Jennifer Jones Skipper

Jennifer Skipper is a litigator with twenty years of experience defending complex cases. A substantial part of her practice has involved toxic tort claims: she has defended thousands of silica and asbestos claims for clients ranging from large multinational corporations to small, closely held family businesses. Her work also includes product liability, environmental tort, wrongful death and general negligence litigation.

In defending these matters, Jennifer focuses on developing the evidence needed to challenge a plaintiff’s case. Her use of discovery, deposition questioning and motions has led to voluntary dismissals for clients in numerous cases.

• Environmental litigation: Representing property management companies and property owners involving allegations of moisture intrusion, lead based paint exposure, improper repair, property and personal injury, and mold exposure. (Ongoing)
• Silicosis dismissals:  Developed the strategy and argued for dismissal of 117 different cases before the Jackson County Circuit Court on behalf of several product manufacturers. The Court granted dismissals with prejudice for failure to prosecute all 117 cases. (2015)
• Construction defect: Obtained Daubert ruling in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, excluding plaintiffs’ causation expert. (Kenneth R. Rivera v. Adams Homes, LLC,, et al. No. 1:12cv404-HSO-RHW)
• Product liability: Served as counsel for several clients before the Harrison County Circuit Court and Mississippi Supreme Court, prevailing on statute of limitations and lack of standing motions for summary judgment. Developed the fact necessary to draft the motions, argued before the Court, and ultimately won a unanimous Supreme Court decision affirming the trial court’s dismissal of the case with prejudice. (Kinsey v. Pangborn Corp., 78 So. 3d 301 (Miss. 2011))
• Appellate litigation: Served as counsel for numerous clients before both the Warren County Circuit Court and Mississippi Supreme Court, reversing, in part, and remanding, in part, the trial court’s denial of summary judgment. For the first time in Mississippi jurisprudence, the Court defined what an “interested party” is under the wrongful death statute. The Court further opined that the statute of limitations in a case voluntarily dismissal without prejudice is not tolled during the pendency of the case – an issue heavily litigated in mass tort cases.  (Clark Sand Co., Inc. v. Kelly, 60 So. 3d 149 (Miss. 2011)) More recently, Jennifer obtained a complete reversal and rendering of a lower court’s denial of summary judgment dismissing the matter entirely for Balch’s clients.  Jennifer was lead counsel in every aspect, from the trial court briefing and arguments through appeal. (F & S Sand, Inc., et al. v. Ted Stringfellow, In the Supreme Court of Mississippi, No. 2017-IA-00962-SCT)
• Silica trial: Successfully defended several products liability defendants in the first silica case in Mississippi to be tried to verdict.  This case was also the first defense verdict in a Claiborne County, Mississippi product liability case. (Eugene Westrope v. Pangborn Corp., et al., May 21, 2009)
• Toxic tort litigation: Conceptualized and drafted the first no duty to warn motion for summary judgment for an air compressor defendant, resulting in nationwide dismissals against that company, and similarly-situated companies. The motion ultimately foreclosed litigation against these type companies.
• Toxic tort litigation: Serving as national coordinating counsel for a respiratory protection manufacturer sued in both silica and asbestos litigation.
• Silica and asbestos litigation: Defended clients in thousands of silica, asbestos, and mixed dust cases.

• University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., 2002, cum laude
• Millsaps College, B.A., 1999, English & Political Science, cum laude

• Mississippi, 2002
• Texas, 2011
• Arkansas, 2015

• The Best Lawyers in America^®, Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2016 - present
• Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2015 - present
• Mid-South Super Lawyers,  Top 50 Women Attorneys, 2016, 2018 - present
• Mid-South Super Lawyers, Top 50 Lawyers in Mississippi, 2016, 2018 - present
• Mid-South Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2011 - 2014
• Martindale-Hubbell, Distinguished AV-Peer Review Rated
• Martindale-Hubbell, Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers
• The Steen Reynolds & Dalehite National Trial Competition Team
• Moot Court Board Member, 2002
• Oral Advocacy Competition Runner-up, Fall 2000

• Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
• DRI - Lawyers Representing Business
• Mississippi Bar Association
• Texas Bar Association
• Arkansas Bar Association