Dennis Keene is a Partner in the Savannah office and represents corporations and individuals in tort-based litigation with an emphasis in product liability and trucking law.  His diverse client base ranges from international manufacturers and national motor carriers to regional carriers and local businesses.  Mr. Keene gained extensive trial experience as a judge advocate in the U.S. Army, and continues to hone his trial skills as a civil practitioner.

Mr. Keene is a member of the State Bars of Florida and Georgia and is admitted to practice in all Florida and Georgia state courts, the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Northern Districts of Georgia, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He has also been admitted on a pro hac basis in a number of jurisdictions.

Mr. Keene is a member of the American Bar Association, where he serves as a Vice Chair on its Trial Techniques Committee; the Savannah Bar Association; the American Law Firm Association's Product Liability Steering Committee where he serves as Co-chair of its Publications Committee; Editor of ALFA Product Liability Practice Group's quarterly electronic newsletter; member of ALFA's Transportation Practice Group, and the Defense Research Institute, where he is a member of the Product Liability Committee. He is also an Attorney Coach and member of the Rules Subcommittee for the State Bar of Georgia Mock Trial Competition.

Mr. Keene received his B.A. in Economics, magna cum laude, from Syracuse University in 1990, and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law in 1993. While at Syracuse, Mr. Keene was a member of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. He was named the recipient of the General Meyer Leadership Award and, upon graduation, was deemed a Distinguished Military Graduate. He was also Phi Beta Kappa. At the University of Miami, Mr. Keene served as an Articles and Comments Editor for the school’s Business Law Journal and co-chaired the Student Bar Association's Law-Related Education Program.

After law school, Mr. Keene completed the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps Officer Basic Course, where he made the Commandant’s List by graduating in the top twelve in his class. He served in the U.S. Army JAG Corps from 1993 to 1999, holding various legal positions, including government contract attorney, procurement fraud advisor, prosecutor, and criminal defense attorney. As a trial attorney, he served as lead counsel in more than fifty courts martial.

Mr. Keene is married and has two school-aged children. He is a parishioner at St. James Catholic Church in Savannah, he is a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Keene formerly served as the Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Military Order of World Wars; is on the Board of Directors of the American Youth Baseball Association, Inc.; and is a member of the National and Savannah chapters of the Harley Owner's Group (H.O.G.).

• Representative Engagements

  • Trickett v. Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc., Represented medical device manufacturer in product liability lawsuit stemming from alleged defective spinal cord stimulator.
    
  • Pitts v. Fisher-Price, Inc., Represented toy manufacturer in product liability lawsuit resulting in ultimate dismissal with prejudice in favor of client.
    
  • Smith v. Caterpillar, Inc. , Plaintiff dismissed lawsuit on eve of summary judgment hearing in this product liability lawsuit alleging excessive carbon monoxide exposure.
    
  • Myers v. Nutone, Inc., - Plaintiff convinced to voluntarily dismiss cause of action against manufacturer client in this products liability lawsuit after significant investigation into cause of fire that led to Plaintiff’s injuries.
    
  • Glass-Cam v. SunTrust Bank, et. al. - Court granted Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment based on the ratification of Plaintiff’s agents’ conduct. The Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed the summary judgment.
    
  • Kicklighter v. First Citizens Bank, Represented bank in fraud lawsuit stemming from the cashing of CDs.  Summary judgment granted on all counts.  Court of Appeals affirmed the summary judgment.
    
  • Bays v. Prudential Residential Svcs. & Repcik v. Prudential Residential Svcs. - Court granted Summary Judgment as to the Defendant in each of these cases brought by homeowners against sellers of homes containing synthetic stucco siding (EIFS).
    
  • Hunt v. Glamour Shots Licensing, Inc. - Plaintiff dismissed lawsuit with prejudice after I filed motion for summary judgment in this invasion of privacy lawsuit alleging my client, Glamour Shots, wrongfully appropriated the image of the Plaintiff's minor child.
    
  • Seymour v. Penske Truck Leasing, LP, Court granted truck leasing company client's summary judgment motion based on federal preemption argument pursuant to the Graves Amendment, 49 U.S.C. s. 30106.
    
  • Jenkins v. Caterpillar, Inc.  Plaintiff alleged design defects in state-of-the-art cut-to-length logging equipment.  Court granted summary judgment to manufacturer client on all warranty, contract and products claims relating to the sale and use of farm equipment of more than $1,000,000.
    

• Publications

  • Co-Editor, ALFA International "Product Liability Perspectives"
  • Products Liability Perspectives, Co-Editor-in-Chief
  • Products Liability Perspectives, Co-Editor-in-Chief
  • Products Liability Perspectives, Co-Editor-in-Chief
  • Products Liability Perspectives, Co-Editor-in-Chief
  • Products Liability Perspectives, Co-Editor-in-Chief
  • The Benefit of the Independent Creation Rule
  • The Risks & Benefits of Offering Optional Safety Devices
  • Truck Accident Litigation
  • Logo Liability: A Truckload of Trouble
  • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Re-Adopts Controversial
  • Fire Investigations & Litigation
  
  more
   

• Professional Affiliations and Awards

  • American Bar Association: TIPS, Vice Chair of Trial Techniques Committee
  • ALFA International: Member, Product Liability and Transportation Practice Groups Steering Committees; Chair, 2010 International Client Seminar, Palm Springs, CA
  • Best Lawyers in America: (Product Liability Litigation) 2010
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI): Member, Product Liability Committee
  • Georgia Motor Trucking Association
  • Savannah Bar Association: Member, Bar Grievance Committee (2006-present)
  • U.S. Army: Judge Advocate General's Corps (1994-2000)
  • Who's Who in American Lawyers: 2005-2006