Torts Trial Practice

Mr. John David Hadden Related Seminars and Products

Penn Law LLC

John D. Hadden is a trial and appellate litigator with Penn Law in Atlanta, where he handles catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases across the state. He is author of Georgia Law of Torts - Trial Preparation and Practice and Green's Georgia Law of Evidence, both published by Thomson Reuters. He is also a registered mediator with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. John is president of the Atlanta Trial Lawyers Association, a member of the Atlanta Bar Association Board of Directors and past chair of the Atlanta Bar’s Litigation Section, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Atlanta Bar Lawyer Referral and Information Service, and a past chair of the Litigation Committee of the State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division. John is a graduate of Emory University and the University of Georgia School of Law, where he was a member of the Georgia Law Review. John has been named one of Georgia’s “Legal Elite” by Georgia Trend, recognized by Atlanta Magazine in its annual list of Top 100 Georgia Super Lawyers, and holds an AV/Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He has also been recognized by the Fulton County Daily Report as one of its “On the Rise — Top 40 Under 40.”

Mr. Jarome Emile Gautreaux Related Seminars and Products

Gautreaux Law, LLC

Jarome Gautreaux is an attorney, professor and author.  He has practiced in the area of torts and personal injury for 23 years, and he teaches Georgia Civil Practice and Procedure at Mercer Law School, where he has also taught Advanced Torts and Pretrial Advocacy.  He is also the co-author of Georgia Law of Torts: Trial Preparation and Practice.  

Jarome has tried numerous cases to verdict, and has obtained multi- million dollar verdicts and settlements. He has also authored numerous publications covering such topics as trial practice, evidence, torts, and persuasion. He served as a federal law clerk in Illinois prior to starting his private practice of law.  

Hon. Benjamin Arthur Land Related Seminars and Products

Supreme Court of Georgia

A lifelong Georgian, Justice Benjamin A. Land was sworn in to the Supreme Court of Georgia on July 24, 2025.

Prior to that, he served as a judge on the Court of Appeals of Georgia, having been appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp on July 20, 2022, and then being elected in a statewide election in 2024. He also has served as a judge of the Superior Court for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit.

Justice Land graduated with Highest Honors as a First Honor Graduate, summa cum laude, from the University of Georgia in 1989, finishing first in his class with a 4.0 grade point average. He also graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1992, finishing second in his class of 202 students. While in law school, he received numerous academic awards, served on the editorial board of the Georgia Law Review, clerked from the Georgia Supreme Court, and was elected to the Order of the Coif.

Following law school, Justice Land ran his own private law firm, focusing on civil litigation and trial practice. During his nearly 26-year career as a private practice attorney, he represented plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of cases, obtained several record-setting verdicts, and played a key role in the defense of numerous nationwide class action lawsuits. During those years, Justice Land engaged in significant complex litigation, tried cases to jury verdicts, earned the respect of his colleagues, and thoroughly enjoyed being in the courtroom.

Justice Land left private practice on Feb. 7, 2018, when Gov. Nathan Deal appointed him to serve as a Superior Court judge for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Justice Land was elected to continue in that position on June 9, 2020, and continued to serve as a trial judge until his appointment to the Court of Appeals. During his time on the superior court bench, Justice Land was known for his fairness and impartiality, his efficiency and work ethic, his courage and compassion, and his unquestioned integrity.

While a trial judge, Justice Land served on the Council of Superior Court Judges Budget Committee and Pattern Jury Instructions Committee. At the Court of Appeals, he chaired the Rules Committee and served on the Legislative Committee.

Justice Land has been active in his profession and his community. He has served on numerous community and law-related boards, has spoken on the topic of trial advocacy at statewide continuing legal education seminars, and has spoken to numerous civic groups, bar associations, and legal and judicial training conferences. During his law practice, Justice Land was presented with the William B. Spann, Jr. Award for Pro Bono Advocacy for his efforts on behalf of a client whose case he handled from the trial court level until its successful conclusion in the Georgia Supreme Court.

Justice Land has served as the president of the Columbus Bar Association, the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit Bar Association, and the Columbus Inn of Court. He has also served as a District Representative for the State Bar of Georgia's Young Lawyers Division, member of the Clarke County Inn of Court, member of the Bleckley Inn of Court, and member of the Lawyers Club of Atlanta. He served for five years on the governor's Judicial Nominating Commission—the statewide body responsible for providing recommendations to the governor concerning judicial appointments—and currently serves by appointment of the governor on the Georgia Child Support Commission. By appointment of the Supreme Court, he chairs the Court Reporting Matters Committee and previously served on the Committee on Court Interpreters.

In 2023, Justice Land was presented with the Distinguished Judicial Service Award by the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia. He is also a member of the Brookstone School's Distinguished Alumni Society.

In addition to his law-related activities, Justice Land has served as a board member for a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, a volunteer and board member for the Pine Mountain Trial Association, and a youth sports coach. Justice Land is an active member of his local church, where he has served on the Administrative Board, the Finance Committee, and the Staff Parish Relations Committee.

Mr. Jesse Alvan Davis III Related Seminars and Products

Davis Adams LLC

Jess Davis is an Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer; he’s represented people catastrophically injured by medical negligence in Georgia and almost every other state. Jess has received nearly every award and honor available to Georgia trial attorneys, has led numerous legal and community organizations, and is regularly called upon by the media for comment on complex or high-profile legal matters. His law firm has recovered more than $100,000,000 for its clients, including multiple eight-figure verdicts and settlements.

Before founding Davis Adams, LLC, Jess was a member of the Litigation & Trial Practice Group at Alston & Bird, a leading international law firm, where he focused primarily on antitrust litigation. He has published articles on the subject of predatory bidding and was a contributor to the preeminent antitrust law treatise, Antitrust Advisor, as well as the American Bar Association’s seven-volume In-House Counsel’s Essential Toolkit. Although his antitrust days are behind him, the complexity involved in those cases was ideal training for medical malpractice litigation.

Jess maintains a highly active and wide-ranging pro bono practice. He helped spearhead a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. government related to the illegal detention of Vietnamese refugees; he’s successfully represented detainees at ICE’s Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Ga., through the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative; and he’s provided free legal services to animal welfare organizations through the Animal Rescue Legal Society, which he founded in 2005 after participating in the emergency evacuation of animals from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Outside of his legal work, Jess has served on the Board of Directors for The Community School and Druid Hills Youth Sports, where he’s coached more than 30 seasons of youth baseball.

Before attending law school, Jess spent nearly a decade as a political aide and operative in Washington, DC, and in Georgia, including stints with the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and numerous political campaigns at every level, including presidential, congressional, state and mayoral races. He remains active in national, state, and local politics.

Ms. Alexandra Catherine Cole Related Seminars and Products

Cannella Snyder LLC

Alexandra "Sachi" Cole is a partner at Cannella Snyder where she specializes in catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, childhood sexual abuse and whistleblower/qui tam cases. Since beginning her practice in the public sector, she has represented victims throughout Georgia and practiced in Savannah and Atlanta. With over a decade of experience, Sachi routinely handles complex civil cases in both state and federal court.

She is a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, Georgia Association for Women Lawyers, Dekalb Bar Association, and the Atlanta Bar Association. Sachi currently serves on GTLA’s Executive Committee and the Dekalb Bar Association Board and is a recent graduate of Leadership Dekalb's 2025 Class. Sachi has earned several honors and awards throughout her career, including being named an On the Rise recipient by the Daily Report. She was also selected to the Rising Stars list by Georgia Super Lawyers since 2017.

Originally from Brookhaven, N.Y., Sachi attended Bates College in Maine, double majoring in Philosophy and Rhetoric. She earned her J.D. from the Emory University School of Law in Atlanta and is a Master of the Cooper Inn of Court.

Ms. Christina Michelle Baugh Related Seminars and Products

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Christina Baugh analyzes and defends complex business disputes. She navigates clients through intricate litigation claims that range from large-scale intellectual property battles to contract disputes. In everything she does, Christina remains committed to delivering pragmatic advocacy that safeguards client assets and supports future growth. Clients value Christina's analytical and bigger-picture perspective. She crafts litigation strategies that often cut to the heart of business disputes, providing clear roadmaps to cost-effective resolutions. This approach not only saves time and resources, but also can align legal outcomes with broader business objectives. In the courtroom, Christina's track record speaks volumes. She's a formidable advocate in court, tackling cases ranging from trade secret protection to fiduciary liability. Beyond litigation, Christina has deep experience in arbitration and negotiation, always seeking to adapt her approach to advocacy and exploring creative paths to resolution to best serve each client’s interests. Christina's versatility shines across her diverse practice. She deftly handles corporate purchase disputes, addresses allegations of corporate wrongdoing, and guides clients through disputes with ongoing business partners. Christina’s clients, who range from family-owned businesses to multibillion-dollar corporations, rely on her to safeguard their most valuable assets: their ideas, reputations, and bottom lines.

Ms. Stacey Godfrey Evans Related Seminars and Products

Stacey Evans Law

Stacey Godfrey Evans practices complex business litigation, including extensive experience with False Claims Act and defamation claims. 

She represented whistleblowers in a Medicare fraud case against a major dialysis clinic chain that settled for $495 million ($324 million of which was returned to the U.S. Treasury). This was the largest non-intervened whistleblower Medicare fraud case in history. 

Stacey spent eight years as a securities and complex litigation attorney at Powell Goldstein, LLP, which is today known as Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. There, she represented community bank boards of directors and other executives in litigation and internal investigations. She combines her unmatched work ethic with the savvy of a big firm defense attorney and the heart and practical touch of a plaintiff's attorney. 

Stacey is currently a State Representative and proudly represents House District 57, which includes portions of Atlanta. She was elected to serve this district in 2020. This is Stacey's second stint in the Georgia General Assembly. Stacey previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2010-2017, representing the Smyrna and Marietta areas of Cobb County. She currently serves on the Appropriations, Judiciary, and Retirement committees. 

She is a "Double Dawg" having earned her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia. Stacey is very active in the community, having served on numerous community boards. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for G-CAPP (Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential) and the UGA School of Law Board of Visitors and is a Master in the Lumpkin Inn of Court. 

Stacey has also earned several honors for leadership and community service. For example, Stacey has been named to Georgia Trend's "40 Under 40" list and the Fulton County Daily Report's list of "40 Under 40 Rising Stars in the Legal Community:• She was also recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in its article, "Up and Comers/Under 40 and Rising: 50 of Atlanta's Most Promising Young Stars;" she was the youngest person in this group of distinguished Georgians. Additionally, Stacey was named to the Class of 2008 of Outstanding Atlanta. She has been named to UGA's "40 under 40" and is a graduate of LEAD Atlanta, the State Bar Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy and the Atlanta Women's Foundation Destiny Fund. Stacey has been named to Atlanta Magazine's Super Lawyers Rising Stars list over multiple years. 

Mr. Michael Thomas Rafi Related Seminars and Products

Rafi Law Firm LLC

Mike Rafi is a personal injury lawyer and the founder of Rafi Law Firm, based in Atlanta, Georgia. He represents individuals and families in serious injury and wrongful death cases across the country — including those involving car and truck accidents, dangerous properties, and unsafe products. Since founding the firm, Mike and his team have recovered more than $150 million for their clients.

Mike started Rafi Law Firm because he believed too many personal injury lawyers were getting it wrong — they weren’t skilled enough, they weren’t giving clients honest advice, and they weren’t putting in the work to get the best results. He wanted to change that, and has. He built the firm around high standards, clear communication, and a commitment to treating people the way they should be treated when everything is on the line.

In addition to his work in the courtroom, Mike has become one of the most widely followed lawyers on social media. His daily videos on legal strategy, case insights, and running a law firm have been viewed more than 800 million times across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. He uses these platforms to educate, support, and connect with people who are navigating the legal system — or simply trying to better understand how the laws and our systems work.

Mike went to Furman University and then the University of Georgia School of Law. He serves on the Alumni Council at the UGA Law, mentors law students, and supports the advocacy program—a full-circle role, given that he graduated as the school’s most decorated mock trial and moot court competitors. 

Mike is also a frequent speaker at legal conferences and contributor to professional publications. He’s given presentations on trial advocacy, running a law firm, and social media at national events, with his next presentation being at the 2025 Lex Summit. He recently testified before the Georgia State House on tort reform. His writing on topics like opening statements and hearsay evidence is widely read and reflects his commitment to helping other lawyers improve their craft. 

Mike has been President of the DeKalb County Bar Association and on the board for the Atlanta Bar Association’s Small Firm Section. He’s also involved in public safety efforts in his community and nationwide. His work has earned recognition throughout the legal community. Mike has received the Distinguished Leader Award from Law.com and has been awarded by Super Lawyers, Atlanta Magazine, and Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite.

Mike lives in Atlanta with his wife Ashley, their kids, and their dogs. Mike and Ashley started the Married to the Law podcast, which viewers enjoy calling “Ashley’s Podcast, with Mike.” You can see the kids popping up from time to time in Mike’s videos—whether it is Charlie running through the house, Olivia and her piano, or Wells telling people what to do if they are arrested. 

Mr. Xavier Ottowa Carter Related Seminars and Products

Chance Forlines Carter & King PC

Since becoming an advocate for the victims of negligence, Xavier has fought tirelessly on behalf of individuals who have been seriously injured and on behalf of families who have lost loved ones as a result of the negligence of others. His practice focuses primarily on medical negligence committed by health care institutions and providers as well as nursing home and assisted living facility abuse and neglect of the elderly and disabled. 

In 2022, Xavier was a co-lead member of two trial teams that secured record-setting trial verdicts on behalf of victims of neglect by long term care facilities. Xavier and his partners secured a $15.3 million dollar verdict in McKinney v. Life Care Centers of America, et al, by demonstrating to the jury how systemic understaffing caused chronic neglect that ultimately led to the death of their 77-year old client.The firm followed that verdict up with a $2.8 million verdict in Perloe v. Somerby Senior Living, LLC. In that case Xavier and CFCK Law trial team held accountable an assisted living facility that allowed a fire ant infestation to develop until their client was attacked by fire ants on multiple occasions, ultimately leading to her death less than a week later.

Most recently, in June 2023, Xavier was co-lead counsel on a Lourie Chance trial team that obtained a $40 million dollar verdict against a physicians’ group and a hospital in a complicated medical malpractice case in Bibb County, Georgia.  

Mr. Stephen Roberts Chance Related Seminars and Products

Chance Forlines Carter & King PC

Stephen Chance has been practicing law since 1995, but his love of the law began long before then.  Stephen was born and raised in Augusta, Georgia where his father and grandfather both enjoyed successful legal careers.  After graduating from the Academy of Richmond County in 1985, Stephen attended Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.  Stephen then returned to Augusta to work in his father’s law firm in preparation for becoming a third-generation trial lawyer. He then moved to Atlanta and attended Georgia State University from 1990-1995 where her earned a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude.  During that time Stephen also worked as a law clerk for two of the preeminent law firms in Atlanta – one a plaintiff’s firm and the other a defense firm- where he learned the technical skills necessary to succeed in highly complex areas of law including medical malpractice, trucking accidents, fires and explosions, industrial catastrophes, and products liability.

Upon passing the bar, Stephen began his career as a lawyer primarily defending medical professionals and hospitals in medical malpractice cases.  Just two weeks later, Stephen’s father died after a battle with lung cancer that never took away his dignity, sense of humor, or love for the law. Stephen stepped into his father’s solo practice and resolved the remainder of the pending cases – some of which were tried to successful verdicts.

In 1999, Stephen left his insurance defense practice to join Joe Watkins, Lance Lourie, and Rob Roll at Watkins, Lourie & Roll, LLP, all of whom had also worked in the prior defense firm.  Even during his career as a medical malpractice defense lawyer Stephen handled cases on behalf of families devastated by tragedy when he could. Since 1999, Stephen has dedicated his professional time to helping those most in need. His empathetic nature that emerged at the young age of 27 through the premature death of his father would only grow.

In 2006, Stephen three-year old son, Patrick, was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer of the sympathetic nervous system. Patrick passed away after a grueling six-year battle on January 9, 2012, his ninth birthday.  Remarkably, in addition to meeting the duties required by a thriving law practice, a young family, and a cancer fight, Stephen and, his wife, Erin founded Press On, a field of interest fund with the mission to identify and support feasible and groundbreaking alternative therapies for childhood cancers and to invest in the science and infrastructure needed to cure childhood cancer within our lifetime. This effort earned the recognition of the Georgia Trial Lawyer Association’s Executive Committee resulting in Stephen and Erin being awarded GTLA’s Community Service Award in 2008.

Stephen went on to serve on GTLA’s Executive Committee as one of GTLA’s delegates to the American Association of Justice’s Board of Governors.  Stephen and Erin were members of the Leadership Georgia Class of 2015. Stephen has also served on non-profit boards leading committees focused on governance, legal affairs, and human resources.

During the summer of 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, tragedy struck again.  Stephen’s mother, who had worked at Watkins, Lourie, Roll & Chance for over a decade, suffered a series of debilitating strokes that required placement in a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation and long-term care. This experience, much like the loss of his father in 1995 and the loss of his son in 2012, simply made Stephen a better, more passionate advocate for his clients - this time for families seeking justice for loved ones injured or killed by neglect and abuse in southeastern nursing homes. 

When tragedy strikes a family, whether through the loss of a spouse, child, parent, or through the devastating consequences of spinal cord injury, brain injury, amputation, or life-threatening burns, Stephen takes the responsibility of protecting his clients’ financial future very seriously and, through it all, personally.

Stephen’s legal ability and ethical standards have been recognized by the nation’s most authoritative attorney rating services. Stephen has enjoyed Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent Peer Rating every year since 1999 – the first year he was eligible for rating. Stephen is also listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and has received the Judicial Edition AV Preeminent Rating. Stephen was listed by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2005 and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer every year since 2009. Stephen also enjoys a Superb rating by Avvo.

Stephen’s primary place of practice is the State of Georgia, but Stephen is also licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Tennessee.

Mr. Karl David Cooke Jr. Related Seminars and Products

Gautreaux Law, LLC

David Cooke has over 25 years of experience getting justice for victims who were hurt by the intentional and careless acts of others. He uses the skills and experience he developed as a career homicide and sex crimes prosecutor to hold wrongdoers accountable in cases involving wrongful death, sexual assault, and medical malpractice.

Prior to joining Gautreaux Law, David served two terms as the elected District Attorney for the Macon Judicial Circuit, where he litigated some of the largest civil racketeering cases in Georgia history. As a trial lawyer, David has taken over 150 jury trials to verdict, specializing in the prosecution of sex crimes and homicides.

A frequent lecturer on crimes against women and children, David has been featured multiple times as an expert commentator for HLN, NPR, MSNBC, Dateline NBC, and other national media outlets. He also teaches other lawyers the best practices for litigation including jury selection, evidence presentation, and direct and cross examination of expert witnesses.

David has won many awards for his advocacy. He and his wife, Rebecca, are members of the First Baptist Church of Christ, where they both serve as deacons. The Cookes have three children, and reside in Macon.

Ms. Daedrea De'Nae Fenwick Related Seminars and Products

Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys LLC

Daedrea Fenwick is a Partner at Stewart Miller Simmons, where she advocates passionately for justice in premises liability cases, with a primary focus on general negligence, negligent security, and sexual assault matters. Known for her sharp legal acumen and unwavering commitment to her clients, Daedrea has built a reputation as a fearless trial attorney who stands with those who need a strong voice the most.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Daedrea relocated to Atlanta, Georgia to pursue her academic and professional ambitions. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business from Clark Atlanta University, followed by her Juris Doctor from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, graduating summa cum laude.

Her exceptional legal skill and dedication have earned her national recognition, including being named one of the Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 by the American Bar Association, receiving the Super Lawyers Rising Star honor from 2020–2023, and being named as a Super Lawyer from 2024 to the present.  She was also celebrated as one of the inaugural Clark Atlanta University 40 Under 40 Young Alumni Achievement Award recipients, a testament to her influence both in and beyond the courtroom.

Outside of her law practice, Daedrea is a dynamic entrepreneur, community leader, and mentor. She is deeply committed to service and thrives on giving back through mentorship, advocacy, and initiatives that empower underrepresented communities. When she is not championing justice or leading business ventures, Daedrea can be found traveling or spending time with her family. Whether in the courtroom, the boardroom, or her community, she embodies excellence, resilience, and purpose.

Prof. Patrick E. Longan Related Seminars and Products

Mercer University School of Law

Professor Patrick E. Longan holds the William Augustus Bootle Chair in Ethics and Professionalism at the Mercer University School of Law, where he has taught since 2000. Professor Longan also serves as the Director of the Mercer Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, as a Special Master for disciplinary cases, and as a member of the State Bar of Georgia’s Disciplinary Rules and Procedures Committee and Formal Advisory Opinion Board. He has been a member of the Georgia Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism since 2000.

Professor Longan is the author, coauthor, or editor of more than 60 publications and has given more than 150 lectures, speeches, or panel presentations regarding legal ethics and professionalism. He was the second recipient of the National Award for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching Professionalism from the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Professionalism, the Conference of Chief Justices, and the Burge Endowment for Legal Ethics. In 2014, Mercer Law School received the E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award from the ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism for one of Professor Longan’s programs. Professor Longan has received the Mercer University Law School Board of Visitors Awards for Excellence in Teaching (2022) and Excellence in Scholarship (2021).

Professor Longan was on the faculty of Stetson University College of Law from 1991 to 2000. Before entering law teaching, Professor Longan served as a law clerk to Senior United States District Judge Bernard M. Decker in Chicago and practiced law with the firm of Andrews & Kurth in Dallas, Texas. Professor Longan is a 1983 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School.