Cabaniss, Johnston, Gardner, Dumas & O’Neal LLP
2001 Park Place North, Suite 700
Birmingham, Alabama 35203-4804

Telephone: 205-716-5212
Facsimile: 205-716-5389
Email: mma@cabaniss.com 

Initial contact with this attorney by email does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Areas of Practice:

Medical Malpractice Defense
Personal Injury Litigation
Business Litigation
Probate Litigation
Worker Compensation Litigation
Products Liability Defense
Employment Litigation

Education:

J.D., Vanderbilt University, 1990
     (Phi Delta Phi)
 
B.A., magna cum laude in
     Political Science, Birmingham-
     Southern College, 1986
     Mortar Board

Admitted to Practice:

Alabama State Bar (1990)
All Alabama U.S. District Courts
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
 

Melanie Merkle Atha

Melanie Atha regularly handles medical malpractice cases and other general litigation for four of Jefferson County’s major hospitals. As well, she represents individual physicians for two national medical malpractice insurers. She defends various employers in worker compensation and other employment related claims, and also handles a variety of products liability, general negligence and probate cases.

Ms. Atha was born on December 4, 1965, and was raised in Faunsdale, Alabama. She is a member of the Birmingham, Alabama and American Bar Associations. She is a member of the Alabama Defense Lawyer’s Association, Defense Research Institute, and the Torts and Insurance Practice and Healthcare Sections of the ABA. She is active in state and local bar activities. In January 2007, Ms. Atha was elected by her peers as a charter fellow in The Litigation Counsel of America, a national trial lawyer honorary society. In October, 2007, she was appointed by the Alabama Supreme Court to serve on the Alabama Pattern Civil Jury Instruction Committee for a three year term.

Ms. Atha is an active member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and serves on the Board of Trustees for her high school alma mater, Marion Military Institute.