American Trial Lawyers Association, Top 100 Lawyers
Cumberland School of Law Advisory Board, 2009-2013
America’s Top 100 Attorneys^®, Lifetime Achievement Member
Top American Lawyers, Lifetime Charter Member
American Law Society, Member

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, Pioneers of Justice Society, Charter member
American Association for Justice, Sustaining Member, Member of Aviation Section and Product Liability Section
Birmingham Bar Association
Birmingham Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
Birmingham Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program, Board of Directors
Birmingham Bar Volunteer Lawyers Committee, Development Committee

EDUCATION

Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, J.D.
The University of Alabama, B.S., summa cum laude

Ernest Cory

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