Professional and Ethical Dilemmas in Litigation

Presented by the State Bar of Georgia

This seminar will consist of four panels, each of which will consider a series of thorny hypothetical situations which often arise in litigation. Each hypothetical will address at least one ethical, professional, or legal dilemma which a litigator may face while representing a client.

A few examples:

• How soon must you disclose to a client that you have made an error?
• Can you restrict a client’s right to sue you for malpractice?
• What is the statute of limitations for a legal malpractice claim?
• What are the rules for splitting fees and referral fees?
• Can your fee agreement require that all disputes/claims be arbitrated?
• If you find an important internal memo drafted by your opposing counsel, can you read it and use it?
• Can you pay your client’s medical bills?
• Can you threaten a lawyer with a Bar Complaint?
• How should you respond to a nasty online review?

The panels will consist of Appellate judges (Supreme Court and Court of Appeals), trial court judges, lawyers from the Office of the General Counsel of the State Bar of Georgia, and experienced litigation attorneys. Attendees will be encouraged to participate in the discussions.

PRESIDING: David N. Lefkowitz, Program Chair and Moderator; Founding Attorney, The Lefkowitz Firm, LLC, Atlanta and Athens, GA

Agenda:

• 8:00 – REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST
• 8:20 – INTRODUCTION: Julia D. Neighbors, ICLE Director, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
• 8:25 – WELCOME AND PROGRAM OVERVIEW: David N. Lefkowitz
• 8:30 – SESSION I (provides ethics credit): Hon. Benjamin “Ben” Land, Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; Hon. William M. “Billy” Ray, II, Judge, U.S. District Court, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Alvin T. Wong, Judge, DeKalb State Court, Decatur, GA; William V. Hearnburg, Jr., Assistant General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; M. Gino Brogdon, Sr., Mediator, Henning Mediation, Atlanta, GA; Kim M. Jackson, Bovis, Kyle, Burch & Medlin, Atlanta, GA
• 10:00 – BREAK
• 10:15 – SESSION II (provides professionalism credit): Hon. Verda M. Colvin, Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Sara L. Doyle, Presiding Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Stephen Louis A. Dillard, Presiding Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA; Andreea Morrison, Deputy General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; Warren R. Hinds, Founding Attorney, Warren R. Hinds, P.C., Roswell, GA
• 11:45 – LUNCH
• 12:15 – SESSION III (provides ethics credit): Hon. Andrew A. Pinson, Justice, Supreme Court of Geogia, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Shawn Ellen LaGrua, Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; Hon. D Todd Markle, Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA; Paula Frederick, General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia (retired), Atlanta, GA; Christine L. Mast, Partner, Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP, Atlanta, GA
• 1:45 – BREAK
• 2:00 – SESSION IV (provides professionalism credit): Hon. Carla Wong McMillian, Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Brian M. Rickman, Presiding Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA; Hon. Jeffrey R. Davis, Judge, Georgia Court of Appeals, Atlanta, GA; Russell Willard, General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA; Shannon M. Sprinkle, Torts & Insurance Practice, Partner, Stites & Harbison PLLC, Atlanta, GA
• 3:30 – ADJOURN

For more information and to register, click here.