Austin Atkinson
Biography
Austin is a partner in the firm’s Atlanta office. He focuses his practice on appellate and appellate-related matters in a variety of types of litigation. As part of this practice, Austin regularly represents businesses and individuals on appeal, in post-trial proceedings, and in pre-trial matters, including complex motions and issues.
Austin also teaches two courses as an adjunct professor at Georgia State University College of Law. He teaches Georgia Appellate Practice and Procedure in the spring and Georgia Practice and Procedure in the fall.
Before joining the firm, Austin served as a law clerk to the Honorable J. Randal Hall of United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. He graduated summa cum laude from Georgia State University College of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif, was on the editorial board for the Georgia State University Law Review, and was a pupil of the Bleckley Inn of Court.
Experience
A selection of recent experiences is below:
- Represented national hospital system in Florida Court of Appeals in matter involving issue of first impression and secured reversal of $1.2-million judgment entered against the hospital.
- Secured reversal of trial court’s order striking answer of defendant as alleged spoliation sanction.
- Obtained dismissal of putative class action against healthcare provider in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.
- Represented hospital in successful appeal involving issue of first impression related to Georgia’s contemporaneous-affidavit rule.
- Obtained summary judgment for national food producer in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia in case involving claims based on alleged OSHA violations.
- Obtained dismissal of breach-of-contract and RICO allegations asserted against telecommunications company.
- Secured affirmance of summary judgment for national transportation company in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit involving nuanced question of Georgia law.
- Obtained favorable settlement for senior-living business facing default judgment in Fair Labor Standards Act case after pursuing appeal.
- Successfully opposed request for $18 million in pre-judgment interest in wrongful-death litigation.
- Appellate counsel to multiple healthcare providers and hospitals in ongoing post-trial matters.
Credentials
Admitted
State Courts:
- Georgia
- Court of Appeals, Supreme Court
U.S. District Courts:
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
Appellate Courts:
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Education
- J.D., summa cum laude, Georgia State University
- B.S.A., Agribusiness, University of Georgia
Memberships
- American Agricultural Law Association
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Georgia Bar, Appellate Practice Section
- Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
Recognition
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Insurance Law, Best Lawyers®, 2024
Presentations
- Recent Developments in AG Product Sellers’ and Farmers’ Rights in Contracting
State Bar of Georgia’s Agriculture Law CLE, March 24, 2023