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GTLA's Amicus Curiae Committee exists to submit
briefs in favor of or against positions taken in the courts consistent
with the interests of this organization. Some recent amicus curiae
briefs are listed below.
The Amicus Curiae Committee determines whether
to submit a brief by a majority vote of its members. This process
typically begins when a lawyer requests the assistance of the
committee by submitting answers to a six-part questionnaire to
the chair of the committee. A link to the questionnaire appears
below. A copy of any adverse ruling should also be delivered to
the committee chair. Other materials may also be sent to assist
us in evaluating the request.
Persons requesting assistance should keep in
mind that the committee members review only the responses to this
questionnaire. They will not get copies of additional materials.
Therefore, the answers to the questionnaire should not ask committee
members to see other documents.
Upon receipt of a request for intervention,
the committee chair will deliver it to the members of the committee
for their review and set a deadline for voting. After the votes
have been cast, the chair will advise the requesting member of
the outcome. In case of a vote for amicus assistance, a GTLA member
will be assigned to write an amicus brief and this writer will
then coordinate efforts with the member who requested intervention.
You may submit a request for help online by
clicking this link: Submit request online.
Otherwise, follow the instructions on our questionnaire.
McCombs v. Synthes, Inc.
- Whether the learned intermediary doctrine should serve to bar
a failure to warn claim against the manufacturer of a medical
device, where the manufacturer chose not to provide specific
information concerning the risk of the device to physicians who
ultimately must make a determination as to its use with patients.
Brief filed
by Hutton R. Brown and Geoff Pope.
Campbell v. Nissan Motor Co.
- Whether a plaintiff should be barred from a product liablity
suit under the spoliation doctrine for disposing of a wrecked
motor vehicle and its tires as a matter of law, or whether
the trial court has discretion to fashion less drastic remedies?
Brief filed
by Albert Pearson, III, with Cale Conley, Antoinette Johson,
and Brent Kaplan.
Ontario Sewing v. Smith
- What rules apply to post-sale obligations of a manufacturer
in Georgia. Brief
filed by R. Hutton Brown.
Duren v. Pacaar, Inc. -
Whether a regulatory decision to require safety equipment
on vehicles manufactured on and after a certain date in
the future will preempt product liability suits based on
the manufacturer's failure to install such equipment before
that date. Brief
filed by Charles M. Cork, III.
Cooper Tire v. Crosby -
Whether a manufacturer's experience with product failures
is admissible. Brief
and supplemental
brief filed by James E. Butler, Jr., Joel O. Wooten,
Jr., George W. Fryhofer III, Terrance C. Sullivan, and Cale
H. Conley.
Ogletree v. Navistar VI
- Whether the balancing test in product liability cases
(Banks v. ICI) is to be performed by the Court or by the
Jury. Brief
filed by R. Hutton Brown.
Ogletree v. Navistar - Whether
the "open and obvious danger" rule should be abolished.
Brief filed
by R. Hutton Brown.
Watkins v. Ford Motor Co.
- Supporting a request that the Eleventh Circuit Court of
Appeals certify questions of the applicability of the statute
of repose in product liability cases to the Georgia Supreme
Court. Brief
filed by Albert Pearson, III
Critser v. McFadden - Whether
it is proper to instruct that the jury should determine the issue of negligence
before determining the issue of proximate cause.
Brief filed
by Mark L. Stuckey.
Zwiren v. Thompson - Whether
causation in a medical malpractice case may be established
by reasonable probability rather than medical certainty.
Brief filed
by Antoinette D. Johnson.
Beach v. Lipham - Whether
the suggested jury pattern instruction that "the law presumes"
that medical services are rendered with due care should
be abolished? Brief
filed by Charles M. Cork, III.
Johnson v. Riverdale Anesthesia
Associates PC - Whether a defense expert in a medical
malpractice case may be cross-examined by proving that the
expert would not have done what the defendant did. Brief
and brief supporting
motion for reconsideration filed by Kenneth S. Canfield,
Geoffrey E. Pope, J. Vincent Cook, Phillip C. Henry, Charles
A. Mathis, Jr., and Joel O. Wooten, Jr.
Georgia Dermatology Clinic v.
Nesmith - Whether the automatic 45-day extension for
filing professional negligence affidavits under 9-11-9.1(b)
is defeated by later proof that the client first met the
lawyer some 20 months before the statute of limitation would
expire and that the lawyer sent out requests for medical
records soon thereafter? Brief
filed by Brent Kaplan.
Williams v. Young - Whether
the statute of limitation should run from the time of a
negligent misdiagnosis, despite continuing treatment and
later worsening of the condition. Certiorari
Brief, Supplemental
Brief, Brief
on remand in the Court of Appeals, Brief
in Support of Second Petition for Certiorari, and
Brief on the merits after the
second grant of the Petition for Certiorari,
filed by Antoinette D. Johnson.
Chambers v. Gwinnett Community
Hosp. - Whether a defense expert in a medical malpractice
case should be cross-examined on bias by virtue of having
the same insurer that is defending the case. Brief
filed by Mark Stuckey.
McCall v. Parker - Whether
"peer review" shields a hospital's files and processes for
granting staff privileges to a doctor against a claim that
the hospital negligently credentialed the doctor. Brief
filed by Mark Stuckey.
Phillips v. Cotten, Whether med mal experts
under 2005 Senate Bill 3, 24-9-67.1, have to be in the same specialty as
the defendant i.e. ER v. ER; ortho v. ortho, etc. Brief
filed by Cal Callier.
Taylor Memorial v. Beck: Construction of OCGA 9-10-31.1 transfer of venue provision with outline of other states handling of similar statutes.
Brief prepared by Charles Cork, III.
Abramson v. Williams: Whether an orthopedist is qualified under OCGA
Section 24-9-67.1 to testify against a neurosurgeon in a case involving the neurosurgeon's failure to
diagnose a hip fracture (later diagnosed by a chiropractor).
Amicus brief prepared by J. Marcus Howard.
HIPAA authorization cases:: These cases involve the application of OCGA
9-11-9.2 in medical malpractice actions.
Allen v. Wright,
Sanders and
Queen
Amicus briefs prepared and filed by Charles Adams and Mathew Nasrallah.
Johnson v. Georgia Department of Human Resources
- May the State avoid its responsibilities under the GTCA to minor wards of the
State by privatizing its custodial services? Brief
filed by David A. Webster and Craig T. Jones.
City of Winder v. McDougald
- Under what circumstances is a police officer liable for
injury to the driver of a car he is pursuing in a high speed
chase. Brief
filed by Craig T. Jones.
Lennen v. Dept. of Transp.
- Whether a 9-11-9.1 affidavit, supporting an action alleging
professional engineering negligence under the Tort Claims
Act, must allege a date on which the construction occurred
in order to be valid. Brief
filed by David Wm. Boone.
Williams v. Dept. of Human Resources
- Whether the provisions of the Georgia Tort Claims Act
should be strictly construed, and whether an ante litem
notice regarding dying plaintiff is sufficient for the spouse's
later wrongful death claim under the Act. Brief
filed by Michael A. Sullivan.
Dean v. Dept. of Transportation
- Whether venue can be obtained against a governmental tortfeasor
based on the constitutional provision for venue over joint
tortfeasors. Brief
and Supplemental
Brief filed by Mark L. Stuckey.
Brantley v. Dept. of Human Resources
- Whether a foster parent's leaving a two-year old child
unsupervised in a pool is a "discretionary function"
under the Georgia Tort Claims Act. Brief
filed by Craig T. Jones.
Edwards v. Dept. of Children
and Youth Services - Whether the Court of Appeals has
misconstrued the statutory meaning of "discretionary
function" in the tort claims act. Brief
filed by Charles A. Mathis and Glenn E. Kushel.
Hilson v. Dept. of Public Safety
- Whether any claim against a State Trooper is barred by
the OCGA § 50-21-24(6) of the Georgia Tort Claims Act,
dealing with "failure to provide/method of providing
law enforcement." Brief
filed by Matthew C. Flournoy.
Prather v. Nichols
- In a wrongful death case in state court against deputy sheriff driver and sheriff via respondeat
superior, where County had liability insurance, is sheriff a "state actor" and must be sued under
Ga Tort Claims Act. Amicus brief
prepared by Craig Jones and David Webster.
Constantine v. MCG Health: Whether a hospital
service agreement 's limitation on seeking recovery from
a “Member” prevent the hospital from seeking recovery from
any assets of that member, including specifically that
Member's cause of action against a third-party . Brief
filed by David Hagy.
Gordon v. Atlanta Casualty Co. -
May an insurer limit the scope of "persons" for whose injury an insured is entitled to uninsured
benefits to "covered" or "named" persons, contrary to
the terms of the statute? Brief in support of petition for
certiorari filed by Charles M. Cork, III.
Carter v. RWT, Inc. - How
long may a disabled vehicle be left on the highway before
its owner is subject to liability for leaving it there?
Brief filed
by Mathew G. Nasrallah.
Horace Mann Insurance v. Mercer
- Whether an insurer may contractually prohibit stacking
of UM coverage provided by multiple policies issued by that
insurer. Brief
filed by Charles M. Cork, III and James D. Hollingsworth.
Merritt v. State Farm -
What penalties exist where an insurer induces a settlement
by fraudulently understating the amount of liability insurance
coverage? Brief
filed by Mathew G. Nasrallah.
Lee v. Doe (State Farm)
- Whether a parent can recover for mental pain and suffering
for witnessing the death of her child when both are injured
in the same accident, and if so, whether such a claim should
be paid from the policy limits applicable to the child or
to the parent. Brief
filed by David A. Webster.
Ross v. National Indemnity Co.
- Whether the insurer of an intrastate motor carrier liable
under Public Service Commission Rules up to the limits of
the policy of insurance, regardless of whether the vehicle
in question is specifically described in the insurance policy,
or is the insurer liable only for the minimum coverage required
by statute. Brief
filed by Lawrence J. Pond.
Terry v. State Farm Fire &
Cas. Ins. Co. - When the defendant driver's insurer
becomes insolvent after a trial and judgment for the plaintiff,
must the plaintiff try the case again against his/her uninsured
motorist carrier. Brief
filed by David A. Webster.
Davis v. Kaiser Foundation
- Whether the complete compensation rule applies to medical
pay policies in effect before OCGA 33-24-56.1 that specifically
require reimbursement of payments. This replaces briefs
filed in the Court of Appeals and on petition for certiorari.
Brief filed
by Charles M. Cork, III.
White v. Metropolitan Prop.
& Cas - Whether an uninsured motorist insurer can
avoid stacking of policies by excluding coverage for certain
classes of insureds. Brief
filed by Charles M. Cork, III and Ralph L. Taylor, III.
Dees v. State Farm - Does Georgia's U/M Statute allow a collateral
source reduction provision in the insurance contract ("workers compensation" and "disability benefits")
for the insured's bodily injury? Amicus brief
prepared by Matthew Flournoy.
Hoe v. K-Mart - In premises
criminal attack cases, can the element of foreseeability
be established by proof of similar crimes at other franchise
locations? Brief
filed by Ralph L. Taylor, III.
Sumner v. Star Enterprise, Inc.
- Whether a convenience store is liable for a criminal attack
on its premises where the station had been the location
of numerous prior crimes. Brief
filed by Robert E. Shields.
Robinson v. Kroger Co. -
The standard of care of a plaintiff in a typical slip and
fall case. Brief
filed by Charles M. Cork, III.
Fortner v. Ogeechee Railway -
Whether a railroad is responsible for failure to clear vegetation at its
road crossings. Brief
in support of petition for certiorari filed by Thomas A. Stubbs and John M. Hyatt.
Evans Timber Co. v. Central
of Georgia Railroad Co. - Whether the Georgia Code of
Public Transportation preempted or superseded a railroad's
common law and statutory duties to provide adequate warning
devices at hazardous railroad crossings. Brief
filed by John D. Steel and John B. Briggs.
Security Life Ins. Co. of America
v. Clark (I) - Whether RICO applies to acts regulated
by insurance statutes. Brief
filed by Michael A. Sullivan.
Security Life Ins. Co. of America
v. Clark (IV) - Whether RICO applies to mail and wire
fraud that is accomplished by non-disclosure and concealment
of material facts. Brief
filed by Billy Ned Jones, Charles M. Cork, III, Charles
A. Mathis, Jr., and Joel O. Wooten.
Bell v. Austin- Whether the medical narrative statute
is constitutional? Brief filed by Charles Cork
Gordon v. Hamilton - Whether the uninsured motorist
statute requires an insurer to cover the wrongful death
of a relative of the insured, even if the relative is not
an insured under the policy? Brief filed by Charles Cork
Popowski v. Parrott - Whether ERISA permits suits
by plans for reimbursement of payments when the beneficiary
receives a settlement with a tortfeasor? Brief filed by
Charles Cork
State v. Herendeen: Whether the Court
of Appeals correctly extended the holding in Lucas v. State,
274 Ga. 640 (2001) to find that the psychological patient
privilege applies to records from juvenile court cases
in which treatment occurred in accordance with an order
from the juvenile court. Supreme
Court Brief filed
by David Webster.
Richards v. Georgia Department of Community Health -
Whether plaintiffs are entitled to deduct their reasonable attorney's fees
from parts of tort recoveries that are subject to liens under Medicaid.
Brief
filed by David A. Webster.
Orkin v. Carder - Should
Daubert become the standard for expert testimony in Georgia?.
Brief
filed by David B. Bell, Charles M. Cork, III, Andrew M. Scherffius,
James E. Butler, Jr., Joel Wooten, Robert E. Shields, and
Leslie J. Bryan.
Pfeifer v. Georgia Department
of Transportation - Whether a non-moving party may waive
an argument against summary judgment by failing to raise
it in the trial court. Brief
and brief on motion for reconsideration
filed by Charles M. Cork, III.
Simpson v. Southwire Co.
- Whether an employer that seeks reimbursement for workers'
compensation payments from the plaintiff/employee's recovery
in a tort suit should be entitled to recover a portion of
the plaintiff's attorney's fees under OCGA § 34-9-11.1 even
if the employer makes no recovery because the employee was
not completely compensated. Brief
filed by John Christopher Clark and Jarome E. Gautreaux.
Walls v. Kim - Whether the
trial court should be permitted to "rehabilitate" a juror
who has expressed a bias for one party. Court
of Appeals Brief and Supplemental
Brief in Supreme Court filed by James E. Butler, Jr,
Joel O. Wooten, Jr., Richard A. Griggs and Thomas William
Malone.
King v. State - Whether
a party may obtain the medical records of an adversary by
ex parte means. Brief
filed by Charles M. Cork III and Albert M. Pearson, III.
Results Oriented, Inc. v. Crawford
- Whether an arbitration agreement in the sale of a mobile
home is enforceable when it requires the consumer to pay
large expenses, arbitrate in the defendant's back yard,
and is otherwise unfair. Brief
filed by David A. Webster.
Kissun v. Humana, Inc. -
Whether "parent" corporations are subject to liability
under the ostensible agency and joint venture doctrines
for acts of subsidiary corporations. Brief
filed by Charles M. Cork, III.
Solomon v. Barrett:
Whether the Court of Appeals correctly placed the burden on the non-movant plaintiff to
establish his contentions as a matter of law in order to defeat summary judgment?
Brief prepared by Mathew Nasrallah.
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