Dr. Michael Kalson Retires from Academy Orthopedics
Written by: Dale E. Slemons, Esq. As you know, one of the most important avenues to control the medical costs and overall exposure of your workers’ compensation claims is to utilize the control given to Employers by O.C.G.A. 34-9-201, which r
New Life for Georgia’s Willful Misconduct Defense: Supreme Court Reverses Court of Appeals Decision in Chandler Telecom, LLC v. Burdette
Written by: Brian Mallow, Esq. In a major victory for employers/insurers, the Georgia Supreme Court today reversed a Court of Appeals decision that significantly limited the application of the “willful misconduct” defense in Georgia workers
Georgia’s Willful Misconduct Defense: All Bark and No Bite?
By: Michael Memberg, Esq. The Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act provides that no compensation shall be allowed for an injury caused by an employee’s willful misconduct, including the willful failure or refusal to use a safety appliance or p
Data Breach Plaintiffs Find New Ways Around Landmark Supreme Court Decision
Written by: Sam Crochet, Esq. In-house counsels are facing growing pressure to perform risk assessments and address internal policies to avoid data breaches for a new reason (as if they needed one). Data breach plaintiffs, depending on the stat
Failure To Learn From Own Mistakes Leads To $3.2 Million HIPAA Penalty
Written by: Richard Sheinis, Esq. A mistake is nothing more than an opportunity to learn. Of course, you have to take advantage of that opportunity. Children’s Medical Center of Dallas failure to take that opportunity has led to a HIPAA civil
The Use of Revocable or Living Trusts in Your Estate Plan – 8 Common Questions
By: Wills, Trusts, & Estate Administration If you’ve read any materials on estate planning, you’ve likely heard of these trusts. For example, you see a lot on-line, in AARP magazine, and in The Wall Street Journal. There exists a sign
FTC Fines VIZIO $2.2 Million For Collecting Viewer Data Without Consent
Written by: Richard Sheinis, Esq. Vizio, Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of internet connected televisions has agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission and the New Jersey Attorney General tha
OCR Gives Another Expensive Lesson in HIPAA Security Compliance
Written by: Richard Sheinis, Esq. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) has agreed to a $2.2 million settlement with MAPFRE Life Insurance Company of Puerto Rico for potential non-compliance with t
Georgia Court of Appeals Rules Atlanta Public School Teacher Entitled to Immunity After Death of Student
Written by: Eric A. Hoffman, Esq. In a January 9, 2017 opinion, the Georgia Court of Appeals held that an Atlanta Public School teacher was entitled to official immunity in a wrongful death suit filed by a student’s parents. The case, Barnett
Medical Provider To Pay $475,000 For Failing To Timely Report The Loss Of PHI
Written by: Richard Sheinis, Esq. The importance of timely reporting breaches of Protected Health Information (“PHI”) is now underscored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) first ever enforcement action against a