D. Bryant Chaffin

Because They Deserve the Truth

For Bryant Chaffin, the pursuit of justice begins with precision. As a seasoned research and appellate attorney with over two decades of experience, Bryant has built his career behind the scenes of high-stakes litigation, where words, strategy, and timing can determine the outcome. He is a quiet force within the firm, responsible for drafting the motions, appeals, and legal arguments that lay the groundwork for holding powerful corporations accountable.

Bryant’s work focuses on cases involving the abuse and neglect of elderly residents in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and personal care homes. He understands that these cases are not just about the law; they are about dignity, safety, and accountability.

For Bryant, every motion filed and every appeal brief written is part of a larger mission to expose the truth and secure justice for those who might otherwise be ignored. His approach is rooted in discipline, logic, and a deep respect for the role the law plays in protecting the most vulnerable.

Building the Legal Foundation for Justice

Bryant Chaffin’s legal career began at the Mississippi Court of Appeals, where he clerked for the late Honorable Judge James E. Thomas. During those formative years, he developed a strong foundation in judicial reasoning, civil procedure, and legal writing. Skills that would become the cornerstone of his career. That early experience inside the appellate court gave Bryant a deep appreciation for the role thoughtful, well-reasoned arguments play in shaping outcomes, especially in complex or high-stakes cases.

Following his clerkship, Bryant joined the appellate and motion practice team at Wilkes & McHugh, a national firm focused on nursing home abuse and personal injury litigation. There, he quickly became the lead writing attorney, responsible for legal research, drafting trial and appellate briefs, and shaping arguments in cases that ultimately secured verdicts totaling well over $100 million. In 2008, he brought that expertise to McHugh Fuller Law Group, where he continues to serve as the firm’s principal research and appellate counsel.

Bryant has handled appellate work at all levels, from state supreme courts to the United States Court of Appeals, and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. His writing has helped shape legal strategy in hundreds of cases, many of which resulted in substantial settlements or precedent-setting decisions. In addition to motion and appellate work, he negotiates confidential settlements, Medicaid and Medicare liens, and complex release agreements.

Throughout his career, Bryant has viewed his role not simply as legal support but as an integral part of a team seeking justice for those who have suffered serious harm. His work is technical, deliberate, and often invisible to the outside world, but it is essential to the success of every case that moves forward.

A Career Grounded in Integrity and Impact

Bryant is licensed to practice in Mississippi, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and New York. He is also admitted in federal district courts in Mississippi, Georgia, and West Virginia, as well as the United States Courts of Appeal for the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Circuits and the United States Supreme Court.

His work has been recognized throughout his career. He received multiple invitations to Super Lawyers and was named a Mid-South Rising Star from 2012 through 2015. In both 2013 and 2014, Memphis Magazine named him one of Mississippi’s Top Attorneys in its annual Rising Stars list. In 2017, he was invited to become a Charter Member of the Distinguished Justice Advocates.

Though Bryant’s contributions often occur outside the spotlight, their impact is undeniable. He is the steady hand behind the scenes, ensuring every case is built on a solid legal foundation. What motivates him is not recognition, but the belief that every client deserves the truth and that justice is worth the work it takes to reach it.

Notable Cases and Verdicts

Bryant Chaffin has played a key role in some of the firm’s most significant verdicts and appellate victories. As lead appellate counsel and a critical contributor to trial strategy, his work has shaped the legal landscape in long-term care litigation across multiple jurisdictions.

Verdicts and Settlements:

• Cathy Vice, as daughter and next friend of Julia C. Bynum a/k/a Juliet Bynum v. Elmcroft of Hendersonville, et al., Sumner County, Tennessee (2009): Jury awarded $250,000 in a case involving a fractured clavicle at an assisted living facility. Final recovery after interest: $292,600.
• Tom Douglas, Individually and on behalf of the Estate and Wrongful Death Beneficiaries of Dorothy Douglas v. Manor Care, Inc., et al., Kanawha County, West Virginia (2011): Landmark jury verdict of $91.5 million in a wrongful death case, later reduced and settled for $38 million after appeal.
• Wanda Williams, on behalf of the Estate and Wrongful Death Beneficiaries of Robert Thompson v. CMO Management, LLC, et al., Nicholas County, West Virginia (2014): Jury verdict of $100,000, with $90,000 affirmed on appeal and final settlement of $195,000.
• David Howard, on behalf of the Wrongful Death Beneficiaries of Donald Lee Howard v. HCR Manor Care, Inc., et al., Clark County, Ohio (2016): Jury awarded $1.1 million in a nursing home neglect case. The matter is currently on appeal.

Appellate Advocacy and Federal Court Work:

Bryant has served as lead appellate counsel in over 40 state and federal appellate opinions, where his arguments have shaped precedent in the areas of arbitration, wrongful death, and long-term care facility accountability.

• United Health Services of Georgia, Inc. v. Alexander, 802 S.E.2d 314 (Ga. Ct. App. 2017): Successfully defended against enforcement of an arbitration agreement where no authorized party had signed on behalf of the resident.
• Williams v. CMO Management, LLC, No. 15-0553, 2016 WL 2953965 (W. Va. May 19, 2016): Preserved the majority of a jury verdict and obtained a new trial on a disputed personal injury claim.
• Beverly Enterprises Inc. v. Cyr, 608 F. App'x 924 (11th Cir. 2015), cert. denied, 136 S. Ct. 1712 (2016): Obtained reversal of a district court’s order compelling arbitration due to forum unavailability. The U.S. Supreme Court denied review.
• Manor Care, Inc. v. Douglas, 234 W. Va. 57, 763 S.E.2d 73 (2014): Successfully defended a large portion of the $91.5 million verdict on appeal in a high-profile nursing home wrongful death case.
• Vice v. Elmcroft of Hendersonville, No. M2010-01148-COA-R3CV, 2011 WL 3672048 (Tenn. Ct. App. Aug. 22, 2011): Affirmed jury verdict in a case involving injury to a resident in an assisted living facility.

Bryant’s work in these cases has advanced the rights of families affected by neglect and abuse, and his appellate successes continue to influence the broader fight for accountability in long-term care.

Beyond the Courtroom

While Bryant’s legal work demands precision and focus, his life outside the office is centered on family, faith, and service. He is married to Julie Chaffin, who serves as the Firm Administrator at McHugh Fuller, and together they are raising two children, Ruth and Jack. Their home life is filled with the same values that drive Bryant’s work: loyalty, care, and doing the right thing even when no one is watching.

He is an active member of Temple Baptist Church and serves on the Board of Directors for Gene Douglas By Faith Ministries, a nonprofit dedicated to outreach and support. Bryant is also a musician, playing lead guitar in a local praise and worship band, where he helps manage the sound system and brings people together through music.

This balance of personal conviction and professional discipline defines Bryant’s approach to the law. He brings a steady hand, a thoughtful mind, and a clear sense of purpose to every case he works on. Whether in the pages of a brief or behind the scenes shaping appellate strategy, Bryant’s presence is felt, and it makes a difference.

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