United States

Georgia Supreme Court Rules on Motor Vehicle Franchise Act

The Georgia Supreme Court ruled on provisions of the Georgia Motor Vehicle Franchise Practices Act, specifically OCGA § 10-1-664.1, which generally prohibits manufacturers from selling new vehicles directly to consumers and from owning more than a 45% interest in a dealership. The court considered the constitutionality of these provisions as applied to Lucid Group USA, Inc., which sought to sell electric vehicles directly to consumers in Georgia.

Georgia Supreme Court: Fournier v. State - Malice Murder Conviction

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed a malice murder conviction for Joey Travis Fournier. The court found no reversible error in the trial court's admission of autopsy photographs or in the ineffective assistance of counsel claim related to objections to those photographs. The conviction stems from the strangulation death of Cynthia Lynn Berry.

Rivers v. The State - Appeal of Malice Murder Conviction

The Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed Karre Rivers's conviction for malice murder and related crimes. Rivers appealed, asserting the trial court erred in charging the jury on excessive force. The court found no plain error and upheld the conviction and life sentence without parole.

Dempsey v. State - Appeal of Felony Murder Convictions

The Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed the felony murder convictions of Le’Quan Dempsey for the shooting deaths of John Pendrak and Aiden Reynolds. Dempsey appealed, arguing insufficient evidence and improper admission of evidence regarding his probation status. The court rejected these arguments.

Samuels v. State - Murder Conviction Appeal

The Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed the murder conviction of Dyanta Derall Samuels. Samuels appealed his 2022 convictions for malice murder and other crimes related to two separate incidents in 2020, arguing insufficient evidence and trial court errors. The court found the evidence sufficient and denied the appeal.

Georgia Supreme Court Reverses Murder Convictions in Owens v. State

The Georgia Supreme Court reversed Maria Owens's murder convictions, finding the trial court gave an erroneous jury charge. While Owens may be retried for felony murder, her child cruelty conviction remains unchanged, though its sentence was vacated. The court's decision addresses complex issues of mutually exclusive verdicts and the law of the case doctrine.

Bryan Matthew Pritchett Disbarred by Georgia Supreme Court

The Georgia Supreme Court has disbarred attorney Bryan Matthew Pritchett following his default in disciplinary proceedings. Pritchett admitted to forging client signatures to negotiate checks and using the proceeds for personal purposes, violating multiple Rules of Professional Conduct.

Owens v. State - Supreme Court Reverses Murder Convictions

The Supreme Court of Georgia reversed Maria Owens's murder convictions, finding that the trial court erroneously instructed the jury on mutually exclusive mental states for crimes arising from a single act. The court applied its own previously overruled precedent, leading to the reversal of the felony murder conviction but allowing for retrial.

Carter v. The State - Murder Conviction Appeal

The Supreme Court of Georgia issued an opinion on Donald Carter's appeal of his murder conviction. The court found minor sentencing errors but affirmed the conviction. The opinion addresses procedural aspects of the trial and sentencing.

Jones v. State - Felony Murder Conviction Affirmed

The Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed the felony murder conviction of Willie Lee Jones. The court found sufficient evidence to support the conviction and rejected the appellant's claim that the evidence was insufficient as a matter of due process. The conviction relates to the shooting death of Benjamin Francis.