Trial and Error

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. Michael Brandon Smith Related Seminars and Products

Childers Schlueter & Smith LLC

Childers, Schlueter & Smith, LLC
1932 North Druid Hills Road, Suite 100
Atlanta, Georgia, 30319
bsmith@cssfirm.com
www.cssfirm.com

M. Brandon Smith is a trial lawyer and partner at the law firm of Childers, Schlueter & Smith, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia where his practice focuses 100% on of obtaining justice for injured individuals in the areas of pharmaceutical litigation, medical devices, product liability, mass torts, and wrongful death. Brandon represents clients all over the United States in addition to those residing in Georgia. 

Brandon is currently litigating the following mass torts: Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Litigation, Talcum Powder Litigation; Hernia Mesh Litigation; Roundup Litigation; Stryker Hip Implant Litigation; IVC Filter litigation; CPAP Cancer Litigation; and select other single event causes of action stemming from dangerous drugs and/or products including but not limited to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome injuries.

Brandon received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history at the University of Georgia in 2001. He went on to attend the University of Georgia School of Law, earning his Juris Doctorate in 2004. Immediately after graduation from the University of Georgia School of Law, Brandon became an Assistant District Attorney for the Newton County District Attorney’s Office for the Alcovy Circuit, where he strived to protect the rights and dignity of innocent victims.     

Brandon is an active member of the American Association for Justice; Georgia Trial Lawyers Association; Southern Trial Lawyers Association; Melvin Belli Society; the National Trial Lawyers Association; Elite Lawyers of America; and many other legal groups and civic organizations.

In 2023 Brandon was again selected as a Georgia Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters (mass torts); listed in the Best Lawyers Publication (mass torts); chosen as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the State of Georgia by The National Trial Lawyers. These prestigious honors are reserved for America’s top trial lawyers exemplifying superior qualifications, trial results, and leadership. They are by invitation only, and are based in part on peer nominations from fellow lawyers from all over the United States.

Mr. Larry Christopher Stewart Related Seminars and Products

Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys

L. Chris Stewart is the Managing Partner of Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys, a serious injury and wrongful death law firm. Chris handles a variety of cases including wrongful death, civil rights, premises liability, mass torts and sexual assaults. Chris has won numerous record setting jury verdicts and made U.S history when he won the first billion dollar jury verdict for a rape victim. Chris is also recognized worldwide as one of the top civil rights lawyers of his generation. He has represented some of the most famous civil rights cases of this century that were captured on video including Walter Scott, Alton Sterling, Gregory Towns, Chase Sherman, and Deaundre Phillips. Attorney Stewart demands not just a monetary award for his clients, but also policing reform to prevent future abuse. Stewart also represents 4 of the most famous cases of 2020 including Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and Taniyah Pilgrim (student who was tased during a peaceful protest in Atlanta).

Attorney Stewart is one of the most decorated African-American lawyers in the country having received the Julia Humbles’ Civil Rights Award, the Wiley Branton Award for Leadership, the Outstanding Citizen Award for the State of Georgia, the Georgia Senate Outstanding Public Service Proclamation, the Pinnacle Leadership Award, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Chairman’s Award, the Esquire Award, the R.E. Thomas Civil Rights Award, the first and only African-American voted Attorney of the Year for the State of Georgia.

Chris has been featured in international media including CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, The New York Times, Fox News, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Forbes and is a contributor on various media outlets. He travels frequently speaking at a variety of events and schools as the key note speaker. Born and raised in southwest Atlanta, Chris is extremely active in the Atlanta community and is also a board member of the historic Southern Center for Human Rights. He is a double HBCU alumni, graduating from Xavier University (LA) with honors in English, Tulane University with a Master’s of Science in Public Health, and Howard University School of Law. Having overcome reading issues as a youth, Chris embodies his favorite motto “Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.”

Mr. Joshua Sims Stein Related Seminars and Products

J. Stein Law Firm

Joshua Stein is the founder of the J. Stein Law Firm - a boutique personal injury firm located at The Battery Atlanta with the sole focus of representing their neighbors in injury cases arising from car wrecks, truck wrecks, slip and falls, dog bite attacks, negligent security and daycare negligence. Josh is also the host of "Sports 'N Torts," a podcast where he invites guests on the show to explore the intersection of law, sports and business. 

Ms. Rebecca Franklin Harris Related Seminars and Products

Franklin Law LLC

Rebecca Franklin Harris is a seasoned trial lawyer with vast experience in high-exposure, complex litigation, focusing on consumer rights and product safety. She represents the State of Georgia in litigation against drug companies and has helped recover over $1 billion in settlements. Her practice spans product liability, toxic exposures, aviation disasters, medical malpractice, class actions, and unsafe practices in the entertainment industry.

Rebecca has secured substantial jury awards and settlements against major automotive and tire corporations, including Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Kia, Subaru, Honda, Nissan, Michelin, Firestone, Continental, Cooper Tire, and more. She has represented clients exposed to toxic chemicals while working for railroad companies like CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern and has tried complex cases in both federal and state courts.

Rebecca has served as the Chair of the Plaintiffs’ Interim Steering Committee in a class action case against a consumer credit company following a data breach. She has also represented putative class members in a case against a fraudulent drug and alcohol facility. The class action was filed after Rebecca successfully represented the family of a man who died while in the care of the facility. She was awarded the “Courageous Pursuit of Justice Award” by the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association for her efforts.

Rebecca has advanced safety in the entertainment industry, achieving notable jury awards for deaths on the sets of movies and television shows. Her representation includes a jury verdict after the tragic death of camerawoman Sarah Jones on the set of Midnight Rider, a movie about the legendary Greg Allman. She also achieved a victory at trial for the mother of a stuntman who died on the set of The Walking Dead.

Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism magna cum laude and a Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Georgia. Her legal achievements include induction into the Fulton County Daily Report’s “Verdicts Hall of Fame” and selection as part of the publication’s “40 Under 40.” She has also been recognized as one of the National Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Lawyers. She frequently speaks at professional seminars on product liability litigation, pre-trial motions, depositions, and trial advocacy.

Mr. Brian K. Mathis Related Seminars and Products

Huff Powell & Bailey LLC

Brian Mathis earned his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University before completing law school at the University of Georgia. Brian specializes in the defense of medical malpractice, hospital law, hospital liability, long term care liability, premises liability, and insurance defense. He represents individuals, corporations, medical practices and insurance companies in state and federal courts, both at the trial and appellate levels. He has successfully defended hundreds of catastrophic and high-exposure cases, including cases involving brain injuries, birth complications, class actions, as well as catastrophic and wrongful death claims.

His ability to handle complex litigation matters has earned him various state and national recognition.  Brian also advises and leads educational sessions on various legal topics.

Prior to his legal practice, he served as a clerk with the Honorable Judge Steve Jones of the Northern District of Georgia.

Mr. Alan John Hamilton Related Seminars and Products

Shiver Hamilton LLC

Alan Hamilton focuses his law practice on catastrophic plaintiffs’ personal injury cases and wrongful death.  Alan has won many seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements during his career. He has represented individuals and appeared before courts in fifteen different states. Prior to co-founding Shiver Hamilton Campbell, Alan practiced with a nationally recognized trial firm and served as a federal judicial law clerk. Since its founding in 2011, Shiver Hamilton Campbell has obtained a series of outstanding jury verdicts, many of them far exceeding the insurance company’s best offer.

After graduating top of his class at the University of Georgia Law School, Alan decided early on to dedicate his career to representing injured victims of negligence and corporate wrongdoing, turning down multiple job offers from corporate defense firms to pursue a plaintiff’s law practice. 

Mr. David Neal Lefkowitz Related Seminars and Products

The Lefkowitz Firm LLC

David Lefkowitz graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. and earned his J.D. from Emory University School of Law. The Lefkowitz Firm, LLC, represents individuals and corporations in their claims for legal malpractice (legal negligence) and similar claims such as breach of fiduciary duty, executor misconduct and ethical misconduct by attorneys and other fiduciaries. The firm also represents attorneys and law firms with regard to risk management and attorney’s fee disputes. David is an adjunct professor of legal malpractice law, ethics, and risk management at the University of Georgia School of Law and is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education seminars. David has offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Athens, Georgia.  

Hon. Leigh Martin May, Judge Related Seminars and Products

US District Court Northern District of Georgia

Leigh Martin May is the chief judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology with honors and her law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law magna cum laude. While in law school, she served as editor-in-chief of the Georgia Law Review.
 
Following law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Dudley H. Bowen, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. She then practiced with the Atlanta office of Butler, Wooten & Fryhofer, LLP, where she later became a partner. Her practice focused on complex civil litigation in both state and federal courts.
 
On December 19, 2013, President Obama nominated Judge May to serve as a United States District Judge. On November 13, 2014, the Senate voted 99-0 in favor of her final confirmation.