Mitchell Shapiro LLP

A recent fatal accident in Bulloch County highlights how dangerous collisions with big-rig trucks can be in Georgia.

Walking can help someone's physical and mental health, but there are inherent risks sharing space with cars.

If you think you may be the victim of malpractice, get a copy of your records as soon as possible. We have seen instances in the past where records were subsequently altered to cover mistakes. Here is a prime example that is getting national coverage.

Insurance study shows women are 73% more likely to sustain serious injuries in vehicle accidents.

When a teen suffers a catastrophic injury, parents could face millions of dollars in medical bills, during a lifetime of care.

Would a truck-only highway make underride collisions a thing of the past?

Everything from accidents to regular wear and tear can make it time to replace a car seat.

Vehicles kill a pedestrian every 84 minutes, spurring federal campaign to raise safety awareness.

Powerful video of our client Keith Sylvester in the aftermath of being jailed 15 months for a crime he did not commit. Thanks to the AJC for telling this important story. More to come on Keith's journey to get justice. https://www.ajc.com//man-wrongfully-accused-of-killing-mot

Young motorists more likely to be nervous or distracted behind the wheel.

Mitchell & Shapiro LLP, along with the Southern Center for Human Rights, Dreyer & Sterling, and Gerry Weber, filed suit this week on behalf of State Senator Nikema Williams and nine other protestors arrested for the content of their speech in violation of the First Amendment. "As we gear up for another election where our leaders seem unwilling to count every vote, we are proud to support our clients' efforts to protect Georgia's voters and our democratic elections, said Zack Greenamyre, attorney at Mitchell & Shapiro LLP. https://www.ajc.com//ga-state-/MSRHSCF7EZCPHJK35GDCDSHA3Q/

A neglecting staff left a woman in pain. Hear more from the lawyer who fought back for her.

Great work by Zack Greenamyre of our firm!

Motor vehicle accidents commonly cause head, neck and spinal injuries.

Atlanta Police Department officers went to arrest Mitchell & Shapiro client, 17 year-old Robert, after an anonymous caller said he might be selling drugs. When officers arrived, they knew the call was bogus, saying "There’s no way this kid’s selling dope." But instead of leaving Robert be, they decided to arrest him anyway. Video shows them scrambling to come up with some pretext to arrest him: "There’s got to be something. When the officers jumped out at him, Robert was sca...red of being arrested for no reason and he fled. The end result was tragic and senseless: Robert was knocked down a 30 foot drop, suffering broken bones in his leg, shoulder, and face. National criminal justice-focused outlet The Appeal tells Robert's story and amplifies his call for much needed change. https://theappeal.org/after-atlanta-teen-is-injured-in-a-p/

After spending fifteen months locked in a cage, prosecutors dropped all charges against Mitchell & Shapiro LLP client Keith Sylvester, who had been accused of murder and arson in connection with his parents' death. Now Sylvester has filed suit, showing that two Atlanta Police Department detectives knew he was innocent even at the time they arrested him. Detectives lied about an insurance policy to fabricate motive. They ignored video and GPS location data in their possession ...that presented an ironclad alibi. And they intentionally withheld exculpatory forensic evidence that proved his innocence from the get go. We demand accountability. https://www.ajc.com//man-no-lo/OWCX5CVVF5FBZGZAGYA3A5FCZM/ https://www.cbs46.com//article_1a9ffd90-ed7e-11ea-b3cb-6b1

Are driver-assistance systems worth the high cost?

Femur fractures can be the most devastating non-fatal car crash injuries.

Here is the podcast featuring our partner Richard Mitchell

Our partner Richard Mitchell is featured on the Great Trials Podcast this week

Certain vehicles will be more reliable on the road than others, especially in the event of a crash.

Georgia accidents happen all the time.

Our attorney Zack Greenamyre, along with William J. Atkins, is in the newspaper today arguing that the legal barriers to holding police officers accountable for bad conduct have gone too far. To illustrate their point, they show that it would be easier to convict the officers who killed George Floyd of murder than it would be to present his family's claims for damages to a jury. "The actions of the officers accused of killing George Floyd have been universally condemned by po...liticians, law enforcement officials and protesters worldwide. Virtually all agree that their actions should not be excused and cannot be justifed as a legitimate use of police power in any civilized society. "Resulting conversation and protest has led to widespread calls for reform, including of the ways in which our civil justice system holds law enforcement accountable when officers violate citizens’ rights. That dialogue got us to thinking about official immunity, which acts as a defense for suits against government actors under Georgia state law and in many other states. In the years since protests against law enforcement killings have become endemic, and despite several high-profile deadly force cases here in Georgia, we know of no effort to reform our official immunity doctrine. We think that is a mistake." https://www.law.com//its-easier-to-convict-officers-of-mu/

Driving fatigued triples the risk of an accident and may be just as dangerous as driving drunk.

New studies show that truck drivers who consume 5 or more cups of coffee per day increase their likelihood of being in an accident.

Even simple behaviors while driving can be distracting. These tips can help motorists stay safer behind the wheel.

Motorcycle riders should be aware of the dangers on the road and how to avoid an accident.

Is distracted driving the cause of this disturbing trend?

Is there any relationship between truck accidents and technological distractions?

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries after an accident.

Distracted drivers might be on the hook for putting you in harm's way.

Thank you Judge Wes Tailor for your thoughts on the jury system.

Shopping center parking lots and garages can be dangerous for pedestrians, especially during the busy holiday season.

Mitchell & Shapiro is proud to represent youths who have been injured by violence at the hands of juvenile correctional officers. The story of our client, N.T., sounds all too similar to the stories contained in this stunning article from the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Call us today to understand your loved one's options and to fight back against unnecessary violence against children.... https://www.ajc.com//violence-perm/7YRQTDEnIT20hGVEnjqybP/ The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice fired at least 60 officers from 2015 to 2018 for using excessive force on youths, the Journal-Constitution found by reviewing personnel files, investigators’ reports, law enforcement certification records and other documents. At least six more officers resigned under investigation of their use of force. But criminal charges against the department’s officers are exceedingly rare. Since 2015, the department has sought charges against just six officers across the state for physically assaulting prisoners. Five other officers have been charged during that time with having sexual relationships with prisoners, one with setting up fights among youths and another with neglecting an inmate who tried to hang himself.

Good hands? Not likely....

Here's a clue as to what is wrong with our health care system:

ICYMI: The investigation into Wall Street's #MeToo movement exposes the deadly impact of forced arbitration. In case after case, women filed claims only to be blocked by a policy that silences survivors and gives immunity to harassers. #EndForcedArbitration

U.S. House passes landmark bill to end forced arbitration and restore Americans’ rights.

Not all motorists keep their cars - including their tires - up to par. Could it lead to an accident?

Great day for Justice. Let's hope the Senate follows.

Congratulations to our lawyers Richard Mitchell and Zack Greenamyre who, along with Darren Summerville, just got a $1.3 million verdict in a hard fought medical malpractice case in Gwinnett County! A great day for justice for our very deserving client Elizabeth Dickinson.

Learn about how someone with a phone addiction is likely to get into a crash.

Many injuries or infections acquired during a procedure are preventable.

Even the rich and famous are not immune from medical mistakes

Some great press for one of our brave police misconduct clients. "A transgender woman spent five months in the Fulton County Jail on trumped-up charges of cocaine trafficking, according to a federal lawsuit against the arresting officers. Ju’Zema Goldring’s attorney Zack Greenamyre said officers bungled the test they did on the contents of a stress ball Golding was carrying when she was stopped by police and arrested her anyway.... Ms. Goldring’s incarceration lasted as long as it did because of the false drug charge, which was only supported by an inaccurate and incorrectly performed drug test, he said in a statement." https://www.projectq.us//lawsuit_atlanta_trans_woman_jaile

Scary, but we see evidence of this every day in our practice

Plenty of motorists still underestimate how alcohol affects their performance on the road.

It happened nearly four years ago when former officer Marc Lofton arrested her for driving while taking anti-depressent medication prescribed by her doctor. I think that they know what they did was wrong, but they’re not going to admit that, Williams said. The same thing happened to Adam Carpenter. He was arrested for DUI even though his drug test came back negative.... "It has been a struggle because some people are skeptical and think maybe I was on drugs or something and I wasn’t, Carpenter said. The charges were later dropped after the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia investigated their cases and found ‘significant errors in several of the DUI-Drug investigations.’ performed by Lofton. It was an embarrassment because who is going to believe that a police officer did this to a person, Williams said. So, they turned to a high-powered law firm in Atlanta to litigate their cases. The city of Statham settled for $225,000. https://www.cbs46.com//article_36cf76de-93d0-11e9-a29d-d39

When a patient is given the wrong medication, the results can be dire - what can a victim do?

These arrests were clearly unnecessary and unlawful, and the effects for our clients were devastating, said Greenamyre. We filed suit because we believe that DeKalb County can and should do more to stamp out its officers’ misconduct. https://www.law.com//judge-allows-false-arrest-claims-aga/

This code of silence and cover-up is costing lives

When there's a devastating aerial accident, it's not always the pilot's fault.

Elections have consequences

We see this all the time in our practice. Charting by template, by exception, wrong inputs- it is a nightmare and is endangering the public

Are surgical errors common? What should people know before going under the knife?

I wish this was the least bit surprising. Unfortunately we see this kind of conduct with our clients all the time.

Please remain seated with seat belts fastened.

Piloting an airplane takes concentration, skill and a decent night's sleep.

ICYMI: The fight to #EndForcedArbitration is critical to restoring workers’ rights.

When doctors repeatedly misdiagnose symptoms it can make the real problem get much worse.

Crossroads are high-risk areas as many drivers do not know how to approach them.

The Marietta Daily Journal has been covering our representation of City Council Member Reginald Copeland against an ethics charge. Recap the blow-by-blow of how attorney Zack Greenamyre was able to get the complaint dismissed. https://www.mdjonline.com//article_2a540b56-dd3f-11e8-9386 https://www.mdjonline.com//article_44db5f98-e617-11e8-ba3f... https://www.mdjonline.com//article_9e613f10-e6ee-11e8-a42d

It's really despicable people have to go through things like this even when they have health insurance. Hopefully this big helping of justice will get Aetna to re-examine its dollars over people philosophy.

Civil justice has served as a valuable deterrent to medical malpractice and a powerful motivator for patient safety.

How occasionally an operation can leave something behind.

This is how insurance companies play the game. Do anything to win and the heck with ethics or the injured party. This is why you need lawyers to protect your rights.

For those of you who are cyclists this is very important news on helmet protection for head injuries

It is disgusting to read about doctors hiding negligent care from their patients. This article discusses how smaller community hospitals often fail to offer clot-busting drugs to stroke patients. After being transferred to larger hospitals, it is usually too late to try clot-busters, which are time-sensitive treatments. According to the article, at Yale New Haven Hospital, doctors don’t tell the family about the missed opportunity. We try not to raise issues that may lead to litigation, he said.

Great news for our clients

Congratulations to our partners Ken & Richard for once again being named Georgia Super Lawyers!