GA Courts

Henry C. Sama v. Ethan Carswell - Case Withdrawn

The Court of Appeals of Georgia has granted the appellant's motion to withdraw the appeal in the case of Henry C. Sama v. Ethan Carswell. Jurisdiction has been released back to the trial court upon receipt of the order.

Rodney Devel Harris v. Anya Renee Grant-Malcolm - Court of Appeals of Georgia

The Georgia Court of Appeals reversed in part and vacated in part a trial court's order in the case of Rodney Devel Harris v. Anya Renee Grant-Malcolm. The appellate court found that the trial court erred in preventing the defendant from arguing that damages should be fair to both parties and in denying the defendant's request to charge the jury on this principle. The court also reversed the denial of the defendant's motion for summary judgment on the claim for bad-faith attorney fees.

Jamar Cedric Thomas v. State - Interlocutory Application Dismissed

The Georgia Court of Appeals dismissed Jamar Cedric Thomas's interlocutory application for appeal. The court found the application was filed untimely, exceeding the ten-day statutory limit after the certificate of immediate review was granted.

Candace Lanette Sneed Reinstated to Practice Law

The Supreme Court of Georgia has ordered the reinstatement of Candace Lanette Sneed to the practice of law in the state. This decision follows the Court's review of a compliance notice submitted by the State Bar of Georgia, confirming that Ms. Sneed has met the conditions for reinstatement.

Gines v. State - Murder Conviction Appeal

The Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed the murder convictions and sentences for Jamel Kweisi Gines, Dontravious Mahone, and Michael Jamar Dawson. The convictions stem from a 2016 shooting death, and the appeals addressed numerous claims of error following a December 2018 trial. The court denied motions for new trial and upheld the jury's verdicts.

Georgia Supreme Court: Municipal Liability for Street Negligence

The Georgia Supreme Court clarified municipal liability for street negligence, vacating and remanding a $35 million judgment against the City of Milton. The court ruled that OCGA § 32-4-93(a) does not waive immunity for road defect claims, which must rely on OCGA § 36-33-1(b) if a ministerial duty is implicated.

City of Milton v. Chang - Municipal Liability for Road Defects

The Georgia Supreme Court vacated lower court decisions in a lawsuit against the City of Milton, ruling that municipal immunity is not waived for road defect claims unless the defect is within the portion of the street intended for travel. The case involved a $32.5 million award to the parents of a man killed in a vehicle accident.

The APPEAL, INC. v. Oliver - Civil Rights/Access to Execution Procedures

The Court of Appeals of Georgia affirmed a trial court's dismissal of a civil complaint filed by The Appeal, Inc. against Georgia Department of Corrections officials. The news organization sought greater media access to lethal injection procedures, but the court found TAI lacked standing to pursue the claims.

Lundy v. Kemp - Wrongful Death Action

The Court of Appeals of Georgia reversed and remanded a wrongful death action concerning a jail inmate's suicide. The court found the trial court erred in allowing defendants to argue discretion regarding a jail policy and in allowing a related special interrogatory to the jury. The case involves claims of negligence against jail officers.

Heather Brown v. Barbara Schmitt - Court Opinion

The Court of Appeals of Georgia reviewed a fee award in Heather Brown v. Barbara Schmitt. The court affirmed the denial of certain attorney fees but reversed the award of others, finding that the conduct did not meet the legal standard for sanctionable conduct under OCGA § 9-15-14(b).