David E. Hudson gave remarks and recognized Gen. Perry Smith with the 2012 Liberty Bell Award during the Augusta Bar Association's Law Day Dinner. The liberty bell award recognizes the very best in civilian service by recognizing a leader who exhibits the finest qualities of service to their country and to their community. General Smith served in the United States Air Force for 30 years. He earned his PhD in International Relations from Columbia University and is the author of 6 books on historical subjects and principles of leadership. He also has served as a military analyst for CNN, NBC, MSNBC, CBS TV, and CBS Radio. After living all over the county General Smith and his wife made Augusta, Georgia their home in 1990. Since then General Smith has been very involved in fundraising for local projects around Augusta and serves as secretary for the Medal of Honor Foundation.
“Hull Barrett is a great fit for me and my staff given the firm’s strength and history of providing outstanding legal advice to a multitude of clients. Hull Barrett is an impressive firm and has highly been recognized for its corporate and litigation work. I too believe in their motto that ‘clients come first’ and am proud to be a part of such a well-regarded and experienced team,” said Mr. Martin.
Read More About J. Milton Martin, Jr. Joining Hull Barrett, PC
In the article, "Newton School Board Holds Apparent Illegal Meeting, " David E. Hudson discusses Georgia Sunshine Laws and how school boards are required to transact business in the open unless members are discussing employee personnel matters, pending litigation or real estate acquisition .Mr. Hudson further states, "A lawyer is entitled to meet in a closed session with a local government agency only to discuss pending or threatened litigation. That is not what was happening here, and thus it would be illegal to conduct a closed meeting with the lawyer present to simply discuss the writing of a newspaper column by a board member and what is reflected as a part of that column."
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David E. Hudson was quoted in the Savannah Morning News article, "Commissioners Approve Employee Bonuses Following Closed Door Meeting." In the article Mr. Hudson weighs in on the Chatham County Commissioners meeting behind closed doors to discuss $1,000 bonuses to all county employees. The “employee appreciation payments” were not on the regular agenda but were brought up later during executive session, which is closed to the public. "The matter of employee compensation was raised as a “personnel” matter, but the payments are not a legitimate reason for a closing a meeting. That is a policy decision, not anything that pertains to individual personnel. If it is determined that open records laws were broken, the vote could be nullified," he said.
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F. Michael Taylor has been selected to serve on the board of directors for the North Augusta Family Y of South Carolina. Operating in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) since 1858, The Family Y serves over 32,000 members through programs designed to build healthy spirit, mind and body, reflecting the values that guide and unite members: Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.
“We are proud of the commitment Mr. Taylor has for his clients, the firm, and the local community,” said Hull Barrett's insurance defense practice leader George R. Hall. “We know he will be of great value to the Family Y board and his leadership and professionalism skills will be a great asset.” Mr. Taylor will serve as a representative for the North Augusta Y which he is currently a member of. The Family Y has seven branches, two licensed childcare centers, and Camp Lakeside, an 88-acre campsite. The Family Y, in partnership with the Armed Services YMCA, also operates the BOSS (Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers) facility at Ft. Gordon.
David E. Hudson was quoted in the Augusta Chronicle's article, "Attorney Disputes Walmart Land Deal." In the article Mr. Hudson stated that it was a violation of Georgia's open meeting act to vote behind closed doors to sell the city's bus depot. Mr. Hudson notes that voting behind closed doors to sell real estate would be legal under House Bill 397, a comprehensive revision of Georgia open-government laws that is being discussed currently by the Georgia Assembly.
Hull Barrett is pleased to announce that six of the firm’s attorneys have been selected for inclusion into Georgia Super Lawyers® for 2012. In addition, Super Lawyers has chosen one of the firm’s attorneys as a 2012 Rising Star. Only 5 percent of Georgia attorneys are chosen each year for the list of Super Lawyers for attaining a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. No more than 2.5 percent of Georgia attorneys are recognized as Rising Stars, lawyers who are age 40 and younger or who have been practicing for 10 or fewer years.
Read More About Georgia Super Lawyers & Rising Star
The Irish-American Heritage Society named Augusta lawyer Patrick J. Rice its 2012 St. Patrick’s Day parade grand marshal. The Bernard J. Mulherin family is the Irish Family of the Year and the Irish Lady of the Year is Louise Franklin Sheehan. The announcement was made last week at the society’s annual Grand Marshal’s Ball, which marks the start of the Irish-American season in Augusta. The society will host a parade for the city on March 17.
Brooks K. Hudson and Darren G. Meadows successfully pursued a criminal environmental case against a builder who created an unsafe condition through land-disturbing activity. Several Hull Barrett attorneys act as solicitors to prosecute county ordinance violations, and this case involved a demand for a jury trial by the defendant. After a day of trial, Messrs. Hudson and Meadows were able to secure a plea deal that requires the defendant to comply with the environmental law and to pay substantial restitution to the client.
Hull Barrett, PC is pleased to announce partner Darren Meadows, leader of Hull Barrett’s environmental practice group, authored the Environment law chapter in the latest edition of The Georgia Hospital Law Manual, published by The Georgia Academy of Hospital Attorneys. The Environmental Law chapter provides a general overview of some of the more significant state and federal environmental laws which are most likely to affect various activities of Georgia hospitals. The Georgia Hospital Law Manual is prepared by the Georgia Academy of Healthcare Attorneys as a service to its members and the members of the Georgia Hospital Association. It continues a tradition, begun in 1979, of making available to these communities a detailed analysis of legal issues affecting hospitals and health systems.
Neal W. Dickert will preside and present "An Overview of New Evidence Code and Recent Daubert Cases" at the Georgia Foundations & Objections Update on February 9, 2012 at the State Bar of Georgia's Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Register here for the Event.
January 23, 2012
James V. Painter led the successful defense of our client against the plaintiff’s claim that her husband lost his life due to our client’s alleged failure to obtain an appropriate patient history; failure to evaluate the specific and increased risk factors for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; and failure to treat the patient with measures to decrease the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Mr. Painter filed a Motion to Dismiss showing through expert witnesses that the standard of care was met in the treatment of the patient.
The Albany Herald Newspaper called on David E. Hudson to offer his view on if
Dougherty County School Board violated the state's sunshine laws after going into a closed executive session. “To close a meeting, there has to be a vote to do so,” Hudson responded. “Assuming that happened, all that is allowed for a closed session on personnel is for the board members to ‘discuss and deliberate’ on the personnel matters. Allowing others in to give information and to participate is beyond what is permitted in a closed session for personnel.”
Read the Albany Herald Article
January 5, 2012
Hull Barrett attorneys F. Michael Taylor & James V. Painter, will present at the Greater Augusta Chapter of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants’ (GA AALNC) “Avoiding Medical Malpractice Lawsuits: Be Proactive, Not Reactive” conference in Augusta, Georgia at the Pinnacle Club on March 1, 2012 from 8 AM to 4 PM.
For More Information: Visit the Greater Augusta AALNC website, call Liz Buddenhagen at 770-725-2997, or e-mail at Liz@BuddenhagenLNC.com. The deadline to register is February 17, 2012.
View Conference Press Release

Paul Knox Middle School
1804 Wells Road
North Augusta, SC 29841
F. Michael Taylor
