Rule 31 Mediator
Joe is a partner in Cornelius & Collins, LLP, where he has been practicing law since 1987. The focus of Joe’s practice is civil litigation, with an emphasis on products liability, general automotive and accident litigation, professional liability, personal injury, governmental liability, and federal civil rights actions. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants, and is admitted to practice in all state courts, as well as the United States District Court for the Middle, Western, and Eastern Districts of Tennessee, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Over the years, Joe has served as lead trial counsel and local counsel in defense of product liability claims in both federal and state courts in Tennessee. He has gained significant experience in the product liability field, defending a wide variety of complex catastrophic personal injury and property damage claims on behalf of various national and international product manufacturers, as well as regional and local distributors and retailers. His product liability experience includes the defense of claims involving automobiles, trucks, heavy lift equipment, cement mixers, automotive tools, presses, extrusion equipment, disposable butane lighters, seat belt equipment, airbags, fuel tanks, steering systems, plumbing equipment, electrical components, and clothing textiles, among others. In addition to his product liability practice, Joe has represented a considerable number of physicians and health care providers in complex professional medical malpractice and wrongful death litigation. He also represents private physicians, health care entities, and correctional health care services.
Joe received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Tennessee Law Review, and received the Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions to the College of Law. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Mr. Wheeler’s mediation practice focuses on complex disputes arising from personal injuries, deaths, and serious property damage incidents:
- Automotive and Motorcycle Accidents
- Commercial Truck Accidents
- Product Liability
- Premises Liability / Dram Shop
- Professional Liability / Malpractice
- Governmental Tort Liability
- Commercial and Residential Construction / Property Disputes
- Fires and Explosions
- Insurance Disputes
- Wrongful Death
More Information
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Middle District of Tennessee
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
Representative Cases
- Coffey v. Dowley Manufacturing, Inc., 187 F.Supp.2d 958 (M.D. Tenn. 2002).
- Pride v. Bic Corp., 218 F.3d 566 (6th Cir. 2000).
- Pride v. Bic Corp., 54 F.Supp.2d 757 (E.D. Tenn. 1999).
- MacDonald v. General Motors Corp., 784 F.Supp. 486 (M.D. Tenn. 1992)
Honors & Awards
- Martindale Hubbel Rated AV-Preeminent
- The Best Lawyers in America 2009-Present
- (Product Liability Defense; Personal Injury Defense)
- Lawyer of the Year 2021 (Product Liability Litigation-Defendants)
Professional Associations & Memberships
- Nashville Bar Association
- Nashville Bar Foundation
- Tennessee Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- National Institute of Trial Advocacy
- Defense Research Institute
- Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association
Publications
Note, Torts – The Occupied Crossing Doctrine –
Determining Contributory Negligence as a
Matter of Law in Railroad Accident Cases,
53 Tenn. L. Rev. 435 (1986).
Civic & Community Activities
- Nashville Bar Association, Pro Bono Program
- Past Member, Board of Trustees, Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Alumni Board Member, Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America Troop 31
- St. George’s Episcopal Church, Nashville, Tennessee
- Order of the Arrow, Brotherhood
- Youth Baseball Coach, Greater Nashville
- Amateur Baseball Association (GNABA)
- Brentwood Civitan Baseball League
- Creive Hall Youth Athletic Association
Fraternities
Kappa Alpha Order
Qualifications and Experience
Practicing with Cornelius & Collins since 1987, Mr. Wheeler has almost 40 years of diverse trial and appellate experience in these areas. He has handled over 800 cases representing both defendants and plaintiffs, with trials, appeals and mediations in both State and Federal Courts all across Tennessee and in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Education
J.D. 1987 – University of Tennessee College of Law (Editor-in-Chief, Tennessee Law Review )
B.A 1984 – Vanderbilt University, cum laude (English)
Memberships and Affiliations
American Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
Nashville Bar Association
Nashville Bar Foundation
Defense Research Institute
Best Lawyers since 2009 (Personal Injury and Product Liability)
Martindale Hubbell – AV Rated since 1994
Licensed in all State and Federal Courts in Tennessee. and United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Scheduling
Please call or email Joe’s Mediation Assistant to confirm dates and ½ day or full day scheduling:
Alexis Conely (anconley@cclawtn.com)
615-244-1440
Rates
$400 / hr.
$125 administrative fee
Rule 31 Mediator