General Blog
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
On May 12, 2026, Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 220, officially known as the “Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act” which went into effect on July 1st, 2026. This bipartisan legislation significantly expands and modernizes Georgia’s medical cannabis program, moving away from one of the most restrictive frameworks in the country. As a Georgia attorney helping clients navigate medical cannabis…Read More
In June 2026, former Colorado Bureau of Investigation forensic scientist Yvonne “Missy” Woods accepted a plea deal after facing 102 felony charges. She pleaded guilty to cybercrime, perjury, forgery, and attempting to influence a public servant. While she avoided a lengthy trial, the damage she caused may never be fully known. Woods, a veteran analyst with nearly 30 years at…Read More
A major change to Georgia’s First Offender Act is coming on July 1, 2026. Under HB 162, most First Offender records will now be restricted and sealed from public view — giving people who successfully complete (or are completing) a First Offender sentence a much better chance at a true second opportunity. This new law addresses a long-standing problem: even…Read More
If you’ve been charged with Boating Under the Influence (BUI) in Georgia, you may be wondering how the penalties compare to a standard DUI. While the two offenses share many similarities, there are important differences in how they affect your privileges, the administrative consequences, and the potential punishments. Here’s a clear breakdown of DUI vs. BUI penalties in Georgia. What…Read More
In Georgia premises liability cases, store owners and their insurance companies frequently argue that they had a reasonable inspection program in place, which should defeat a customer’s claim. One common “best practice” cited by retailers is the “figure eight” inspection — employees walking the sales floor in a continuous figure-eight pattern to scan for hazards. A recent federal court decision…Read More
If you’ve been injured at work in Georgia, you’re likely focused on getting the medical treatment and wage replacement benefits you’re entitled to under the state’s workers’ compensation system. But many injured workers are shocked to learn that Georgia workers’ compensation law does not protect your job. This is where the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) can become…Read More
Revenge porn — also known as nonconsensual pornography or intimate image abuse — is a devastating invasion of privacy that can cause lasting emotional harm, financial damage, and reputational destruction. In Georgia, lawmakers took strong action to protect victims by enacting OCGA § 16-11-90, which makes it a serious crime to electronically transmit or post nude or sexually explicit images…Read More