• Sean W. MartinShareholder

    Primary Office

    736 Market Street
    Suite 1320
    Chattanooga, TN 37402

    Phone

    423.648.9834
    423.648.9869 (fax)

    Affiliated Office

    125 Townpark Drive
    Suite 300
    Kennesaw, GA 30144

    Professional Profile

    Sean W. Martin is a shareholder in the Chattanooga (TN) office of Carr Allison.  An accomplished attorney with experience in diverse areas of the law, Sean has served as counsel to clients in Tennessee and Georgia in the construction, insurance, retail and hospitality and transportation industries.  He has successfully handled cases regarding product liability, professional liability, commercial litigation, environmental and workers’ compensation.

    Sean is AV Preeminent® rated through Martindale-Hubbell®.  He is a featured speaker for organizations throughout the Southeast and has authored multiple articles covering topics such as workers’ compensation claims, jury considerations, construction litigation, and construction principles in sustainable design.  Sean is the appointed chair of the Premises and Security Liability Section of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel.  He also served on the DRI steering committee on global climate change and received the National Academy of Jurisprudence (NAJ) Premier 100 Designation in 2016.  Sean has been recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers®in the area of Personal Injury – Products: Defense since 2018.

    Sean graduated with a business degree from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina.  He earned his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Memphis (TN) and then his Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis School of Law.

    Publications

    “Are You as Guilty the Criminal:  Liability for Criminal Acts and Third Parties and Employees” FDCC Quarterly, February 2015

    “Policing the Premises:  A Landowner’s Liability for Criminal Acts of Third Parties” Journal of American Law, September 2014

    “Good Old Rocky Top:  Tennessee Opens New Frontiers for Workers’ Compensation Subrogation Recovery” Subrogator, 2012

    “The Collateral Source Rule – A Compendium of State Laws” DRI Defense Library Series, 2012

    “Instruction Litigation Desk Reference – A 50 State Guide to Construction Litigation” DRI Defense Library Series, 2009

    “Tennessee Construction Law and its Overhaul” The Critical Pass, September 2007

    “Who Is Responsible for the Scotch” In Transit, 2006

    “Strategic Shift in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration” In Transit, 2006

     

    Practice Areas

    Admitted to Practice

    Tennessee

    Georgia

    US District Court, Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Tennessee

    US District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia

    US Court of Appeals, Sixth and Eleventh Circuits

    Education

    BA, Warren Wilson College (NC)

    MBA, University of Memphis (TN)

    JD, University of Memphis School of Law (TN)

    Affiliations

    Chattanooga Bar Association

    Claims and Litigation Management Alliance

    Diversity Law Institute

    Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel

    Justices Ray L. Brock, Jr. – Robert E. Cooper American Inn of Court

    Litigation Counsel of America – Fellow

    National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association

    Professional Liability Defense Federation

    Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association

    Tennessee Trucking Association

    Transportation Lawyers Association

    Trial Law Institute

    Trucking Industry Defense Association

    Recognitions

    Mid-South Super Lawyers®, 2018-2020

    The Best Lawyers in America®, 2024 – 2025

    News Updates About Sean W. Martin

    Carr Allison Opens New Office in Atlanta, GA

    Carr Allison is excited to announce the opening of our newest office, located in Atlanta (GA). We are excited to be providing expanded services for our clients in the Atlanta area.

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    2 Carr Allison Chattanooga Attorneys Named To The Best Lawyers in America®

    Carr Allison is excited to announce that 2 attorneys from our Chattanooga (TN) office have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for excellence in their respective practice areas. Congratulations! Below is a list of the Chattanooga attorneys included. Jordan D. Watson Litigation – Insurance   […]

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    Martin and Swanson Obtain Full Dismissal

    Carr Allison attorneys Sean W. Martin and Stephen A. Swanson of our Chattanooga (TN) office, obtained a full dismissal with prejudice for a national auto parts store in a case pending in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The case involved an auto accident with a car allegedly leased to Carr Allison’s client […]

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    Martin and Miller Obtain Dismissal

    Carr Allison attorneys Sean Martin and Chancey R. Miller of our Chattanooga (TN) office, successfully obtained the dismissal of a premises liability case in Federal Court in Chattanooga. A national retail store client was sued in premises liability.  However, the plaintiff could not figure out how to properly obtain service […]

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    Martin and Swanson obtained both a Defense Verdict and a Summary Judgment

    Carr Allison attorneys Sean W. Martin and Stephen A. Swanson of our Chattanooga (TN) office, obtained both a defense verdict and a summary judgment in the same case in Gwinnett County (GA). The premises liability case against a national restaurant chain began in magistrate court, where Mr. Martin and Mr. […]

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    Martin Obtain Full Dismissal

    Carr Allison shareholder Sean W. Martin of our Chattanooga (TN) office, obtained a full dismissal of a complaint against the firm’s retail hospitality industry client in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. In the complaint, the Plaintiff alleged that the store negligently placed hooks on […]

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    Martin and Miller Obtain Dismissal

    Carr Allison’s Sean W. Martin and Chancey R. Miller of our Chattanooga (TN) office obtained a dismissal of a retail hospitality industry client in a case pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. In the Complaint, the Plaintiff claimed that he was attacked by […]

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    Martin and Petherick Obtain Dismissal

    Sean W. Martin and Michael J. Petherick from our Chattanooga (TN) office, have obtained dismissal of a false imprisonment claim against its department store client.  Plaintiff claimed he was falsely accused of shoplifting and that he was confronted by the store’s employee who ultimately took his car keys and prevented […]

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    Martin and Miller Obtain Dismissal

    Sean W. Martin and Chancey R. Miller obtained dismissal of premises liability case that was upheld on appeal.  The plaintiff claimed she fell through the HVAC floor vent in an upstairs bedroom.  She sued the owner and apartment management company for premises liability and negligence per se for violation of […]

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    Martin Obtains Dismissal

    Sean W. Martin of our Chattanooga (TN) office obtained a dismissal of an architect in a professional liability/construction defect case, involving the design and installation of new windows in a high-rise commercial building in downtown Chattanooga. The architect was added to the lawsuit by the general contractor and sub-contractor who […]

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    Martin and Petherick Obtains Dismissal of a Health Care Liability Action

    Sean W. Martin and Michael J. Petherick of the Chattanooga office of Carr Allison successfully obtained dismissal of a health care liability action. The Plaintiff alleged that her now deceased father fell trying to walk from the x-ray table to his wheelchair.  The Plaintiff asserted a general negligence action against […]

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    Carr Allison Earns Summary Judgment in Tennessee

    Carr Allison attorneys Sean W. Martin and Derek W. Mullins of our Chattanooga (TN) office obtained summary judgment for a retail industry client in a premises liability case.  The plaintiff was delivering merchandise from the retail store and its distribution center.  While the plaintiff was loading merchandise onto his trailer […]

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    Defense Win for Martin in Chattanooga

    Carr Allison’s Shareholder Sean W. Martin (Chattanooga, TN) obtained a full dismissal of a subcontractor in a lawsuit arising out of a residential construction project gone bad.  Martin’s client was responsible for installing manufactured stone on the exterior of the plaintiff’s lake house in Middle Tennessee.  The plaintiffs took no […]

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    Carr Allison Successful in TN

    Sean W. Martin and Derek W. Mullins successfully defended a campground owner in a dog bite case.  The plaintiffs were guests at a campground in upper east Tennessee.  The campground was dog friendly so long as the dog was on leash and under control at all times.  According to the […]

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    Martin and Petherick Obtain Summary Judgment

    Carr Allison’s Sean W. Martin and Michael J. Petherick (Chattanooga, TN) obtained summary judgment for one of its hospitality clients.  The plaintiff checked into the hotel with her boyfriend.  Before going to bed the couple drank 16 alcoholic beverages at the hotel bar.   Later that night, the plaintiff went to […]

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    Well Done, Sean Martin!

      We are so proud of our partner Sean Martin! With the help of associate Michael Petherick, Martin represented the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association and helped Tennessee’s damages caps withstand constitutional challenge. Great result!  

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    Martin and Petherick Author Amicus Brief for TN Supreme Court

    Shareholder Sean W. Martin and Associate Michael J. Petherick from Carr Allison’s Chattanooga (TN) office authored an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association in the case of Jodi McClay v. Airport Management Services LLC.  The amicus brief supported the constitutionality of the Tennessee statute which […]

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    Martin Awarded Defense Lawyer of the Year

    Shareholder Sean W. Martin (Chattanooga, TN) has been named the 2019 Defense Lawyer of the Year!  Announced at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association (TDLA), the award is given to the TDLA member who has made significant contributions to advancing the civil defense practice in Tennessee.  […]

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    We’re On the Move in Tennessee!

    Carr Allison is excited to announce the relocation of our Chattanooga (TN) office to: 736 Market Street, Suite 1320 Chattanooga, TN 37402 Office: 423.648.9832  Fax: 423.648.9869

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    Carr Allison Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers

    Mid-South Super Lawyers has recognized 16 Carr Allison attorneys for 2018.  Attorneys in the Birmingham, AL office are: Brett Adair (Employment & Labor) Russell Q. Allison (Transportation/Maritime) Charles F. Carr (Personal Injury General: Defense) Joseph H. Driver (Employment & Labor) Glenn E. Ireland (Class Action) Donald B. Kirkpatrick, II (Workers’ Compensation) Thomas L. Oliver, II (Transportation/Maritime) […]

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    Carr Allison Takes the Polar Plunge in Tennessee

    Carr Allison’s Chattanooga TN office participated in the 2018 Polar Plunge Chattanooga, raising more than $6,500 to benefit Special Olympics.  Carr Allison participants, fittingly named The Frozen Assets, were attorneys Sean Martin, Ashley Gibson and Chancey Miller, and legal assistant Pam Quick.  Well done Team Chattanooga!

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    Defense Win for Martin and Petherick in Tennessee

    Shareholder Sean W. Martin and Associate Michael J. Petherick, of Carr Allison’s Chattanooga (TN) office, obtained dismissal for its architectural firm client in two professional negligence cases inside of a premises liability case. Two different plaintiffs on two separate dates fell on a landing area outside of a newly constructed […]

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    Gomez and Martin Earn Defense Verdict

    Erin E. Gomez and Sean W. Martin of Carr Allison’s Chattanooga (TN) office obtained summary judgment in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in a premises liability case on behalf of one of its restaurant clients. It was a typical Saturday evening in the restaurant […]

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    Defense Win!

    Ashley M. Baxter and Sean W. Martin in the Chattanooga, Tennessee office of Carr Allison, obtained summary judgment in a premises liability case. It was the day after Christmas. After navigating the throngs of like-minded post-holiday deal hunters, the plaintiff made her way through the shopping mall to the defendant’s […]

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    Martin Receives Designation

    Shareholder Sean W. Martin has received the National Academy of Jurisprudence (NAJ) Premier 100 Designation. The NAJ is an invitation-only, national organization. Members selected as Premier 100 Trial Attorneys have been recognized as leading trial attorneys in the United States. Each attorney has satisfied strict standards created by the NAJ […]

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    Photos of Property Damages Admissibility Without Expert Testimony

    Garvin v. Malone, 2016 Tenn. App. LEXIS 163 (Tenn. Ct. App. Feb. 26, 2016). In this significant ruling, the Court distinguished the facts of this case from those seen in Hardeman County v. McIntyre. 420 S.W.3d 742 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013), as it relates to the admissibility of photographic evidence […]

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    Saving Statute Not Always Precluded by Tolling Agreements

    Circle C Construction, LLC v. D. Sean Nilsen Et Al., (Tenn. Mar. 7, 2016) The Tennessee Supreme Court sent a clear warning in Circle C. Construction, LLC v. D. Sean Nilsen; craft tolling agreements with clear intentions and even clearer language. The Court decided that absent specific language in a […]

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    Dram Shop Case Where Neighbor Shot Minor Survives Summary Judgment

    In Tennessee, a Knox County Circuit Court Judge is permitting a wrongful death lawsuit to continue against a sports bar accused of over-serving a teenage customer, Evan Hall, who later crashed into a neighbor’s yard and was shot to death by his neighbor and former classmate Bush. Hall’s parents have […]

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    Sean Martin to Speak at FDCC Winter Meeting

    Sean Martin, a Shareholder in the Chattanooga, TN office will present “Why Can’t We All Just Get Along: The Perils of In-Fighting in the Defense of a Catastrophic Loss” at the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) winter meeting in San Diego in March 2016. The presentation will discuss […]

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