Atty. M. Christopher Eagan
Chris Eagan has been with the firm since graduating law school in 1987. Chris is a Partner of the firm.
Early Case Assessment & More Attorney · Serving Birmingham, AL · 39+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About M. Christopher Eagan at a Glance
M. Christopher Eagan is a Partner based in Birmingham, Alabama, practicing at Starnes Davis Florie Llp. They have 39+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1987. Their practice focuses on medical malpractice, wrongful death, personal injury, white collar, and whistleblower. Admitted to practice in Alabama U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama U.S. District Court, Middle District of Al (1987). Educated at Cumberland School of Law (J.D., 1987) and University of Alabama (B.S., 1983). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of Community Involvement • Serves on the Advisory Board of Magic Moments, a non-profit organization which grants wishes to children with life-threatening or life-altering illnesses, Chris served as Chairman of this organization in 2004, and served on the Board from 1999 to 2005, and • Served on the Advisory Committee for Kairos Prison Ministry in Elmore, Alabama. Serves clients in Birmingham, AL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About M. Christopher Eagan
- Chris Eagan has been with the firm since graduating law school in 1987
- Chris is a Partner of the firm
- He has served as Chairman of the firm’s Recruiting Committee, and has served on the firm’s Executive Committee
- His practice includes work on a broad variety of litigation matters, focusing on medical malpractice defense, healthcare law, professional licensing and credentialing, Federal and State regulatory issues for hospitals and hospital risk management issues
- Professional Recognition •Serves as an Associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates •Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Medical Malpractice - Defendants. •Named “Birmingham Best Lawyers - 2024 Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law-Defendants •Named “Birmingham Best Lawyers - 2022 Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law-Defendants •Named a 'Litigation Star' in Benchmark Litigation •Maintains an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell •2008 Birmingham Legal Secretaries Association’s Lawyer of the Year •While attending law school at Cumberland School of Law, Chris served on the Cumberland Law Review and received the Book Award in Civil Procedure •Served as Chair of the Medical Liaison Committee for the Birmingham Bar Association Highlights •Chris has been practicing for 37 years and he has tried numerous complex cases to a jury. •Prevailed in an appeal before the Alabama Supreme Court, in favor of the Defendant OBGYN and her practice group following a week-long trial in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County
- On appeal, the Plaintiffs argued they were entitled to a new trial because the trial court erred by denying Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on causation, erred in its charge to the jury and the manner in which it framed to issues to be considered by the jury, and erred in prohibiting the Plaintiffs from employing Reptile Theory tactics. •Obtained a defense verdict for a an OBGYN in a 6 day jury trial alleging negligence during the performance of diagnostic laparoscopy procedure, resulting a rectal perforation to the patient. •Obtained a defense verdict for a defendant gynecologic oncologist in a case alleging negligent failure to diagnose and treat post-operative bleeding and hemorrhagic shock, resulting in the death of a patient who underwent a robotic and laparoscopic procedure for suspected ovarian cancer. •Obtained a favorable ruling from the Supreme Court of Alabama affirming the trial court’s granting of summary judgment in favor of their clients in a case involving allegations of harm caused by the long-term use of a medication. •Obtained a defense verdict for a general surgeon and surgical group in a wrongful death case involving an intra-abdominal abscess resulting in septic shock in Calhoun County. •Obtained a defense verdict for an internist in a wrongful death case involving an allegation that the internist failed to diagnose an esophageal perforation following gastrointestinal surgery. •Obtained a defense verdict for an emergency room physician in a wrongful death case involving complications due to a bowel obstruction. •Obtained a defense judgment following a three day arbitration of a nursing home malpractice case involving the death of a resident alleged to have resulted from a medication error and the failure to appropriately treat the resident’s condition and monitor the resident’s hydration status. •Secured a Judgment as a Matter of Law after a week long trial for a hospital and three ICU nurses in a case involving an internally dislodged tracheostomy tube that resulted in a severe brain injury to the patient. •Secured a Summary Judgment for a urologist in connection with a claim the urologist violated the standard of care with respect to performing an Acucise endopyelotomy. •Secured a Summary Judgment for a hospital in connection with a claim concerning a patient fall. •Secured a Summary Judgment on behalf of a hospital and an operating room nurse where the plaintiff alleged the operating room nurse, along with other defendants, failed to properly position plaintiff during a hysterectomy causing the plaintiff to develop a brachial plexus injury. •Secured a Summary Judgment for a pediatrician in a wrongful death case where the plaintiff claimed she failed to timely and appropriately diagnose sepsis. •Secured a Summary Judgment for a neurologist and an internist where the plaintiff claimed the physicians failed to diagnose and properly treat temporal arteritis. •Secured a Summary Judgment for a family practitioner where the plaintiff alleged a failure to timely and appropriately address an abnormal PSA. •Obtained a defense verdict in medical malpractice case involving obstetrical complication resulting in significant neurologic injury to newborn. •Obtained a defense verdict in medical malpractice case against hospital involving admitted violation of the standard of care where case was defended solely on causation issues. •Presented paper at the Annual Scientific Meeting and post-graduate course program for the Southeastern Surgical Congress in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 11-15, 2005, regarding medical malpractice issues and bariatric surgery. •Ex parte Nail, 111 So. 3d 125 (Ala. 2012). •Glenda Wright, as Mother and Next Friend of Donna Wright v
- Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center Board, d/b/a Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center, Alabama Supreme Court No. 1100777. •Brookwood Medical Center v
- Lindstrom, 763 So. 2d 951 (Ala. 2000). •Hilburn v
- Ellis, 688 So. 2d 236 (Ala. 1997). •Ex parte Northport Health Service, Inc., 682 So. 2d 52 (Ala. 1996) (Amicus). •Keel v
- Banach, 624 So. 2d 1022 (Ala. 1993). •Levesque v
- Regional Medical Center Board, 612 So. 2d 445 (Ala. 1993). •Independent Fire Ins
- Co. v
- Mutual Assur
- Inc., 553 So. 2d 115 (Ala. 1989). •Long v
- Hodges, 639 So. 2d 238 (Ala. 1989). •Raise v
- Wood, 540 So. 2d 643 (Ala. 1988) (Amicus)
- Presentations and Publications •Anticipating and Minimizing Hearsay Objections, a 2-Day Practical Course on Advanced Civil Litigation Skills in Alabama held at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-Wynfrey Hotel, December 17, 2015 (presentation) •Medicare Set Asides and Liens 101, NBI Seminar “Personal Injury Claims: The Insurance Defense Perspective,” December 13, 2013 (presentation) •Confidentiality of Medical Records, Presentation, November 2, 2012 (presentation) •Direct Examination, Cumberland School of Law, October 18, 2012 (presentation) •Applying the Rules of Evidence: What Every Attorney Needs to Know, National Business Institute Seminar, August 23, 2012 (presentation) •The Discovery Process in a Medical Practice: Subpoenas, Depositions, and Court Appearances, presented to the Medical Management Association (MGMA) of Birmingham, June 21, 2012 (presentation) •Dental Malpractice, The Standard of Care and Documentation: Does SOC = D?, UAB School of Dentistry Alumni Weekend, February 2 - 5, 2012 (presentation) •Eagan, Walston & Starnes - Medicare Reporting Requirements and the MSPS (Medicare Secondary Payer Statute): Where DO We Go From Here?” The Alabama Self-Insurer, Winter 2010 (publication) •“Bariatric Surgery: Malpractice Risks and Risk Management Guidelines,” The American Surgeon, May 2005, Vol. 71. p. 369 (publication) •Medical Malpractice Guide to Misdiagnosis Cases, National Business Institute Seminar, September 22, 2011 (presentation) •New Reporting Requirements under the Medicare Secondary Payer Statute, IADC Medical Defense and Health Law and Legislative, Judicial and Government Affairs Committees, IADC Webinar, July 2009 (presentation) News & Insights •Benchmark Litigation 2026 Ranks Starnes Davis Florie as a Highly Recommended Litigation Firm •35 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2026 •Starnes Davis Florie Ranked as a Highly Recommended Litigation Firm in the 2025 Edition of Benchmark Litigation •33 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2025 •Starnes Davis Florie Ranked as a “Highly Recommended Litigation Firm” in the 2024 Edition of Benchmark Litigation •Starnes Attorneys Prevail in an Appeal Before the Alabama Supreme Court •SDF’s Davis, Eagan & Ezelle Named Best Lawyers “2024 Lawyer of the Year” •30 Starnes Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2024 •SDF’s Eagan, Newton, Huntley, and Jones Obtain Favorable Ruling from Alabama Supreme Court •Starnes Davis Florie Highly Ranked in Benchmark Litigation 2023 •Eagan, Newton & Jones Secure Defense Verdict After a 6-Day Med Mal Trial •30 SDF ATTORNEYS LISTED IN BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA 2023 •SDF Attorneys White & Eagan Obtain Defense Verdict in 7-Day Trial •STARNES RANKED AS A “HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FIRM” IN THE 2022 EDITION OF BENCHMARK LITIGATION •TONY DAVIS & CHRIS EAGAN NAMED BEST LAWYERS “2022 LAWYER OF THE YEAR” •29 SDF ATTORNEYS LISTED IN BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA 2022 •Starnes Ranked as a “Highly Recommended Firm” in the 2021 Edition of Benchmark Litigation •Twenty-Six SDF Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2021 •Chamberlain, Eagan & Hines Publish Article in IADC’s Medical Defense & Health Law Newsletter •Chris Eagan, Sybil Newton, and Sarah Chamberlain Obtain Favorable Ruling from the Supreme Court of Alabama Fun Facts • Chris is married to a trial lawyer. • He is the proud father of five children, ranging in ages from 15-37 and he has two grandchildren. • He loves golf, fishing and gardening but most of all, he enjoys spending time with his large family and 2 wonderful dogs
Practice Areas Explained
M. Christopher Eagan's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases M. Christopher Eagan handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Birmingham.
Medical Malpractice in Birmingham
Medical malpractice lawyers represent patients harmed by negligent doctors, hospitals, and other providers. Free case review, no fee unless you win.
M. Christopher Eagan is one of 48,593 medical malpractice attorneys indexed nationally. Browse medical malpractice attorneys in Alabama →
Wrongful Death in Birmingham
M. Christopher Eagan is one of 30,932 wrongful death attorneys indexed nationally. Browse wrongful death attorneys in Alabama →
Personal Injury in Birmingham
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
M. Christopher Eagan is one of 262,557 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Alabama →
White Collar Crimes in Birmingham
M. Christopher Eagan is one of 19,824 white collar attorneys indexed nationally. Browse white collar attorneys in Alabama →
Whistleblower & Retaliation in Birmingham
M. Christopher Eagan is one of 3,523 whistleblower attorneys indexed nationally. Browse whistleblower attorneys in Alabama →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Birmingham
Practicing law in Alabama. Legal matters in Alabama are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Birmingham are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Alabama state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Alabama brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Alabama courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Birmingham Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Birmingham-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Alabama attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Birmingham or all attorneys in Alabama.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Birmingham Choose M. Christopher Eagan
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish M. Christopher Eagan's practice in the field of medical malpractice, wrongful death, personal injury, white collar, and whistleblower.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
M. Christopher Eagan brings 39+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering medical malpractice, wrongful death, and personal injury, M. Christopher Eagan can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Birmingham
A Birmingham-based practice means M. Christopher Eagan attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues M. Christopher Eagan Handles in Birmingham
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters M. Christopher Eagan has experience with under Alabama law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact M. Christopher Eagan directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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How People Find M. Christopher Eagan Online
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M. Christopher Eagan's Practice Areas & Specializations
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