Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter, PLLC

Luis C. Bustamante is a member of the firm whose primary areas of practice include civil trial practice, personal injury litigation, commercial litigation, product liability, defense of toxic tort claims, and defense of health, life, accident and disability insurance claims.

With more than thirty-eight years of trial experience, Mr. Bustamante has successfully represented a diverse number of clients in the area of general litigation to include trials involving a wide variety of personal injury, commercial, product liability, toxic torts, and other general liability claims.

Mr. Bustamante graduated from Southwestern University with a B.A. in 1970. He obtained his J.D. from Baylor University in 1973, cum laude. Mr. Bustamante is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the American Association for Justice, the Texas Bar Association, the Florida Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, and the Knoxville Bar Association. Mr. Bustamante currently serves as President-Elect, Tennessee Chapter of ABOTA (2012) and is a member of the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility Hearing Committee District II (2009-2012). He is also the past chairman of the Alternative Dispute Resolution section of the Knoxville Bar Association.

Mr. Bustamante was in the United States Air Force and served in the Judge Advocate General Corps as a Captain. He served as court arbitrator for the 11th Judicial Circuit in Dade County, Florida, as arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and is certified as a Rule 31 Mediator by the Supreme Court of Tennessee Alternative Dispute Resolution in the field of General Civil Mediation. He is a contributing editor of the Tort Law Desk Reference – A Fifty State Compendium, for the state of Tennessee. Mr. Bustamante is fluent in Spanish. Among his civic activities, Mr. Bustamante serves on the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, Inc.

Representative Experiences

Trial involving tortious interference with contractual relationship in connection with the supply of gasoline to retail facilities in Davidson County Tennessee; resulted in defense verdict for Chevron U.S.A., Inc. Kimbro Oil Company, Inc. v. Ronald J. Moor; Ronald J. Moore D/B/A Moore Oil Company, Inc., Moore Oil Company, Inc., And Chevron U.S.A. Inc., United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division Case No: 3 03 0712.

Representation of corporate client in case of first impression involving application of pollution exclusion under a commercial general liability in Tennessee; obtained favorable declaratory judgment for insured. State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company v. Frazier's Flooring, Inc., Knox County Chancery Court Docket No. 172194-2.

Representation of claimants in medical malpractice action due to physician's failure to diagnose subarachnoid hemorrhage in emergency room setting; resulted in a confidential settlement for claimants. Roberta K. Matthews and Clifford L. Matthews v. Team Health, Inc., et al., Sevier County Circuit Court Docket No. 2008-0398-IV.

Representation of claimants in medical malpractice action due to physician's failure to perform tubal ligation; resulted in a confidential settlement for claimants. Heather M. Savage and Robert M. Savage v. Jeffrey B. Brown, M.D. and Women's Care Group, P.C., Knox County Circuit Court No. 3-383-07.

Representation of claimants in medical malpractice action due to hospital's failure to promptly respond and deliver baby resulting in brain injury; resulted in a confidential settlement for claimants in connection with claim against the hospital. Faith Elizabeth Ward, Jessie Ward and Regina Marie Ward, individually and as parents of Faith Elizabeth Ward v. Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee, Inc., Knox County Circuit Court Case No. 3-637-02.

Successful representation of claimants involved in automobile collision resulting in the recovery of policy limits from the tortfeasor's various insurance carriers to include assignment of bad faith claim. Walter W. Carlen, Sr. and Linda Carlen, individually v. Ronald E. Jackson. Putnam County Circuit Court Case No. 9910411.

Representation of motel owners in the pursuit of property damage claims against property insurer arising from fire loss, water damage and mold; resulted in a confidential settlement for claimant. Willow River, LLC d/b/a Clarion Inn Willow River v. The Harford Mutual Insurance Company and The Firstline National Insurance Company, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, Knoxville Division Case No. 3:04-CV-16.

Representation of injured child in the pursuit of personal injury claim against manufacturer of riding lawn mower due to failure to warn and design defect involving failure to adopt "no mow in reverse"; resulted in a confidential settlement for claimant. Sarah Barnes, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Honda Power Equipment Mfg., Inc. and Honda R&D Co., Ltd., U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, Knoxville Division Case No. 3: 01-CV-129.

Trial counsel on behalf of physicians and hospitals in peer review and credentialing proceedings.

Successful representation of claimants involved in automobile collision resulting in the recovery of policy limits from the tortfeasor's insurance carrier and the underinsured motorist carriers. Michael D. Kindrick and Stephanie G. Kindrick v. Jordan M. Harbison and Jason Harbison, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, Knoxville Division Case No. 3: 09-CV-328.

Representation of homeowner in the pursuit of property damage and personal injury claims against a natural gas provider and property insurer arising from fire loss, water damage and explosion; resulted in a confidential settlement for claimants. Charles Stephenson and Brenda Stephenson Individually and as Parents and Natural Guardians of Megan Stephenson v. Knoxville Utilities Board and Semco Construction Parent Company, Circuit Court for Knox County Civil Action No. 3-478-10. Charles Stephenson and Brenda Stephenson v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and Metro Restorations, Inc., Circuit Court for Knox County Civil Action No. 1-552-10.

Representation of professional model in the pursuit of damages due to violation of Tennessee's Personal Rights Protection Act; resulted in a confidential settlement for claimant. Tom Atwater and Kathy Carver v. Encore Medical, L.P. and Chattanooga Group, Inc., U.S. District Court, Eastern District Of Tennessee, Chattanooga Division Case No. 1: 08-CV-00273.