Recent Success Stories
Client contacted our office for assistance after receiving a threatening debt collection letter. Client was a small business owner who used an equity funding loan for his business, signing a payment rights purchase and sale agreement. The lending group (investors) would be entitled to a portion of the daily receipts that Client’s business earned. Eventually, Client’s business failed and he was forced to close. Client acknowledged that he owed the debt, but found himself overwhelmed financially. Our attorney wrote a letter to opposing counsel negotiating a settlement offer of $9,000.00, payable in two installments of $4,500.00 each, and demanded that the account be closed and any negative references be removed from his credit report. We received a response accepting the settlement offer, and confirming removal of the account from the opposing party’s collections database.Savings to Client, $26,000.00.
Client contacted our office for assistance regarding repair work to his vehicle. Client was quoted a flat rate for repair of an oil leak, and paid one-half of the fees in advance so that the necessary part could be ordered. Client picked up the vehicle and immediately noticed that the car was not driving properly. Client contacted the auto repair shop and was told they would send a tow truck to his house to retrieve the vehicle. While waiting for the tow truck to arrive, Client looked under the hood of his vehicle and noticed that the same gasket cover had been reapplied with a coating of glue, rather than the new one that had been purchased. After some extensive on-line research, our attorney wrote a letter to the owner of the auto repair shop calling out their unscrupulous behavior and their history of deceitful and shoddy work, and demanded a full refund of the repair costs. In response to our letter, opposing party remitted the demanded funds.Recovery for Client, $1,518.00.
Client contacted our office for assistance when her federal and state tax refunds were deposited to the wrong bank account due to an error on the part of her tax preparer. The bank placed a hold on the funds, but refused to release the funds to Client. Our attorney wrote a letter to the bank, requesting that the bank send the money back to the IRS and the State of Georgia. The bank complied, and the IRS and the State subsequently reissued payment to Client.Recovery for Client, $8,297.00.
Update From The Gold Dome
The 40-day Georgia legislative session came to a close on April 2, 2019. Severalbills passed this session and are on Governor Brian Kemp’s desk awaiting his signature. After a bill has been passed by the legislature, the Governor has 40 days to either sign or veto the bill; otherwise, it becomes law as of July 1, 2019. Here a few notable bills that passed this session:
SB 15 creates new rules for school safety and security measures for public institutions in the wake of the Parkland massacre. Schools would be required to conduct regular threat assessments, create safety plans, and carry out drills. Schools would also have to work with state agencies and local law enforcement and report any student exhibiting concerning behavior to the Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center (GISAC), a counterterrorism and intelligence agency. The state police would have authority to subpoena electronic information from computers or electronic devices directly from providers of electronic communication services, and such companies would not be allowed to alert the customers. Schools will also be required to share links from the GISAC with parents and students on cell phone apps that allow for anonymous reporting of unlawful or unsafe activity.
SB 25 clarifies school bus stop arm regulations. Drivers are required to stop when the bus is loading and unloading students, unless they are traveling in the opposite direction of the road and there is a physical barrier or median between the lanes.
SB 31 allows law enforcement to rescue pets from a hot car without being held liable for emergency acts, such as breaking a car window in order to save the suffering pet.
SB 48 provides for students between kindergarten to third grade to receive dyslexia screenings, and training for teachers who teach such students.
SB 77 imposes a larger financial penalty upon vandals who have been caught and charged with damaging state monuments. Now, the vandal(s) will be required to pay up to three times the cost of damages and legal fees.
SB 106 enables the governor to apply for a federal waiver to expand Medicaid coverage to Georgians at the federal poverty level without any insurance. The law also would make changes to the Affordable Care Act exchanges.
HB 182 amends the 2018 bill that required online retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases from businesses that made more than $250,000. The new bill lowered the threshold amount to $100,000.
HB 213 approves farmers to grow hemp for CBD oil and other products, which previously had to be imported from other states.
HB 228 increases the minimum marriage age from 16 to 17, and requires any person who is 17 years of age to have been emancipated.
HB 282 requires law enforcement agencies to preserve sexual assault evidence for 30 years after an arrest, or 7 years after time served, or in the case of no arrest, then for 50 years in cases where the victim reports the sexual assault.
HB 316 authorizes the Georgia Secretary of State to purchase new voting machines. Voters will now be able to view their selections on an upgraded touch screen system that prints out their paper ballots.
HB 324 expands the 2015 medical marijuana laws to allow six private companies and two state universities to grow and produce low-THC cannabis oil in Georgia. Pharmacies would also be allowed to distribute the oil, and would be regulated by a state oversight board.
HB 346 protects tenants from retaliation from their landlords if they report problems regarding the property to code enforcement officials, such as mold or rodent issues.
HB 471 revises DUI laws, specifically the Georgia implied consent notice, in light of the Georgia Supreme Court decision in Elliot v. State (February 18, 2019), so that breath tests cannot be used against suspected DUI offenders.
HB 481 outlaws abortions after a physician has detected a heartbeat in a fetus, which can be found as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
2019 Firm Holiday Closings
Good Friday- April19 (Friday)
Memorial Day -May 27 (Monday)
Independence Day- July 4 (Thursday)
Labor Day- September 2 (Monday)
Thanksgiving- November 28-29 (Thursday – Friday)
Christmas- December 24-25 (Tuesday – Wednesday)