Before I was a practicing civil defense lawyer the word "reptile" would have conjured up images of tetrapod animals such as snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and turtles. (Photo retrieved from Microsoft Art Gallery) Before I was a practicing civil defense lawyer the word “reptile” would have conjured up images of tetrapod animals such as snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and turtles. Now, when I hear the word “reptile”, I imagine an overzealous lawyer standing before a jury and waiving her arms for emphasis as she says words like “safety”, “danger”, and “risk” and uses phrases such as “needlessly endangering the community” and “a threat to your safety” to describe the defendant’s conduct. To ... Continue Reading
Non-Emergency Transport Vehicle Issues Under Georgia’s Motor Carrier Act
In 2012, the Georgia legislature enacted the Georgia Motor Carrier Act of 2012. One of the stated objectives of the Act was to transfer regulations of motor carriers and limousine carriers from the Georgia Public Service Commission to the Georgia Department of Public Safety. See O.C.G.A. 40-1-51. In 2012, the Georgia legislature enacted the Georgia Motor Carrier Act of 2012. One of the stated objectives of the Act was to transfer regulations of motor carriers and limousine carriers from the Georgia Public Service Commission to the Georgia Department of Public Safety. See O.C.G.A. 40-1-51. Georgia lawmakers codified a list of definitional terms to be applied in interpreting the Act. ... Continue Reading
An Attempt to Break-Even: A Review of O.C.G.A. § 34-9-11.1, an Employer/Insurer’s subrogation rights, and the ability to recover for benefits paid to an injured employee
Following an injury arising out of and in the course of employment, Georgia's workers' compensation laws require an employer/insurer to pay workers' compensation benefits to any employee regardless of who may be at fault for the employee's injury. Following an injury arising out of and in the course of employment, Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws require an employer/insurer to pay workers’ compensation benefits to any employee regardless of who may be at fault for the employee’s injury. “Subrogation” refers to the process by which the employer/insurer attempts to legally pursue a third-party responsible for causing the loss. Enacted by the legislature in 1992, O.C.G.A. § ... Continue Reading
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) Initiate Additional Guidelines and Information
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) initiated additional guidelines and information regarding the proper use of opioids and to educate doctors and patients about the opioids epidemic. Our recent update about the new CDC guidelines for prescribing opioids can be viewed here: CDC Guidlines The CDC has also issued a mobile app with their guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. It can be accessed here: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribing/app.html The app and CDC website have a morphine milligram equivalent (“MME”) calculator. This tool allows you to enter certain opioid medications, with the dosages of each medication, into the calculator, ... Continue Reading