General Blog
An arrest is not a conviction. A dismissed DUI, a case the solicitor dropped, or a charge that never went to trial can still follow you if a commercial website keeps the booking photo online and asks for money to take it down. Georgia law treats that business model as an unfair trade practice when the arrest qualifies for record…Read More
A wreck caused by a teen, a spouse, or another household driver often looks like a one defendant case. In Georgia, it frequently is not. If someone in the home furnished that vehicle for the family’s use, the injured person may also have a claim against the owner under the family purpose doctrine. The doctrine exists for a practical reason.…Read More
On September 9, 2026, the Georgia Court of Appeals issued an important decision for victims of commercial truck accidents and guidance on Governor Kemp’s controversial Tort Reform agenda. In Transcontinental Carriers, Inc. et al. v. Bennett, No. A26A1643, the court unanimously affirmed an $8.5 million jury verdict for Lewis Bennett, a truck driver seriously injured when another tractor-trailer swerved into…Read More
As a Georgia trial lawyer handling personal injury and property-damage cases across Metro Atlanta, I watch the Georgia Supreme Court closely when it draws the line between government power and private rights. On September 9, 2026, the Court did exactly that. In Blue 42 Organics, LLC v. Georgia Department of Public Safety, No. S25G1439 (Ga. Sept. 9, 2026), Chief Justice…Read More
Leaving the scene of an accident—commonly called hit and run—is a serious offense under Georgia law. Whether the collision involves an attended vehicle, an unattended (parked) vehicle, injury, or only property damage, drivers have specific statutory duties. Failing to comply can result in misdemeanor or felony charges, fines, possible jail time, points on your driving record, and mandatory driver’s license…Read More
Insights from Landmark Supreme Court Cases for Georgia Criminal Defense Clients In high-stakes congressional hearings and criminal investigations, the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination remains one of the most powerful protections available to witnesses and defendants. A timely question has arisen in national news: Can a person who received a preemptive presidential pardon still invoke the Fifth Amendment when questioned…Read More
A Summary Of Professor James Duane’s Viral Lecture “Don’t Talk To The Cops” And His Book You Have The Right To Remain Innocent If you’ve ever been pulled over, questioned by police, or arrested in Georgia, you’ve probably heard the familiar words: “You have the right to remain silent.” This wisdom is ancient: The Bible teaches, “Whoever keeps his mouth…Read More
On June 16, 2026, the Supreme Court of Georgia issued a major decision in Clark v. Leigh (2026 WL 1728636) that strengthens one of the most fundamental protections in our justice system: the right to a jury trial. In a unanimous opinion authored by Chief Justice Peterson, the Court reaffirmed its 2010 ruling in Atlanta Oculoplastic Surgery, P.C. v. Nestlehutt…Read More
In a major decision released June 29, 2026, the Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed a jury’s enormous verdict in a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from a tragic 2018 auto accident. The case, Simmons v. Watson et al. (A26A0426), involved the family and estate of Deborah Bates, who suffered catastrophic injuries and died after being struck by a driver who ran…Read More
On June 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant decision in Chatrie v. United States, 609 U.S. ___ (2026), that strengthens Fourth Amendment protections against government access to precise digital location data. The Court held that law enforcement’s use of a “geofence warrant” to obtain Google Location History data constituted a Fourth Amendment search, extending the privacy principles…Read More