Daniel Louis Clayton

Named Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" Nashville-Medical Malpractice 2023, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2015 and 2012. 

Here are a few of the cases i have tried:

Nashville jury awarded FIVE MILLION DOLLARS on behalf of Daniel Clayton's client following a two week medical malpractice trial in Nashville, Tennessee.

A Murfreesboro jury awarded nearly THREE MILLION DOLLARS in a car wreck case in which Daniel Clayton's client was injured.  The award is reportedly the largest car crash verdict in Rutherford County history.

 Also, selected to The Nashville Post's Top 101 Lawyers in Nashville. Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist, a Medical Malpractice Specialist, and Civil Pre-Trial Procedure. Only a few attorneys in the state of Tennessee hold all 3 certifications. I am included in Best Lawyers in America (Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability) as well as Mid-South Super Lawyers list featuring the top 5% of attorneys in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. I am often asked to speak on the subject of trial practice. I have given presentations across the state of Tennessee not only to other attorneys, but also to judges. I have tried cases in Alabama, Kentucky and across the state of Tennessee. I have represented clients in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Michigan, Illinois and Florida.

I served as the President of the Tennessee Association for Justice. Other memberships include: Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers; Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers; the Board of Governors for the Tennessee Association for Justice, past president, Nashville Bar Foundation, and is a member of the American Association for Justice, formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America; the Circle of Advocates and the Nashville Bar Foundation. I was selected as a Senior Counsel member of the American College of Barristers. The status of Senior Counsel is a distinction honoring the skill and experience as a trial lawyer as well as demonstrated commitment to promoting excellence in the art of trial advocacy.

I graduated from Lipscomb University (B.A. 1984) and the University of Tennessee College of Law (J.D. 1987). While in law school, I was a national semifinalist member of the National Trial Moot Court Team. I was also a recipient of the Supreme Court Justice, Lewis Powell Medal for Excellence in Advocacy. I am a past recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the legal community. I have an AV-Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell, which identifies lawyers demonstrating the highest professional and ethical standards.

Giving back to the community is an important part of my life. In 1994, I was elected to the Franklin Special School District Board of Education. I served as the treasurer of the Franklin Special School District Board of Education from 1994-1997. During my tenure, the Franklin Special School District received the Tennessee School Board of the Year Award from the Tennessee School Board Association. My faith is an important part of my life.  I am an active member of my church, and served as a team leader for our recent mission trip to Jamiaca. My wife and I are members of the Williamson County Foster Parent Association. During the past 18 years, we have served as foster parents to over 25 children including special needs and disabled children. We actively support Gracework Ministries, Mercy Children's Medical Clinic and Faith Family Medical Clinic. I have served as a Youth Basketball Coach for 12 years with the YMCA, Williamson County Recreational League and Grassland Athletic Association. 

I have handled numerous high-profile cases that have received local and national media attention including the death in an automobile wreck of the world's most decorated aerobatic pilot (whose planes are on exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.); the wrongful death of a woman after the car she was driving was hit in the rear-end by a tractor-trailer, causing the car to burst into flames; the permanently disabling injuries a man received when a deck collapsed because of improper construction, causing him to fall 20 feet; the death of a well-known pharmacist after his CT scans were misread and severe injuries a lady received after pure 99.9% acetic acid, instead of a 4% solution, was used on her during a gynecologic procedure. I have successfully handled multiple brain injury cases including birth trauma injuries. Randy Kinnard and I obtained a verdict of over 22 million dollars in a medical malpractice case in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

My areas of practice include catastrophic and personal injury, automobile and tractor trailer litigation, wrongful death, medical negligence, and product liability.