MEMBERS OF FIRM AWARDED DESIGNATION AS ONE OF THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA®
[AUG 2011]
Partners Joseph P. Brennan and Wiley A. Wasden, III have been designated as two
of the Best Lawyers in America® based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review
survey comprising nearly four million confidential evaluations by the top attorneys
in the country. For over a quarter of a century, Best Lawyers® has been regarded
– by both the profession and the public – as the definitive guide to legal excellence
in the United States. Tracie Smith was also designated to the Bar Register of Preeminent
Women Lawyers.™
Mr. Wasden, Mr. Brennan and Ms. Smith also maintain an AV ranking by Martindale
Hubbell, the leading organization of ranking attorneys in America. The AV rating
is the highest rating awarded by Martindale Hubbell.
Article 1 of 23.
MEMBERS OF FIRM NAMED AS SUPER LAWYERS
[AUG 2011]
Joseph P. Brennan and Wiley A. Wasden, III have once again been named as Super Lawyers
in the State of Georgia. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers
for more than seventy practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition
and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes
independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Mr. Wasden has been
designated a Super Lawyer since 2007, and Mr. Brennan since 2006.
Article 2 of 23.
THE FIRM WINS LANDMARK CASE ON BEHALF OF ONION FARMERS AGAINST CLAIMS OF FAILURE
TO PROPERLY PAY H2A VISA WORKERS FROM MEXICO
[MAR 2011]
Wiley A. Wasden, III and William E. Dillard, III successfully defended one of the
nation’s largest onion growers in an FLSA claim brought by Georgia Legal Services
on behalf of Mexican farm workers claiming that they had been underpaid. The claim
resulted in a two week trial in Federal Court before Judge B. Avant Edenfield, the
result of which was a dismissal of the majority of the claims against the onion
grower, and a verdict totaling only $13,080.23 on all remaining claims. During the
course of this case the Court entered a landmark ruling in favor of the onion growers,
which ruling has been appealed to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and is expected
to wind up at the United States Supreme Court for final determination.
Article 3 of 23.
DEFENSE VERDICT IN ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASE
[JAN 2011]
Wiley A. Wasden, III and B. Nicole Smith obtained a defense verdict on behalf of
a hospital system sued by a patient who suffered ischemic optic neuropathy following
back surgery which led to partial blindness. The patient alleged that the nurses
failed to properly monitor the patient following surgery. After a two week jury
trial in front of Judge Gregory Fowler in Chatham County, the jury returned a verdict
for the defendant healthcare system.
Article 4 of 23.
J. CURT THOMAS NAMED PRESIDENT OF THE EMERGING LEADERS COMMITTEE OF THE SAVANNAH
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR 2011-2012
[JUL 2011]
On July 1, 2011, J. Curt Thomas was named President
of the Emerging Leaders Committee of The Savannah Community Foundation for 2011-2012.
The ELC is comprised of young professionals who are expected to be among Savannah’s
business and philanthropic leaders in future years. Members benefit by meeting other
young professionals, visiting the requesting charities, sharing their knowledge
about the charities with each other and participating in the grant making process,
which requires analysis of numerous worthwhile proposals to determine what charities
get the limited amount of funds available for distribution.
As President of the ELC, Curt will serve as an ex-officio member of The Savannah
Community Foundation board, which is an umbrella philanthropic organization through
which individuals, families, businesses and charities support the wellbeing of the
Savannah community.
Article 5 of 23.
DEFENSE VERDICT IN WRONGFUL DEATH CASE IN BRUNSWICK, GA
[DEC 2010]
Wiley A. Wasden, III and B. Nicole Smith obtained a defense verdict for an emergency
room physician in Brunswick, GA in a wrongful death suit. The claims against the
physician were that he failed to recognize that the patient was in distress and
discharged her home. After a five day jury trial presided over by Judge Orion Douglass,
the jury returned a verdict for the defendant healthcare provider.
Article 6 of 23.
J. CURT THOMAS NAMED AS MEMBER OF NATIONAL DIOCESAN ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION
[APR 2010]
J. Curt Thomas was recently accepted as a member of
the National Diocesan Attorneys Association and joins Joseph P. Brennan, the firm's
senior partner and a long-standing member. The Association is a division of the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and focuses on advising and assisting
Catholic dioceses across the country. Mr. Brennan has served as counsel for the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah for over twenty years.
Article 7 of 23.
J. CURT THOMAS ACCEPTED AS MEMBER OF STATE BAR YOUNG LAWYERS’ LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
[MAR 2010]
J. Curt Thomas was recently accepted as a participant
in the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division's Leadership Academy. The Academy
is limited to approximately 50 lawyers from around the state and focuses on developing
leadership skills, addressing critical issues facing the state and the legal profession,
and developing relationships with key state leaders.
Article 8 of 23.
DEFENSE VERDICT IN RADIATION MYELITIS MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASE
[JAN 2010]
The firm won a defense verdict in a medical malpractice trial in January 2010. The
plaintiff was diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma tumor of the larynx and was
treated with radiation therapy by the defendant physician. Several months later,
he developed a radiation myelopathy of the spinal cord which resulted in quadriplegia.
The plaintiff brought suit against the defendant physician and his practice group
alleging that the defendants violated the standard of care in providing radiation
therapy to cure and prevent the spread of cancer in the patient’s larynx and lymh
nodes. Joseph Brennan assisted by
Richard Dekle joined by a second defense firm represented the defendants
in a six day trial in Chatham County.
Article 9 of 23.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT AWARDED TO LOCAL PHYSICIANS
[NOV 2009]
Tracie Smith obtained an order dismissing three local
physicians from a premises liability lawsuit. Here, defense counsel introduced evidence
showing that none of the physicians had any ownership or supervisory control over
the property where a plaintiff claimed she had been injured. The Chatham County
Superior Court granted summary judgment to the physicians after finding that the
plaintiff had no legal right of recovery where none of the physicians could legally
be deemed an occupier under applicable state law.
Article 10 of 23.
DISMISSAL OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASE
[OCT 2009]
Wiley Wasden and Sally Perkins
successfully obtained a dismissal in a medical malpractice case brought against
a local hospital and two of its nurses. Citing to the failure of the plaintiff to
obtain proper expert testimony needed to sustain their allegations in the case,
attorneys Wasden and Perkins argued to Chatham County State Court that the case
should be dismissed. The Court granted the motion and dismissed the case with prejudice.
Article 11 of 23.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT OBTAINED FOR HOSPITAL
[SEP 2009]
Wiley Wasden, Sally Perkins,
and Greg Sewell obtained summary judgment in a negligence
case brought against a local hospital. The plaintiff alleged she was injured in
the hospital waiting area. Through discovery, attorneys Wasden, Perkins, and Sewell
were able to show there was no evidence linking the hospital or any of its employees
to the plaintiff’s alleged injury. The Superior Court of Chatham County in turn
granted summary judgment to the hospital.
Article 12 of 23.
TRACIE SMITH TRAINED TO MEDIATE AND ARBITRATE GENERAL CIVIL AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS
MATTERS
[ SEP 2009 ]
Tracie Smith, a partner with Brennan & Wasden, now
offers mediation and arbitration services in areas of general civil and domestic
relations. Tracie has tried multiple civil litigation cases in southeast Georgia.
After completing training in these areas of alternative dispute resolution, Ms.
Smith is a registered mediator and arbitrator with the Georgia Office of Dispute
Resolution.
Article 13 of 23.
JOSEPH P. BRENNAN AND WILEY A WASDEN, III SELECTED AS AMERICA'S BEST LAWYERS
[ AUG 2009 ]
Joseph P. Brennan and Wiley A.
Wasden, III have been selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America®. Joseph
Brennan was recognized for his expertise in the specialty of Medical Malpractice
Law, and Wiley Wasden was selected for his expertise in the specialties of Commercial
Litigation and Professional Malpractice Law. For over a quarter of a century, Best
Lawyers® has been regarded – by both the profession and the public – as the definitive
guide to legal excellence in the United States. Selection to Best Lawyers is based
on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey comprising more than 2.8 million
confidential evaluations by the top attorneys in the country.
Article 14 of 23.
BRENNAN & WASDEN CELEBRATES 20th ANNIVERSARY OF OUTSTANDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION
[2009]
Brennan & Wasden, LLP will celebrate the twentieth (20th) anniversary of the firm's
founding in August this year. Since its inception, founding partners,
Joseph Brennan and Wiley Wasden, have committed
the firm to providing superior legal skills on a broad range of matters, ranging
from effective advocacy at trial and appellate levels in both state and federal
courts to advising its clients on formation and dissolution of business relationships,
professional liability issues, workers compensation issues, contractual and commercial
disputes, and product liability issues. With this philosophy, the founding members
attracted skilled and talented attorneys to serve its clients Since its founding,
the firm has grown to eleven attorneys and provides legal representation in both
Georgia and South Carolina. Brennan & Wasden has been recognized for its excellence
by receiving the highest rank of AV and been named as one of the Preeminent Law
Firms in America by Martindale-Hubbell.
Article 15 of 23.
MEMBERS OF FIRM SPEAK DURING NURSES WEEK 2009
[ MAY 2009 ]
Wiley A. Wasden III and W. Richard
Dekle spoke on “Trials and Tribulations of Documentation” to the nursing
staffs at Candler Hospital, Inc. and St. Joseph’s Hospital, Inc. in Savannah, Georgia
during Nurses Week. They presented a mock trial based upon an actual case involving
poor documentation. The presentation was approved by the Georgia Nurses Association
and American Nurses Credentialing Centers Commission on Accreditation for continuing
education credits to the nursing staff. The presentation covered how the quality
of documentation in the medical records can make the difference between settling
and defending a medical malpractice claim.
Article 16 of 23.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT OBTAINED FOR PHYSICIAN
[ MAY 2009 ]
On June 24, 2009, Joseph Brennan, assisted by
Gregory Sewell, obtained summary judgment in a medical malpractice case
on behalf of a family medicine physician in the Chatham County State Court. Plaintiff
alleged the defendant physician was negligent in failing to diagnose and treat a
patient’s cardiac risk factors and underlying coronary artery disease, which resulted
in the patient suffering a fatal heart attack. The Court held the claim was barred
by the statute of repose as the plaintiff failed to assert a claim within five years
after the physician first allegedly misdiagnosed the condition. On February 24,
2010, the Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's grant of summary judgment.
Article 17 of 23.
DEFENSE VERDICT IN EMERGENCY ROOM MALPRACTICE CASE
[ MAY 2009 ]
On June 4, 2009, lead counsel Joseph P. Brennan, assisted
by W. Richard Dekle, obtained a defense verdict in
a wrongful death case on behalf of an emergency room physician in the State Court
of Chatham County. The defendant physician was asked to evaluate a patient who was
suspected of having an anaphylactic reaction to IV Rocephin. It was alleged that
the defendant physician was negligent in failing to timely order the administration
of intravenous Epinephrine. The co-defendant internal medicine physician was also
alleged to have been negligent due to the failure to order Epinephrine when the
problem was initially reported. Following a four-day trial, the jury returned a
verdict in favor of the defendants.
Article 18 of 23.
PARTNER SPEAKS TO MEDICAL STAFF
[ MAY 2009 ]
Wiley A. Wasden III recently spoke to the medical staff
of Southeast Georgia Health System in Brunswick, Georgia and the medical staff at
Candler Hospital, Inc. in Savannah, Georgia. Mr. Wasden gave a presentation entitled
“Beating the Medical Liability Odds” which covered closed case reviews demonstrating
trends in medical liability cases and the physician’s role in assisting with the
defense of a case. The talk was approved for continuing education hours by the AMA
PRA.
Article 19 of 23.
FIRM TO SPEAK AT MEDICAL RECORDS SEMINAR ON 8/12/09
[ MAY 2009 ]
Wiley A. Wasden III, Sally Haskell
Perkins, Gregory G. Sewell, and
Elizabeth Yarborough will be featured speakers at an upcoming seminar
on August, 12, 2009, in Savannah. The seminar will address confidentiality, disclosure,
documentation requirements and HIPAA issues for the handling of medical records.The
speakers will focus on recent judicial interpretations and and legislative changes,
including the HITECH Act of 2009 from the Economic Stimulus Package (American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act). Interested attendees may contact the firm for registration
information.
Article 20 of 23.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIRM'S SUPER LAWYERS AND RISING STARS
[ APRIL 2009 ]
Joseph P. Brennan and Wiley A.
Wasden, III were both again recognized as a Super Lawyer of Georgia.
B. Nicole Smith, was also selected as a Rising Star in the field of
medical malpractice defense. These outstanding recognitions were announced by a
national publisher which lists attorneys based upon attorney peer nominations and
evaluations. W. Richard Dekle was previously selected
as a Rising Star.
Article 21 of 23.
SELECTION AS FELLOW TO THE LITIGATION COUNSEL OF AMERICA
[ APRIL 2009 ]
Tracie Smith was invited to become a Fellow in the
Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society
whose national membership is limited to 3500 attorneys, which comprises less than
one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellows are selected for membership
after being evaluated on effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation and trial
work, along with ethical reputation.
Article 22 of 23.
FIRM EXPANDS ABILITY TO PROVIDE REPRESENTATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA
[ FEBRUARY 2009 ]
In early 2009, the firm was pleased to announce that J. Curt
Thomas become a member of the South Carolina bar. Together with
Marvin W. McGahee, these two talented attorneys offer clients the opportunity
to represent individuals and business in both trial and appellate courts in South
Carolina.
Article 23 of 23.