IN THE KNOW
THE GTLA NEWSLETTER
October 2014
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
The Executive Committee of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Amicus Committee are pleased to announce the hiring of GTLA's new Amicus Clerk -- Lucy R. Atkinson. In her role, Lucy will be instrumental in working alongside GTLA members and leadership in strategizing, crafting and submitting Amicus Briefs on a wide range of topics that are vital to your clients' rights.
Lucy comes to us from Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial, where her practice focused on civil litigation with an emphasis on catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, product liability, and mass and complex torts. Lucy graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2007. Upon graduation, she practiced with Balch & Bingham, concentrating on commercial litigation for two years. A magna cum laude graduate of Washington & Lee University, Lucy earned an undergraduate degree in English and competed on the Varsity Women's Cross Country team. Lucy lives in Athens, Ga. with her husband, a partner at Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley in the Plaintiffs' Litigation group, and son.
Please join us in welcoming Lucy to the team!
Lucy comes to us from Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial, where her practice focused on civil litigation with an emphasis on catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, product liability, and mass and complex torts. Lucy graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2007. Upon graduation, she practiced with Balch & Bingham, concentrating on commercial litigation for two years. A magna cum laude graduate of Washington & Lee University, Lucy earned an undergraduate degree in English and competed on the Varsity Women's Cross Country team. Lucy lives in Athens, Ga. with her husband, a partner at Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley in the Plaintiffs' Litigation group, and son.
Please join us in welcoming Lucy to the team!
FEATURE
Time is running out to reserve your spot at the GTLA Political & Legislative Summit! The 2014 General Election and the 2015 Legislative Session of the Georgia General Assembly are just around the corner, and you're invited to join GTLA's top-notch legislative and political team for an afternoon of advocacy training, can't-miss speakers and unparalleled insight from some of our state's best political, legislative and media minds.
However, there is an even more important reason to join us at the Summit: We need your help!
As members of the plaintiffs’ trial bar, you are uniquely knowledgeable about the potential effects that even the most seemingly-benign changes to the code – not to mention significant changes to the rules of discovery, seatbelt admissibility and many others – can have on your clients’ rights and your practices. That is why our lobbying team will be on hand all afternoon to listen and learn from your expertise as trial lawyers. We will be working on more than one-dozen legislative initiatives in January, and this is a vital opportunity for you to help our team craft GTLA’s messaging, strategy and position on these issues and so many others.
The 2014 Political & Legislative Summit will be held next Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the State Bar of Georgia. This is a MEMBERS-ONLY event. REGISTER HERE.
Program Agenda:
11:30 a.m. Check In & Lunch
Noon 2014 Legislative Recap & 2015 Legislative Preview
Bill Clark, GTLA Political Director
12:30 p.m. Civil Justice PAC: Where Your Contributions are Going
Caroline McLean, Civil Justice PAC Executive Director
1 p.m. Working with the Media in the 21st Century: A Panel Discussion
Kathleen Baydala Joyner, Daily Report
Lori Geary, WSB-TV
Aaron Gould-Sheinin, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Randy Travis, Fox5 I-Team
2 p.m. A Word from our Legislators: A Legislative Panel Discussion and Q&A
Representative Rich Golick (R-Smyrna)
Representative Stacey Evans (D-Smyrna)
Senator Charlie Bethel (R-Dalton)
Senator Lester Jackson (D-Savannah)
3 p.m. Breakout Sessions: 4 Hot Topics for 2015 (4 Sessions of 15 min. each)
Moderated by: GTLA Team Members Bill Clark, Jim Collins, Jamie Lord
and Wendi Clifton
and Wendi Clifton
4 p.m. 2014 Elections: What the Numbers are Telling Us
Mark Rountree, Landmark Communications
Chris Huttman, 20/20 Insight, LLC
5:30- 7:30 p.m. Civil Justice PAC Reception – SkyLounge at the Glenn Hotel
Spots are filling up fast, so please click HERE to reserve your seat at the Summit!
NEW LAWYERS DIVISION
You're invited to join GTLA's New Lawyers Division for tonight's Happy Hour! The Happy Hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be held at Loca Luna in Atlanta. As always, this event offers the opportunity to network with fellow GTLA members while also enjoying complimentary beverages, courtesy of our generous sponsors. The NLD Happy Hour is also open to all prospective GTLA members, so please bring a friend or colleague that you believe might be a good addition to our association! Additional details are as follows:
New Lawyers Division Happy Hour
Thursday, Oct. 16
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Loca Luna
550-C Amsterdam Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
Thursday, Oct. 16
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Loca Luna
550-C Amsterdam Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
To RSVP, please click HERE or email Daniel Everett at admin@gtla.org. We look forward to seeing you there!
GRASSROOTS REPORT
GTLA President Linley Jones joined Grassroots Director Micah Gravley in the Coastal Empire on Wednesday, Oct. 8 for the Annual Savannah TLA Bonna Bella Yacht Club Mixer. Linley and Micah were joined by more than 30 Savannah TLA members, as well as several legislators and local leaders, for an evening of fun and fellowship at what is always one of the most enjoyable events of the year. Linley had the opportunity to update the group about all of the exciting developments going on at GTLA this year, as well as previewing the quickly approaching Legislative Session and providing the group with insight on how to make the most out of their membership in our association. Thank you to all who joined us!
Want to get involved with your Local TLA? Click HERE to find yours, or contact GTLA Grassroots Director Micah Gravley at mgravley@gtla.org.
Civil Justice PAC Board Chairman Dan Snipes, GTLA President Linley Jones & Sponsor Bill Wright of Ringler Associates.
A great group of Savannah Trial Lawyers!
President Linley Jones addresses a crowd of more than 30 Savannah TLA members & legislators
Want to get involved with your Local TLA? Click HERE to find yours, or contact GTLA Grassroots Director Micah Gravley at mgravley@gtla.org.
Civil Justice PAC Board Chairman Dan Snipes, GTLA President Linley Jones & Sponsor Bill Wright of Ringler Associates.
A great group of Savannah Trial Lawyers!
President Linley Jones addresses a crowd of more than 30 Savannah TLA members & legislators
UPDATE FROM AAJ
Please save the date for the American Association for Justice's 2015 Winter Convention in Palm Springs, California. The Convention will be held on Feb. 21-25!
This Convention gets better each year. Come meet with leaders in your areas of practice and join the lively exchanges that take place during the more than 200 events at the convention. Accomplished trial lawyers and experts will discuss the latest developments in trial advocacy and specialized topics at 11 cutting-edge Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs designed to help you better represent your clients. Earn up to a year’s worth of CLE credits at these programs designed by plaintiff lawyers for plaintiff lawyers.
For more information and to reserve your spot, please click HERE!
This Convention gets better each year. Come meet with leaders in your areas of practice and join the lively exchanges that take place during the more than 200 events at the convention. Accomplished trial lawyers and experts will discuss the latest developments in trial advocacy and specialized topics at 11 cutting-edge Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs designed to help you better represent your clients. Earn up to a year’s worth of CLE credits at these programs designed by plaintiff lawyers for plaintiff lawyers.
For more information and to reserve your spot, please click HERE!
AAJ Membership Special: Plaintiffs' Attorneys licensed one year and under are FREE to join AAJ for one year. Contact Regional Membership Manager, Ginger Jirik for more details at ginger.jirik@justice.org or (202) 450-7361.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Thank You to Our Newest GTLA Champion Member!
Trey Underwood
Welcome New GTLA Members!
Sarah Akinosho, Michael David Alfano, Jr., Sherri Allen, Precious Anderson, Roodgine Bray, Aisha Broderick, Ungeliqua Burns, Lindsey Casey, Constancia Davis, Cherish Dela Cruz, Meghan Flanagan, Shonda Hicks, Alec Jackson, Kayla C. Johnston, Ashley Klein, Porsche Leonce, Ethan Makin, Jackie Menk, Brian Mohs, John A. Moore, Temika Williams Murry, Clark Rosengarten, Christina M. Saad, Tyronia Smith, Kwame Townes, Sharee Tumbling, Sherri Washington, Sherri Watts, Delisa Williams, Benjamin L. Wright, Jr.
UPCOMING GTLA EVENTS
Please save the date and mark your calendars to join GTLA for the 2014 Holiday Workshop on Friday, Dec. 12 at the St. Regis Hotel in Buckhead. Always our most festive event of the year, the Holiday Workshop combines top-notch legal education with a can't-miss social calendar full of holiday cheer. This year's Holiday Workshop is expected to offer 6 CLE Credit Hours.
The full program agenda will be available soon, but you can register now to reserve your spot by registering HERE. GTLA has secured a block of rooms starting at $239 per night. The deadline to book is Nov. 15, so please call the St. Regis directly at 404-563-7900.
The full program agenda will be available soon, but you can register now to reserve your spot by registering HERE. GTLA has secured a block of rooms starting at $239 per night. The deadline to book is Nov. 15, so please call the St. Regis directly at 404-563-7900.
