Legal Blog
Georgia Medical Board Addresses Questions Regarding APRN Protocol Agreements
The healthcare community has been closely watching developments involving the Georgia Composite Medical Board's interpretation of state laws governing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who own or operate their own practices.
It’s About Time: The Georgia Legislature Relieves Barrier to Recovery for Nurses and Counselors Struggling with Addiction
Currently, nurses, social workers, and professional counselors with substance abuse issues in Georgia may face immediate public disciplinary action by their respective professional licensing boards, discouraging them from seeking help until a crisis occurs or a formal complaint is filed against them. House Bill 219 changes that landscape...
The Georgia Tort Reform Act--Changes Made by SB68 and Their Effective Dates
On April 21, 2025, Governor Kemp signed the much-anticipated SB 68 and SB 69 into law as the Georgia Tort Reform Act. The new law codifying SB 68 contains 8 sections updating the rules of evidence, filing, discovery, and trials in personal injury cases in Georgia courts.
Tort Reform on the Governor’s Desk in Georgia
Senate Bills 68 and 69, two of the largest pieces of tort reform legislation in nearly 20 years, have officially passed the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee in an 8-3 vote.
Georgia Court of Appeals Overturns Massive $54M Verdict Against Avis for Crash Following Employee’s Theft of Vehicle
In a recent pair of companion cases, Avis Rent A Car System v. Johnson, 352 Ga.App. 858 (2019) and Avis Rent A Car System v. Smith, 353 Ga.App. 24 (2019), the Georgia Court of Appeals reversed massive jury verdicts totaling $54M on the grounds that an Avis employee’s theft of a rental vehicle cut off Avis’s liability for the employee’s subsequent crash that injured the bystander plaintiffs.
Georgia Passes Law to Shield Businesses from COVID-19 Liability
The Georgia legislature recently passed a bill designed to shield healthcare facilities and other business entities from civil liability related to the spread of COVID-19. On August 5, 2020, Governor Brian Kemp signed the “Georgia COVID-19 Pandemic Business Safety Act,” which provides businesses with a general shield against civil tort lawsuits brought by members of the public, customers, or employees who alleged that they contracted or were exposed to the virus while on the premises.
Georgia Supreme Court Expands Potential Unlimited Punitive Damages in Civil Cases Involving an Intoxicated Defendant
In Reid v. Morris, Case No. S20A0107 (Ga. S. Ct., June 29, 2020), the Supreme Court of Georgia held that under Georgia’ s punitive damages statute, a defendant may be subject to unlimited punitive damages if he commits a tort while intoxicated—even if the tort does not involve driving under the influence. In this case, the two defendants, Stroud and Morris, were drinking together, and though Stroud knew Morris was drunk, had no license, and was known to be reckless, he gave Morris his car keys and let him drive. The plaintiff was injured when his vehicle was struck by the vehicle driven by Morris.
Georgia Supreme Court Recognizes Alternative Licensing Certification for Lactation Care Providers
In a recent decision, the Georgia Supreme Court held that the State Constitution protects Georgians’ right to pursue an occupation of their choosing free from unreasonable government interference. The case directly concerned the rights of lactation care providers (LCs) to practice with alternative licensing credentials, though it could potentially have a far-reaching impact on other professionally licensed occupations in Georgia.
Georgia’s Professional Licensing Boards Approve Temporary Practice Permits for Healthcare Providers in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
In response to the public health emergency posed by the novel coronavirus, some of Georgia’s licensing boards have been authorized to issue “emergency practice permits” allowing healthcare professionals from other states to practice in Georgia for a limited amount of time. Interested healthcare professionals are encouraged to review the following information and to contact their respective licensing boards as indicated below.
Summary Judgment in Rainy Day Slip and Falls May be a Thing of The Past
Plaintiff testified that she slipped on “standing water,” but could not describe the depth, width, or quantity of water.