Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association (“TDLA”) is proud to announce the Tennessee recipients of the international Defense Research Institute (“DRI”) Annual Professional Achievement and Service Awards. These awards identify peers who deserve recognition either for their professional contributions to, and achievements on behalf of, the defense bar and the civil justice system or their involvement in community and public service activities that have a positive impact on society at large.

E. Todd Presnell, a partner with Bradley, Arant, Boult and Cummings LLP in Nashville, received the “Tom Segalla Excellence in Education” award. This award recognizes a DRI member whose contributions through legal scholarship exemplify the highest educational standards of DRI and its mission to improve the skills of defense practitioners.

Mary W. Gadd, Executive Director of TDLA in Lookout Mountain, received the “DRI SLDO Executive Director” award. This award recognizes a DRI state and local defense organization (“SLDO”) executive director who best fosters a relationship between his or her SLDO and DRI, and who otherwise demonstrated exceptional service to the cause of the defense bar and their state organization. She has served as the executive director with TDLA since 2015.

DRI, the voice of the defense bar, is the international membership organization of all lawyers involved in the defense of civil litigation. DRI has served the defense bar for more than 50 years and boasts a membership of over 20,000 members. TDLA is also the 2017 recipient of the DRI Rudolph A. Janata award recognizing an exemplary state and legal organization.

The award winners will be recognized at DRI's Virtual Annual Meeting in October and in person at the DRI Summit in Spring 2021.