Georgia’s 8 Year Statute of Limitations for Tort Victims of Unidentified Criminals
3/17/17
By: Jason Kamp
The longevity of certain crime-related tort claims seemingly increased four-fold.
Georgia tort claims are typically extinguished by the statute of limitations after two years, unless the limitations period is tolled. One source of tolling is O.C.G.A. § …
Eleventh Circuit Says No Title VII Protection for Sexual Orientation Discrimination
3/17/17
By: Amanda Hall
A split three judge panel from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that there is no Title VII protection for sexual orientation discrimination. In Evans v. Georgia Regional Hosp. et al., Eleventh Circuit Judges William …
MLB Approves Wearable Biometric Monitor During Games – What Are The Risks?
3/16/17
By: Amy C. Bender
Major League Baseball has announced it will allow players to wear a WHOOP Strap during games beginning in the 2017 season. The device gathers and analyzes levels of strain, sleep, and recovery by measuring factors such …
When it Comes to Materialmen’s Liens, it is Better to Be Safe than Sorry
3/13/17
By: Jake Carroll
While every construction law practitioner should be aware of the numerous technical requirements of Georgia’s lien law, last week, the Georgia Court of Appeals sent yet another reminder that there is little room for error when it …
Strict Scrutiny Standard Applied for Reservation of Rights Letters
3/13/17
By: Joyce Mocek
The South Carolina Supreme Court recently addressed whether an insurer’s reservation of rights letter was adequate where a carrier was providing a defense in a claim and, adopting a strict scrutiny standard, found that the letters did …
Georgia Supreme Court Rules No Pre-Suit Notice Required to Sue Cities for Intentional Acts
3/10/17
By: A. Ali Sabzevari
Anyone who defends cities in Georgia should be aware of the recent opinion from the Supreme Court of Georgia, WEST v. CITY OF ALBANY et al., No. S16Q1881, 2017 WL 875033, at *3 (Ga. Mar. 6, …
The FCC Stays Data Security Rules for Internet Service Providers
3/8/17
By: Robyn M. Flegal
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, to temporarily stay a portion of the data security rules passed in October of 2016. The portion of the rules stayed by the FCC would …
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Issues Strategic Principles for Securing the Internet of Things
3/7/17
By: Matthew N. Foree
As we have reported previously, the growth of network connected devices (“Internet of Things”) has created increasing concerns about the security risks of those devices. Recently, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) issued non-binding …
Supreme Court to Review Ninth Circuit’s “Provocation Doctrine” in Excessive Force Cases
3/3/17
By: Wes Jackson
Imagine you’re a police officer searching for an armed suspect. Radio dispatch advises that an anonymous caller saw a suspicious man rush into a nearby home. You and your partner decide to enter and search the house, …
Georgia Supreme Court Reverses Plaintiff’s Verdict But Leaves Apportionment Questions Undecided
3/2/17
By: Wayne S. Melnick and Kevin R. Stone
Recently, FMG blogged about the Court of Appeals’ opinion in Goldstein, Garber & Salama, LLC v. J.B., a case in which a jury found a dental office (GGS) 100% at fault …