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Georgia’s wrongful death law is specific about who can bring a claim. A surviving spouse is typically first in line. But when there is no surviving spouse, or when the surviving spouse fails to act, the deceased’s children have the right to file. Minor children and adult children alike may have standing, depending on the circumstances. The claim must be filed within two years of the death in most cases. Missing that window almost certainly means losing the right to recover anything.

Under the Georgia Wrongful Death Act, surviving family members can recover the “full value of ...

When someone gets hurt because of another person’s actions, the legal system offers more than one path to accountability. Two of the most common grounds for a civil lawsuit are intentional torts and negligence claims. They are not the same thing, and the distinction matters considerably when deciding how to move forward.

Negligence is about failure. Specifically, it is the failure to act with the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. In Georgia, a negligence claim requires proving four elements:

When you check into a hotel or motel, you’re trusting that the property is reasonably safe. That trust isn’t just an expectation, it’s backed by law. In Georgia, hotels and motels are classified as property owners who owe a duty of care to their guests. When they fail to meet that duty, and someone gets hurt, they can be held civilly liable, but what actually counts as inadequate security? That question matters a lot when a guest is attacked, robbed, or shot on the property.

Georgia courts consider whether a property owner knew, or should have known, that crime ...

Many shooting survivors assume that once the criminal case wraps up, their legal options are finished. That assumption costs people real money and real justice. The truth is that a criminal prosecution and a civil lawsuit are two completely separate legal processes, and one does not depend on the other.

The criminal case is handled by the state. A prosecutor decides whether to charge the shooter, and the burden of proof is high. The state must prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.” If the defendant is acquitted, or if charges are never filed, many victims believe that’s the ...

Sexual assault at work is devastating. It’s a profound violation that no one should ever experience. When it happens, victims face not only the trauma of the attack itself but also difficult questions about who bears responsibility. Your employer might be liable. That depends on several factors under Georgia law.

Every employer has a duty to keep their workplace safe. This isn’t just about preventing slip-and-fall accidents or equipment failures. It includes protecting employees from sexual violence and harassment. A DeKalb County sexual assault lawyer can evaluate whether your employer failed in this responsibility. Several situations create potential ...

Losing a family member to someone else’s negligence creates overwhelming grief. It also raises legal questions that most people have never encountered. Georgia law provides two separate types of claims after a fatal incident: wrongful death and survival actions. These claims serve different purposes and compensate different parties. Many families don’t realize they can pursue both simultaneously. Understanding how these claims work helps you protect your rights and recover appropriate compensation.

A wrongful death claim compensates family members for their own losses after someone dies due to another party’s negligence or intentional harm. Georgia law specifies who can ...

Atlanta-based law firm Deitch + Rogers works with people at their worst moments. The crime victim firm takes on civil cases for victims, particularly in cases of injury, assault and even death.

The goal? Deitch + Rogers promotes “peace of mind” for its clients. But the actual process isn’t so simple. Not every crime victim has a case, and the ones who do must navigate a tricky and triggering legal system before reaching any resolution.

That’s why in January, the firm hired a dedicated victim advocate. It’s a rare move for a legal firm. As the Survivor Services Coordinator, Na’Sha Robertson doesn’t handle any legal elements of ...

When you check into a hotel, you’re trusting that property to keep you safe. It’s an unspoken agreement. You expect more than clean sheets and a working TV. You expect the hotel to protect you from harm. So what happens when that trust gets shattered? When someone assaults or shoots you on hotel property, can you actually sue? Yes, but there’s more to it than just filing paperwork.

Hotels don’t just owe you a comfortable stay. They owe you a duty of care, and that includes protecting you from foreseeable criminal acts. This falls under premises liability law in ...

Georgia’s stand your ground law gives people the right to use force when they reasonably believe it’s necessary to protect themselves. That sounds straightforward enough. But what happens when you’re the one who gets shot? Does this law automatically protect the shooter in every situation? Not even close. The answers matter because criminal cases and civil lawsuits follow completely different rules. A shooter might walk away without criminal charges but still owe you significant damages. That’s not a loophole. It’s how the legal system works.

You don’t have a duty to retreat in Georgia before using force ...

When a family loses someone due to negligence in a Georgia jail or prison, the question of financial accountability often feels secondary to grief. That’s completely understandable. But understanding who actually pays damages in these cases does matter. It affects how claims proceed, settlement timelines, and whether families can collect what they’re owed.

The payment source depends entirely on who operated the facility and who was responsible for the negligence that led to death. County jails typically carry liability insurance to cover claims against the facility and its employees. When medical neglect, inadequate supervision, or use of force ...