I. GENERAL CIVIL LITIGATION
A. MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
The firm has, since its founding, been consistently and actively involved in medical litigation including the representation of doctors and their medical practices, nurses, hospitals and clinics. We have the privilege of being selected to represent physicians insured by MAG Mutual, Georgia's largest and only physician-owned medical liability insurer, and were the first firm selected in the Augusta area for that purpose. The firm employs a nurse consultant who, together with paralegals specializing in health law, assist in the research, records analysis and expert witness interaction, which are at the core of medical litigation. Our lawyers are frequently invited to speak at and serve as faculty for continuing legal education seminars devoted exclusively to medical malpractice issues. We enjoy our close association with the Augusta area's thriving medical community and are gratified to give our clients in the health profession the benefit of that relationship.
B. INSURANCE DEFENSE
The defense of insurance companies, and their insureds, has been an area of practice for the firm since its formation in 1971. Insurance defense is the primary area of concentration for several attorneys of the firm who are engaged in an active trial practice involving automobile collisions, premises liability claims, property and casualty losses, coverage disputes, and a great variety of other tort claims and contract claims against both insurers, and insureds.
C. LEGAL MALPRACTICE
The firm has had the privilege of representing attorneys in the Augusta area since its inception. Members of the firm have been hired on numerous occasions to be the personal attorney for lawyers who have had professional negligence claims brought against them to assist the attorney retained by the malpractice insurance carrier. Additionally, the firm has been selected by Georgia Lawyers Insurance Company to represent its insureds in the Augusta area. An example of a legal malpractice claim defended by the firm is Kellos v. Sawilowsky, 172 Ga. App. 263 (1984), aff'd. 254 Ga. 4 (1985), one of the most cited legal malpractice cases in Georgia.
D. EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR DISPUTES
The firm regularly represents the interests of employers, and employees, in disputes regarding employment contracts, non-compete agreements, employee benefits, wage and hour issues, sexual harassment, and discrimination. The firm handles cases involving wrongful termination, and claims pursuant to the Worker Adjustment and Restraining Notification (WARN) Act.
E. CIVIL RIGHTS
A significant portion of the firm's work is devoted to the litigation of civil rights issues, and claims of discrimination based upon race, age, sex, and claims pursuant to 42 USCA § 1983.
F. COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS LITIGATION
The firm is regularly involved in the resolution of disputes arising within the business community. These range from actions for the enforcement of or breach of a contract to anti-trust litigation. The firm handles commercial litigation in both state and federal courts involving franchise disputes, licensing agreements, trade secrets, proprietary information, real estate and the sale and dissolution of businesses. We have represented not only shareholders, individual investors and corporate officers, but also manufacturing concerns varying in size from 20 to 2500 employees, medical practices, building contractors, real estate developers and those in the transportation industry. Our region’s economy is dynamic and creates a need for legal services.
G. CONSUMER LITIGATION
The firm's general civil litigation practice encompasses both the prosecution and defense of a litany of consumer litigation matters. The firm's consumer litigation practice includes all varieties of warranty claims, fraud claims, and deceptive trade practices claims. Other examples of consumer litigation issues are claims pursuant to the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act, and the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.
H. MISCELLANEOUS
In addition to other specific categories of General Civil Litigation, the firm represents litigants in a great variety of other areas in both the trial courts and appellate courts of the state of Georgia and the Federal Court system. These other areas include construction litigation, voting rights issues, defamation claims, and environmental matters.
II. PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH
The firm has represented many persons in a variety of cases in which damages were sought and recovered on behalf of those injured and/or killed by the negligence of other parties. The firm has sued product designers and manufacturers for injuries caused by such products; has brought actions against drivers of all types of motor vehicles, including tractor trailers; and has brought claims against owners and occupiers of premises for injuries which occurred to persons using such premises.
III. CLASS ACTION LITIGATION
The firm has filed over 100 major class action lawsuits involving a myriad of consumer type issues. These actions have resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits being paid to millions of class members and have resulted in changes in the business practices of many corporations and businesses. Firm member Thomas W. Tucker and John B. Long are recognized as two of the leading class action lawyers in Georgia, and Mr. Tucker was selected as a Georgia Super Lawyer in the area of class actions and mass torts. The firm has also defended class actions.
IV. BUSINESS LAW
A. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL ENTITIES
Our firm provides legal services to a wide range of business and professional entities. These services include formation of corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint ventures; counsel to owners, officers and directors on company governance, regulatory compliance and personnel matters.
We assist in the planning for procurement of business financing through institutional loans backed by accounts receivable and other business assets.
B. BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS
We plan, structure and execute the purchase and sale of businesses through asset and stock acquisitions, including regulatory compliance and acquisition financing.
C. COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Our attorneys provide a wide range of services to the commercial real estate market. These services include: negotiation of purchase and sales contracts and leases; structuring and closing real estate backed financing; provision of title examinations and policies of title insurance; land development planning and financing; review and approval of construction contracts and review and approval of real estate management agreements.
D. TAX DEFERRED EXCHANGE
Our firm plans and advises on all forms of tax deferred transactions involving simultaneous, deferred and reverse exchanges and construction exchanges. We provide for qualified intermediary and accommodation titleholder services.
V. FAMILY LAW
Our firm handles a full range of domestic relations matters, including divorce; separation; child support; child custody and visitation; alimony; marital property division; debt divison; pre-marital agreements; paternity; and post-divorce issues, including contempt, modification of child support, modification of custody, and modification of visitation.
VI. BANKRUPTCY
Our firm represents clients, both debtors and creditors, in Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases. We assist our business and corporate clients in protecting their rights involving liquidation and reorganization both in underlying bankruptcy proceedings and in adversary proceedings.
VII. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
A. MEDIATION
Firm member Thomas W. Tucker has been engaged as a mediator in cases involving medical malpractice, legal malpractice, accounting malpractice, product liability, business litigation, construction law, and motor vehicle accidents.
B. ARBITRATION
Mr. Tucker is a member of the panel of arbitrators for the National Arbitration Forum. In addition, Mr. Tucker has been appointed by various courts as a Special Master to assist in resolving disputes between litigants.
VIII. CRIMINAL DEFENSE
The firm provides legal representation to individuals who have been charged with criminal offenses in either the state courts or federal courts of Georgia.
