Matthew B. Free

Matthew B. Free

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Matthew B. Free has concentrated his career on appellate practice, involving cases of medical malpractice, insurance defense and coverage, bad faith liability and municipal liability. His primary focus includes extensive research and brief writing, oral arguments and motion practice. He is the attorney of record in 26 decisions published by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, Oklahoma Supreme Court and the Oklahoma Court of Appeals.

While in law school, Matt served as assistant managing editor of The Oklahoma Law Review and authored ‘Kraszewski v. Baptist Medical Center of Oklahoma, Inc. — The Oklahoma Supreme Court recognizes the Tort of Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress in a New Context,’ 51 Okla.L.Rev. 403 (Summer 1998). Mr. Free has also authored ‘The Oklahoma Supreme Court Rejects Social Host Liability,’ 74 O.B.J. 847 (2003), as published by the Oklahoma Bar Journal. Mr. Free is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Associations, Defense Research Institute and Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel. He is past chair of the Appellate Practice Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Practice Areas:

  • Appellate Practice
  • Civil Litigation & Arbitration
  • Insurance Coverage Matters
  • Insurance & Extra-Contractual Insurance/Bad Faith Litigation
  • Medical Malpractice Defense
  • Personal Injury/Tort Litigation

Admitted to Practice:

  • Oklahoma, 1988
  • Oklahoma Supreme Court
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Oklahoma
  • United States District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

Education:

  • Oklahoma State University, B.S., with honors, 1995
  • University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., with honors, 1998

Professional or Trade Affiliations

  • Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Oklahoma Bar Association
  • Tulsa County Bar Association
  • The Harmonie Group

Honors & Awards

  • B.V. Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Rising Stars, Superlawyers, 2010 – 2013
  • Top Rated Appellate Attorney, Superlawyers, 2016-2022

Publications

  • Kraszewski v. Baptist Medical Center of Oklahoma, Inc. – The Oklahoma Supreme Court recognizes the Tort of Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress in a New Context,’ 51 Okla.L.Rev. 403 (Summer 1998).
  • The Oklahoma Supreme Court Rejects Social Host Liability, 74 O.B.J. 847 (2003).
  • Oklahoma Editor, Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist Coverage, A State-by-State Compendium, 2014, Defense Resource Institute

Speaking Engagements

  • Recent Updates in Appellate Practice, Oklahoma Bar Association, 2007 and 2008
  • Overview of 2007 Oklahoma Supreme Court Opinions, Appellate Practice Section of the OBA.

Representative Published Cases

  • Osborn v. Brookdale Senior Living, Inc., 2010 OK CIV APP 115, 241 P.3d 674;
  • Malloy v. Caldwell, M.D., 2011 OK CIV APP 26, 251 P.3d 183;
  • Root v. SDI of Owasso d/b/a Sonic, 2011 OK CIV APP 125, 268 P.3d 547;
  • Wing v. Lorton, M.D., 2011 OK 42, 261 P.3d 1122;
  • Warden v. City of Grove, 604 Fed.Appx. 755 (10th 2015);
  • McCormick v. City of McAlester, 525 Fed.Appx. 885 (10th 2013);
  • Aguiar v. Bartlesville Care Center, 2011 WL 1461541 (10th 2011).
  • Anderson v. Boring, M.D., 39 P.3d 822, 2001 OK CIV APP 137;
  • McGee v. Hillcrest, 2001 OK 78, 37 P.3d 800;
  • White v. Adoptive Parents, 10 P.3d 212, 2000 OK 44,
  • Conterez v. O’Donnell, 58 P.3d 759, 2002 OK 67;
  • National Union Fire Insurance Co. v. LSB Industries, 296 F.3d 940 (10th Cir. 2002);
  • Trainor v. Apollo Metal Specialities, Inc., 318 F.3d 976 (10th Cir. 2002);
  • Markham v. National States Ins. Co., 122 Fed.Appx. 392 (10th Cir. 2004);
  • Parish v. Henry, 2003 OK 62, 97 P.3d 646;
  • Fitzgerald v. Corrections Corp. of America, 403 F.3d 1134 (10th Cir. 2005);
  • Baker v. Saint Francis Hosp., 2005 OK 36, 126 P.3d 602;
  • Applegate v. Saint Francis Hosp., 2005 OK CIV APP 28, 112 P.3d 316;
  • Cook v. Hill, 2006 WL 459393 (10th Cir. 2006);
  • In re Kreutzer, 344 B.R. 634 (N.D. Okla. 2006);
  • Howard v. Zimmer, 2013 OK 17, 299 P.3d 463;
  • Ballard v. Tulsa Pain Consultants, P.C., 2013 OK 61, 304 P.3d 746;
  • Brown v. Creek County, 2007 OK 56, 164 P.3d 1073;
  • Bierman v. Aramark Refreshment Services, Inc., 2008 OK 29, 198 P.3d 877;

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