Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly for its role in securing one of the ten largest defense verdicts in the state of Virginia in 2004

The Roanoke, Virginia law firm of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, has been recognized by the Virginia Lawyers Weekly publication for its role in securing one of the ten largest defense verdicts in the state of Virginia in 2004. Gentry Locke was the only Roanoke law firm to be so recognized.

The case was brought by Atmos Energy Corporation, of Dallas, Texas, in which it sought damages of over $1 million representing the repair and replacement costs of a high-pressure natural gas transmission line it owns in Dublin, Virginia. After a week-long trial held in U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia, the Court found in favor of the defendant on all counts and awarded the defendant its costs.

Virginia attorneys Kevin W. Holt and J. Scott Sexton represented the defendant in the case, Empire Pipe and Supply Company of Birmingham, Alabama. Atmos alleged that pipe it purchased from Empire for installation in the gas line was defective, citing chloride blisters discovered between the pipe’s carbon steel base and its fusion bond epoxy coating.  The Court, in a written opinion, held that Atmos had failed to prove that the chloride existed on the pipe prior to the sale and installation and likely could have migrated from the soil by osmosis. In addition, the Court found credible Empire’s expert witnesses who opined that it was “scientifically impossible” for chloride to cause the type of rapid corrosion and leaks found in the pipeline.