Biography
Chris Waller is a partner in the Montgomery office.
Chris practices with an emphasis on business litigation and insurance defense litigation. He also frequently defends licensees and respondents against administrative complaints and in administrative hearings throughout the state of Alabama. Chris has represented both professionals and businesses as respondents in administrative law issues against numerous state boards. He also regularly counsels and provides general business and litigation advice to clients. Chris has tried numerous jury trials to verdict and has served as defense counsel for several national companies.
He has been selected by the Super Lawyers and the Mid-South publications from 2013 to 2019 as an Alabama/Mid-South “Rising Star,” a designation afforded to only 2.5% of all lawyers in the state of Alabama under the age of 40. Chris has also been selected for inclusion into the Professional Liability Defense Federation, a national organization comprised exclusively of malpractice defense professionals. He is also a member of the Order of Barristers and is admitted in all state and federal courts in the state of Alabama.
Chris is a member of the Alabama State Bar, Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, Defense Research Institute, and is a past delegate to the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Assembly. He is also a past President of the Alabama State Bar Young Lawyers Section, past Board Member of the Montgomery County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, and has served on the Alabama State Bar Long Range Planning Committee. Chris currently serves on the Alabama State Bar Administrative Law Section Council, Leadership Forum Selection Committee, and the Character and Fitness Committee, Quality of Life, Health and Wellness Task Force, and the 19th Amendment Centennial Celebration Task Force. He formerly served on the Montgomery County Bar Association Board of Directors. Chris has additionally presented lectures on Interview and Writing Sample Techniques at Jones Law School.
He is a graduate of the University of Alabama and the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. While in law school, Chris was a leading advocate and member of Cumberland School of Law’s nationally-recognized Trial Team and served as a Director of the Trial Advocacy Board. Additionally, he served his class as President and received a Scholar of Merit Award and Distinction.
Chris has been active in his community as well, having served as past president of the University of Alabama Alumni Association Greater Montgomery Chapter and past Chair of the River Region Council for the Magic Moments Foundation. He has also served on the YMCA Boys Work Committee, EMERGE Montgomery, and American Cancer Society Young Professionals.
When not practicing law, Chris enjoys golf, traveling, and coaching his children’s sports teams.
Legal Assistant
Paralegal
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NewsMay 2013 – Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak Attorneys Selected for 2013 Alabama Super Lawyers
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Notable Cases2017 – Alabama Supreme Court affirms trial court’s order granting defendant homeowners carrier’s motion for summary judgment wherein plaintiff asserted claims of breach of contract and bad faith. (Alabama Supreme Court Case No: 1131074) 2017 – Following a week long trial, obtained a verdict in favor of the defendant insurer, with a finding that the insurance policy at issue did not provide coverage for the claims asserted by the plaintiff. (Lee County) 2017 – Summary Judgment in favor of insurer as to bad faith claims asserted by the plaintiff/insured. (Autauga County) 2016 – Successfully defended insurance company in connection with breach of contract and bad faith claims. Following a trial of the matter, the jury returned a verdict below the amount offered by the insurer before trial. (Geneva County) 2015 – Successfully defended insurance company in trial concerning payment of insurance benefits, with verdict returned being less than amount offered before trial. (Dale County) 2015 – Summary judgment entered in favor of homeowners insurance carrier as to the breach of contract claims asserted against carrier by 130 individual plaintiffs. (Calhoun County) 2015 – Summary judgment entered in favor of homeowners insurer concerning the plaintiffs’ claims of breach of contract, fraud and bad faith. (Tuscaloosa County) 2015 – Summary judgment entered in favor of timber dealer and against plaintiff, who suffered serious injuries resulting in over $500,000 in medical bills. (Calhoun County) 2015 – Successfully defended class action claim made against homeowners insurer. Following the class certification hearing, the trial court entered an order denying the plaintiff’s motion for class certification. (Chambers County) 2014 – Prevailed on appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court concerning the trial court’s ruling against homeowners insurer. Alabama Supreme Court held that trial erred in ruling against insurer and reversed the judgment of the trial court. (Baldwin Mutual Insurance Company v. Adair, 181 So. 3d 1033) 2014 – Summary judgment rendered in favor of homeowners insurer concerning the insured’s claims of bad faith. (Northern District of Alabama) 2014 – Summary judgment entered in favor of homeowners insurer as to the plaintiffs’ claims of bad faith. Christian v. Country Mutual Insurance Company, 2014 WL 2434294 (N.D. Ala. 2014) 2013 – Successfully defended homeowners insurer in connection with Plaintiffs’ claims of fraud, conversion and breach of contract. Following jury trial, case settled while case was on appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court. (Marion County) 2013 – Defendant’s verdict at the conclusion of jury trial wherein the plaintiff alleged personal injuries caused by the defendant. (Montgomery County) 2013 – Summary judgment rendered in favor of homeowners insurer as to plaintiff’s claims of breach of contract and bad faith. (Chambers County) 2013 – Summary judgment rendered in favor of homeowners insurer concerning plaintiff’s claims of breach of contract and bad faith arising out of April 27, 2011 Alabama tornadoes. (Clay County) 2013 – Summary judgment entered in favor of homeowners insurer concerning plaintiff’s claims of breach of contract and bad faith arising out of April 27, 2011 Alabama tornadoes. (Escambia County) 2012 – Summary judgment rendered in favor of homeowners insurer with respect to plaintiff’s claims of breach of contract and bad faith arising out of April 27, 2011 Alabama tornadoes. (Marion County) 2010 – Successfully defended homeowners insurer against plaintiff’s claims of breach of contract and bad faith. After week long jury trial, jury returned a verdict in the amount of $46,000. Plaintiff asked the jury to return a verdict in the amount of $2 million. (Bibb County) 2009 – Alabama Supreme Court affirms trial court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of insurer as to plaintiff’s underinsured motorists claims. (Kendall v. USAA, 23 So. 3d 1119)
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Other Reported DecisionsHarris v. Preskitt, 911 So. 2d 8 (Ala. Civ. App. 2005) – Trial court’s order enforcing settlement affirmed on appeal. Burt v. Shield Insurance Company, 902 So. 2d 692 (Ala. Civ. App. 2004) – Summary judgment in favor of defendant insurer affirmed on appeal. Rosen v. Montgomery Surgical Center, 825 So. 2d 735 (Ala. 2001) – Order dismissing plaintiff’s claims affirmed by Alabama Supreme Court.
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Attorney Testimonials"I have worked on a case in opposition to Mr. Brittain. He is a very professional and competent attorney." "Evans is an excellent attorney and well respected member of our local bar." "I have worked up 3-4 cases against Evans and he has always been the consummate professional..." "Evans is a fine lawyer and works hard for his clients."