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FEATURE
On Thursday, December 11th, GTLA's 2014-2015 LEAD Class held their second session of the year - 'A Day with the Judiciary.' The session began in the Court of Appeals, where Judges Carla Wong McMillian and John Ellington addressed the class. The Judges shared valuable insights with our LEAD Class, helping them to navigate the Court of Appeals and offering them practical advice on appearing before the Court. Afterwards, Judge McMillian graciously swore four members of the LEAD Class into the Court of Appeals!
Later that afternoon, the class traveled down the hall to the Supreme Court of Georgia, where Justice David Nahmias addressed them and performed a swearing in for the newest members of the Supreme Court. Justice Nahmias shared his experience as both an attorney and later a Justice with the LEAD Class, and offered them advice on arguing before the Court, preparing briefs and the vital importance of Amicus Curiae briefs from interested parties. The LEAD Class did a fantastic job representing our Association, and we can't wait to see what they have in store for us in the future!  Supreme Court Justice David Nahmias delivers the Oath to the 5 newest members of the Supreme Court of Georgia COMMUNICATIONS
GTLA Applauds HHS Report Showing Nationwide Decrease in Preventable Medical Errors
Atlanta, GA – A report released this month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that preventable medical errors in hospitals across the country have fallen by 17% over the past three years. This reduction in errors over the 36-month span has resulted, the Department has found, in an estimated 50,000 fewer deaths, 1.3 million fewer harmed patients and nearly $12,000,000,000 in cost savings.
"On behalf of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, I applaud the Department of Health and Human Services for working with healthcare providers across the country to improve the quality of care that our patients are receiving in hospitals," remarked GTLA President Linley Jones. "Having been on the forefront of efforts to improve patient safety through the reduction of preventable medical errors in Georgia hospitals for many years, GTLA has long believed that these efforts could be successful only if they were focused on the training and continuing education of healthcare providers – not limiting the rights of injured patients."
It has been estimated that at least 98,000 Americans die each year as a result of preventable medical errors, though a recent study in the Journal of Patient Safety found that the number of preventable deaths could actually be as high as 440,000 annually. The direct cost of these preventable medical errors, according to the Society of Actuaries, amounts to nearly $20 billion each year.
"Though the HHS report shows that progress is being made in our hospitals, there is still a significant amount of work to be done. The fact of the matter is that the number of Americans who die each year as a result of medical errors is still unacceptably high," continued Jones. "As Georgia’s legislators continue to consider options to improve the safety, efficiency and financial standing of our medical facilities, I implore them to follow the lead of the Department of Health and Human Services in recognizing that the solution to the epidemic of preventable medical errors does not lie in shielding negligent healthcare providers from accountability.
"To ultimately recognize the savings associated with the elimination of preventable medical errors – namely, the saving of innocent human lives and the cost savings that would accompany it – we must keep our focus squarely on patient safety initiatives," concluded Jones.
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NEW LAWYERS DIVISION
The New Lawyers Division of GTLA continued their great community service efforts by graciously spending their Saturday volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. While on site, our NLD volunteers had the opportunity to get their hands dirty while working alongside fellow volunteers to build a house for a deserving family in South Atlanta. It was a great time for a very worthy cause, and we can't wait to do it again next year! If you'd like to find out more about how you can get involved with GTLA's New Lawyers Division in 2015, please contact NLD Chair Jennifer Ivey at jennifer@linleyjones.com.  WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
UPCOMING GTLA EVENTS
 You are invited to join GTLA in Snowmass Village, Colorado on March 11-15 for the 2015 Ski-LE Workshop! One of our most popular - and family-friendly - CLE events of the year, Ski-LE allows attendees ample time to spend with friends, family and colleagues exploring the mountains, while also offering 5 CLE Credit Hours through daily morning sessions. If you're looking for the ultimate stay-and-play experience, then Ski-LE is the Workshop for you! CLICK HERE to reserve your spot today! Program Schedule at a Glance
March 11
5:00 – 6:00 pm Welcome Cocktail Reception
6:30 pm Group Dinner Option Available
March 12
8:00 - 9:00 am CLE Session with Hot Breakfast
5:00 - 6:00 pm Après Ski with Open Bar
6:30 pm Group Dinner Option Available
March 13
8:00 - 9:00 am CLE Session with Hot Breakfast
5:00 - 6:00 pm Après Ski with Open Bar
6:30 pm Group Dinner Option Available
March 14
8:00 - 9:00 am CLE Session with Hot Breakfast
9:00 am Workshop Adjourns GTLA only has a few rooms left in the block at the Westin Snowmass Resort for $389 per night. Please call the hotel directly at 800-525-9402 and ask for the Georgia Trial Lawyers rate. The deadline to make your reservations is Monday, February 9th, 2015. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
On behalf of all of us at the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, we would like to offer a sincere 'THANK YOU' to the exhibitors who made last week's Holiday Workshop possible! We could not host the top-notch events that we do without their generous support, so please join us in recognizing - and utilizing the outstanding services of - these sponsors: American Association for Justice Capital Financing
Capstone Financial
CaseMetrix, LLC
Cherokee Funding
Civil Justice PAC
Collision Specialists, Inc.
Courtroom View Network
Courtroom Visuals
Essential Legal Funding
Fast Funds, Inc.
Forge Consulting
Insurance Specialists, Inc.
Med Art & Legal Graphics Co.
Medical Visions, Inc.
ML Healthcare
NFP Structured Settlements
Pope Reporting & Video, LLC
Providio MediSolutions
Robson Forensic, Inc.
The Gingras Firm
The Injury Specialists
UPS
Vocational Economics, Inc.
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Founded in 1956, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA) is dedicated to strengthening and upholding Georgia’s civil justice system and protecting the rights of Georgia citizens and consumers. GTLA works in the legislative, political and media arenas to ensure that Georgians know and understand the importance of their rights to justice and to make certain that these rights, which are at the very core of what it means to be American, are safeguarded and protected. |
| Georgia Trial Lawyers Association 101 Marietta Street, NW Suite 3350, Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone (404) 522-8487 | Fax (404) 522-3705 |
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