Presented by the State Bar of Georgia

This seminar will consist of four panels, each of which will consider a series of thorny hypothetical situations, which often arise in litigation. Each hypothetical will address at least one ethical, professional, or legal dilemma, which a litigator may face while representing a client. (A few examples: How soon must you disclose to a client that you have made an error? Can you restrict a client’s right to sue you for malpractice? ? What is the statute of limitations for a legal malpractice claim? What are the rules for splitting fees and referral fees? Can your fee agreement require that all disputes/claims be arbitrated? If you find an important internal memo drafted by your opposing counsel, can you read it and use it? Can you pay for your client’s medical bills? Can you threaten a lawyer with a Bar Complaint? How should you respond to a nasty on-line review?)

The panels will consist of Appellate judges (Supreme Court and Court of Appeals), trial court judges, lawyers from the Office of the General Counsel of the State Bar of Georgia, and experienced litigation attorneys. Attendees will be encouraged to participate in the discussions.

Presiding

David N. Lefkowitz, Program Chair and Moderator; The Lefkowitz Firm, LLC, Atlanta and Athens, GA; Adjunct Professor, University of Georgia School of Law, Athens, GA

Agenda

• 8:00 - REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST
• 8:20 - INTRODUCTION, Julia Neighbors, ICLE Director, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
• 8:25 - WELCOME AND PROGRAM OVERVIEW, David N. Lefkowitz
• 8:30 - SESSION I (provides ethics credit) (provides trial practice credit): Hon. J. Wade Padgett, Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Benjamin “Ben” Land, Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Alvin T. Wong, Judge, DeKalb State Court, Decatur, GA; Hon. Robert C. McBurney, Judge, Superior Court of Fulton County, Atlanta, GA; William V. Hearnburg, Jr., Assistant General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; M. Gino Brogdon, Sr., Mediator, Henning Mediation, Atlanta, GA
• 10:00 - BREAK
• 10:15 - SESSION II (provides professionalism credit) (provides trial practice credit): Hon. Sara L. Doyle, Presiding Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Brian M. Rickman, Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Ken Hodges, Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA; Andreea Morrison, Deputy General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; Warren R. Hinds, Founding Attorney, Warren R. Hinds, P.C., Roswell, GA
• 11:45 - LUNCH (Provided)
• 12:15 - SESSION III (provides ethics credit) (provides trial practice credit): Hon. Jeffrey A. Watkins, Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA; Hon. William “Billy” M. Ray, II, Judge, U.S. District Court, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Keith Blackwell, Justice (retired), Supreme Court of Georgia; Senior Counsel, Alston & Bird, LLP, Atlanta, GA; Kim M. Jackson, Partner, Bovis, Kyle, Burch & Medlin, Atlanta, GA
• 1:45 - Break
• 2:00 - SESSION IV (provides ethics credit) (provides trial practice credit): Hon. Shawn Ellen LaGrua, Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Carla Wong McMillian, Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Verda M. Colvin, Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Ben W. Studdard, Chief Judge, Henry County State Court (retired), McDonough, GA; Russell Willard, General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; Shannon Sprinkle, Member, Torts & Insurance Practice Service Group, Stites & Harbison, Atlanta, GA
• 3:30 - ADJOURN

Click here for more information and to register.