Contracts are a part of our daily lives. We sign financing documents to purchase cars and leases to rent apartments. We are handed thick stacks of paper to review when deciding to invest in seemingly great business opportunities. But few carefully read any of these documents, and almost no one reads the boilerplate language at the end of these documents. This is a mistake. All too often the person sitting across from us at the “deal table” is more concerned with closing the deal or meeting a monthly sales quota, or even unloading a business that is losing money, than with telling you the whole truth about the deal. Listen Now ... Continue Reading
LISTEN NOW: COVID-19: Does the CARES Act have an impact?
Host Christy Walsh discusses the CARES Act with attorney Marsha Ambroise. On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was signed into law as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The CARES Act is an economic relief package that expands unemployment insurance benefits and other relief for individuals and small businesses affected by the economic downturn. One of the particular provisions of the CARES Act is the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”) program. This program provides money to individuals who are unemployed. Listen Now ... Continue Reading
Partner Jeff Ward quoted in ‘Uncharted Territory: Georgia Trial Lawyers Prepare to Resume Jury Trials’ by the Daily Report
In 'Uncharted Territory': Georgia Trial Lawyers Prepare to Resume Jury Trials, the Daily Report gains insight from various trial lawyers on their thoughts on resuming in-person jury trials and what protective measures they believe are necessary to do so. DEF Partner and Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (GDLA) President, Jeff Ward expresses the significance of having a live jury, however questions the precise approach to do so. With no end in sight with COVID-19, trial lawyers are left attempting to calculate the best and safest method for jury trials to recommence. “I think everybody wishes the same thing—that we can get back in the courtrooms as soon as we can safely,” said Jeff ... Continue Reading
Georgia Court of Appeals Rules No General Duty to Prevent Driver’s Intentional and Tortious Misuse of Cell Phone Application
In a 2-1 decision issued today, the Court of Appeals of Georgia affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of Plaintiffs’ case against Snapchat in Maynard et al. v. Snapchat, Inc. (Case No. A20A1218) Plaintiffs sued Snapchat and driver Christal McGee for damages as a result of a car accident which was allegedly caused by McGee’s use of Snapchat’s speed filter. The filter allowed users to “record their speed and overlay that speed onto a Snapchat photo or video” to share on social media. On the evening in question, McGee accelerated to 100mph so she could capture the speed on a photograph using the Speed Filter. Due to her distraction and unsafe speed, she rear-ended Plaintiff’s ... Continue Reading
Drew Eckl & Farnham Wins Two Legal Marketing Association Awards
During this year's Legal Marketing Association Southeast Region Your Honor Awards, Drew Eckl's Marketing Team won first place for Marketing Management and Leadership: Internal Marketing and our Director of Marketing, Christy Walsh was awarded Member of the Year. Our internal branding campaign was initiated while creating our firm brochure. During this process, we determined that as part of our internal branding initiative we needed to address the following strategic goals: Focused on growth and compiled the necessary information to recruit laterals;Recruited diverse candidates and collected key information about internal diversity and initiatives for candidate ... Continue Reading
LISTEN NOW: Things Businesses Should Know and Do in a COVID-19 World
"Things that businesses should know and do in a COVID-19 world” with Attorneys Juliana Neelbauer and Camile Hart. Both bring a different viewpoint to managing the ever-changing legal landscape as it relates to COVID-19. As with everything these days, COVID-19 has completely changed how businesses run their day-to-day operations and it seems that there is always something new that businesses should know or that they have to do in order to limit their liability. *Update: On October 10, 2020 the Supreme Court of Georgia passed its Seventh Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency. In the Order, the Court ended the suspension of jury trials. Jury trials ... Continue Reading
Partner Whitney Greene Receives 2020 McLane Outside Counsel Award
Atlanta, GA – Partner Whitney Greene has been recognized by McLane Company, Inc., a leading supply chain services company providing grocery and foodservice supply chain solutions, as a recipient of their Outside Counsel Award. The award recognizes a few select attorneys nationwide for their outstanding level of legal service to the company. According to McLane, the recipients of the award “demonstrate a rare ability to embrace challenges, remain client focused and results driven. They understand the importance of knowing our company, developing meaningful relationships and serving as an extension of who we are.” ... Continue Reading
Georgia Supreme Court Rules Apportionment Applies to Strict Products Liability
On October 19, 2020, the Supreme Court of Georgia issued an Opinion in Johns et al. v. Suzuki Motor Of America, Inc. et al which held that Georgia’s apportionment statute – O.C.G.A.§ 51-12-33(a) – applies to a strict products liability claim under O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11. In Johns, the plaintiff was seriously injured when the front brake on his Suzuki motorcycle failed suddenly. He later sued the designer and manufacturer of the motorcycle, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and its wholly-owned subsidiary and American distributor, Suzuki Motor of America Inc. (SMAI), asserting a strict products liability claim based on a design defect, as well as two negligence claims for breach of a continuing ... Continue Reading
Partner Melody Kiella will be participating in “Navigating Uncertainty Together: Practical Strategies for Cultivating Resilience in 2020 & Beyond”
Partner Melody Kiella will be participating in “Navigating Uncertainty Together: Practical Strategies for Cultivating Resilience in 2020 & Beyond” with Stacey Dougan. This session is part of the DRI Virtual Annual Conference and is available to watch at your convenience beginning October 21st at 4pm. Watch here ... Continue Reading