Profile
Dal Burton brings more than 35 years of extensive jury trial experience to Taylor English. A seasoned litigator, he represents product manufacturers, lenders and other public and private companies in complex product liability cases, mass tort matters and “bet the company” litigation in federal and state courts across the United States.
Mr. Burton has represented clients before the Georgia Supreme Court, Court of Appeals of Georgia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and various state courts around the country.
While Mr. Burton enjoys the courtroom and prepares each case for the possibility of trial, he is sensitive to the rising costs of litigation and seeks to find resolutions short of trial that are consistent with his clients’ financial and business objectives. When litigation does occur, especially large-scale, multi-district litigation, his effective management skills and use of litigation support services allows him to increase efficiencies for his clients.
Mr. Burton is also a certified neutral in both civil mediation and arbitration by the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution.
Prior to joining Taylor English, Mr. Burton was a member of an international Am Law 100 firm. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America as a leader in Products Liability Litigation and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions, and enjoys an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Memberships
State Bar of Georgia, Member
Community Involvement
Atlanta Humane Society, Treasurer
The Piedmont Driving Club, Member, Board of Directors, 2007 – 2010
The Frazer Center, Chairman, Board of Directors, 1995 – 1999
Practice Highlights
Experience
Lead trial counsel for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in landmark health care recovery action brought by 40 Missouri hospitals seeking reimbursement of $455 million in costs allegedly incurred treating indigent smokers. After a six-month trial, the jury returned a defense verdict.
Lead counsel for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in more than 750 cases filed over 16 years in state court in Baltimore seeking to join claims against tobacco manufacturers with claims against asbestos manufacturers on the asbestos docket. Mr. Burton persuaded three separate trial judges to dismiss all 750 cases at the pleading stage and has successfully upheld those decisions through 11 appeals over 16 years.
Lead trial counsel for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in a one-month trial brought by an individual smoker suffering from laryngeal cancer. Jury returned a defense verdict.
Trial counsel for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in cases brought by the States of Mississippi, Florida and Texas seeking reimbursement for billions of dollars in costs allegedly incurred treating smokers through the Medicaid program. These cases resolved before trial.
Trial counsel for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company brought by an asbestos trust seeking reimbursement for $200 million in costs allegedly incurred treating asbestos exposed workers suffering from lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. After a two-month trial, the jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of the defense.
Lead counsel in 50+ asbestos premises cases filed against R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company since 2000.
Newsroom
News Releases
Services
Education
University of Georgia School of Law, JD, 1980
University of Virginia, BA, with high distinction, 1977
Bar Admissions
Georgia
Courts & Adjudicative Bodies
Court of Appeals of Georgia
Georgia Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
Accolades
Best Lawyers in America, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Products Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2016 – Present
Best Lawyers in America, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Atlanta “Lawyer of the Year”, 2019