Hull Barrett Blog

In four decisions rendered by the Georgia Court of Appeals during the week of March 5, 2018, clients of Hull Barrett obtained excellent outcomes.
One case involved a forest products manufacturing facility that was being sued by neighbors for nuisance, trespass and negligence. The Georgia Court of Appeals held that because the facility had been in existence prior to the construction of the neighbors’ residences, O.C.G.A. § 41-1-7 applied and the neighbors’ claim for nuisance was barred. The claims for negligence and breach of trespass were barred because of an inability of the plaintiffs to show a breach of any standard of care by the defendant in the operation of the facility.
In another case, Hull Barrett represented a company that supplied management services to a local hospital. A physician was terminated during a layoff by the hospital, and she filed suit claiming that her termination was based on her status as a whistleblower who had made complaints about patient referral requirements. The Georgia Court of Appeals exonerated the Hull Barrett client because there was no evidence that the executive who made the decision to terminate the physician had any knowledge of prior complaints she may or may not have made. The client was also absolved for any allegedly slanderous comments made by the executive.
In a third appeal, Hull Barrett represented a family member who brought suit contending that the executor of a deceased family member’s estate had misappropriated estate funds and breached fiduciary duties. At the trial court, Hull Barrett’s client obtained a substantial verdict of $206,000 in compensatory damages, $97,000 in attorney fees, and $12,500 in punitive damages. Upon appellate review, this verdict was upheld in its entirety by the Court of Appeals.
Lastly, the Court of Appeals upheld a verdict in favor of the Augusta Housing Authority, a Hull Barrett client, in a case in which a tenant challenged a dispossessory judgment that had been obtained in the trial court.