Supreme Court Issues Three Important Decisions
7/1/10
By Mary Anne Ackourey & Jonathan Kandel
The United States Supreme Court has recently issued three much anticipated decisions. The first case, Rent-A-Center, West, Inc. v. Jackson, allows parties to limit a federal court’s role in determining whether an arbitration …
Requirements on Developers and Public Water Authorities
7/1/10
By Will Tate
On June 2, 2010, Governor Sonny Perdue signed the Water Stewardship Act of 2010 (the “Water Act”). The Water Act contains several new requirements concerning developers and builders. The first, codified at O.C.G.A. § 12-5-180.1(c), requires all …
The Evolving Duty to Settle: A Foundation Made of Shifting Sand
7/1/10
By Philip W. Savrin and Jonathan J. Kandel
Many are familiar with the delineation between the duties to defend and to indemnify that are owed by an insurer to its insured. A third duty has emerged in the case law, …
Legislative Update
7/1/10
By Sun Choy, Josh Portnoy
The Georgia General Assembly ended its 2010 legislative session on April 29, 2010. The three main areas addressed by the General Assembly this year were education, transportation, and conservation.…
Local Governments Should Consider SPLOST Tax in Difficult Economic Conditions
7/1/10
By Dana Maine
Many local governments are feeling the budgetary pinch of the down economy. Local governments should be aware that Georgia law provides an excellent economic vehicle to fund capital outlay projects during tough economic times called a SPLOST …