Atlanta Injury Lawyers Blog

Published on: January 25, 2017

Georgia Injury Lawyer Confidentiality Notices and Disclaimers

A light post this time. I noticed that lawyers run the gamut as to what disclaimers they attach to emails and other communications. Today, I’ll focus on email disclaimers and I will share some I have noticed recently. Of course, first I will end this section with my disclaimer.

NOTICE: This message is from a law firm, Katz Wright & Fleming LLC (KWFDM). This message is intended only for the use of the individual to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify this office immediately by telephone, delete the e-mail from your computer and do not copy or disclose it to anyone else. Return the original message to the address listed via U.S. Postal Service. If you are not an existing client of KWFDM do not construe anything in this e-mail to make you a client. Do not disclose anything to KWFDM in reply that you expect to be held in confidence until you have retained the services of KWFDM If you are a client, co-counsel or retained expert of KWFDM you should maintain the contents of this email in confidence in order to preserve the attorney-client or work product privilege that may be available to protect confidentiality. This email is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510 – 2521 and is legally privileged

Now, from another lawyer in my firm.

Published on: January 20, 2017

Certain Dog Breeds Identified as More Dangerous By Insurers

by Robert J. Fleming

According to a recent article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepard, Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, and Wolf Hybrid are considered “bad breeds” by many insurance companies and, in turn, are sometimes blacklisted or excluded from insurable claims. However, the article goes on to point out that one should not blame any single dog breed or dog for dog attacks, because in actuality every dog attack can be prevented. In other word, if dog owner were responsible and followed the laws, the dog would not be in a position to attack and innocent victim on the streets.

Dog attacks can happen with any breed and at any time, so long as the dog is allowed to roam or is not properly restrained and has the opportunity to attack. In addition, some dog owners, especially the owners of pit bulls, train the dogs to fight to the death for sport (i.e., dog fighting for betting, which is still fairly popular in some circles). However, the dog is not able to distinguish between sport and real life, and if left to its own devices and left un-restrained to roam the streets, can caused serious injury and even death. These attacks are horrific and senseless and more needs to be done by Atlanta animal control to stop these dogs from being allowed to roam neighborhood streets.

Recently, I represented a very nice woman who was gardening in her backyard one pleasant Saturday morning when not one, not two, but THREE pit bulls ran up on her and viciously attacked her. She was badly attacked and was taken to the Emergency room and was immediately admitted to the hospital after the ER due to the attack. It turns out that the dogs were left in a yard after the family had vacated the house and the dogs escaped through a hole in the fence (which the owner was aware of but simply placed a trash can in front of in a veiled attempt to contain the dogs in the yard). Once again, this is a needless attack, one in which we were able to hold the dog owner fully liable for. Importantly, allowing your dog to roam the streets is a violation of the local leash laws and subjects the dog owner to liability for the attack to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Published on: January 20, 2017

Atlanta Dogs Roam the Streets and Attack Often

by Robert J. Fleming

As the previous blog related to dog bite cases illustrates, we have been following the recent catastrophic dog attack in southwest Atlanta. Now, after the senseless loss of an innocent child’s life and the hospitalization of another young child, the Atlanta neighbors have told the AJC that pit bulls routinely wander their streets. According to a recent article, it is not uncommon on the westside of Atlanta to see dangerous dogs roaming the streets. According to the article, “there are so many that Fulton County animal control officers could easily remove 100 dogs from the streets if they had the manpower” according to Oliver Delk, director of Fulton County’s animal services.

Dog bites can cause the following injuries:

puncture wounds and lacerations;

Published on: January 18, 2017

Do Georgia Chain Dental Practices Put Profit over Patient Safety?

by Robert J. Fleming

The number of multi-practice dental practices (that is dental practices that have a number of locations and that are run by an administrative group rather than a single dentist) is growing nation-wide and in also Georgia. Some of the largest dental practice management companies are, with the approximate number of locations in parenthesis: Aspen Dental (over 240 locations), Great Expression (over 180 locations), Dental One Partners (over 150 locations), Coast Dental (over 100 locations), Clear Choice Dental Implant Centers (over 34 locations) and Mini Implant Centers of America (over 17 locations). Many of these organizations have a large presence in Georgia and the metropolitan Atlanta area. While dentists are professionals who have a code of ethics, many critics of the large, multi-location dental management practices that are sometimes owned by aggressive investment funds, charge that these practice are encouraged to put profit over safety and patient satisfaction in order to meet the bottom line numbers set by the practice. If true, this translates into complaints by patients of sloppy dentistry, the performance of unnecessary procedures, high bills, and low patient satisfaction.

While every case is different, dental patients should make sure that they are comfortable with the dentist who is providing the service to them (not just the practice). Care should also be given to utilizing captive specialists (dental specialists who are in-house with the large dental practice vs. a specialist who is independent of the practice). Dental specialists such as oral surgeons, endodontists, and periodontists are often involved when the care and treatment requires complicated extractions (usually partially and fully impacted wisdom teeth), root canals, and the installation of dental implants. As an Atlanta dental malpractice attorney, these are the specialty areas that I see involved in a great number of dental malpractice cases that my firm handles. Not only that, but these specialties, in my expert opinion, seem to cause the most severe injuries when they commit dental malpractice. This is why it is so important to get all the facts and make an informed decision about who is going to conduct the dental procedure on you, in addition to knowing the reputation of the dental practice. After all, the quality of the treatment you receive is going be directly related to the skills, qualifications and experience of the dental professional rendering the services.

Robert J. Fleming has been handling wrongful death cases, dental malpractice, bus accidents, car accident cases and premises injury cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 20 years. He practices in and around the Atlanta, Georgia area including handling lawsuits in Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Gwinnett, Cobb and other counties and nearby cities including Alpharetta, Austell, Avondale Estates, Chamblee, College Park, Conyers, Duluth, Decatur, Doraville, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Stone Mountain, and Smyrna. If you have been seriously injured and would like discuss your case in complete confidence, contact Robert J. Fleming directly on (404) 525-5150 or contact us online.

Published on: January 18, 2017

Fatal Atlanta Pit Bull Attack Leads to Death of Child and Arrest

by Robert J. Fleming

According to this recent Atlanta Journal Constitution article, one child is dead and another was seriously wounded when three pit bulls attacked them while they were on their way to school on a street in southwest Atlanta. It is hard to imagine a more senseless killing.

According to AJC reporter Alexis Stevens, it was “an extraordinarily savage attack, two dogs that had wandered over from another street set upon the children as they walked to their bus stop.” One of the children later died at the hospital, while the other underwent emergency surgery at Egleston Children’s Healthcare and was in stable condition after the surgery.

The Atlanta Police Department apparently arrested the owner of the dogs and charged him with reckless conduct. Additional charges, if any, would be the decision of the Fulton County District Attorney, Paul Howard.

Published on: January 16, 2017

Texting and Driving in Georgia Accidents

by Robert J. Fleming

As the recent AJC article points out, texting while driving is illegal in Georgia. Not only is it illegal, but it also contributes to many catastrophic car accidents on Georgia roads every year. The prohibition against texting while driving is expressly found in the Georgia Rules of the Road. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-241, all Georgia drivers shall exercise due care in operating a motor vehicle on the highways of the state of Georgia and shall not engage in any actions which shall distract the driver from the safe operation of the driver’s vehicle, provided that the proper use of a radio, CB radio, amateur ham radio or mobile telephone shall not be a violation of the Code. However, this code section was updated in 2010 to make explicitly state that “no person who is 18 years of age or older or who has a class C license shall operate a motor vehicle on any public road or highway . . . while using a wireless telecommunications device to write, send, or read any text-based communication, including but not limited to, a text message, instant messaging, e-mail, or Internet data.Wireless telecommunications device is defined as, “a cellular telephone, a text messaging device, a personal digital assistant, a stand alone computer, or any other substantially similar wireless device that is used to initiate or receive a wireless communication with any other person. O.C.G.A. § 40-6-241.2 et. seq.

So, in other words, drivers must use due care while using the cell phones while driving in Georgia, however they may not type or read text messages while driving. This is not to say that since a driver was “only on the phone” will the inquiry of whether the driver was negligent and whether the negligence caused the victim of the wreck’s injuries cease. The law is clear that one may utilize the privilege of talking on a cell phone while driving in Georgia, however there is a corresponding duty to not let your telephone call distract you in any way, especially in a way that will contribute to you causing an accident. This type of negligence has become more and more prevalent in our investigation of Atlanta car wrecks. More and more drivers, and especially commercial drivers who are certainly in a position to cause a lot more damage due to the size of the vehicles they driver, are distracted while talking on the phone, or are texting and this is often determined to be the cause of the wreck.

Attorney Robert J. Fleming has been handling wrongful death cases, automobile accident cases, personal injury cases, dental malpractice and medical malpractice lawsuits for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 20 years in and around Atlanta, Georgia and its surrounding areas, including Alpharetta, Austell, Avondale Estates, Chamblee, College Park, Conyers, Duluth, Decatur, Doraville, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Stone Mountain, and Smyrna. If you have been seriously injured and would like quality legal representation, contact Robert J. Fleming directly on (404) 525-5150 or contact us online.

Published on: January 16, 2017

Georgia School Bus Accidents Not Fully Disclosed to Public

by Robert J. Fleming

As evidenced by this recent news article which investigated the number of school bus accidents and how they were reported, many Georgia school systems are under-reporting the number of school bus accidents, which hampers efforts to properly investigate school bus accidents, the extent of injuries sustained by school aged children involved in these school bus accidents, and the resolution of these cases. On average, there are about 2 accident per day in the metropolitan Atlanta area involving school buses according to the Georgia Department of Eduction. However, due to the aforementioned under-reporting by the school districts, the numbers are probably higher. Considering that students are not required to wear seat belts while being transported on the bus, the risk of serious injury to students while riding school buses is high. In addition, school officials are not able to use accurate data to make decisions that impact student welfare and safety. For example, if the true accident numbers for Atlanta area school districts are not know, it makes it difficult for the school districts to make proper decisions about whether certain drivers need additional safety training, whether certain buses are not working properly and possible contributing to accident, or whether certain school bus routes are disproportionately involved in serious accident — and thus should be changed in the interest of student safety.

Even though students are not required to wear seat belts while riding the school bus, most school bus accidents involve only minor injuries. In these accidents, bus drivers are charged for negligently causing the wreck about 1/3 of the time. Common examples of school bus driver negligence which causes accidents are: following too close, not properly judging the clearance of the front of the bus while turning, and not properly backing the bus up and running into another vehicle while doing so. However, as we have seen recently, school bus drivers have also been accused of speeding, texting while driving and improper lane changes which have caused many serious injuries in Atlanta and the surrounding areas.

Since it is never clear whether the school district is operating the school bus directly, or the transportation has been outsourced, there are a number of potential road blocks for recovering for your child’s injury. Should your child be injured on a school bus, it is important to quickly gather all of the pertinent information and timely notify any governmental agencies of the potential lawsuit. This is known as an anti-litem notice and must be timely delivered to the governmental entity or the right to sue may be lost forever.

Published on: January 4, 2017

Atlanta Elevator Injury Damages Recoverable under Negligence Theory of Law

by Robert J. Fleming

A woman injured in an Atlanta elevator fall has sued for negligence according to this recent article in the AJC. According to the article, the woman, a Grady Hospital, employee fell 9 floors down the elevator shaft injuring her tailbone, back and legs. Most times, when an employee is injured on the job in Georgia, the exclusive remedy for compensation for the injured worker is a worker’s compensation claim. This is known as the worker’s compensation bar, and it is a very broad bar to overcome in Georgia. However, there are exceptions and this suit is for negligence since the injured work is suing an alleged negligent third-party (in this case, Otis Elevator who apparently, at least according to the lawsuit on file with the court, maintained and serviced the elevators in question). Suing a negligent third-party is one of the major exceptions to the worker’s compensation exclusive remedy bar.

Elevator operators (as well as those who install, service and maintain the elevators for others through the legal doctrines of agency or respondeat superior) have a heightened duty to ensure the safety of the elevator passengers. This duty extends to properly inspecting, servicing, repairing and maintaining the elevators in such a fashion that ensures that those that ride the elevators are not injured. A failure on the elevator operators part to comply with this duty amounts to negligence and, if proved in court, subjects the elevator operator to be liable to the injured passengers for all injuries that flow from the negligence. In most instances, the injured elevator operator will have damages in the form of past and future medical bills, past and future lost wages, pain and suffering, and sometimes a decreased ability to enjoy life or work. As is so often stated, each case is different and the old egg-shell Plaintiff adage in these cases is applicable, i.e., you take your plaintiff as you find them. In this case, this woman according to the lawsuit fell 9 floors down and elevator shaft. The damages she sustained are unique to her and must be proven. Someone else could suffer the similar fall and have far worse and more severe damages than this plaintiff in this particular lawsuit. That is why a jury trial is the best forum to resolve such as situation, rather than a worker’s compensation hearing (which does not get tried to a jury).

Robert J. Fleming has been handling wrongful death cases, dental malpractice, bus accidents, car accident cases and premises injury cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 20 years. He practices in and around the Atlanta, Georgia area including handling lawsuits in Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Gwinnett, Cobb and other counties and nearby cities including Alpharetta, Austell, Avondale Estates, Chamblee, College Park, Conyers, Duluth, Decatur, Doraville, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Stone Mountain, and Smyrna. If you have been seriously injured and would like discuss your case in complete confidence, contact Robert J. Fleming directly on (404) 525-5150 or contact us online.

Published on: January 3, 2017

Choosing Dentist Wisely Could Avoid Georgia Dental Malpractice

by Robert J. Fleming

According to a recent article, a husband and wife told detectives in Florida that they were introduced to a man by a mutual friend and that in later social interactions the man told them he was a dentist and had a dental practice in South Carolina before moving to Florida. The couple said they paid the man cash and that he had offered to do the work from home to keep costs low. However, when he extracted the wife’s tooth and left leaving a tooth fragment (or root tip) behind, causing her medical complications, the couple began their own research and soon discovered that the man was not a dentist. The couple also told detectives about another potential patient they had introduced to the man before knowing he wasn’t a dentist. When detectives met with that patient, they told police that the man had pulled about 10 teeth without anesthetic for him and made him dentures. According to the article, the man accused of posing as a licensed dentist was contacted by a detective, working undercover, and also arranged to meet him for dental work, according to investigators.

While these patients apparently did not use much investigative prowess in selecting their dentist, it is important for you to choose your dentist wisely. The best method is to talk with friends and other people who you trust (such as your attorney, or better yet an attorney such as Robert J. Fleming, who regularly handles dental malpractice claims) and get recommendations for dentists that these people have direct knowledge of. Care should be taken to select a dentist who is competent in the procedure for which you need care. Extractions, root canals, dental implants and other procedures are complex and only a general dentist who is trained in and skilled in the specific procedure should be chosen. Better yet, choose a specialist who has additional training and experience in the area that you need dental work in. For instance, a complex extraction might best be performed by a skilled oral surgeon rather than you general dentist; a complicated root canal with curved roots might best be performed by an Endodontist who has experience with these types of root canals and so on. Why: Because many of the procedures require expertise and can easily end up causing dental injuries due to malpractice if performed by a dentist who does not have the training, experience and skill to perform the procedure according to the standard of care.

Attorney Robert J. Fleming has been handling dental malpractice and medical malpractice lawsuits for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 20 years in and around Atlanta, Georgia and its surrounding areas, including Alpharetta, Austell, Avondale Estates, Chamblee, College Park, Conyers, Duluth, Decatur, Doraville, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Stone Mountain, and Smyrna. If you have been seriously injured and would like quality legal representation, contact Robert J. Fleming directly on (404) 525-5150 or contact us online.

Published on: January 3, 2017

City of Atlanta Pays $1.8 Million in Fraud Case

by Robert J. Fleming

As reported by the AJC, the City of Atlanta has agreed to a $1.8million payment in a case involving fraud allegations.

The City of Atlanta did not admit liability as part of the settlement reached with the U.S. Departments of Justice and Labor over federal subsidies to employers that provided on-the-job training after the Great Recession. According to the article, The Justice Department’s False Claims Act investigation found that Atlanta’s workforce agency paid out job training funds while failing to provide required services. Investigators think the city subsidized employees who were ineligible, did not receive training, or received inadequate training, the settlement agreement states. The City of Atlanta (or its agents) apparently also did not assess clients to determine what help they needed. The article further notes that “[f]ederal officials stated as part of the settlement agreement that it did not intend to launch civil investigations into 58 current workforce development agency employees. But the settlement does not release the city from administrative sanctions or free individuals from criminal prosecution. The city also agreed to fully cooperate with federal investigator.”

In addition to the above, City of Atlanta liability (through its agents or employees) can be premised on most legal theories that are available in private causes of action in Georgia such as breach of contract under O.C.G.A. § 13-1-1 or O.C.G.A. § 51-1-1 or O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11, damage to realty under, conversion, nuisance, numerous negligence theories, gross negligence, negligence per se, premises liability, negligent security, medical malpractice, breach of a non-delegable duty, principal and agent liability, partnership and joint venture liability, bailor and bailee liability, and others.