Georgia Injury Lawyer Blog

Good Georgia Injury Lawyer: New Plan Threatens Highway Safety

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:08:06 -0500

Good Georgia Lawyer is very concerned about the Governor's new plan to turn the emergency lane on the Ga. 400 into a travel lane. Governor Nathan Deal announced this new project to convert the highway shoulder that is typically used for an emergency lane as an additional lane for traffic. The emergency shoulder is currently used for ambulances, firetrucks, and police cars who need a speedy bypass for getting through congested traffic to reach an emergency or get a patient to the hospital in time.

Emergency services operators are all expressing their alarm. Even those who simply need to use the emergency lane in the event of a car break down now will not have an option to do so, thus increasing the dangers on this particular freeway significantly. Firefighters, police officers, and ambulance drivers are against the new plan believing it will put the public at risk.

Ga. 400 rush-hour commuters know how difficult this freeway can be as it has been recently ranked as one of the nations most unreliable commutes. Nevertheless, experts say that converting the emergency lane into a traffic lane will not ease the traffic that significantly and critics contend that the heavy price tag made up of safety losses make it not worth it.

Good Georgia Lawyer regularly represents Georgians who have been seriously injured or tragically killed because of a dangerous highway condition and thus we urge the Governor and Department of Transportation to consider other solutions before sacrificing highway safety.

For example, we recently represented a U.S. military sergeant who nearly lost her life due to a tragic automobile accident on a Georgia interstate when she was hit by a reckless driver, an admitted drug addict, who had been weaving in and out of traffic. She rolled through several freeway lanes of traffic before tumbling into the emergency lane and flipping into an embankment.

Fortunately for her, other witnesses and Good Samaritans had an emergency lane during the time of this collision where they were able to pull over and assist her in while they waited for emergency medical personnel to arrive.

This client of ours sustained serious medical injuries that she will sadly suffer the rest of her life. Shortly after the automobile collision, she retained a lawyer who wanted her to settle her claim for $30,000. Dissatisfied with the legal service she was rendered, she terminated him as counsel and subsequently retained her firm. We were very honored to be able to represent her and aggressively litigated the case preparing for trial. As a result of hard work and preparation, we were able to settle her case for the full policy limits, at a confidential six figure settlement.

She recently wrote to us the following:

"I was in a horrific car accident in 2009. I was hit by a drug addict. My car did 'three-sixties' on the highway and flipped over into an embankment. My car was totaled. By the grace of God I had no broken bones but I had several other injuries.

I was referred to an attorney who held onto my case for over six months and did absolutely nothing! Whenever I spoke to him I felt as though I was a thorn in his side. I finally realized that he was nothing more than a personal injury mill. He had no other attorneys assisting him with his multitude of cases. Therefore, he was overworked and had little or no time for his clients. He actually told me that he believed my case was worth no more than $30,000. He made this determination before even knowing the what the policy limits were of the guy's insurance who hit me. Additionally, I had more than $50,000 in medical expenses. So needless to say, I fired him!!! Then I was blessed with Mario Williams and Julie Oinonen.

Mario and Julie hit the ground running. I finally felt as though justice would be served and I would receive a decent settlement. They both worked diligently on my case. Whenever I called them they were available and extremely receptive. They treated me with respect and had genuine concern for my well being. When it was all said and done...They were able to get me a six figure settlement!!!!

Hopefully I will not have to use their services again...but if I ever need an attorney, I will definitely use them an no one else! Remember this name "Williams Oinonen LLC. They are the truth!!!!"

While we are grateful and honored to have been able to represent this United States Military Sergeant, we are also grateful that her injuries were not more severe. One reason this particular automobile accident did not turn out worse then it did was because the Good Samaritans and ambulance personnel who helped her had access to an emergency lane.

Good Georgia Lawyer urges the Governor and Department of Transportation to reconsider this plan for the Georgia 400. Nothing is worth more than keeping the safety of our Georgia residents first.

Good Georgia Education Lawyer Discusses Georgia School District's Unfair Discipline Of A Student

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:26:51 -0500

A family in Gwinnett County are very upset when their 13-year-old child was suspended after voluntarily turning in a pocket knife he had found in his school bag. After complaining, school officials agreed to decrease the number of days he was suspended and rethink the suspension policy.

The young child found the pen knife in the backyard that his aunt had bought second hand at a yard sale and given him as a Christmas gift. As soon as he found the knife, he immediately turned it into his teacher.

Even though it was obviously not the young man's fault, common sense did not follow and the school foolishly gave the boy a four day in school suspension for violating the school policy on weapons.

Since then, though, school officials have now reduced the boy's suspension to two days and claim they will "rethink" the policy. Says the boy's father: "He is a very good child. We've never had a discipline problem with him; he is in Boy Scouts, he is very good natured." Additionally, he told his son, "Jack, you did the right thing. What else could you have done?"

Severe and automatic punishments evolved from the 'zero-tolerance' movement which started in the eighties in keeping with the federal anti-weapons and drug policies. But as the AJC reports: over the years, Georgia students have been suspended under zero tolerance "for kissing a girl on the forehead, wearing a studded belt, bringing a French teacher a gift-wrapped bottle of wine and carrying a Tweety Bird wallet with a chain on it."

In 2009, a similar incident happened when a middle school student accidentally brought a fishing knife to school and ended up being expelled, arrested, convicted of a felony and sent to an alternative program even though he voluntarily gave up the knife to the principal.

This is an example of the type of absurd, common-sense lacking decisions that sometimes occur among school districts as experienced by some of Good Georgia Lawyer's clients. Fortunately, in response to the 2009 incident, state Senator Emanuel Jones, a Democrat from Decatur, sponsored legislation that required a hearing before taking a student into custody and prohibits charging a student as a designated felon unless the weapon is used in an assault or it is a gun. This bill was signed into law in spring of 2010 by the Governor.

If your son or daughter becomes a victim of this type of common senseless injustice, it can be very helpful to contact an attorney right away to protect your child's legal rights. Georgia law provides that if there is the potential of a suspension longer than ten days, then O.C.G.A. § 20-2-753 requires a disciplinary hearing where the requirements of O.C.G.A. §20-2-754 are met including providing written notice, entitling the student to be represented by legal counsel and to present evidence.

In this instance, if the period of discipline is shorter than ten days, an attorney is still helpful to protect your child's rights in these types of extreme instances. If other issues are involved--such as violations of Georgia bullying law or federal disability laws--there can be even greater need to obtain legal counsel.

Good Georgia Lawyer Wins Appeal Against Fulton County School District To Deny Georgia Teacher Educator Unemployment Benefits

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:01:22 -0500

Williams Oinonen LLC is happy to report recent success in representing a Georgia educator with decades of experience who had her contract non-renewed with the Fulton County School District. To add insult to injury, the school district denied her employment benefits putting this divorced mother at risk of losing her home and not being able to provide for her young children right before the Christmas holiday.

Williams Oinonen LLC generally bills clients in all employment matters but in this case, we accepted this matter on a pro bono basis as this successful educator had been a loyal client of ours in the past and was in an emergency situation in need of urgent help. It was the least we could do to help a dedicated and committed educator who had served the Georgia public schools for so many years.

We are happy to say that we were able to win our client's appeal and she was awarded back pay and her unemployment benefits just in time for Christmas. We were humbled to receive from her the following email which she gave permission to share:

"Williams Oinonen LLC is a law firm whose attorneys command that justice be served. My case involved complex tactics on the defendant's part to undermine my professional integrity and years of service as an educator, including denying my rights to unemployment benefits in a tough job market.

Outraged, Ms. Oinonen presented facts with precision and clarity that could not be ignored. She insisted during the hearing on proper protocol, rules of evidence and that the defense be free of unlawful, false statements reminding our opponents through impeachment. Ultimately, a favorable decision was reached within 48 hours.

Having reluctantly filed for other public assistance (further burdening tax-payer dollars), I can now put pieces of my life back together after year of fighting corporate, systemic bullying virtually alone as a divorced mother of four. I now qualify for job re-training programs and can build my skill set to move back to a productive career.

Thank you again, Ms. Oinonen. You are a life saver! Everyone (my loved ones) is ecstatic with your work!"

Williams Oinonen LLC is committed to helping teachers, educators, parents, and students insure that their rights are protected under the law. If you are a Georgia teacher, Georgia parent, or Georgia student that is in need of legal assistance, don't wait till the situation gets worse.

Often times, we are able to do things before the injustice occurs to mitigate damages or prevent the worst from happening. If you suspect that your rights are being slowly violated, don't wait till negative action is taken such as through a non-renewal letter. Contact our office first to schedule an appointment in order to set in place the necessary protections to protect your legal interests.

What Do Our Clients Say About Us? Georgia Teacher Shares Her Great Experience With Good Georgia Lawyer:

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:50:33 -0500

Here is one letter that Williams Oinonen LLC recently received from a satisfied client who walked out of our office with a very fat check after hiring us to handle her case. This client was a school teacher who lost everything and was severely injured due to someone's negligence. While we can't tell you the Defendant's name or the amount of money they had to pay her to compensate her for these injuries due to a confidentiality agreement, we can share with you what she states in her own words about us:

"Hi, my name is Nicole and I retained services from Williams Oinonen LLC. This was my first time hiring a lawyer so naturally I was very skeptical. But, my experience with Williams Oinonen LLC has been a fantastic experience. When I first sought out a lawyer, I emailed countless of law firms and most law firms didn't even respond to my email. One law firm responded and told me I didn't have a strong case. Williams Oinonen LLC is the ONLY law firm that even considered taking my unique case.

Ms. Oinonen took my case because she truly cares about her clients. After speaking to her for the first time, I trusted her because she was very knowledgeable about my situation and she was very compassionate, therefore I hired her (plus no one else offered to take my case!)

She explained everything and answered all of my questions before I paid for her services. Their law firm was very honest and upfront about the cost (which was very reasonable) and there were no hidden costs or surprises in the end. Never once did I feel that anyone was trying to "get over" on me. I could tell that she was genuinely concerned about my case since she treated my case as if the situation happened to her.

Williams Oinonen LLC was very passionate about my case and never made me feel that my case was insignificant. The law firm worked very hard on my case and constantly kept me updated. In fact, they worked so hard that my case was resolved in 6 months! I could not have been happier with the outcome of my case especially when no other firm thought I even had a case! If I ever need a personal injury lawyer (again), I will retain Williams Oinonen LLC services again.

Thank you for EVERYTHING !!! My family and I can now move on with our lives!"

What Do Our Clients Say About Us? Client Shares His Experience With Good Georgia Lawyer:

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:22:17 -0500

Here is one email that Williams Oinonen LLC received from a highly, satisfied client who obtained good sized check after hiring us to handle his case. This client was a professional who was injured due to the negligence of a corporation he had been a customer at. The result of his injuries affected his appearance and in turn, his self-confidence on the job and in his day to day life. While we can't tell you the Defendant's name or the amount of money we got them to pay in order to compensate our client for these injuries due to a confidentiality agreement, we can share with you what he states in his own words about us:

"I was new to the Atlanta area and had a case that was not important to anyone until I talked to the law office of Williams Oinonen LLC and after that I started to see thing move for me. I am so satisfied with all the effort that Williams Oinonen LLC did for me. I don't think I would have received this kind of loyalty or support from any other firm in GA. They made it easy for me to understand what was going on every step of the way. They explained every law term in plain English with me. I have and will continue to refer people to this firm. I have yet to hear any complaints from anyone that I have sent their way. So I highly recommend the law office of Williams Oinonen LLC. If I ever need a law firm this is the only one I will call. I cannot say enough about this office. You guys are my lawyers for life!"--Tim T.

Williams Oinonen LLC represents Georgians all across the state in employment matters, personal injury, business litigation, business disputes, education and civil rights matters. We are passionate about our clients and fight hard for them to obtain the justice they deserve. As the 2011 year ends, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve our Georgia community and look forward to future service.

Good Georgia Lawyer Says Happy Thanksgiving To All!

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:20:00 -0500

The family at Good Georgia Lawyer, Williams Oinonen LLC, wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving and holiday season.

We are very thankful for all our many blessings this year. God has been good and it is only through Him that we derive our strength and being.

We wish all our clients and fellow neighbors of the Georgia community a safe and happy holiday. Enjoy the turkey, your loved ones-- family, and friends.

Georgia Bullying Lawyer: Another Child's Suicide Due To Bullying Tragedy

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:54:32 -0500

Good Georgia Lawyer is very sad to report that another child has tragically lost their life due to suicide as a result of bullying. The Illinois family of a 10-year-old honor student named Ashlynn Conner who committed suicide last week stated that their daughter had been a victim of bullying at her elementary school and in her community.

Ashlynn, a student at Georgetown Ridge Farm Elementary School, told her mother two weeks before her death that she was being bullied for years and did not know how to react to the bullies.

Last week, Ashlynn asked her parents if she could be home-schooled. Shortly thereafter, her sibling found her hanging in her closet. The Police are now investigating the bullying claims through Twitter and emails.

Good Georgia Lawyer has written extensively about bullying in Georgia. For more information, we encourage you to read our article entitled "Resolving Bullying Problems for Your Child Part One."

To understand what legal rights your child has regarding bullying, please read Bullying Part Two, Legal Implications. Georgia Bullying Law is codified in O.C.G.A. 20-2-751.4 however there are additional civil rights laws that also can protect students from harm.

Additionally, "Pressing Criminal Charges Against A Bully" discusses some of the options you have when your son or daughter is the victim of a violent crime of physical or sexual assault by a bully.

To read the Georgia Department of Education Policy on preventing bullying, harassment and intimidation, please click here.

If your son or daughter is experiencing a problem with bullying, we encourage you to schedule an appointment to discuss your legal rights and options. You can contact us at 404-654-0288.

Williams Oinonen LLC Partner Julie Oinonen Appointed To Serve On Georgia Fair Market Practices Committee

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 22:41:12 -0500

At the request of Georgia State Bar President-Elect Robin Frazer Clark, President Ken Shigley appointed Julie Oinonen, partner at Williams Oinonen LLC to serve on the Georgia Fair Market Practices Committee.

The Fair Market Practices Committee will have two tasks:

First, this committee will review over potential amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct 7.2 on legal advertising and a nonbinding Statement on Professionalism in Lawyer Advertising that will address practices that the federal courts do not let us prohibit.

The scope of what can be done about lawyer advertising rules under federal court decisions on commercial speech is pretty much limited to adding a finite list of disclosure and disclaimer requirements. There have been recent federal court decisions arising in New York, Florida and Louisiana. Any proposal approved by this committee will be subject to approval by the Disciplinary Rules Committee, Board of Governors and Supreme Court of Georgia.

Second, this committee will develop a program for more effective enforcement of Rule 7.3, which prohibits direct solicitation of clients, particularly injury victims. For years some lawyers have systematically used "runners" to solicit personal injury cases in direct contravention of Rule 7.3 and OCGA 15-19-55. President Ken Shigley's opinion is that lawyers who conduct themselves in this manner poorly serve the consumers of legal services, unfairly compete against law-abiding attorneys who follow the rules, and degrade both the legal profession and the justice system. Stated President Shigley: "It is time to clean our own house. Thus, I am including both prosecutors and former FBI agents to serve on this committee."

Julie Oinonen is honored to accept appointment to the Fair Market Practices Committee and looks forward to serving.

Recent Fellowship Appointment Makes Williams Oinonen LLC Only Law Firm To Have Both Partners Named As Emory University School of Law Fellows

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:15:58 -0500

Williams Oinonen LLC partner Julie Oinonen was recently appointed as a Fellow at the Emory University School of Law Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution.

Previously, Ms. Oinonen has been a Dean's Teaching Fellow and Post Doctoral Fellow for Emory University School of Law. She is also admitted into the prestigious Order of Emory Advocates, in addition to being awarded the Kathleen Kessler-Eidson Trial Advocacy Award and International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award by Emory University School of Law. Ms. Oinonen has a Masters of Education and Masters of Business Administration graduating Magna Cum Laude. She completed her undergraduate education at Covenant College, a Christian college located on Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

Ms. Oinonen now joins her partner, Mr. Mario Bernard Williams, who is also a Fellow at the Center. Prior to Mr. William's career as an attorney at Williams Oinonen LLC, he worked in the field of International Human Rights throughout South America. Mr. Williams graduated with honors from Morehouse with a degree in Political Science and has extensive experience with opponent research, policy analysis and political consulting. Additionally, Mr. Williams and Ms. Oinonen have had much success working on opponent research campaigns for elected officials throughout Georgia.

Ms. Oinonen's recent appointment as Fellow at the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution makes Williams Oinonen LLC the only law firm in the United States to have both Partners named as Fellows of Emory University Law School.

Currently, Williams Oinonen LLC is accepting new clients. We welcome you to contact us to schedule an appointment today.

Good Georgia Police Misconduct Lawyer Condemns Deadly Flashbang Grenades Used Against U.S. Citizens

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:38:35 -0500

This is an extremely disturbing video of what happened yesterday in Oakland, California at an Occupy Oakland protest. A young Iraq war veteran named Scott Olsen, age 24, is potentially brain injured thanks to a police officer throwing something that some people are alleging to be a flashbang grenade, i.e. a bomb, into a crowd of people. When a crowd of young people rush to help save him it appears that the police officer throws a second bomb at the crowd. At this point, the police department have issued a press release denying use of flash bang devices but others dispute this.

Flashbang grenades are NOT a non-lethal use of force as some police departments would have you believe. They are deadly. Just this year in Charlotte, North Carolina, a SWAT officer by the name of Fred Thornton was killed when a flash bang grenade exploded as he was securing his equipment in the trunk of his patrol car. Certain city police departments, including the New York City Police Department have banned the use of flash bang grenades because they kill innocent victims.

Sadly, certain police departments in Georgia use this dangerous device and have unjustifiably injured innocent Georgia civilians. For example, we've had clients with gruesome burns all over just because a police department in our state has unjustifiably thrown these bombs in the bedroom windows of innocent Georgia citizens while sleeping.

The video clip is an absolute example of police misconduct that violates the Constitutional rights of United States citizens. Shame on Oakland Mayor and Chief of Police for allowing such an unacceptable, illegal and unconstitutional use of force!

Hopefully, Scott Olsen, the 24 year old young man and Iraq war veteran who was injured by police yesterday, will pull through and recover without lasting damage to his brain. It is shocking that what he escaped on the streets of Iraq he came home to on the streets of America.

We do not live in a regime like Syria where dictators abuse their citizens without recourse. The Fourth Amendment of our United States Constitution protects persons from such such unlawful activities. Additionally, our civil justice system, as is guaranteed in the Seventh Amendment allows us to seek redress for violations of our Constitutional rights. Shame on the city of Oakland if in fact it is true that a police officer was allowed to throw a flashbang grenade at a crowd of people. These bombs due more than stun. They seriously maim and kill.

Good Georgia Lawyer calls on the Mayor of Oakland and Chief of Police to stop this unnecessary violence, do the right thing, and protect the constitutional rights of its citizens.

UPDATE: Oakland Police Department is denying that these were in fact were flashbang grenades. We hope this is true. But regardless, the above video clip shows unacceptable use of force against citizens and a clear violation of Constitutional rights.

Legal Rights For Teachers Under Georgia Law

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:29:18 -0500

Today a Barrow County judge ruled against a former teacher who alleged that she lost her job due to a posting on Facebook.

Ashley Payne resigned from her job as a teacher at Apalachee High School in the Fall of 2009 after an individual who stated they were a parent sent a complaint about postings Ms. Payne had made on Facebook showing her drinking alcohol and stating that she was headed to a game of "Crazy Bitch Bingo" at an Atlanta restaurant. Ms. Payne claims she was under pressure to resign however the school district disputes this claiming she volunteered.

Ms. Payne is now graduate student at UGA and filed suit asking the court for a determination stating she was entitled to a due process hearing. It is unfortunate that Ms. Payne did not ask for a due process hearing, speak to her union advisor, or consult an attorney prior to resigning.

Under Georgia law, it would be very difficult to show that a voluntary resignation is truly one made under duress and a violation of one's due process rights. Thus, it is very important for a teacher to seek legal advice prior to making such an important decision concerning their employment.

Here at Good Georgia Lawyer, we have represented many teachers dealing with employment issues and we have written about the rights of school teachers in Georgia previously.

In a nutshell, O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-940, et seq., regulates the hiring and firing of teachers in Georgia. Firing or suspension can only be had based on eight grounds as listed and the district is required to hold a hearing before this happens.

Notice is required to be given to the teacher notifying them of the hearing and charges placed against them at least ten days prior. To learn more information, please read our article here which explains the process in more detail.

To understand your legal rights, we recommend you read our article here.

To schedule an appointment to meet with an attorney to discuss your personal employment situation, contact Williams Oinonen LLC at 404-654-0288.

Good Georgia Lawyer Discusses Occupy Atlanta

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 21:23:34 -0500

Occupy Atlanta has set up their occupation protest in Woodruff Park, just a short walk from the law offices of Williams Oinonen LLC. Our law firm is just a few blocks from the protests, located in the Historical Grant Building at 44 Broad Street, Suite 200 in downtown Atlanta.

On Friday, several hundred members rallied in Woodruff Park, protesting corporate corruption. The protests are also timed for the 10th anniversary for Afghanistan war and patterned after the Occupy Wall Street group in New York.

Atlanta police first told the protesters to stay on sidewalks but later allowed a dozen or so tents to be set up in Woodruff Park as long as the protesters behaved themselves.

For legal assistance, our office is just a short walk from Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta. Contact Julie Oinonen at 404-654-0288 for more information.

Federal Lawsuit in Georgia Settled Concerning Religious Discrimination

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 20:44:07 -0500

Douglasville, Georgia recently settled a federal lawsuit brought by an American Muslim woman named Lisa Valentine, who was jailed due to wearing a hijab, a Muslim headscarf while at the courthouse.

ACLU lawyer Azadeh Shahshahani stated: "Obviously the manner in which Ms. Valentine was treated was inexcusable and unconstitutional," said Shahshahani, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia. "We hope that through this settlement, no other people will be subject to this same humiliating treatment Ms. Valentine had to suffer."

As part of the settlement, Douglasville agreed to adopt new policies that allowed those who wear religious head coverings the option to be screened privately by a same gender person. Those who have religious headwear will no longer be forced to remove them and can wear them while in court. The Georgia Judicial Council made this nonbinding recommendation to all local courts after the Valentine incident was reported.

Valentine, is an African-American woman who converted from Christianity to Islam 15 years ago and was jailed back in 2008 after she wore a hijab while taking her nephew to Douglasville Traffic Court. When a security guard told Ms. Valentine to remove her hijab she refused, protested, and then tried to leave. But the Judge ordered her arrested and jailed for ten days due to contempt of court. She was later released that day.

A similar incident occurred this past May in Henry County, when a state judge refused to allow a Muslim man to wear his religious head cap, called a kufi, while in court. Fortunately, the judge reversed his decision.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees us freedom of religion. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights defined freedom from religious discrimination as being guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution--thus the state of Georgia and its respective state court in Douglas County must also comply with such laws.

Religious discrimination happens when someone is denied equal protection of the laws, including equal treatment in the administration of justice and access to the courts because of the exercise of their right to religious freedom. Thus, it would be a violation of one's constitutional right to freedom of religion through the 14th amendment whenever a Muslim, Jewish, or Christian are banned from a courtroom because they are wearing religious clothing or headgear (think a nun's habit or Jewish yarmukle).

The largest growing number of religious discrimination cases however involve the area of employment. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it unlawful for an employer to discharge any employee or to discriminate with respect to compensation or other terms of employment due to the employee's religion, as well as race, color, sex, or national origin. 42 U.S.C.S. § 2000e-2(a)(1).

When a plaintiff uses circumstantial evidence to prove religious discrimination, the court applies the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting approach. This approach requires a plaintiff the initial burden to establish a prima facie case showing: (1) she is a member of a protected class; (2) she was qualified for his job; (3) she was subjected to an adverse employment action; and (4) her employer treated similarly-situated employees outside her class more favorably or replaced him with someone outside her class. Mackmuhammad v. Cagle's Inc., 379 Fed. Appx. 801 (11th Cir. Ga. 2010)

Once the plaintiff does this, the employer must prove a non-discriminatory basis for its actions and if those are given, then the plaintiff must show that those reasons are simply pretextual (false, a cover up to hide true motives and intentions.) Id.

It is illegal to harass someone because of their religion in an employment setting. The law also requires employers to reasonably accommodate an employees religious beliefs or practices unless doing so would create more than a minimal burden on the employer's operation. An example of reasonable accommodation would be making sure an Orthodox Jew was not scheduled during Sabbath, or a Christian on Sunday morning worship hour.

If you believe you have been a victim of religious discrimination, you can file a charge with the EEOC but there are time limits and you must do it within 180 days of the discriminatory treatment.

It is also highly recommended to seek legal counsel.

Good Georgia Lawyer Discusses Wrongful Death In Georgia Due To Automobile Accident Tragedy

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:46:56 -0500

Tekila Mynon Glass, age 30, from Riverdale, Georgia was charged with misdemeanor vehicular homicide as a result of the death on Sept. 18, 2011 of a 1-year-old child who was in a stroller at Lenora Park in Gwinnett County.

Witnesses who observed Ms. Glass strike the child in the stroller as she backed up with her 2005 Chrysler Pacifica through the parking lot at Lenora Park on Lenora Church Road are urged to contact the Accident Investigation Unit at 770-338-5675.

Tekila Mynon Glass, was charged with improper backing which resulted in the death of Olivia Hellwig. Broooke Hellwig was the mother of Olivia Hellwig. Ms. Hellwig was pushing Olivia in her stroller when her young daughter was killed.

Olivia Hellwig was transported to Children's Healthcare at Egleston in Atlanta where very sadly she tragically died. Her mother, Brooke Hellwig, was also treated for injuries police said. Her greatest injury of course was the loss of her young daughter due to the negligence of Ms. Glass.

Gwinnett County police report revealed that Glass' vehicle carried six passengers. The police request that anyone who has witnessed the accident and has yet to speak with investigators to please contact the Accident Investigation Unit at 770-338-5675.

Good Georgia Lawyer urges our legislature to craft stricter laws that will keep pedestrians safe and prevent terrible tragedies that result in the loss of life. In the event a Georgia citizen dies due to the result of someone's negligence, then the negligent driver is generally held liable for a failure to exercise reasonable care while driving. Hopefully, it is the case that Ms. Glass carried an ample insurance policy so that the family of the young child she killed may receive damages---money given as compensation to assist a family in a personal injury suit.

In Georgia, there are two major types of damages--compensatory and punitives. Punitives punish and deter the offender from injuring someone in the future. Compensatory helps with medical bills, funeral costs, pain and suffering.

If you know someone who has experienced the loss of a loved one due to the negligence of a person or a corporation, we encourage you to seek legal advice immediately.

Good Georgia Lawyer implores all Georgians to drive carefully: always pay attention when backing up your vehicle in a parking lot. You never know what precious cargo may be in your path and your life as well as the life of someone else can change in a split second if you are not exercising caution at all times while driving.

Good Georgia Lawyer Conducts Volunteer Work At Covenant College And Emory University School of Law

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:49:36 -0500

Last week, Williams Oinonen LLC helped sponsor and organize a two day event at Emory University School of Law presented by the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution.

This past weekend, Williams Oinonen LLC presented a volunteer lunch and learn workshop for pre-law students at Covenant College. For more information on the event, you can view the printed flyer here: lunch and learn Poster fall 2011.pdf.

Covenant College is a four year liberal arts, Christian College that is the official college of the Presbyterian Church of America located on Lookout Mountain, Georgia. The topics covered during the workshop were:

- Deciding if law is the right choice for you
- Choosing your calling & career in law
- Getting into a top school
- Succeeding while you are there.

Next spring semester, Williams Oinonen LLC will be doing a field trip for Covenant College pre-law students to visit the state capitol, courts, and an admissions tour of Emory Law School. Good Georgia Lawyer believes that there is nothing better than working with young people--both college students and law students. Our law firm, Williams Oinonen LLC, plans to continue its work with colleges, universities, and law schools throughout Georgia.

For more information on scheduling a workshop covering a wide range of topics, contact Williams Oinonen LLC today at 404-654-0288.