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Overview
Appellate specialist Thom Hudson has decades of experience with hundreds of appeals in state and federal courts on a broad range of topics, including state and federal constitutional issues, torts, contracts, insurance bad faith, Indian law, and punitive damages.
Among other things, Thom’s appellate work has helped to secure gaming rights for tribal nations, protect voter registration rights for individuals, protect judges’ pensions rights, safeguard Arizona’s implied home warranty rights, and helped individuals collect millions of dollars in punitive damages resulting from insurance companies’ bad faith.
During his career, Thom has received the highest ranking possible from all the major ranking organizations, including Chambers USA’s highest rank of Band 1. He was also inducted into the esteemed American Academy of Appellate Lawyers in 2010.
Thom has led many efforts to help improve the appellate process. In addition to chairing the State Bar Appellate Practice Section and serving as a Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative, he co-authored the monthly column “Appellate Highlights” for the Arizona Attorney magazine for over a decade. Thom helped found AZAPP.com, Arizona’s first appellate blog. He facilitated numerous changes to improve the Arizona Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, and he has written numerous articles on appellate issues for a variety of publications, including the Arizona Attorney and the Journal of Appellate Practice.
Thom now focuses exclusively on appellate consulting with trial and appellate lawyers, including regularly assisting firm clients with their most challenging appeals. When attorneys want to know how to win their appeals, they consult with Thom.
Representative Matters
- Zambrano v. M & RC II LLC, 254 Ariz. 53 (2022) (holding that a disclaimer of implied warranty of workmanship and habitability was void as contrary to public policy) (amicus) Amicus brief
- Saban Rent-a-Car LLC v. Arizona Dep’t of Revenue, 246 Ariz. 89 (2019)
(dormant commerce clause and state constitutional issues)
Supplemental Brief
Oral Argument - Saban Rent-A-Car LLC v. Ariz. Dep’t of Revenue, 244 Ariz. 293 (App. 2018)
(dormant commerce clause and state constitutional issues) - Arizona State Univ. v. Arizona State Retirement Sys., 242 Ariz. 387 (App. 2017)
(prejudgment interest)
Opening Brief - Hamblen v. Hatch, 242 Ariz. 483 (2017)
(arbitration/separability doctrine)
Brief - Markham Contracting v. FDIC, 240 Ariz. 360 (App. 2016)
(equitable subrogation)
Opening Brief - Arizona State Univ. v. Arizona State Retirement Sys., 237 Ariz. 246 (App. 2015)
(administrative law challenge regarding lack of agency rulemaking)
Opening Brief
Oral Argument - Fields v. The Elected Officials’ Retirement Plan, et al., 234 Ariz. 214, 320 P.3d 1160 (2014)
(Arizona constitution/public retirement benefits)
Oral Argument
Answering Brief
Response to Amicus Briefs - Kobach v. U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 772 F.3d 1183 (10th Cir. 2014)
(holding that Federal Elections Assistance Commission was not mandated to grant Arizona’s and other state requests to modify voter registration form) - James C. Sell v. Hon. Gama/Russell Sewell et al., 231 Ariz. 323, 295 P.3d 421 (2013)
(securities fraud)
Supplemental Brief
Response to Amicus Briefs
Oral Argument - Lagstein v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, 725 F.3d 1050 (9th Cir. 2013)
(interest and fees on arbitration award)
Opening Brief - City Of Peoria v. Brink’s Home Sec. Inc. (Ariz. 2011)
(telecommunications/tax) (amicus) - Fagerlie v. Markham Contracting, 227 Ariz. 367, 258 P.3d 185 (Ariz. App. 2011)
(contractor lien rights; reversing summary judgment) - Lagstein v. Lloyd’s, 607 F.3d 634 (9th Cir. 2010)
(Federal Arbitration Act) - Salt River Sand and Rock v. Dunevant, 222 Ariz. 102, 213 P.3d 251 (Ariz. App. 2009)
(standards for reduced supersedeas bond) - Chalpin v. Snyder, 207 P.3d 666, 220 Ariz. 413 (Ariz. App. 2008)
(malicious prosecution/attorney liability) - Northeast Phoenix Holdings, LLC v. Winkelman, 219 Ariz. 82, 193 P.3d 776 (App. 2008)
(state land trust/auction) - Payan v. Aramark Mgmt. Serv., 495 F.3d 1119 (9th Cir. 2007)
(mailing presumption under federal statute) - White v. Sun Life Assurance Co., 488 F.3d 240 (4th Cir. 2007)
(ERISA/statute of limitations) - Fearnow v. Ridenour, Swenson, Cleere, 138 P.3d 723, 213 Ariz. 24 (Ariz. 2006)
(ethical rules/law firm agreements) - Johnson v. Earnhardt’s Gilbert Dodge, Inc., 212 Ariz. 381, 132 P.3d 825 (2006)
(statutory construction/Magnusson-Moss Act) - Martinez v. Green, 212 Ariz. 320, 131 P.3d 492 (App. 2006)
(assignability of statutory claims) - O’Donnell v. Vencor Inc., 466 F.3d 1104 (9th Cir. 2006)
(employment) - Phelps v. Firebird Raceway, Inc., 212 Ariz. 146, 118 P.3d 1110 (2005)
(Arizona constitution) (amicus) - American Greyhound Racing v. State of Arizona, 305 F.3d 1015 (9th Cir. 2002) (Indian gaming/indispensable parties)
- Botma v. Huser, 202 Ariz. 14, 39 P.3d 538 (App. 2002)
(attorney liability) - Sherman v. City of Tempe, 202 Ariz. 339, 45 P.3d 336 (2002)
(election law) - AlliedSignal, Inc., v. City of Phoenix, 182 F.3d 692 (9th Cir. 1999)
(commercial tort) - Paloma Inv. Ltd. Partnership v. Jenkins, 978 P.2d 110 (Ariz. App. Div. 1 1998)
(property) - Sears v. Hull, 961 P.2d 1013, 192 Ariz. 65 (Ariz. 1998)
(Indian law) - Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community v. Hull, 190 Ariz. 97, 945 P.2d 818 (Ariz. 1997) (Indian gaming/state compacts)
Awards
- Chambers USA, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business”, Litigation: Appellate, 2020-2024
- Southwest Super Lawyers, Appellate, 2008-2024
- Best Lawyers®, Appellate Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, 2008-2025
- Arizona State Bar, President’s Award, 2017
- Phoenix Best Lawyers®, “Lawyer of the Year”, Appellate Practice, 2015
- Arizona State Bar Appellate Practice Section, 2003-Present; Member 1999-Present; Civil Practice and Procedural Committee, 1999-2015
Activities
Professional Activities
- American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Fellow, 2010-Present
- Arizona State Bar Appellate Practice Section, Chair, 2006; Member 1999-Present; Civil Practice and Procedural Committee, 1999-2015
- Arizona Appellate Handbook Committee, Member, 2005-2020
- Appellate Lawyer Representative, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2013-2017
- Horace Rumpole Inn of Court: President, 2002-2003; Executive Committee, 1996-2005; Member, 1995-2005
Community Activities
- SunSounds Volunteer Radio Broadcast Reader, 1990-2002
- Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Alumni Board, 1998-1999
Insights
Publications
- Structuring Appellate Briefs
The Journal of Appellate Practice and Process Vol. 21, No. 1, Winter 2021 - Arizona’s Appealing New Rules: The Overhaul of the Arizona Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure
Arizona Attorney, January 2015 - The Arizona Supreme Court Petition for Review: Art, Science and More
Arizona Attorney, November 2012 - Video: Osborn Maledon’s Thomas Hudson on Supreme Court Health Care Ruling
ABC 15 News, June 2012 - Four Easy Ways to Lose Your Ninth Circuit Appeal During Trial
Arizona Attorney, December 2011 - Considering Your Alternatives: Obtaining a Stay Pending Appeal with Alternative Security
The Appellate Advocate, No. 2 at 9, September 2010 - Citing Unpublished Decisions in Federal Court: A New Beginning
The Committee on Pretrial Practice & Discovery, Fall 2006 - Proposed: Make Memoranda Decisions Available Online and Allow Them to be Cited as Persuasive Authority
Arizona Attorney, June 2006 - The “Secret” History of Memoranda Decisions
Arizona Attorney, June 2006 - Common Traps in Making the Record for Appeal, Co-Author
14 The Committee on Pretrial Practice & Discovery 1, 22, Summer 2006 - Preserving the Record On Appeal
Arizona Attorney, March 2004 - How Not to Lose Your Appeal at Trial, Federal Bar Association, November 2010
- Arizona Appellate Highlights, Arizona Attorney (2006-2017)
- Punitive Damages at the Tenth Anniversary of BMW v. Gore, PLI Institute (August 2006)
- Arizona’s Supreme Court Legacy: Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justice O’Connor, State Bar Convention (June 2006)
- Working with the Arizona Court of Appeals, State Bar of Arizona, Faculty (2004), Chair (2006-2014)
- Annual Arizona Supreme Court Review, Co-Chair (2006), Chair (2007-2015)
- Current Issues in Appellate Courts, Arizona Judicial Conference (June 2005)
- Sex and the Constitution, State Bar Convention (June 2005)
- Nuts and Bolts Trial Courtroom Series (March 2005)
- An Overview of Some Procedural and Substantive Punitive Damages Issues Post State Farm v. Campbell, State Bar of Arizona, Appellate Practice Section (February 2004)