REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
Complex Business Disputes
Mike represented a poultry production company accused of participating in a wage-fixing conspiracy in violation of federal antitrust laws. Before the federal district court had ruled on the client’s motion to dismiss, the plaintiffs agreed to a complete dismissal and received no monetary compensation as part of the settlement.
Mike represented a healthcare management consulting firm that sued a major Georgia hospital for breach of contract and tortious interference.
Mike represented a leading research university in defense of claims for breach of fiduciary duty and misappropriation of trade secrets. Mike has also represented the same client in cases involving claims of false advertising and breach of contract.
Mike represented one of the largest community banks in the Southeast in a complex lender-liability dispute. He briefed and won a critical Daubert motion to exclude most of the expert testimony underlying the plaintiff’s $40 million damages theory.
Mike briefed and argued post-trial motions on behalf of former condominium association directors following an adverse jury verdict in the Northern District of Florida.
Appellate Litigation
Mike briefed, argued, and won a Georgia Court of Appeals case raising novel questions of nuisance liability, including whether a controversial business can be held liable for attracting third-party protestors. For news coverage of the decision, use these links: AJC, Law360, and Daily Report.
Mike represented a public school system before the Supreme Court of Georgia in an action challenging a municipal annexation ordinance on constitutional and statutory grounds. Mike briefed and argued the case before the Supreme Court.
Mike briefed, argued, and won three appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on behalf of business clients seeking to recover damages from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In the first case, Mike convinced the Fifth Circuit to vacate the denial of a $4 million claim. After a favorable ruling on remand, the case settled. In the second case, Mike defended a $58 million claim, successfully arguing against one of the nation’s most prominent appellate advocates. And in the third case, Mike won affirmance of a $28 million claim.
In the Florida–Georgia “water wars” case before the U.S. Supreme Court, Mike wrote an amicus brief on behalf of Georgia local government and conservation organizations.
Mike persuaded the Georgia Court of Appeals to affirm a jury verdict in favor of a financial advisor who sued his former employer.
Mike petitioned for certiorari to the Supreme Court of Georgia and obtained an expedited ruling in his client’s favor on an issue of appellate procedure.
On behalf of a major international law firm, Mike obtained affirmance of an attorneys’ fee award under Georgia’s offer-of-judgment statute.
Class Actions
Mike represented a state-chartered bank in appellate litigation concerning the enforceability of class action litigation waivers.
Mike represented a mortgage company in defense of a putative class action alleging that “post-payment” interest was improperly collected from over 40,000 borrowers. Mike obtained a settlement for a fraction of potential damages.
Mike represented one of the country’s largest manufacturers of building and paper products in multiple product-liability class actions in federal courts all over the country.
Government Contracts
Mike successfully represented one of the nation’s largest health insurance administrators in response to a flurry of bid protests challenging a multi-billion dollar government contract.
Mike successfully represented a construction firm in a municipal contract dispute.
