Atty. Rick L. Powers
Rick Powers graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1975 and was Order of the Coif. He has more than 45 years of general civil trial practice experience with more than 350 jury trials.
Healthcare Liability & More Attorney · Serving Knoxville, TN · 51+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Rick L. Powers at a Glance
Rick L. Powers is a Managing Partner based in Knoxville, Tennessee, practicing at Arnett Baker Draper & Hagood, LLP. They have 51+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1975. Their practice focuses on health care and insurance. Admitted to practice in Tennessee (1975), U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee (1975), U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit (1981), and U.S. Supreme Court (1987). Educated at University of Tennessee at Knoxville (J.D., 1975) and University of Tennessee at Knoxville (B.S., 1972). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of Knoxville, Tennessee and American Bar Associations International Association of Defense Counsel The Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association The Defense Research Institute Federal and State Mediator. Serves clients in Knoxville, TN and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Get Legal Help from Rick L. Powers in Knoxville
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About Rick L. Powers
- Rick Powers graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1975 and was Order of the Coif
- He has more than 45 years of general civil trial practice experience with more than 350 jury trials
- His practice areas now primarily include health care liability for hospitals, nursing homes, and physicians
- insurance defense in trucking, automobile, and homeowners’ cases
- and other commercial litigation
- Rick is licensed to practice in all Tennessee state courts and U.S
- District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Tennessee, the U.S
- Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court
- He is also a certified mediator approved by the federal and state courts
- He is a member of the Tennessee, and Knoxville Bar Associations, The Knoxville Bar Foundation, The American Inns of Court, the Tennessee Defense Lawyers’ Association, the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, and the Defense Research Institute
- In recent years, Mr. Powers has successfully tried five traumatic birth injury cases which resulted in defense verdicts for his clients, as well as a large commercial case which resulted in a favorable jury defense verdict
- Rick has also represented clients in the health care field handling peer review and medical staff bylaws issues for both physicians and health care facilities
Representative Cases
- Eyring v
- Fort Sanders Parkwest Medical Center, 991 S.W.2d 230 Parlato v
- Fort Sanders Presbyterian Hospital, 698 F.2d 1222 Creech v
- Addington, 281 S.W.3d 363 Hartsell v
- Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, 905 S.W.2d 944 Murdock v
- Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, 2013 Tenn
- App. – LEXIS 248 Proffitt v
- State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., 2008 U.S
- Dist. – LEXIS 70770 Since 1995, Rick has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America in the area of health care and medical malpractice
- In 2013, Rick was named Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year in health care law in Knoxville, and for 2016 he was named Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year in medical malpractice defense in Knoxville
- Additionally, he was named to the 2018 Mid-South Rising Stars list in the Super Lawyers magazine
Practice Areas Explained
Rick L. Powers's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Rick L. Powers handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Knoxville.
Health Care Law in Knoxville
Health care attorneys for HIPAA, Medicare, Medicaid, regulatory compliance, and medical licensing matters.
Rick L. Powers is one of 66,157 health care attorneys indexed nationally. Browse health care attorneys in Tennessee →
Insurance Law in Knoxville
Insurance attorneys for coverage disputes, bad faith claims, denied claims, and policy disputes.
Rick L. Powers is one of 120,903 insurance attorneys indexed nationally. Browse insurance attorneys in Tennessee →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Knoxville
Practicing law in Tennessee. Legal matters in Tennessee are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Knoxville are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Tennessee state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Tennessee 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 Tennessee courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Knoxville Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Knoxville-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 Tennessee attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Knoxville or all attorneys in Tennessee.
Frequently Asked
Common Questions About Rick L. Powers
Where is Rick L. Powers's law office located?
What practice areas does Rick L. Powers handle?
How long has Rick L. Powers practiced law?
Where did Rick L. Powers go to law school?
How can I contact Rick L. Powers for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has Rick L. Powers received?
Professional Profile
Why Clients in Knoxville Choose Rick L. Powers
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 Rick L. Powers's practice in the field of health care and insurance.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Rick L. Powers brings 51+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Multi-State Bar Admission
Licensed in Tennessee, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, and U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, Rick L. Powers can represent clients in cases that span state lines or require counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering health care and insurance, Rick L. Powers can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Knoxville
A Knoxville-based practice means Rick L. Powers attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Search Reference
How People Find Rick L. Powers Online
Prospective clients searching for legal help in Knoxville commonly use a combination of the attorney's name and their specific legal need. The following search terms frequently lead people to this profile and to attorneys like Rick L. Powers.
If any of the above matches what you searched for, you've found the right profile. Use the contact options at the top of this page to get in touch with Rick L. Powers directly.
Rick L. Powers's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
Awards & Professional Honors
Bar Admissions & Licensed Jurisdictions
Client Reviews & Ratings — Rick L. Powers
No reviews yet.