Attorney Profiles

Mr. Priest was born in Humboldt, Tennessee, on March 10, 1949, and admitted to the Bar in 1976.  He is a Cum Laude graduate of The University of Tennessee (B.S. 1972) and The University of Tennessee College of Law (J.D.,Valedictorian and Order of the Coif, 1975).  He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors (1993-95 and 2005-present) and American Bar Association.  Mr. Priest is a member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors (1979-82), the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the American Board of Trial Advocates.  He is a Master of the Bench Emeritus of the Hamilton Burnett American Inn of Court. 

Mr. Priest has served as speaker at seminars of the Tennessee Bar Association, Knoxville Bar Association, University of Tennessee College of Law, and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association on various topics dealing with trial practice issues.  Mr. Priest served as the Municipal Court Judge for the town of Farragut, Tennessee, from 1999-2005. 

Mr. Priest is married to the former Betsy Minnis and they have two children Adam, a partner with the firm, and Laura, an acute care nurse practitioner.  Hobbies include golf, Vol Network Color Analyst for broadcast of University of Tennessee football games since 1999, and enjoying his grandchildren. 

Mr. Priest has obtained numerous verdicts and settlements in excess of $1,000,000.00 for clients in defective products, trucking and automobile accident cases, and recreational accidents.