FMG staffs the Bell & Clements IP LPL Risk Management Hotline. This hotline is only for insureds of Bell & Clements who have an active policy of insurance.
If you are calling for specific legal advice for risk management or a potential claim that will necessitate our first establishing an attorney-client and privileged consultation, you will need to first submit a request for consultation form and agree to the terms of our consultation. Please note that no attorney-client relationship will be formed nor exist, between the Bell & Clements insured (“you”) and Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP, (“FMG”) unless and until (1) you complete the below Request for Consultation Form, (2) you agree to the terms and conditions of the engagement as set forth in the attached agreement (3) FMG advises you there are no conflicts in connection with the potential consultation, and (4) FMG accepts the request and agrees to consult with you.
In the event FMG accepts your request, you will thereafter be eligible for 2 hours of legal consultation free of charge. Please note, the activities and/or tasks to be completed [within these unpaid hours] are solely within FMG’s discretion.
Fees & Billing: In the event FMG accepts your request, you will thereafter be eligible for 2 hours of legal representation free of charge. Any additional representation beyond the complimentary hours is conditioned upon your prior acknowledgment and agreement in writing to be responsible for and pay any additional legal fees and expenses at the agreed-upon Bell & Clements agreed hourly rate beginning at the time of your acceptance. In other words, you will not be charged for any fees beyond the 2-hour free consultation, unless and until you agree to additional paid consultation and services.
*Please review and agree to the below terms and conditions of representation if my request for consultation is accepted by FMG.
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 be available on these devices after normal work hours. On the other hand, many employees…
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 allow employers more freedom to implement restrictive covenants for their employees, including non-competition, customer non-solicitation,…
“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 liability that comes with furnishing alcohol to promote more holiday cheer. In particular, what happens…
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 is then individually responsible for paying his or her portion of the judgment.
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 the next chapter in this saga. Briefly, the “shot clock” portion of the declaratory ruling…
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 seeks to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) (the federal law that regulates minimum…
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 key challenges still remain, the Georgia Supreme Court recently adopted the federal Daubert standard for admissibility of…
The Eleventh Circuit Expands Title IX Sexual Harassment Liability
9/1/10
By Mary Anne Ackourey and Bill Buechner The Eleventh Circuit has expanded the circumstances under which a school district may be held liable for sexual harassment under Title IX. In Doe v. School Board of Broward County, Fla., (11th Cir. April 27, 2010), a high school student alleged that her math teacher sexually assaulted her in the…