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. § …
Helping to Ensure Enforceability of a Mediated Settlement
2/7/17
In the past few years, I have come across situations more frequently where the parties to a lawsuit reach an agreed settlement at mediation but, for a myriad of potential reasons, the parties or counsel …
1/31/17
By: Kevin R. Stone
In Goldstein, Garber & Salama, LLC v. J.B., the Georgia Court of Appeals was faced with a case in which a nurse anesthetist (Paul Serdula) sexually assaulted a dental patient (J.B.) while she was …
The Fraudulent Joinder Prevention Act of 2016: Leveling the Removal Playing Field
11/21/16
By: Jacob E. Daly
Generally speaking, at least in personal injury cases, plaintiffs prefer to litigate in state courts while defendants prefer to litigate in federal courts. Federal law has long permitted defendants to remove cases filed in state court …
The Jury Did WHAT? The Recent Trend towards Large Verdicts in Personal Injury Cases
10/3/16
By: Andrew Treese
The time may have come to ask whether we can continue to cling to the notion – it if was ever true – that evaluation of verdict range may be based upon some integral multiplier of special …
Apartment Management and Owners Increasingly on the Hook for Violent Crime
9/26/16
By: Wes Jackson
Unknown assailants killed a 33-year-old father of three during an apartment robbery in 2015. Earlier this month, a Clayton County jury determined the apartment complex where the robbery occurred is liable for half of the $20 million …
FDA Continues to Fight the First Amendment But Facteau Deals Another Blow
8/18/16
By: Kristian Smith
Last month, a federal jury in Massachusetts acquitted two executives of medical device company Acclarent, Inc. of 14 felony counts of fraud related to off-label promotion of Acclarent’s “Stratus” device. United States v. Facteau, et al. stemmed …
Ninth Circuit Issues Two Significant FDCPA Rulings To Debt Collector Law Firms
8/18/16
By: Bill Buechner
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires that debt collectors send a notice to the consumer containing certain required disclosures, either in the “initial communication” with the consumer in connection with the collection of a debt or …
The Hearsay Exception for Market Reports
7/15/16
By: Ryan Babcock
The hearsay exception for “compiled information” or market reports is an important tool that allows for the admission of such evidence notwithstanding the hearsay rule, but it is generally strictly applied by the courts. For that reason, …
Hearsay Exception for Recorded Recollections: Pitfalls to Avoid
7/15/16
By: Ryan Babcock
Rule 803(5) of the Federal Rules of Evidence operates as an exception to the hearsay rule, provided the requirements governing the rule as to the “recorded recollection” are satisfied. The rule is as follows
Recorded Recollection. A …
What’s Uga Worth? The Georgia Supreme Court Provides the Calculus
6/30/16
By: Wes Jackson
Earlier this month, the Georgia Supreme Court clarified the appropriate measure of damages for family pets and other animals that are killed or injured due to a defendant’s negligence. Under the Court’s ruling in Barking Hound Village, …
“Occurrence” v. “Offense:" Understanding the Trigger of Coverage Under the Standard CGL Policy
6/28/16
By: Mandy Proctor
It is commonly understood in the insurance industry that the standard CGL policy provides coverage for bodily injury and property damage, which is caused by an “occurrence” resulting in loss during the policy period, as well as …