Phone: (228) 762-6631
PRACTICE AREAS & QUALIFICATIONS
Practice Areas
Products Liability Defense
Admissions
Mississippi (2007)
United States District Courts of Mississippi (2007)
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (2007)
Education
B.A., Political Science and English, University of Mississippi, 2004 magna cum laude
J.D., University of Mississippi, 2007 cum laude
ABOUT JESSICA
Jessica McNeel concentrates her practice on civil litigation, including the defense of medical and dental malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death, premises liability, and products liability lawsuits. Jessica also has experience defending civil RICO, anti-trust, fraud, defamation, and tortious interference claims. She has tried twenty-eight jury trials and thirteen bench trials throughout Mississippi since graduating from law school in 2007. Jessica has also successfully handled appeals before the Mississippi Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, as well as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Jessica completed a three year term on the Alumni Board of Directors for the University of Mississippi School of Law. She has served on the Board of Directors for First United Methodist Church Learning Center. Jessica is an outgoing Chair of Jackson County Civic Action Committee and is a former United Way of Jackson and George Counties board member. In addition, she is active in the Rotary Club of Pascagoula, having served as President and, currently, serving as Scholarship Chair. Jessica is a Life Member of Junior Auxiliary of Ocean Springs/Biloxi. Jessica has been named a Mid-South Rising Star in Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice every year since 2013. In 2016, Jessica was named to the 50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi by the Mississippi Business Journal and was selected as a Finalist. Jessica and her husband, Taylor, have three children, Mollie, John Taylor, and Brantley Rose. They attend First Presbyterian Church of Pascagoula.
Jessica received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she was a member of the Moot Court Board. While in law school, Jessica was the winner of the Moot Court Board’s Trial Advocacy Competition and was a recipient of the Campbell, DeLong scholarship. She received a B.A. from the University of Mississippi, magna cum laude, in Political Science and English.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Obtained a Defense Verdict, along with John A. Banahan, in a malpractice case against a general dentist. The Plaintiff in the case alleged that the dentist breached the minimum duty of reasonable care and was negligent when a needle fractured and became retained following the administration of an inferior aveolar nerve block.
Obtained a Defense Verdict, along with John A. Banahan, wherein the Plaintiff claimed in a medical malpractice case brought against an obstetrician, that the Defendant physician performed an unnecessary hysterectomy.
Received a Directed Verdict on behalf of a general dentist at the conclusion of Plaintiff’s case in chief, wherein Plaintiff failed to prove that a needle was retained during an inferior alveolar nerve block performed by the Defendant prior to performing extractions.
Obtained a Defense Verdict, along with John A. Banahan, in a suit brought against a general surgeon. The Plaintiff in the case alleged that the physician breached the minimum duty of reasonable care and was negligent in the performance of a medical procedure on the Plaintiff wherein a laparotomy pad was retained.
Obtained a Defense Verdict on behalf of a physician wherein the Plaintiff alleged the physician breached the minimum duty of reasonable care and was negligent in failing to recognize an intimal tear of the Plaintiff’s popliteal artery in the emergency department. Following a week long trial, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the physician.
Obtained a Defense Verdict in an automobile case wherein the Plaintiff, a pedestrian, was struck by the Defendant’s automobile while crossing a state highway.
Obtained a Defense Verdict in an automobile case wherein the Defendant admitted liability for the accident but contested the fact that the Plaintiff’s alleged injuries were caused by the accident.
Obtained a dismissal on behalf of a telecommunications company in a suit brought by a Plaintiff alleging property damage to his vehicle was caused by a low cable.
Obtained Summary Judgment on behalf of a major insurance company on a fraud claim brought by an automobile repair facility.
Obtained a reversal in favor of the taxpayer/boat owner from the MS Supreme Court from the Chancery Court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of The Mississippi Department of Revenue in a case involving the applicability of use tax.
MEMBERSHIPS & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
University of Mississippi
Alumni Board of Directors (2022-Current)
The Mississippi Bar Association
Ethics Committee (2018-2021)
Lawyers & Judges Assistance Program (2020-Current)
Jackson County Bar Association
Young Lawyers Division
University of Mississippi School of Law
Alumni Board of Directors (2016-2019)
Bessie Young Council
Board of Directors (2017-Current)
Order of Barristers
American Board of Trial Advocates (2018-Current)
Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
Board of Directors (2017-Current)
Rotary Club of Pascagoula
President (July 2016-June 2017)
President – Elect/Program Chair (July 2015-June 2016)
Scholarship Chair (2011–2015 and 2017-Current)
Jackson County Civic Action Committee
Chair (2011-2012)
Board of Directors (2008-2012)
United Way of Jackson and George Counties
Board of Directors (2011-2014)
Leadership Jackson County, Class of 2009
Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast
Jackson County Women’s Build, Team Leader 2019
Jackson County Women's Build, Co-Chair 2018
Jackson County Women's Build 2015
Beach Elementary School
PTSO President (2017-Current)
PTSO Board of Directors (2015-Current)
Parent of the Year 2018
First United Methodist Church Learning Center
Board of Directors (2012-2019 and 2021-Current)
Singing River Yacht Club
Board of Directors (2019-2020)
PUBLICATIONS
Should the Court strictly enforce Miss. Code Ann. § 11-1-58? Mississippi Review of First Impressions, 2007.
HONORS AND AWARDS
2019 One Coast Award
Top Ten Under Forty
Mid-South Rising Star: Medical Malpractice Defense (2013-2020)
South Mississippi Business Journal: 50 Leading Business Women
2016 Finalist