12/1/10
By Ben Mathis
For over a decade, it has been my privilege to write this annual year-end note to our clients and friends on behalf of our firm. In doing so this year, I am reminded this is now the …
12/1/10
By Ben Mathis
For over a decade, it has been my privilege to write this annual year-end note to our clients and friends on behalf of our firm. In doing so this year, I am reminded this is now the …
12/1/10
Robert “Bobby” B. Baker, Jr., will join the firm on January 1 as a Partner. Commissioner Baker is currently finishing his third term as a statewide elected member of the Georgia Public Service Commission.
At FMG, Mr. Baker’s practice will …
12/1/10
By T. Bart Gary
On November 22, 2010, the Georgia Supreme Court reversed a decision of the Georgia Court of Appeals regarding the proper statute of limitation to apply to claims for professional malpractice. The case of Newell Recycling of …
Should Your Company Voluntarily Participate in E-Verify?
12/1/10
By Kelly Morrison
E-Verify is the federal government’s online system through which an individual’s legal work status is verified by checking their I-9 information against the information contained in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) and Social Security Administration …
Cyber-Liability Evolves in the Wake of Important Legal Developments
12/1/10
By Mary Anne Ackourey and Betsy Bulat Turner
It is no secret that technology has irreversibly changed the workplace. Mobile email devices and remote access have blurred the distinction between business and personal time as employers often expect employees to …
11/1/10
By Ben Mathis and Kelly Morrison
Passage of Constitutional Amendment One in Tuesday’s election will bring a dramatic change to Georgia law on non-competition and related agreements. Last year, Governor Sonny Perdue signed House Bill 173 (H.B. 173), designed to …
“Last Call” at the Holiday Party – “Wake Up Call” for Employer Liability
11/1/10
By Sun Choy
As the holiday season approaches, many businesses and firms are beginning to plan their office parties. While the focus is on the many positive benefits during the planning stages, it is easy to forget about the potential …
New Insurance Products Available to Design and Construction Field
11/1/10
By Will Tate
General contractors, construction managers, design/build contractors and all types of trade contractors should note insurance carriers are offering new products. Here are some things to consider before you next talk with your insurance broker:…
Apportionment – Liability Based on Fault, Not Pocket Size
10/1/10
By Will Tate
Apportionment of damages is the distribution of a percentage of the judgment, as determined by a jury, to each party responsible for the injury to the plaintiff. See O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33. The party receiving the allocated damages …
The Aftermath of the FCC’s Declaratory TCA Ruling
10/1/10
By Dana Maine
If you have reason to care, you already know by now about the “shot clock” ruling from the Federal Communications Commission from November 2009 (2009 WL 3868811). Enough time has passed to be able to comment about …
Proposed Legislation Continues Focus on Independent Contractors
9/1/10
By Ben Mathis and Amy Combs Bender
For several years, Congress has attempted to pass legislation to regulate the misclassification of workers as “independent contractors.” The latest effort is the Employee Misclassification Prevention Act, which was introduced in April and …
Tort Reform Revisited: Georgia Supreme Court (Finally) Adopts Daubert Standard
9/1/10
By Ted Freeman and Michelle Youngblood Terry
In the five years since the enactment of Georgia’s Tort Reform Act, challenges, primarily by plaintiffs, to various provisions of the statute have slowly made their way through the appellate process. While some …