David Butts is a native Mississippian, born in Oxford. He attended University High School and Oxford High School where he was a four-year letterman on the football team and a member of the National Honor Society.
David attended Ole Miss and was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and after active duty in the U.S. Army he returned to Oxford to attend the University of Mississippi School of Law, graduating in the top 20% of his class.
After graduation David practiced briefly in Greenville, MS and Oxford, soon establishing his own practice in Tupelo. In addition to his growing private practice, David was appointed Lee County Public Defender and held that position for three years, handling several hundred cases from plea to trial, including serious offenses such as aggravated assault and murder. Over the years, David has handled over 300 criminal cases.
For over 40 years, David’s private practice has been primarily devoted to plaintiff’s personal injury cases, including auto and 18-wheeler accidents, product liability and medical malpractice cases, as well as insurance bad faith and mass tort cases. Among David’s accomplishments are some of the largest collected jury verdicts in Lee, Itawamba and Tishomingo counties in Mississippi and settlements totaling millions of dollars for his clients. David has practiced in the Circuit and Chancery courts in every area of the State, from the Tennessee line to Alabama, to the Mississippi Delta, through central Mississippi including Hinds and Madison counties, down to the Gulf Coast. He has also practiced in Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana and Missouri by special appearance.
David has appeared in over 40 cases before the Mississippi Supreme Court and 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and has practiced in both the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi and the Western District of Tennessee.
David has been the President of the Lee County Bar Association and has served on the Board of Governors of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers’ Association. He has been a Sustaining Member of both the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association.
David is a veteran, serving as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army (Armor Branch). He served as Detachment Commander (Oxford Detachment) of the 108th Armored Cavalry, Mississippi National Guard (MNG), Executive Officer, Troop B, 108th Armored Cavalry, MNG, Detachment Commander, Leland, MS Detachment, 155th Armored Brigade and Training/Evaluation Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. He was honorably discharged from service.
David is married to the former Dorothy Blackledge and has three daughters.
Education
- University of Mississippi School of Law
Awards & Associations
- Lee County Bar Association
- Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association
- American Trial Lawyers Association
