The purpose of this article is to discuss the advantages (“the Good”), disadvantages (“the Bad”) and ethical issues (“the Ugly”) associated with using the internet and social media to gain advantages at trial. I. The Good A. Pre-Trial Research and Preparation The explosion of social media over the Internet has created an era of unchecked and virtually limitless publicly…
By Justin O’Dell In recent weeks, Atlanta has seen a rash of car wrecks and accidents involving motorcycles. Motorcycles are often involved in automobile incidents due to other drivers failing to see or properly yield to the motorcycle. Since the motorcycle offers less protection than an automobile, motorcycle riders are much more likely to suffer serious injury. Cases involving serious…
Effects of the Supreme Court Ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Proposition 8 By Justin O’Dell Last month, we left Dick and Jane with Dick contemplating a career change and the effects of a covenant not to compete. This month, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) sent a ripple through the nation and has caused…
More Women Are Breadwinners and Cheaters According to a recent survey by the National Opinion Research Center, women are earning higher wages and more of them are admitting to cheating on their husbands. The social survey indicates that greater financial security among women lessens their concern over having their husbands leave them when they cheat. For more detail on the…
What Took So Long? What seemed to be the never-ending divorce battle between Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries has finally reached its long awaited conclusion. On June 3, 2013, the Los Angeles Superior Court granted a final decree of divorce, effectively dissolving their marriage in its entirety. The couple was married only 72 days before Kardashian filed for divorce, but…
By Justin O’Dell This month we switch gears from Probate Court to the business world. Recall that Dick is a project manager with a mid-sized engineering firm. Dick has been approached by a well-respected member of the industry about a business opportunity. The opportunity calls for Dick to take a position with a new company. Dick would be offered…
On this day in 1806, 2 attorneys in Nashville rode from their homes to Kentucky where dueling was legal and settled their differences with pistols. On this day, Andrew Jackson emerged the victor in a duel with Charles Dickinson who had supposedly printed libelous statements that Jackson’s wife, Rachel, was a bigamist. It seems that defending her honor was at…
By Justin O’Dell Last month, we came to the conclusion that Dick and Jane could be facing the situation of dealing with the filing of a Guardianship and Conservatorship over Dick’s Mother. The process sounds intimidating and costly. If a fight breaks out within Dick’s family, it can prove to be emotional and expensive. However, if the family stays on…
On March 22, 2013, Former NFL player Kordell Stewart filed for divorce from his wife of nearly two years, Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s cast member Porsha Williams Stewart. In her response to Stewart’s divorce filing, Porsha Stewart argued that she should be awarded alimony from Kordell Stewart. Kordell Stewart has a different opinion, arguing that his wife does not need…
Monitoring Employees’ E-mails Part 3 of 3 By Justin O’Dell For the 3rd part of our series on communicating with represented parties, we venture into the issue of employers, employees and e-mail. Many companies have policies in their employee handbooks regarding the use of e-mail in the office but how many are actually monitoring that activity? Are employees being told…
