Jim Parkman

{{short description|American lawyer}} {{Infobox person | name = Jim Parkman | birth_date = 1950 | birth_place = Mobile, Alabama | education = Cumberland School of Law at Samford University | occupation = Lawyer (Criminal defense) }}

'''James W. Parkman, III'''<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.martindale.com/birmingham/alabama/james-w-parkman-iii-27901-a/| title = James W. Parkman, III Profile {{!}} Birmingham, AL Lawyer {{!}} Martindale.com}}</ref> (born 1950<ref name="wsfa"/>) is an American criminal defense lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama. He has been practicing law for over 40 years, and has represented several high-profile clients, most notably former HealthSouth CEO Richard M. Scrushy, Swedish criminal Bo Stefan Eriksson, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and Alabama State Senator Harri Anne Smith.

==Career==

Parkman was born in Mobile, Alabama, raised in Dothan, Alabama,<ref name="wsfa">{{cite web|title=Jim Parkman: In His Own Words|url=https://www.wsfa.com/story/5129044/jim-parkman-in-his-own-words|website=wsfa.com/|date=9 July 2006 |publisher=WSFA|accessdate=1 October 2014}}</ref> and graduated from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.martindale.com/James-W-Parkman-III/27901-lawyer.htm|title=James W. Parkman, III|publisher=}}</ref> He rose to national prominence when he was retained as lead counsel in the defense of HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy, who faced a high-profile prosecution on over 30 counts of accounting fraud.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/business/26scrushy.html?pagewanted=print&position=|date=January 26, 2005|title=In Birmingham, Richard Scrushy Is a Local Story|author=Reed Abelson|work=New York Times}}</ref> The long trial concluded with a colorful and folksy closing argument from Parkman,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/business/19scrushy.html?pagewanted=all|title=Closing Arguments Wind Up at Scrushy Trial|author=Reed Abelson|date=May 19, 2005|work=New York Times}}</ref> and Scrushy was ultimately acquitted on every count.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/business/worldbusiness/28iht-scrushy.html|title=Jury clears Scrushy of all charges |author=Jennifer Bayot|author2=Maria Newman|date=June 29, 2005|work=New York Times}}</ref>

After the Scrushy trial, Parkman represented Bo Stefan Eriksson in California on auto theft charges involving exotic foreign automobiles, including an Enzo Ferrari which Eriksson crashed in Malibu, California. The trial ended with a deadlocked jury.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/422087397|title=Jury deadlocks on theft charges in Ferrari case; Driver who crashed rare auto in Malibu was accused of stealing expensive cars|author=Jill Leovy|author2=Richard Winton|date=Nov 4, 2006|page=B.4|work=L.A. Times|access-date=July 6, 2017|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103613/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/doc/422087397.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+4,+2006&author=Jill+Leovy+and+Richard+Winton&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=&desc=Jury+deadlocks+on+theft+charges+in+Ferrari+case%3B+Driver+who+crashed+rare+auto+in+Malibu+was+accused+of+stealing+expensive+cars.|url-status=live}}</ref> Parkman also represented former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in his infamous federal corruption prosecution.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/09/us/09detroit.html?pagewanted=print|date=August 9, 2008|title=Detroit Mayor Charged With Assaulting Officer|author=Susan Saulny|work=New York Times}}</ref>

In the summer of 2011, Parkman represented Alabama State Senator Harri Anne Smith, who was charged along with eight others under federal bribery, mail and wire fraud statutes.<ref name="blog.al.com">{{cite web|url=https://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/03/milton_mcgregor_after_bingo_ve.html|title=UPDATED Milton McGregor after bingo verdicts: "This is truly a day to celebrate"|author=Kim Chandler|date=March 7, 2012 |work=AL.com}}</ref> After an initial mistrial, a second prosecution, and an expectedly colorful closing argument,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/02/lawyer_shouts_that_smith_is_no.html|title=Updated: Lawyer shouts that Sen. Harri Anne Smith is not guilty in bingo trial|author=Kim Chandler|date=February 28, 2012|work=AL.com}}</ref> Parkman was able to secure acquittals on all counts for his client.<ref name="blog.al.com"/>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parkman, Jim}} Category:1950 births Category:Alabama lawyers Category:American criminal defense lawyers Category:Lawyers from Birmingham, Alabama Category:Living people Category:People from Dothan, Alabama Category:Cumberland School of Law alumni