Don McKenna joined Hare Wynn in 1997 and has been a partner since 2000. Since beginning his legal career in 1995, Don has represented plaintiffs from across the United States, including before the United States Supreme Court, and has won several verdicts that set new legal precedents. He has published numerous articles in legal journals and law reviews, and is a frequent speaker at legal seminars and professional conferences.
To date, Don’s work has resulted in jury verdicts and settlements totaling more than $1.6 billion. In 2012, he obtained an $8 million verdict for the family of a retired physician who was mistreated by a nursing home in Kentucky. In 2010, one of his cases, Schafer v. Bayer Cropscience, was listed among the Top 100 Verdicts in America by Verdict Search.
While he practices in several areas, including serious personal injuries, wrongful death, products liability and environmental cases, Don has a special enthusiasm for cases that involve government fraud. He is a member of the Tax Payers Against Fraud Education Fund, a national organization of lawyers who represent whistleblowers. He was honored by that organization in 2009 as the “Whistleblower Lawyer of the Year.”
He is currently active in the metal-on-metal hip litigation. He has spoken nationally on this topic on the televised program, The People’s Law School. Don was recently appointed to the Plaintiffs Steering Committee on the Stryker Rejuvenate – ABG II Hip Implant Products Liability National Multi-District Litigation.
Don is a graduate of Auburn University. He earned his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, where he was on the law review.
He is an active member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church. He regularly participates in mission trips to locations in the United States and abroad. He also serves on the board of Restoration Academy, a Birmingham-based Christian school that provides low-income children the opportunity for a private education.
Married with three children, Don enjoys competitive running and coaching youth sports. He also maintains blogs related to two of his passions; encouraging people to report governmental fraud () and running ().
“Practicing law allows me to live out my call to serve.”
33%-50%
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Chat withState: Alabama
Acquired: 1995
No misconduct found
2025 3rd Avenue North, Suite 800, Birmingham, AL, 35203-3378
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | March 23, 2019 | Hired Attorney
Don was an excellent choice to handle complex litigation. His expertise throughout the process proved invaluable to achieving a successful resolution. He also kept me educated on each filing, and best of all, kept me informed on the details of each phase. The team at HWNN handled document management...
Posted by ray billings | August 6, 2014
Family looked for the best my opinion I got the best. Answered all my questions. Easy to talk to and get a hold of. Most lawyers don't return phone calls they return my calls immediately. I would definitely use them again
Posted by Anita | August 5, 2014
I found myself totally lost for reactions from a wrongful termination from my employment, after over 4 years. Never written or verbally told that they were unhappy with my work! Only thing was we continued to disagree with their billing practices. We have completed the trial for false claims with the...
"Worked with Don on several cases over the years. He's one of the best. Tireless in representing his clients."
Personal injury lawyer
Defective and dangerous products lawyer
Defective and dangerous products lawyer
Medical malpractice lawyer
Government lawyer
Brain injury lawyer
Personal injury lawyer
Litigation lawyer
Litigation lawyer
Securities and investment fraud lawyer
Defective and dangerous products lawyer
Appeals lawyer
Litigation lawyer
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Personal injury lawyer
2015
Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2015
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2015
Best Lawyers in Alabama, Best Lawyers
2015
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers
2015
Lawyer of the Year Mass Tort/Class Actions, Best Lawyers
2014
Best Attorneys in Alabama, Business Alabama
2014
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2014
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2014
Best Attorneys in America, Best Lawyers
2014
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers
2013
Best Lawyers in Alabama, American Registry
2013
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2012
Top 10 Verdicts in Kentucky, Verdict Search
2012
Top Law Firms in America, Forbes
2012
Peer Selected, Super Lawyers
2012
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2011
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers
2011
Top 100 Verdicts in America, Verdict Search
2011
Multi-Million Dollar Verdicts, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2009
Whistleblower Lawyer of the Year, Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund
1997 - Present
Partner, Hare Wynn Newell & Newton
1995 - 1997
Associate Attorney, Taylor & Taylor
2011 - Present
Birmingham Bar AssociationPublic Service Committee
2000 - Present
Taxpayers Against Fraud Education FundMember
2000 - Present
Alabama Trial Lawyers AssociationExecutive Committee
1995 - Present
Alabama Association for JusticeMember
1995 - Present
American Association for JusticeMember
1995 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
1995 - Present
Alabama State BarMember
Global Settlement for many clients
Confidential Settlement for Wife and Children
$25 million settlement
$8 million Jury Verdict
$48 million Jury Verdict. - $6 million Compensatory Damages $42 Million Punitive all upheld on appeal
Confidential Settlement
Confidential Settlement
Confidential Settlement
Criminal Prosecution of the Defendant and a Civil Settlement
Record Confidential Settlement
$437 Million in total settlements
1995
JD - Juris Doctor
1992
2015
2015
False Claims Act Developments in Qui Tam Litigation
2014
False Claims Act Primer
2013
2011
The Devil is in the Details
2009
Panel Discussion Litigating the Non-Intervened Case
2009
Hot Topics in Healthcare: False Claims Act Panel
2009
False Claims Act Litigation: Why Arkansas Needs a False Claims Act
2009
Effective Mediation Presentations in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases
2009
Closing the Deal: Mediation Strategies and Tactics for Reaching Resolution
2008
Effective Mediation Presentations in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases
2006
False Claim Act Litigation
2006
Why Alabama Needs a False Claims Act
2004
Why Alabama Needs a False Claims Act
2001
False Claims Act Litigation
2008
2002
English
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