Christopher A. Cosper

Business/Commercial Litigation

• Defended bank in lawsuit filed by Georgia Airport Authority seeking to set aside a $1.2 million note and corresponding mortgage based upon a conflict of interest transaction.
• Represented staffing business in obtaining $1 million judgment against medical transportation business for breach of contract including post-judgment collection work.
• Defended bank in wrongful foreclosure action brought by borrower and foreclosed upon property obtaining judgment of $3 million in favor of the bank, including post-judgment collection work resulting in successful settlement of claims.
• Assists employers in enforcing non-compete agreements with employees.
• Represents numerous banks in both prosecuting and defending claims associated with bank loans.
• Represents business both large and small in various matters from contract disputes to collection cases.
• Defending and prosecuting estate administrators in breach of fiduciary duty and fraud lawsuit.
• Quiet title actions for landowners.
• Represented numerous landlords and tenants in dispossessory actions both residential and commercial.
• Representing insured in insurance coverage litigation.
• Defending business owner in breach of contract action based upon Uniform Commercial Code violations in the repossession and sale of secured collateral.
• Represented clients in enforcement of trademark and intellectual property rights.
• Asserted claim by minority member of LLC for breach of fiduciary duty in two federal lawsuits. Prior to the lawsuits the client had been offered $1 million for his interest in the LLC.  As a result of the lawsuits and our representation, he received $9 million in commercial assets, including a Wal-Mart property.
• Represented widow of 50% shareholder in minority owned business. Prior to our representation she was threatened to be removed from the company without compensation.  As a result of our representation, she received over $1 million in assets.
• Representing hotel owner in insurance claims arising from hurricane damage to coastal hotel in excess of $10 million.
• Represented trademark holder in multiple federal lawsuits to enforce trademark and other intellectual property rights and shut down infringing websites.

Class Action Litigation

• Defended hospital in multiple class actions involving hospital liens. Obtained reversal on appeal of class certification decision in lawsuit against hospital arising from lien and billing practices (reported at 326 Ga. App. 833).
• Successfully resolved class action for Georgia residents under the Georgia Debt Adjustment Act obtaining favorable settlement fund for the class in excess of $2 million.
• Successfully resolved class action for Georgia residents under the Georgia Debt Adjustment Act obtaining favorable settlement for the class in excess of $1 million. This litigation resulted in multiple smaller cases, many of which have been resolved for favorable subclasses of Georgia residents.
• Represented clients in dozens of class actions.

Personal Injury/Malpractice Litigation

• Successfully defended medical malpractice defendant in trial to a defense verdict in which Plaintiff sought damages in excess of $5 million.
• Successfully defended lawsuit against a trucking company in trial to a defense verdict in which Plaintiff sought damages in excess of $15 million.
• Defending bonding company in claim for unlawful home invasion.
• Defended premises liability/slip and fall cases.
• Represented two women who ran into the back of logs hanging from a log truck. Though it first appeared to be the fault of the driver of their automobile, we recovered $2 million from the log truck’s insurance company because we showed that the logs were hanging too far from the rear of the truck and thus entered our client’s lane without notice.
• Representing client who tripped over an unpainted speed bump resulting in a permanent coma-like state.

Transactional Experience

• Negotiated $8 million sale of transportation business.
• Negotiated transaction for four-phase, $40 million commercial real estate development with a local Housing Authority.
• Negotiated $4.5 million contract for energy performance construction work and corresponding energy performance guarantee.
• Represented bank in negotiating commercial real estate loan secured by building rights only.
• Negotiated sale of dental practice.
• Negotiated physician employment contracts on behalf of both physicians and medical practices.
• Represented lender in loan transaction secured by aircraft.
• General Counsel for the Augusta Housing Authority which operates approximately 2,500 apartment units and manages approximately 3,500 clients who receive Section 8 federal housing.
• Drafting contracts for various business entities.
• Formation of business start-ups, including limited liability companies (LLCs), partnerships, and corporations.
• Negotiated physician recruitment agreements with Georgia hospitals.