Notable Cases
Protecting the Livelihood of Physicians
Frances Cullen has defended the livelihood of professionals for more than 25 years, guiding them through the professional license application process and defending their license against potential disciplinary action or criminal charges. Here are just a few representative cases involving physician clients.
DOT Not at Fault for Fatal Collision
Sixteen-year-old Plaintiff sued for his own personal injuries and for the wrongful death of his father and sister, after their vehicle rear-ended a tractor-trailer on I-75 north. Plaintiff argued that DOT’s failure to install a sign warning of a prior serious crash which caused a long unexpected queue of traffic constituted the proximate cause of Plaintiff’s crash.
Verdict for the Defendant in Auto Collision
Plaintiff alleged he was driving straight through an intersection and had a green light when Defendant, driving in the opposite direction, failed to yield while turning left and caused a collision, which resulted in injuries to Plaintiff.
Jury Awards Less Than Amount Offered at Mediation in Tractor Rollover Case
In September, 2017, Lee Pruett tried a case before a Barrow County jury and, along with Co-Counsel Bill Cowsert of Cowsert Heath in Athens, obtained a verdict in an amount which was more than $10,000 less than their client’s last offer at mediation one month prior.
Defense Verdict for GDOT in South Georgia Smoke and Fog Case
In Salem v. the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Plaintiff sued for a catastrophic brain injury he sustained in an automobile collision which occurred just outside of Jesup, Georgia.
Court of Appeals Reversal Leads to Big Win for DeKalb County
On July 28, 2015, in a big win for DeKalb County, the Georgia Court of Appeals reversed itself on the issue of whether lay testimony as to speed, based only on the experience of impact, constituted admissible evidence to defeat summary judgment.
Summary Judgment Granted in Food-Borne Illness Case
Plaintiff alleged that on October 1, 2010, he ate chicken nuggets purchased at Defendant’s franchise restaurant and, approximately three-and-a-half hours later, began to experience nausea and diarrhea.
Independent Contractor Not Liable for Plaintiff's Injuries
On March 27, 2007, Plaintiff allegedly injured herself when she fell while trying to get out of a defective chair at a Burger King restaurant located in downtown Atlanta.
Defense Verdict for DeKalb County Police Department
Plaintiff was a front-seat passenger in a vehicle driven by Robert Lamar, traveling north on Clairmont Road. A DeKalb County police officer was driving southbound in a DeKalb County police unit on his way to back-up a fellow officer. At approximately 2:30 a.m., Mr. Lamar attempted to make a left turn into an apartment complex across the southbound lanes of Clairmont and was struck by the police officer.
Court of Appeals Affirms Summary Judgment for Newnan Hospital
Plaintiff was a patient at Newnan Hospital where he was treated and discharged the same day. He had been given narcotic medication and was told not to drive for a certain number of hours. Plaintiff denied anyone gave him such an instruction. Soon after being discharged, Plaintiff drove from the hospital.
Verdict for Georgia DOT: Plaintiff's Injuries Caused by Drivers' Negligence
Two were injured and one killed after a series of collisions in a Georgia DOT work zone on the ramp from Georgia 400 southbound to I-285 eastbound back in 1995. Plaintiff, a 56 year old man at the time, had medical expenses in excess of $1,000,000.
Defense Verdict for Georgia DOT in GA 400 Crossover Accident
Plaintiff suffered serious leg and pelvic injuries when a vehicle left the northbound lanes of Georgia 400, crossed the grassed median and collided with Plaintiff and several other southbound vehicles.
DOT Entitled to Sovereign Immunity
Plaintiff was rendered a quadriplegic in a single car accident on a county road in Jones County. Plaintiff sued several Defendants, including DOT and Jones County, which before the crash, had entered into a series of contracts concerning the improvements of Griswoldville Road.
Bathroom Injuries Not the Fault of Boston Market
Plaintiff alleged Defendant's bathroom partition door broke and fell, striking Plaintiff's leg and resulting in permanent injuries. Defendant Boston Market.
DOT Dismissed from Wrongful Death Case
Plaintiff sued for the wrongful death of her son who was struck by a vehicle as he crossed the state route in front of his home. Plaintiff alleged that DOT was responsible because construction caused the traffic to back-up, and that the traffic cue impeded the visibility of the driver who struck her son.
Jury Agrees That Injuries Not Proximately Caused by Accident
Plaintiff alleged Defendant failed to secure the trailer door on an 18-wheeler, and the door swung open and struck the Plaintiff's vehicle, causing permanent back injuries to Plaintiff.
Summary Judgment Affirmed in Trip and Fall Case
Plaintiff alleged Defendant restaurant owner was negligent in putting down a worn rug at the restaurant entranceway. Plaintiff tripped on the rug and allegedly sustained injuries as a result.
Property Owner Not at Fault in Auto Accident
Plaintiff alleged she was severely injured when she turned left from a stop sign on a side street and was struck by another vehicle on the main road. Plaintiff sued the driver of the other vehicle, his employer, the county, and Gourmet Concepts, owner of the property adjacent to the intersection.
Directed Verdict for Georgia DOT in Flooding Case
Plaintiffs alleged their property was damaged due to flooding of a nearby creek after DOT negligently designed the Pearl Nix Parkway Extension in Gainesville, Georgia.
Defending Nurses Accused of Drug Diversion
In numerous cases when employers have fired nurses and reported them to the Georgia Board of Nursing for drug diversion, Frances Cullen of Levy Pruett Cullen has helped guide nurses to the appropriate drug treatment program, assisted them with the Georgia Board of Nursing’s investigation process, helped them locate an appropriate nurse advocate to advocate on their behalf before the Georgia Board of Nursing, and negotiated a more favorable outcome to monitor aftercare following completion of treatment.