Monthly Archives: September 2024
The Consequences of Committing Social Security Fraud in Georgia
Fraud is one of the most common types of “white collar” crime prosecuted in Georgia. In broad terms, fraud involves the use of deceit to obtain money or property from another person. The government pays particular attention when it is the victim of such fraud. For example, if you lie to a government agency… Read More »
Is Georgia’s .08 DUI Limit Too High?
Most people associate drunk driving with having a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. This is a de facto national standard resulting from a decision by Congress to tie federal highway funds to individual states setting their respective BAC limit for DUI at 0.08. But as a recent article by Jim Vorel… Read More »
How “Privilege” Can Affect Your Criminal Defense in Georgia
Georgia law provides that certain types of communications are “privileged,” and therefore not usable as evidence in a criminal trial. Some common examples include attorney-client privilege and spousal privilege. Privilege also covers communications between a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist and their patient. Georgia Man Accused of Molesting Granddaughter Allowed to See Her Counseling Records… Read More »
How the Anti-Patient Dumping Act Protects You from Negligence in the ER
In 1986, Congress passed the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). This law was a response to widespread reports of “patient dumping” by hospital emergency departments, who would turn away patients with serious, life-threatening conditions simply because they lacked health insurance or otherwise could not pay for treatment. In many cases, private… Read More »
When Is a Georgia Swimming Pool Operator Liable for User Injuries?
Swimming pools offer an important respite during long, hot Georgia summers. But swimming pools are also a potential safety hazard when constructed, maintained, or used improperly. For this reason, Georgia law imposes a number of regulations on both public and private swimming pool owners. These requirements include building a safe barrier, such as a… Read More »
How an Improper Left Turn Can Lead to DUI Charges in Georgia
Obeying Georgia’s traffic laws is about more than avoiding a possible ticket. It is also about making sure the police do not have an excuse to investigate you for possibly more serious crimes, such as DUI or drug possession. Keep in mind, many arrests for these types of offenses start out as “routine” traffic… Read More »
Can Double Jeopardy Stop Georgia from Prosecuting Your DUI?
The United States Constitution prohibits double jeopardy, i.e., trying a person twice for the same alleged crime. Among other things, this means that if you are tried and acquitted on a criminal charge, the government cannot prosecute you a second time on that charge. Georgia law provides an additional, statutory form of double jeopardy… Read More »
Can You Directly Sue an Insurance Company Following a Georgia Auto Accident?
Although insurance companies often pay the bulk of a personal injury judgment against an insured negligent driver, in most cases an accident victim cannot sue the insurer directly. For example, say you are rear-ended by another driver and require medical treatment for your injuries. To obtain compensation, you would file a personal injury lawsuit… Read More »
Georgia Court of Appeals Upholds $9.2 Million Wrongful Death Judgment
Compensation in a Georgia personal injury case is broadly divided into two categories: Economic damages and non-economic damages. The key difference between the two is that economic damages come with a price tag that is relatively simple to determine. For instance, if you are injured in a car accident, the sum of your medical… Read More »