# Site: knoxvillemediations.com # URL: https://knoxvillemediations.com # Generated: 2026-08-23 03:02:03 # Version: 1.2 # File Type: llms-full.txt # Total Pages: 10 --- ## Home URL: https://knoxvillemediations.com/ Rocky Hill Mediation Center was recently featured in KnoxTNToday.com! Check out the article here . In addition to experience, the attorney you hire should be knowledgeable and have an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. While you may have heard of this prestigious rating, you probably do not know about the strict criteria recipients must meet. Martindale-Hubbell uses three ratings to help clients understand the skill and experience of an attorney. AV is the highest level of the rating system. Only lawyers who reach the highest level of professional excellence by their peers receive this award. Additionally, in order to be AV-rated, an attorney must have high ethical standards. When rating attorneys, Martindale-Hubbell surveys lawyers across multiple jurisdictions and asks them to rate their peers from one to five based on the following areas: • Legal Knowledge • Analytical Capabilities • Judgment • Communication Ability • Legal Experience So what does it mean to receive an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell? It means that an attorney has proven he or she is outstanding in his or her field. As a client, you have assurance and peace of mind when you choose lawyer with this rating. You know that you are in good hands and that your best interests will always be the top priority of your attorney. That is important when you or a loved one suffers injury through the negligent or reckless actions of someone else and you need legal guidance to pursue fair compensation for your damages. --- ## Contact Us URL: https://knoxvillemediations.com/contact/ ##### Stop in and see us! 1316 Morrell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919 ##### Give Us a Call (865) 394-9475 --- ## Mediation URL: https://knoxvillemediations.com/mediation/ ## Mediation Mediation is a voluntary, non-binding process using a neutral third party to guide the parties toward a mutually beneficial resolution of their dispute. Mediation is increasingly used by both plaintiffs and defendants and has established itself as a vital litigation tool by helping parties favorably resolve the lawsuit in a timely and cost effective manner. Experienced trial attorneys know very well the risk-benefit balance inherent in taking a case to trial, and understand that, in some cases, their clients are better served through mediating the issues. Besides risk-management, mediation is useful in the following situations: • The other side is not evaluating your case realistically. • The other side is not responding to your negotiation attempts. • Your client is concerned about confidentiality. • Your client wants to avoid setting a legal precedent • The number of parties and/or complexity of issues makes direct negotiation impractical or impossible. Rocky Hill Mediation Center's founder, Billy J. Stokes,  has practiced over thirty years and has honed his ability to: 1) identify and isolate the primary contested issues; 2) provide an honest and clear-sighted evaluation of each side’s position; and 3) offer creative and insightful solutions to bring both sides together. Billy cares deeply about resolving your case and persistently and tenaciously work to bring the sides together until your favorable result is achieved. Billy Stokes is skilled at mediating a broad range of cases, including: • Automobile Accidents • Bad Faith • Civil Rights • Construction Cases • Contract Issues • Employment Disputes • Insurance Coverage • Premises Liability • Products liability • Workers Compensation • Wrongful Death --- ## About URL: https://knoxvillemediations.com/about/ BILLY J. STOKES, “of Counsel” to the firm Stokes, Williams, Sharp, Cope, & Mann, PC, practices in the areas of personal injury, transportation industry law, tort claims, product liability, employment issues, environmental, and governmental relations/administrative law. He represents individuals, insurance companies, self-insureds, employers, manufacturers, trucking companies, and service providers. Mr. Stokes actively participates in transportation industry seminars. Mr. Stokes has tried both jury and non-jury cases throughout the region. He is a Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed Mediator Civil/Family. In 2015, Mr. Stokes combined his law practice with Rocky Hill Mediation Center, 1316 Morrell Road, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919 to provide adequate space to conduct mediations as well as carry on his practice. Mr. Stokes is a former member of Governor Don Sundquist’s cabinet, initially appointed Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Employment Security, later promoted to the Governor’s Senior Staff as Special Assistant to the Governor. Mr. Stokes played a key role in shaping the Workers’ Compensation Reform Act of 1996. He coordinated the state’s involvement in the 1996 Olympic Games, overseeing the canoe/kayak events on the Ocoee River, the only “Gold Medal” venue outside the State of Georgia. Mr. Stokes was involved in environmental issues as well, including the Duck River Project, establishing beneficial end uses for discarded tires, and other projects. He later served as the Governor’s appointee to the Juvenile Justice Reform Commission, charged with rewriting the juvenile code. Mr. Stokes is co-author of Unemployment Compensation, Survey and Update, Labor Law Journal, 47 (9) at 602-612, Sept. 1996, Bad Faith: General Application in the Insurer-Insured Relationship, Lorman Education Services, 2007; and various letters and guest columns published in magazines and newspapers. Following graduation from the University of Tennessee Law School in 1979, Mr. Stokes served as a Captain The Judge Advocate General Corps, U.S. Army, (1979-1982). He is a 1975 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. In 1989, he was a founding partner in the Knoxville firm of Stokes & Fansler. Mr. Stokes is a member of the American, Tennessee, and Knoxville Bar Associations. He is a member of the Hamilton Burnett Inn of the American Inns of Court. Mr. Stokes served as the Mayor’s appointee to the City of Knoxville Civil Service Merit System Board for ten years and served on a City-County Government Efficiency Committee appointed by the Knox County Mayor. In 2007, Mr. Stokes was appointed to the Board of the Knoxville/Knox County Public Building Authority and was elected Chairman of that body in 2010. Mr. Stokes formerly served on the Board of the Knoxville-Knox County Community Services Agency, appointed by Governor Phil Bredesen. Mr. Stokes serves on the Board of the Museum of Appalachia and Golden Gloves Charities, Inc. He has volunteered as an attorney for indigent clients through the KBA Pro Bono project. Mr. Stokes has long been active in the Knoxville community and has served on several other non-profit boards. Mr. Stokes and his wife, Bay, a retired educator, live in the Rocky Hill area. They enjoy spending time with two grown daughters, four grandchildren and their coonhound, Emmy Lou. Both are fans of the University of Tennessee Volunteers and the Lady Vols. View Mr. Stokes' resume by clicking this link . --- ## Appellate Work URL: https://knoxvillemediations.com/appellate-work/ ## Appellate Work Whether you are seeking to preserve a favorable outcome or to overturn an adverse ruling, Rocky Hill Mediation Center has the skill, experience, and legal knowledge to get you the result you need. Our appellate attorneys pride themselves on their deep love for the law and use their enthusiasm to discover the most effective legal arguments for your case, and the most successful strategies for obtaining your desired result. As finding the best law is only the first stage of the battle, our appellate attorneys are likewise skilled and passionate at communicating the law to the court through crafting appellate briefs.  Our attorneys pride themselves at producing organized, professional, and complete briefs that encapsulate the best arguments and the most persuasive law in the most favorable light for your position.  Further, the enthusiasm of our attorneys for the law sets them apart from other attorneys during oral arguments, where their knowledge and love of the law gives them an edge in presenting your position coherently and responding effectively to the often intricate or nuanced questions of the Court. The lawyers in our appellate group have handled cases in a wide range of subject areas, including contract interpretation, personal injury, statutes of limitations/repose, statutory presumptions, insurance, construction, contract validity, agency, worker’s compensation, and insurance. We represent clients ranging from individuals, insurance companies, and private companies and partnerships.  Our clients have enjoyed favorable results at both the intermediary and Supreme Court levels. --- ## Automobile Accidents URL: https://knoxvillemediations.com/automobile-accidents/ ## Automobile Accidents Lawsuits arising from motor vehicle accidents range from simple rear-end accidents to very complex  multi-vehicle disasters.  At Rocky Hill Mediation Center our goal is get the very best result possible for our clients in each case, no matter the complexity or the amount of damages involved. We understand that in each case we take our clients deserve our individual time, attention, and focused expertise.  Having handled thousands of vehicle accident cases, we approach your case knowing that your case is unique and will have distinctive strong and weak points.  We are skilled at identifying your case’s unique issues and are experienced at capitalizing on these issues to get you the best result achievable. Importantly, in an age where cases are settled more often than tried, our experienced legal team prepares each case for trial from day one.  We know that, whether a case is tried or settled out of Court, our clients get the best results when we look at each case with the end in sight.  At Rocky Hill Mediation Center we have the experience and drive to get you your best result, no matter what the case involves. --- ## Employment Law URL: https://knoxvillemediations.com/employment-law/ ## Employment Law The number of EEOC charges and lawsuits arising from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation have risen over the recent years. Rocky Hill Mediation Center excels at representing business clients before state and federal trial and appellate courts and administrative agencies in lawsuits and other proceedings involving employment and workplace claims. We handle lawsuits involving discrimination based on race, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability and pregnancy as well as harassment and retaliation claims. We have extensive and specialized employment litigation experience that enhances our ability to get you the best result in your case. We pride ourselves on the skill, expertise, and cutting edge legal research that enable our attorneys to dismiss many of our clients' cases prior to trial through Motions to Dismiss or Motions for Summary Judgment.  When your case involves issues that cannot be resolved through legal motions, we have enjoyed consistent success in favorably resolving cases through jury trials or the appellate process.  Additionally, we are able to leverage our firm's litigation success to give our clients an edge when settling the case is the most cost-effective or risk-sensitive avenue, whether through direct negotiation or mediation. --- ## Insurance Litigation URL: https://knoxvillemediations.com/insurance-litigation/ ## Insurance Litigation Our insurance litigation practice encompasses all areas of insurance, from creating thorough and well reasoned coverage opinions you can rely on to litigating insurance coverage cases, including bad-faith claims. Rocky Hill Mediation Center is experienced and skilled at advising about and litigating issues involving general liability, errors and omissions, accident and health, automobile, property, life, construction, umbrella, and workers’ compensation insurance policies. --- ## Premises Liability URL: https://knoxvillemediations.com/premises-liability/ ## Premises Liability Accidents can and often do happen anywhere the public is welcome, whether there is a dangerous condition on the premises or not. At Rocky Hill Mediation Center, we understand that not all injuries indicate negligence on the premises owner. Our attorneys are known for aggressively handling premises liability matters for small and large businesses, homeowners, and insurance companies. Premises liability actions require prompt investigation and thorough examination of all the facts associated with the accident. By approaching each case proactively, our attorneys have saved our clients thousands of dollars in litigation fees, not counting possible adverse judgments, by making numerous successful Motions for Summary Judgment in the early stages of litigation. If a Motion for Summary Judgment is not feasible in your case, you can rest assured that our experienced and skilled attorneys have a proven track record of prevailing when premises liability cases reach the jury. Finally, we understand that sometimes the most cost-effective or risk-aware avenue is to settle quickly, and our attorneys are able to leverage our firm's litigation success to give our clients an edge and obtain the best settlement possible. --- ## Product Liability URL: https://knoxvillemediations.com/product-liability/ ## Product Liability Intricate national and state laws govern product liability cases, and the average attorney is not able to take advantage of the protections or avoid the dangers these laws create.  The skilled trial lawyers at Rocky Hill Mediation Center have the knowledge and experience to help you or your company navigate the perilous waters of a product liability lawsuit and get your best result.  Our attorneys have a reputation for sharp legal insight and minute attention to detail that is built on the numerous successes this firm has had for our clients. Whether your product liability case is large or small, you need attorneys who can guide you through the perils of numerous and intricate legal issues.  The attorneys at Rocky Hill Mediation Center have the knowledge, skill, and drive to help you achieve your best result, no matter what your product liability case involves. Our attorneys have successfully litigated cases with exposure ranging from minimal to catastrophic, including national class actions.  Our accomplished legal team is experienced at handling a wide variety of product liability cases, including: Farming and Agricultural Products, Automobile Parts, Class Actions, Construction Products, Amusement Park Rides, Power Tools and Equipment, Premises Liability, Food Poisoning, Bicycle Products, General Electronic and Mechanical Products. ---