John Hartwell Cocke - Clarksdale, MS
Attorney at Merkel & Cocke, P.A.
Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Clarksdale, MS
30 Delta Avenue Clarksdale, MS 38614
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
51
Years
Experience
Clarksdale Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Updated: 02/16/2026
Areas of Practice
- Medical Malpractice
- Litigation & Appeals
- Professional Malpractice Law
- Personal Injury — Plaintiff
Litigation: 100%
Attorney Information
Overview
After graduating from the University of Virginia Law School in 1975, Mr. Cocke moved to Clarksdale, MS to begin practicing in a general litigation firm. In 1982, Mr. Cocke and Mr. Merkel left that firm and established Merkel & Cocke, P.A., and since that time the emphasis of Mr. Cocke's practice has progressed more and more toward medical malpractice. At the present time his practice is exclusively devoted to handling medical negligence cases for the plaintiff, either as a result of direct contact by the client or as, more commonly occurs, on referral from other attorneys who are not familiar with the handling of medical negligence cases. Mr. Cocke handles all types of medical negligence cases, but a uniform requirement is that serious injury or death have occurred as a result of the medical mistake.
Mr. Cocke has handled many "brain damaged baby cases," as well as deaths as a result of the failure to treat in the emergency room setting and the premature discharge of patients after surgery, as well as failure to promptly diagnose cancer.
Mr. Cocke has developed a particular interest in the use of modern technology in medical negligence cases and has spoken at seminars on this subject. The Internet has developed into a very useful tool in conducting medical research and communicating with other attorneys handling similar cases via the Internet is also a major help in the handling of medical cases.
Mr. Cocke was selected Best Lawyer of the year for 2012 and 2014 in The Memphis area in the field of Medical Malpractice and has been selected a Best Lawyer and Super Lawyer every year since 2006.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America
- Best Lawyers in Lawdragon
- Super Lawyers, Since 2006
- Named Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers for Memphis area 2012 and 2014, in the field of Medical Malpractice
Other Sources of Feedback About John Hartwell Cocke
Included on the 2025 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2024 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2009 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2008 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2007 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2006 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
- University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1975
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Non Legal Education
-
University of Virginia,
Charlottesville,
Virginia, 1969
B.A., Bachelor of Arts
Honors: With Distinction
Major: Economics
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University of Virginia,
Charlottesville,
Virginia, 1969
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Member
Representative Cases
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Senatobia Community Hospital v. Orr
- Citation: 607 So.2d 1224
- Court: Miss.
- Year: 1992
- Serial Number: 1992185550
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Scott v. Ball
- Citation: 595 So.2d 848
- Court: Miss
- Year: 1992
- Serial Number: 1992051547
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Waldrip v. Turley
- Citation: 1987 WL 30320
- Court: Tenn. App.
- Year: 1987
- Serial Number: 1998005017
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Dickey v. Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi
- Citation: 146 F.3d 262
- Court: 5th Cir. Miss.
- Year: 1998
- Serial Number: 1998144653
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Williams v. Chism
- Citation: 164 B.R. 735
- Court: N.D. Miss.
- Year: 1994
- Serial Number: 1994067337
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Sperry-New Holland, a Div. of Sperry Corp. v. Prestage
- Citation: 617 So.2d 248
- Court: Miss.
- Year: 1993
- Serial Number: 1993074975
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Krieser v. Hobbs
- Citation: 166 F.3d 736
- Court: 5th Cir. Miss.
- Year: 1999
- Serial Number: 1999040373
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Buford v. Howe
- Citation: 10 F.3d 1184
- Court: 5th Cir. Miss.
- Year: 1994
- Serial Number: 1993240408
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DeLaughter v. Lawrence County Hosp.
- Citation: 601 So.2d 818
- Court: Miss.
- Year: 1992
- Serial Number: 1992079118
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Drummond v. Buckley
- Citation: 627 So.2d 264
- Court: Miss.
- Year: 1993
- Serial Number: 1993171803
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 1975
- Tennessee, 1992
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1975
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Mississippi, 1975
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Mississippi, 1975
Other Affiliations
- Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, 1992 - Present (Member, Board of Governors)
- American Bar Association, 1998 - Present
- Mississippi Association for Justice, 1992 - Present (Member)
- Section of Healthcare Law (Co-Chair)
Contact
30 Delta Avenue
Clarksdale, MS 38614
Phone: 662-627-9641
Fax: 662-627-3592
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.merkel-cocke.com
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