R. Graham Esdale, Jr.

Graham obtained his B.S. degree in Marketing from Auburn University before going to law school. After graduating from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1989, Graham started his law career with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office where he was involved in over 150 trials. He was a member of the homicide and sex abuse division, which focused on the prosecution of these complicated and sensitive crimes.

Graham left the District Attorney’s office in 1994 to enter civil practice where he chose to focus on products liability and workplace litigation. Graham left Birmingham in the fall of 1996 to join Beasley Allen. His primary responsibilities have been in the area of products liability and workplace injuries.

Graham was named one of America’s “Best Lawyers” by U.S. News & World Report for 2011 and 2012. He was also recently elected to the Alabama Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), which is a distinct recognition and privilege. ABOTA is a national organization comprised of both Plaintiff and Defense trial attorneys and is committed to the preservation of trial by jury. To be eligible for consideration, a lawyer must have tried at least 20 civil jury trials to verdict as lead counsel.

Graham has been involved in the firm's tobacco litigation and other notable cases including a $114.5 million verdict against a bucket truck manufacturer and a $3 million verdict against Alabama Power Company involving an electrical accident.

Graham is a leader in the investigation of claims of personal injury and death related to Toyota Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA). Graham was one of the first attorneys in the country to file a lawsuit against Toyota alleging that Sudden Unintended Acceleration caused a personal injury and wrongful death. In January of 2010, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. announced the suspension of manufacturing and sales of many of its bestselling models after a series of safety recalls involving millions of vehicles. The recalls involved both Toyota and Lexus vehicles, and mainly had to do with the problem of sudden unintended acceleration. Graham had been actively investigating SUA problems for about two years prior to the first recall, which happened in September 2009. Graham traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the Congressional hearings.

He is married to the former Leigh Ann Hibbett of Florence, Alabama, and they have two children, Whitney and Robert. Whitney is a sophomore in Pre-Med at Auburn University. Robert is 9 years old, and a music lover. He apparently has the goal of obtaining every musical instrument known to man. His latest requests are for a harp and a cowbell.