Montgomery, Ala. – Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., announced Dec. 11 that shareholder W. Daniel “Dee” Miles was selected as the firm’s “Litigator of the Year.” The annual recognition is presented to the attorney who demonstrates exceptional professional skill throughout the course of the year and best represents the firm’s ideal of “helping those who need it most.”

Beasley Allen also recognized excellence in each of its sections, naming the Lawyer of the Year in each. Honorees for 2008 are W. Roger Smith, III, Mass Torts Section Lawyer of the Year; Clinton C. Carter, Fraud Section Lawyer of the Year; Benjamin E. Baker, Jr., Personal Injury Section Lawyer of the Year; and David B. Byrne, III, Toxic Torts Section Lawyer of the Year.

While selected as Litigator of the Year for his overall excellence in practice, Miles was recognized in particular for his work as co-lead counsel on the Average Wholesale Price (AWP) litigation, in which Beasley Allen represented the State of Alabama against 73 pharmaceutical companies accused of defrauding the Medicaid system by inflating drug prices. AWP litigation also is being pursued in 22 other states, as well as a nationwide class action lawsuit, and Beasley Allen is representing seven states. Alabama was the first to go to trial in this litigation, winning plaintiff verdicts against three drug companies in the first two trials. The state also has settled with five of the drug companies to date.

“Dee has done an outstanding job as a leader in the AWP litigation,” said Tom Methvin, managing shareholder for Beasley Allen. “The case drew a lot of national attention since it involved the first large verdict against the drug companies in this litigation. The pharmaceutical industry and consumers have also watched it with great interest. Dee worked hard to see that the people who are injured by this type of fraud – taxpayers, you and me – would find justice, and a broken system could be fixed. Dee truly is an asset to Beasley Allen.”

Miles is from Homewood, Alabama. He graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Cumberland School of Law of Samford University. He joined Beasley Allen in 1991 and has not only been a pioneer of consumer fraud and commercial litigation nationwide, he has demonstrated great leadership resulting in the firm’s numerous record-setting verdicts for clients in many areas of law. In addition to representing clients in litigation, Miles manages the entire Consumer Fraud / Commercial Litigation Section of the firm.

He and his wife, the former Sandra Turnblad, met in high school and married after graduating from college. They have four children.