Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Merrida (Buddy) Coxwell was admitted to practice law in October 1980. From the day of admission forward Merrida has been a fierce, dedicated, and aggressive advocate for his clients. Over the past thirty (30) years Merrida had handled some of the most complex and highly publicized criminal cases in Mississippi. He has helped obtain or recover over 300 million dollars for men, women and children who have been injured or defrauded. Merrida is sought for his practical and honest advice and his skill in trial and on appeal.

You've survived a serious injury....or you've been charged with a crime. Now your financial security and freedom are on the line.

The outcome of your case will depend heavily on the skills, aggressiveness and experience of your attorney. As a former U.S. Marine with a decade of trial experience, I know what it takes to protect your rights, freedom and sanity.

If you live in Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Warren, Yazoo, Holmes, Copiah, Leake, Scott, Smith or Simpson Counties...or anywhere else in Mississippi, I can help.

Call me anytime. My phone number is 601-991-1099. If you live outside of Jackson, MS., use my toll-free line: 866-991-1555.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHO I CAN HELP

I focus on three areas of law:

1. Mississippi Personal Injury and Accidents - Workers' Compensation Lawyer: I help those that are hurt in an accident in Mississippi that was caused by another, and those that are injured on the job.

2. Criminal and DUI Defense Lawyer: I help those arrested and charged with a crime in Mississippi - whether it's state or federal charges.

3. General Litigation: With my ten years of litigation experience, I help individuals and businesses with general litigation matters.

Take a look below and see if I can help you.

INJURIES & ACCIDENTS in MISSISSIPPI

- Auto Accident
- Back Injury Accident
- Bicycle - Bike Accident
- Birth Injury
- Boat Accident
- Brain Injury
- Burn Injury
- Construction Accidents
- Defective Products
- Dog Bite Injury
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Farming Accident
- Industrial Accident
- Jet Ski Accident
- Lasik Eye Surgery Injury
- Medical Malpractice Accident
- Medical Negligence
- Motor Vehicle Defects
- Motorcycle Accident
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Nursing Home Negligence
- Pedestrian Accident
- Products Liability
- Rail Road Injury Accident
- Slip and Fall
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Swimming Accidents and Injuries
- Train Accident
- Truck Accident
- Wrongful Death

CRIMINAL CHARGES: MISSISSIPPI & FEDERAL CRIMES

- Conspiracy
- Narcotics/Controlled Substance Offenses
- Making a False Statement to a Federal Official
- Mail Fraud
- Wire Fraud
- Credit Card Fraud
- Health Care Fraud
- Immigration Fraud
- Bank Fraud
- Securities Fraud
- Accounting Fraud
- Insurance Fraud
- Identity Theft
- Money Laundering
- Illegal Money Transmitting
- Counterfeiting
- Antitrust Violation
- Extortion
- Bribery
- Obstruction of Justice
- Perjury
- Embezzlement
- RICO Violations
- Tax Fraud
- Sarbanes-Oxley Violations
- Insider Trading
- Mail Fraud
- Wire Fraud
- Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers
- Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Access Devices
- Injury or Destruction to Communication Lines, Stations or Systems
- Illegal Interception of Wire, Oral or Electronic Communications
- Illegal Manufacture, Distribution, Possession and Advertising of Illegal Devices for the Interception of Wire, Oral or Electronic Communications
- Unlawful Access to Stored Communications
- Illegal Installation or Use of a Pen Register Device
- Criminal Copyright Infringement ÃÃâ 17 USC 506 and 2319
- Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods or Services
- Computer Hacking
- Trafficking in Counterfeit Labels
- Trafficking in Recordings of Live Musical Performances
- Launching Spam Email Attacks
- Identity Theft
- Credit Card Fraud
- Unlawful Possession or Use of Access Devices
- Phishing

CRIMINAL - WHITE COLLAR

- Grand Larceny
- Petit Larceny
- Scheme to Defraud
- Theft of Services
- Unlawful Use of A Credit Card
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property
- Trademark Counterfeiting
- Forgery
- Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument
- Criminal Possession of Forgery Devices
- Criminal Simulation
- Criminal Possession of an Anti-Security Item
- Fraudulent Making of an Electronic Access Device
- Falsifying Business Records
- Tampering with Public Records
- Offering a False Instrument for Filing
- Offering a False Certificate
- Offering A False Financial Statement
- Insurance Fraud
- Commercial Bribing
- Bribery of Labor Official
- Sports Bribing
- Tampering With a Sports Contest
- Fraud in Insolvency
- Fraud Involving a Security Interest
- Fraudulent Disposition of Mortgaged Property
- Fraudulent Disposition of Property Subject to a Conditional Sales Contract
- Issuing a Bad Check
- False Advertising
- False Personation
- Criminal Impersonation
- Criminal Usury
- Unlawful Collection Practices
- Making a False Statement of Credit Terms
- Conspiracy
- Making a False Statement to a Federal Official
- Mail Fraud
- Wire Fraud
- Credit Card Fraud
- Health Care Fraud
- Immigration Fraud
- Bank Fraud
- Securities Fraud
- Accounting Fraud
- Insurance Fraud
- Identity Theft
- Money Laundering
- Illegal Money Transmitting
- Counterfeiting
- Antitrust Violation
- Extortion
- Bribery
- Obstruction of Justice
- Perjury
- Embezzlement
- RICO Violations
- Tax Fraud
- Sarbanes-Oxley Violations
- Insider Trading

VIOLENT CRIMES

- Murder
- Manslaughter
- Criminally Negligent Homicide
- Attempted Murder
- Assault
- Vehicular Assault
- Gang Assault
- Aggravated Assault
- Menacing
- Hazing
- Reckless Endangerment
- Kidnapping
- Unlawful Imprisonment
- Custodial Interference
- Coercion

SEX CRIMES

STATE LEVEL

- Prostitution Offenses
- Obscenity and Related Offenses
- Offenses Against Public Sensibilities
- Offenses Involving the Sexual Performance of a Child

FEDERAL LEVEL

- Sexual Misconduct
- Rape
- Consensual Sodomy
- Sodomy
- Sexual Abuse
- Aggravated Sexual Abuse
- Course of Conduct Against A Child
- Child Molestation
- Possession of Child Pornography
- Female Genital Mutilation
- Prostitution
- Patronizing a Prostitute
- Promoting Prostitution
- Permitting Prostitution
- Loitering For the Purpose of Engaging in a Prostitution Offense
- Obscenity
- Disseminating Indecent Materials to Minors
- Public Lewdness
- Exposure of a Person
- Promoting the Exposure of a Person
- Public Display of Offensive Sexual Material
- Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance
- Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child
- Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child
- Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child
- Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child
- Statutory Rape

DRUG CRIMES

- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance
- Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in or near School Grounds
- Criminally Possessing a Hypodermic Instrument
- Criminal Injection of a Narcotic Drug
- Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia
- Criminal Possession of Precursors of Controlled Substances
- Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance
- Unlawful Possession of Marijuana
- Criminal Possession of Marijuana
- Criminal Sale of Marijuana
- Criminal Diversion of Prescription Medications and Prescriptions
- Criminal Solicitation
- Conspiracy
- Criminal Facilitation
- Money Laundering

COMPUTER & INTERNET CRIMES

STATE LEVEL

- Computer Tampering
- Unlawful Duplication of Computer Related Material
- Criminal Possession of Computer Related Material

FEDERAL LEVEL

- Mail Fraud
- Wire Fraud
- Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers
- Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Access Devices
- Injury or Destruction to Communication Lines, Stations or Systems
- Illegal Interception of Wire, Oral or Electronic Communications
- Illegal Manufacture, Distribution, Possession and Advertising of Illegal Devices for the Interception of Wire, Oral or Electronic Communications
- Unlawful Access to Stored Communications
- Illegal Installation or Use of a Pen Register Device
- Criminal Copyright Infringement
- Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods or Services
- Computer Hacking
- Trafficking in Counterfeit Labels
- Trafficking in Recordings of Live Musical Performances
- Launching Spam Email Attacks
- Identity Theft
- Credit Card Fraud
- Unlawful Possession or Use of Access Devices
- Phishing
- Internet Fraud
- Computer Fraud
- Sale of counterfeit goods over the internet
- Software Piracy
- Computer Game Piracy
- Video Game Piracy
- Music Piracy
- Internet Pornography
- Possession of Child Pornography on a PC or Computer
- Use of the Internet to disseminate child pornography
- Instant Messaging (IM) Sexually Explicit Material to Children
- Online Child Sex Solicitation
- Cyber Stalking
- Crimes Against Computers and the Internet
- Hacking and Computer Sabotage
- Internet Gambling
- Cyber Terrorism - Stealing Data and Shutting Down Computers

My office is just outside of Jackson in Ridgeland - on Arbor Dr. - which is just off Towne Center Blvd. between Pear Orchard Dr. and S. Wheatley St.

Editor of Opinions, Mississippi Supreme Court.
Adjunct Professor, Mississippi College School of Law.

Today, Ogletree Law Firm P.A., has grown to a law firm with clients ranging from large corporations to individuals, and legal matters from complex litigation to real estate transactions. We offer services in a broad range of areas including litigation, real estate closings, title agent services, immigration matters, corporate matters, commercial and civil litigation, personal injury, workers compensation and criminal defense. One of the greatest benefits Ogletree Law Firm offers its clients is our dedication to quality, understanding of the law, trust and respect. Through our experience and the broad range of services that we provide, we are able to offer our clients access to the resources of a large firm with the personal attention of a local firm.

I am a 1999 graduate of the University of Mississippi with degrees in English and History. I earned my Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi Law School in 2002 and was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in September of 2002. I was admitted to the United States District Courts of both the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi as well as the United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2002 as well. I was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2008.

EXPERIENCE

I have been practicing law since 2002 focusing mainly in the field of criminal law. I spent three years in the general practice of law in which I handled several felony trials in addition to hundreds of other criminal cases, as well as family law matters and personal injury matters. I left private practice in 2005 to become a Senior Attorney for the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. In my four years with MBN, I handled hundreds of forfeiture cases for the State of Mississippi as well as prosecutions of drug offenses as a Special Assistant Attorney General.

I left the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics in July of 2009 to start the Law Office of Thomas P. Welch, Jr. in which I handle the defense of criminal matters, assest forfeiture defense, expungments, as well as family law.

With the exception of teaching at Belhaven College in Jackson, MS for eight years, I have been practicing law since 1976. My main areas of expertise are employment law, real estate law and sports law. I do no handle litigation other than as a consultant.