On September 30, 2021, following a 3 day trial, a Douglas County jury returned a defense verdict.  Ben Harbin tried the case which involved a multi-vehicle accident.  The plaintiff did not complain of injury at the scene and there was minor damage to his vehicle.  However, plaintiff immediately began treating with a chiropractor and incurred medical bills in excess of $43,000.  The plaintiff asked for a verdict of $60,000, he rejected a pre-trial settlement offer of $15,000.

After a one-day trial, a DeKalb County jury returned a defense verdict in eight (8) minutes.  Brian F. William was able to convince a jury that plaintiff’s alleged concussion claims from a minor admitted fault automobile accident were not credible.  Plaintiff alleged $11,752 in medical bills and asked the jury for $130,000 during closing arguments.  Plaintiff rejected a $13,500 pre-trial offer.

After a four (4) day trial, Brian McCarthy secured a very favorable jury verdict in the Superior Court of Newton County.  This case involved an admitted fault rear-end accident.  Plaintiff claimed serious spine injuries, receive multiple spine injections, underwent a three (3) level cervical fusion, and had a spinal cord stimulator implanted.  Plaintiff claimed that his injuries left him totally disabled and unable to return to his job as a baggage handler.  Plaintiff’s trial evidence included two (2) surgeons, one (1) pain doctor, one (1) vocational expert, and one (1) economist.  Plaintiff blackboarded special damages in the amount of $1,650,000 (approximately $460,000 in medical bills; $760,000 in future lost wages; $250,000 in future medical bills; and $180,000 in lost wages) and requested the jury to return a verdict of $4,000,000.  During closing arguments, the defense requested the jury either return a defense verdict or a verdict of $50,000.  After approximately two (2) hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict for plaintiff in the amount of $50,000, well under the pre-trial offer.

On August 30, 2021, Kayla Bell defended the estate of a defendant who passed away prior to trial. Plaintiff alleged injuries to her neck and shoulders, as well as low back pain that she testified she still experienced as a result of a minor accident in 2016. A Fulton County jury awarded plaintiff $3,274.51, less than defendant’s last offer and well below the more than $20,000 plaintiff asked the jury to award. Ms. Bell was able to impeach plaintiff regarding a prior accident and subsequent injuries and successfully argued for more than $7,000 in medical bills to be excluded from evidence. The deceased defendant’s granddaughter attended trial and was pleased with the rigorous defense mounted on behalf of her grandfather’s estate.

Waldon Adelman Castilla Hiestand & Prout is a proud participant of the 2021 Legal Food Frenzy benefiting the Atlanta Community Food Bank.  We are thrilled to accept donations in any amount to our team’s efforts.  Please visit our firm’s team page: https://www.classy.org/team/352444

Rakhi McNeill has successfully tried the first case post-pandemic for the firm. This was a minor accident where plaintiff alleged $30,000 in medical bills plus $8,700 in lost wages. Our client was pregnant and therefore, did not appear at trial. However, her mother, also a defendant, was present. After a day of jury selection, a lengthy one-day trial, and 35 minutes of jury deliberation, the Wilkinson County jury awarded only $11,000, just slightly more than defendant’s last offer. Plaintiff’s last demand was $50,000.

The members of the committee are Ashley Rice, Rakhi McNeill, Brian McCarthy and Marcia Freeman. Diversity Members Announcement

Congratulations Rakhi McNeill for being nominated to the Board of the CLM Greater Atlanta Chapter.  She has been named the director of events. We look forward to attending any future events that Ms. McNeill organizes.

Hilliard Castilla has been selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, which is associated with the ABA.  This is a significant honor which only 1% of lawyers receive.   The award is a sign of extraordinary leadership in the legal community.  Only a select few are even nominated.  Congrats Hilliard!

Please join us in congratulating associate Casey Brown as the inaugural recipient of the WACHP Community Spirit Award.  Casey’s commitment to pro bono legal matters, volunteer efforts, and fundraising in our community are commendable.  Casey has done pro bono work with the Cherokee County ADA office and the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Fund.  He has also served the Atlanta Community Food Bank.