About David
David joined Beasley Allen Law Firm in April 2012. He practices in the firm’s Mass Torts Section and has more than 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer. Currently, David is primarily working on talcum powder cases linked to ovarian cancer, hair relaxer cases linked to uterine cancer, and infant formula cases causing necrotizing enterocolitis in premature newborns.
David, a Jacksonville, Florida, native, received his law degree in 1991 from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where he served as associate editor of the Cumberland Law Review. Prior to law school, he attended Furman University, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics.
He served four years as a criminal prosecutor in Florida’s Fourth and Eighth Judicial Circuits. In private practice, David’s practice areas have included wrongful death, personal injury, products liability, workers’ compensation and criminal defense.
David met his wife, the former Vicki Millo, in law school, and they have been married for 32 years. Vicki is a professor at Jones Law School at Faulkner University and formerly at Hofstra University School of Law. David and Vicki have two children. Their son Andrew recently graduated from Emory University School of Law and clerks for a Federal Judge in Georgia. Their daughter Avery graduated from Troy University with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and now works at The Carter Treatment Center in Cumming, GA.
The Dearings attend Christ Church in Montgomery and actively serve several local ministries and charity organizations. David is also the former varsity basketball coach for Ezekiel Academy in Montgomery. The Dearings enjoy traveling and spending time on the water.
- Alabama (2012)
- Florida (1991)
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida (2018)
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (2014)
- Samford University Cumberland School of Law (J.D., 1991)
- Furman University (B.A., 1987)
1991 – Current
Career
Professional Accomplishments
David is a member of the Alabama State Bar; The Florida Bar Association; Florida Justice Association; American Inns of Court – Chester Bedell Inn of Court and E. Robert Williams Inn of Court, where he holds the position of Emeritus, Master of the Bench; The Million Dollar Advocates Forum; and the United States District Court, Middle District of Alabama, and the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.
In November 2017, he was selected for membership in the International Society of Barristers based on an extensive screening process that includes comments from judges before whom nominees have appeared and other attorneys. The International Society of Barristers supports the ideals of trial by jury, the adversary system and a free and independent judiciary.
Memberships
- Alabama State Bar
- Florida Bar Association
- American Inns of Court – Chester Bedell Inn of Court and E. Robert Williams Inn of Court; Emeritus, Master of the Bench
- The Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Notable Cases
Talcum Powder Litigation
David was on all five talcum powder trial teams that won verdicts in 2016 and 2017 against Johnson & Johnson and Imerys Talc America, totaling more than $700 million. Five different juries in St. Louis and Los Angeles found Johnson & Johnson liable for injuries from using its talc-containing products, Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Body Powder. As a direct result of this litigation, J&J removed all of its talc-based body powders from the market worldwide.
Two of the juries also awarded substantial amounts against Imerys Talc America, Johnson & Johnson’s body powder talc supplier. Imerys has since stopped supplying talc to J&J for cosmetic powders.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Litigation
When David began at the firm, he worked on the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) litigation team, focusing on drugs such as Premarin, Prempro and Provera, which were shown to cause breast cancer in some women. That litigation resulted in one of the largest mass tort settlements to date.
Fosamax Femur Fractures and Diabetes Drugs
He has also worked on Fosamax cases linked to spontaneous atypical femur fractures in long-term users and cases involving a class of diabetes drugs (Byetta, Januvia, Janumet, and Victoza) linked to pancreatic and thyroid cancer.
Awards & Recognitions
As an AV Preeminent Rated attorney with the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards, David received Beasley Allen’s 2016 Mass Torts Lawyer of the Year Award. He was also named one of Florida Trend Magazine’s Florida Legal Elite and a Jacksonville “Top Lawyer” by 904 Magazine.
Awards and Recognitions
- Beasley Allen Mass Torts Lawyer of the Year Award (2016)
Recent News
Jury finds Johnson & Johnson, Imerys liable for $70 million in third ovarian cancer talc trial
Johnson & Johnson hit with second verdict linking talc products to ovarian cancer
