Joseph V. Ronderos, Jr.
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I thrive on achieving the best possible result for my clients. This requires working with clients early and often to develop a strategy that accomplishes their goals. My experience in various practice areas, ranging from commercial litigation to products liability and estate planning, allows me to offer clients creative strategies and solutions to achieve these desired results.

Joseph Ronderos’s practice spans a wide variety of litigation, from commercial and consumer financial services to products liability. His day-to-day work runs the gamut of litigation activities — drafting motions, responding to and propounding written discovery, as well as oral argument in both discovery disputes and dispositive motions.

Financial Services Litigation

In representing mortgage servicers and lenders, Joseph defends actions for alleged violations of consumer protection statutes, such as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), fraud, wrongful foreclosure, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, negligence, and breach of contract. He also represents a range of other consumer financial services providers, with a concentration on defending mortgage lenders and loan servicers in lender liability actions.

Products Liability

Joseph has experience with products liability and personal injury matters. He has represented manufacturers of heavy equipment and household products in allegations of defective design.

Commercial Litigation

Joseph has assisted clients with contract disputes and real property disputes, and has experience with establishing businesses, and drafting lease agreements, trust agreements, and real estate sale contracts.

Seeking to avoid unnecessary disputes and resolve matters through negotiation form the basis of Joseph’s practical litigation philosophy. Client service means finding the most cost-effective and efficient solution to a problem. In general, this means resolving cases quickly whenever possible, and promptly communicating to clients when it’s not. In the latter case, he provides each client with a clear, fact-based explanation of the probable trajectory of their case. If settlement isn’t possible, and none of the available options include fruitful negotiation, then the client will know immediately that the next step is a dispositive motion, and perhaps trial.

Industries

Services

Insights

Representative Experience

  • Successfully defended (as second chair) to a jury verdict a mortgage servicer’s compliance with the Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act (RESPA) with respect to the servicer’s administration of its customer’s escrow account.
  • Successfully defended actions and claims made under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) seeking awards of treble damages and attorney’s fees.
  • Successfully defended and dismissed claims challenging foreclosure proceedings via motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment.
  • Represented and successfully defended actions and claims under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), and the Truth in Lending Act (TILA).
  • Represented and successfully defended appeals before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Tennessee Court of Appeals, and the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.
  • Successfully represented a client in acquiring title to real property free and clear of appellate litigation.
  • Successfully represented clients in re-acquisition of title or acquiring surplus funds after a tax sale in Alabama and Tennessee.
  • Successfully represented clients to approvals of structured settlement payment transfers in Alabama and Tennessee.
  • Represented manufacturer of construction equipment in products liability cases in Alabama and Tennessee.
  • Represented and advised clients on estate planning and administration.

Publications

"CFPB Update on the Amicus Program and Other Litigation," ABA Business Law Today, May Month-In-Brief: Business Regulation & Regulated Industries, June 2, 2022

Is Access Enough?: Addressing Inheritability of Digital Assets Using the Three-Tier System Under the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, 18 TENN. J. BUS. L. 1031, 1054 (2017)

Education

  • The University of Tennessee College of Law (J.D., 2017)

    Dean's List

  • Birmingham Southern College (B.A., History, cum laude, 2014)

    Dean's List

Admissions

Bar Admissions
  • Alabama
  • Tennessee
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Honors

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Commercial Litigation and Financial Services Regulation Law), 2022-2023

Affiliations

Professional

  • Tennessee Bar Association

Outside the office

In his spare time, he enjoys softball, watching films, and creative writing.