Juris Doctor, magna cum laude - Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, 1993

• Copy Editor, Cumberland Law Review, 1992-1993
• Dean’s Merit Scholarship Recipient
• Leadership Scholarship Recipient

Bachelor of Arts - Furman University, 1987

• Major: Political Science
• Minor: History
• Foreign Study in the Middle East (History & Religion): Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and Morocco

Paralegal Certification - National Center for Paralegal Training, 1987

“Maintaining Standards” 

Trial (February 2021)

“Staying on Track for Justice: A Story of Persistence and Triumph” 

Verdict (Winter 2014)

“Prepping Your Expert” 

Trial (September 2012)

“Now that Georgia is a “Daubert State,” . . . . Some Practical Suggestions” 

Verdict (Summer 2009)

Featured in The Cumberland Lawyer, Fall 2008, “Women in Law: Finding a Level Playing Field.” (J. Mark Baggett, Contributing Editor)

“How to Survive A Hospital Stay” 

The Albany Journal, September 13, 2007.

“Newborn Metabolic Screening: Adequate Medical Care Begins Here” 

Section Connection, AAJ Professional Negligence, Vol. 14, No. 2, (Winter 2007)

“Interview with Georgia Supreme Court Justice George H. Carley” 

Verdict Vol. 29, No. 1 (Spring 2004)

“Subrogation Update” 

Verdict (Spring 2002)

“Medical Malpractice: Year in Review”

Verdict, Vol. 25, No. 4 (Winter 2000)

The Paralegal's Role in the Business of Law

Verdict (Spring, 2000)

“Medical Malpractice: Year in Review”

Verdict, Vol. 24, No. 4 (Winter 1999)

“Medical Malpractice in the Era of Managed Care” 

Verdict, Vol. 23, No. 1 (Spring 1998)

“A Glimmer of Hope for State Sovereignty: The Supreme Court Limits Federal Regulations of Radioactive Waste Disposal”

23 Cumb. L. Rev. 655 (1993)

Tips for A Successful Medical Malpractice Mediation 

(Cobb County Trial Lawyers Section CLE, March 2024)

Mediation: The New Way to Litigate 

(Conflict Resolution Day, State Bar of Georgia, October 2023)

Daubert Is Dead: Who Knew? 

Amendments to Rule 702 (AAJ Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA, July 2023)

Identifying Birth Injury Cases 

(Cobb Trial Lawyers Association CLE, October 2021)

Panelist (Practitioners’ Panel), Professionalism After the Statewide Judicial Order

Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism CLE, September 2021.

Minimizing the Hero Defense 

(AAJ Handling Medical Negligence Cases During COVID-19 And Beyond Webinar, April 2021)

The Standard of Care: A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words (AIEG Medical Malpractice Seminar, April 2021)

What To Know About Handling Birth Injury Cases (ICLE Handling Difficult Cases, February 2021)

Neuropsychological Evaluations (AAJ Mastering the Medicine Seminar, October 2019)

Medical Malpractice Update (GTLA Holiday Seminar, December 2018)

Mastering/Organizing Medical Evidence (GTLA Paralegal Seminar, October 2018)

Daubert Traps in Depositions (GTLA Annual Convention, April 2018)

Deposing Medical Witnesses (GTLA Annual Convention, April 2017)

Offensive Use of Daubert (AAJ Winter Convention, Austin, TX, February 2017)

Amicus Briefs (American Constitution Society, Georgia Lawyer Chapter, March 2016)

Offensive and Defensive Use of Daubert (AAJ Annual Convention, Montreal, Canada, July 2015)

Taking the Defendant Doctor and Medical Expert Deposition (Depositions: From Good to Great to Winning Seminar, GTLA Younger Lawyers, September 2014)

Overview of Recent Medical Malpractice Decisions in Georgia (GTLA Annual Convention, Professional Negligence Section, April 2014)

The Offensive Use of Daubert (AAJ Winter Convention, New Orleans, LA, February 2014)

The Benefits of Using Focus Groups In Medical Malpractice Cases (GTLA Annual Convention, Professional Negligence Section, May 2013)

Federal Court Medical Malpractice (AAJ Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA, July 2013)

Using Focus Groups to Prepare for Trial (GTLA, Tort Cases Workshop, March 2013)

Superstar Personal Injury Lawyers: Best Verdicts of 1012, Burchfield v. CSX Transportation, Inc. (ICLE, January 2013)

Preparing Experts to Minimize the Risks of a Successful Challenge (GTLA, Annual Seminar, May 2012)

Preserving Issues for Appeal (GTLA, Tort Cases: Start to Finish, March 2012)

Preparing Experts to Minimize the Risks of a Successful Challenge (AAJ, Winter Convention, Phoenix, AZ, February 2012)

Preserving Issues for Appeal (GTLA, Getting Your Case Ready for Trial, November 2011)

Legal Obstacles in Dram Shop Cases (ICLE, Civil Prosecutions of DUI and Dram Shop Cases in Georgia, September 2011)

Daubert Issues in Motor Vehicle Cases (GTLA Annual Convention, Motor Vehicle Section, May 2011)

Daubert: A Double-Edged Sword (ICLE Personal Injury Seminar, April 2011)

Daubert And Its Affect on the Right to Trial By Jury, Cobb County Trial Lawyers Association, November 2010

Procedural Hurdles for Expert Witnesses (Georgia Bar New Lawyers Division, “Life of a Trial” Series, Choosing Your Expert and Daubert, September 2010)

Update on Daubert: What Has Daubert Done to Affect the Right to Jury Trial? (AAJ Winter Convention, January 2010)

Plaintiff and Defense Jury Charges: Strategies for Inclusion and Exclusion (GTLA Annual Convention, Professional Negligence Section, April 2009)

Preemption: What’s New in the Law (GTLA Annual Convention, Product Liability Section, April 2009)

Railroading ABC’s: The FELA Claim (AAJ Annual Seminar, Philadelphia, PA, July 2008)

Jury Charges and Preserving Objections (ICLE, Personal Injury, January 2008)

Consistent Evidence In Engineering Issues (AAJ, Annual Seminar, Chicago, July 2007)

Daubert: A Practical Guide to Navigating the New Playing Field for Expert Testimony in Georgia (GTLA Annual Seminar April 2007)

Subrogation: They Want Money From Us? (July 2007 and June 2008)

Jury Charges (ICLE, Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, December 2006, December 2007)

Professional and Ethical Dilemmas in Litigation, ICLE Panel Discussion (May, 2006)

Constitutional Challenges to SB3 (GTLA May 2005, and numerous subsequent presentations with updates)

I Don’t Think We’re in Kansas Anymore, Toto: A How-To Guide For Practicing Under the New Tort Reform Law (Constitutional Challenges to SB3), The DeKalb Bar Association (May 2005)

Medical Malpractice Subrogation (ICLE, April 2003)

Medical Malpractice Actions, Beyond Workers’ Compensation: Maximizing Your Client’s Recovery for On-The-Job Injuries (March 2003)

An Overview of Current Subrogation Issues (March 2003)

Paying Out the Settlement: Resolving Liens and Reimbursement Rights (ICLE 2002 and 2003)

File and Work Flow Organization (ICLE 2002)

Trial Preparation (ICLE, Georgia Law of Torts, October 2002)

Legal Ethics for Legal Assistants, (Half Moon Seminars, March 2001)

The Olmstead Decision, Georgia Brain Injury Association Annual Conference (2001)

Evidentiary and Ethical Considerations of Technologically Presented Evidence (ICLE 2000)

HMO/Managed Care Medical Malpractice Liability, ICLE “Torts of Sorts” Seminar (March 1999)

Hospital Liability (ICLE Medical Malpractice Seminar, November 1999)

Medical Malpractice and HMO Liability, ICLE “Torts of Sorts” Seminar (March 1998)

Professional Negligence, ICLE “Torts of Sorts” Seminar (March 1997)

Preparing the Trial Notebook (ICLE 1995)

Getting Organized for Trial (ICLE 1994)

ICLE refers to The Institute of Continuing Education in Georgia

AAJ refers to the American Association for Justice

GTLA refers to the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association

AIEG refers to the Attorneys Information and Exchange Group

Georgia Trial Lawyers Association

• President, 2020-2021
• Legislative Committee, Co-Chair 2019-2020
• Champion Member
• AAJ Women’s Caucus Delegate, 2014-2017
• Editorial Board, Verdict Magazine (Editor, 2009-2012)
• Member, Amicus Committee
• Member, Legislative Committee
• Chair, Constitutional Challenge Committee, 2005-2010
• Past-Chair, Paralegal/Legal Assistant Section

American Association for Justice

• Leaders Forum
• Council of Presidents (2019-2021)
• Pac-M Club
• Women’s Trial Lawyer Caucus
• Professional Negligence Section
• Traumatic Brain Injury Section
• Birth Trauma Litigation Group
• Medical Negligence Information Exchange Group
• Appellate Litigation Group
• AAJ Press Advisory Group, 2012-2013
• Co-Coordinator, Southeastern Regional Competition, AAJ Law Student Trial Advocacy Competition, 2007 & 2009
• AAJ Law School Liaison to Emory University and Georgia State University Champion Member
• Board Member 2005-2011, 2019-2023
• Executive Board/Secretary, 2007-2010

State Bar of Georgia

• Local and Voluntary Bars Committee, 2020-2024
• Legislative Advisory Board, 2012-2014

Tennessee Bar Association

Alabama Bar Association

Melvin M. Belli Association

Georgia Civil Justice Foundation

• Board Member

American Bar Association

• Tort Trial and Insurance Law Section

Georgia Consumer Justice Foundation

Atlanta Trial Lawyers Society

Atlanta Bar Association

• Litigation Section
• Small Firm Section

Georgia Association of Women Lawyers

• Past Member, Judicial Review Committee
• Past Member, Legislative Committee

American Constitution Society

National Brain Injury Association

Georgia Brain Injury Association

Eleventh Circuit Historical Society

National Civil Justice Institute

• Super Lawyer, 2006-2023
• Top 100 Lawyer, 2021
• Top 50 Women, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Top Lawyers, Women In The Law, 2016-2017
• Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, 2011-2017
• Best Lawyers, Medical Malpractice, (20th ed. 2013)
• Guardian of Justice Award, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, 2009
• Super Lawyer, 2007 – Present
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, 2011-2013
• Best Lawyers, Medical Malpractice, (20th ed. 2013)
• Certified Mediator, 2002
• Guardian Ad Litem, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, Since 2002
• Advocate, National College of Advocacy, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2000
• Curia Honoris
• Phi Kappa Phi
• Honorary Award at the GTLA Holiday Conference in Recognition of the Work on the Gubernatorial Campaign

Appeals

• General Electric v. Joiner, 522 U.S. 136, 118 S.Ct. 512 (1997)
• *Adams v. Lab. Corp. of Am., 760 F.3d 1322 (11 th Cir. 2014)
• Burchfield v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 636 F.3d 1330 (11th Cir. 2011)
• Hernandez v. Crown Equipment Corp., 649 Fed. Appx. 726 (11th Cir. 2016)
• Scott v. Miller, 206 Fed. Appx. 516, 2006 WL 3368767 (6 th Cir. 2006)
• Scott v. Miller, 6th Cir. Court of Appeal, Case No. 09-6034 (2010)
• Rogers v. Norfolk Southern Ry. Co., 126 Fed. Appx. 694, 2005 WL 602926 (6 th Cir. 2005)
• Sanders v. Lull Intern., Inc., 411 F.3d 1266 (11 th Cir. 2005)
• Morris v. Progressive Custom Wheels, 150 F.3d 1197 (11 th Cir. 1998)
• Orr v. SSC Atlanta Operating Co., 360 Ga. App. 702, 860 S.E.2d 217 (2021)
• *OB-GYN Associates, P.A. v. Brown, 357 Ga. App. 655, 849 S.E.2d 257 (2020)
• Norfolk S. Ry. Co. v. Hartry, 307 Ga. 566, 837 S.E.2d 3030 (2019)
• Hartry v. Ron Johnson, Jr. Enterprises, Inc., 347 Ga. App. 55, 815 S.E.2d 611 (2018)
• *Holmes v. Lyons, 346 Ga. App. 99, 815 S.E.2d 252 (2018)
• Smith v. Braswell, 342 Ga. App. 700, 804 S.E.2d 709 (2017)
• Best Buy Co., Inc. v. McKinney, 334 Ga. App. 42, 778 S.E.2d 51 (2015)
• Lavelle v. Lab. Corp. of America, 327 Ga. App. 142, 755 S.E.2d 595 (2014)
• Norfolk S. Ry. v. Everett, 322 Ga. App. 867, 747 S.E.2d 92 (2013)
• Norfolk S. Ry. v. Zeagler, 293 Ga. 582, 748 S.E.2d 846 (2013)
• Everett v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., 292 Ga. 106, 734 S.E.2d 388 (2012)
• *Flores v. Exprezit! Stores, LLC, 289 Ga. 466, 713 S.E.2d 368 (2011)
• CSX Transportation, Inc. v. Smith, 289 Ga. 903, 717 S.E.2d 209 (2011)
• *Baker v. Wellstar Heath System, Inc., 288 Ga. 336, 703 S.E.2d 601 (2010)
• *Zeimaran v. Cammercial Concepts, Inc., 303 Ga. App. 447, 693 S.E.2d 513 (2010) cert denied (Sept. 7, 2010)
• Blotner v. Doreika, 285 Ga. 481, 678 S.E.2d 80 (2009)
• *Lyon v. Schramm, 285 Ga. 72, 673 S.E.2d 241 (2009)
• *Amu v. Barnes, 183 Ga. 549, 662 S.E.2d 113 (2008)
• *Cleveland v. Gannon, 284 Ga. 376, 667 S.E.2d 366 (2008)
• *Mason v. Home Depot U.S.A., 283 Ga. 271, 658 S.E.2d 603 (2008)
• *Allen v. Wright, 282 Ga. 9, 644 S.E.2d 814 (2007)
• Pearson v. Tippman Pneumatics, Inc., 281 Ga. 740, 642 S.E.2d 691 (2007)
• *EHCA Cartersville, LLC v. Turner, 280 Ga. 333, 626 S.E.2d 482 (2006)
• Richards v. Dep’t of Community Health, 278 Ga. 757, 604 S.E.2d 815 (2004)
• McCombs v. Synthes (U.S.A.), 277 Ga. 252, 587 S.E.2d 594 (2003)
• Rosenberg v. Falling Water, Inc., 302 Ga. App. 78, 690 S.E.2d 183 (2010), aff’d 289 Ga. 57 (2011).
• Norfolk Southern Ry Co. v. Everett, 299 Ga. App. 420 (2009)
• Doreika v. Blotner, 292 Ga. App. 850, 666 S.E.2d 21 (2008
• *Condra v. Atlanta Orthopaedic Group, P.C., 285 Ga. 667, 681 S.E.2d 152 (2009)
• Tadlock v. Tadlock, 290 Ga. App. 568, 660 S.E.2d 430 (2008)
• Norris v. Central of Georgia R.R. Co., 280 Ga. App. 792, 635 S.E.2d 179 (2006)
• Goss v. Alabama Great Southern R.R., 279 Ga. App. 720, 632 S.E.2d 479 (2006)
• Dream Maker Construction, Inc. v. Murrell, 268 Ga. App. 721, 603 S.E.2d 72 (2004)
• Wimbush v. Confederate Packaging, Inc., 252 Ga. App. 806, 556 S.E.2d 925 (2001)
• Fryer v. Silver, 234 Ga. App. 243, 507 S.E.2d 7 (1998)
• Carr v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 226 Ga. App. 768, 487 S.E.2d 415 (1997)
• Norfolk Southern v. Perkins, 224 Ga. App. 552, 481 S.E.2d 545 (1997)
• Ratliff v. CSX Transp., Inc., 219 Ga. App. 53, 464 S.E.2d 1 (1995)
• Modesitt v. Waffle House, Inc., 213 Ga. App. 381, 444 S.E.2d 412 (1994)
• *Peterson v. National R.R. Passenger Corp., 365 S.C. 391, 618 S.E.2d 903 (2005)
• Warnock v. CSX Transp., Inc., 357 N.C. 582, 589 S.E.2d 725 (2003)

*The cited decisions include cases wherein Lyle Warshauer was involved in an Amicus role, and submitted briefs on behalf of amici organizations, but where neither she nor her firm were counsel of record for either party.

Trials

• Estate of Lita McClinton Sullivan v. James Sullivan, West Palm Beach, Florida (1994)
• Estate of Ronald Turner v. Norfolk Southern Railroad, Habersham County, GA (1994)
• Joe Sutherland v. CSX Transportation, Fulton County, GA (1995)
• Jill Thornton v. Atlanta Apparel Mart, Ltd., et al., Fulton County, GA (1995)
• Jimmy Bentley v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division (1996)
• George Perkins v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., Fulton County, GA (1996)
• Holly C. Aguirre v. Janet Robertson, Cobb County, GA (1997)
• Steven and Patricia Morris v. Progressive Custom Wheels, Inc., US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division (1997)
• Mary Jett v. Ocmulgee Fields, Inc., Bibb County, GA (1998)
• Judith Armandroff v. Deborah Cushing, DeKalb County, GA (2000)
• Wanda Grimes v. Robert Hancock, M.D., et al., Clarke County, GA (2000)
• Paul Doreika v. Greg Blotner, D.C., Fulton County, GA (2007)
• Estate of Langley v. Lisa Oakley, M.D., et al., Fulton County, GA (2008)
• Doug Burchfield v. CSX Transportation, Inc., US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division (2009)
• Thomas Linden, Jr. v. Case Construction Equipment, US District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (2011)
• Estate of Elizabeth Massey v. Southeastern Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, P.C., Chatham County (2011)
• Doug Burchfield v. CSX Transportation, Inc., US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division (2012)
• Rose & David Anderson v. Ziewicki, M.C., State Court of DeKalb County (2016)
• Stephen Edwards v. Central of Georgia Railroad Co., State Court of Carroll County (2016)
• William A. Hoskyns, D.D.S. v. Resurgens, P.C.et al, State Court of Fulton County (2017)
• Dennis McCombs v. Kennestone Hospital et al, State Court of Cobb County (2017)
• Sarah Barber v. Richard Gluckman, M.D. et al, State Court of Cobb County (January 2023)
• Sarah Barber v. Westside Pediatrics, P.C. et al, State Court of Cobb County, (September 2023)

Significant Litigated Matters

General Electric v. Joiner, 522 U.S. 136, 118 S.Ct. 512 (1997). This was a strict liability and negligence claim by an electrician who suffered from lung cancer, against manufacturers of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and electrical transformers and voltage regulators containing PCB-based fire-resistant dielectric fluid. The case ultimately became one in the Daubert “trilogy,” in which the Supreme Court addressed the admissibility of expert testimony in federal courts. The trial court had excluded the plaintiff’s causation experts and subsequently granted summary judgment. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed, applying a “particularly stringent” review to the decision to strike the experts where the effect of their exclusion resulted in dismissal of the case. The Supreme Court reversed, finding that the abuse of discretion standard applies to Daubert rulings, just as with any evidentiary ruling. I was not involved in the case at the trial level, but assisted in the appeal, including preparation of the Supreme Court briefings and oral argument.

Wanda Grimes v. Robert Hancock, M.D., et al., State Court of Clarke County, Civil Action No. ST 98-CV-0621. Jury trial, April 2000. This was a medical malpractice case in which we represented a woman who became a quadriplegic as a result of her physicians’ failure to diagnose a fracture in her cervical spine following a motor vehicle accident. The trial lasted 10 days. The jury awarded the plaintiff $5 Million after three days of deliberations. This was a record verdict in Clarke County at the time. I was lead counsel in this case.

Estate of Lita Sullivan v. James V. Sullivan, West Palm Beach County, Florida. Jury trial, 1994. Lita McClinton Sullivan’s family sued her husband for wrongful death, claiming he arranged for her murder in 1987 to avoid a costly divorce. The civil suit followed a high-profile criminal trial in federal court in Atlanta, which was dismissed mid-trial for lack of evidence. The civil jury ordered Mr. Sullivan to pay the estate $4 Million ($3.5 Million compensatory; $500,000 punitive damages); however, Mr. Sullivan thereafter succeeded in hiding his assets and fleeing the country. Based in part on information uncovered during the civil litigation, Sullivan was again indicted for first-degree murder in 1998 and was found guilty following trial in State Court in March 2006. The civil trial was covered in its entirety by Court TV. I was associate counsel; I handled most of the pre-trial preparation and also examined several witnesses during the trial.

Steve Morris v. Progressive Custom Wheels, Inc., United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, No. 94031211CVCC. Jury trial, 1997. This was a product liability action in which we alleged that the wheel on the plaintiff’s truck broke, causing the wheel and tire to separate from the vehicle. The case was tried to a jury over 10 days, which returned a verdict for the defense. We appealed the matter to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, which reversed, 150 F.3d 1197 (11th Cir. 1998), and the case then settled for more than our pre-trial demand. I was associate counsel during the trial, in which I handled several witnesses as well as the closing argument. I was the lead author of our appellate briefs.

McCombs v. Synthes (U.S.A.), 277 Ga. 252, 587 S.E.2d 594 (2003). This was a product liability claim involving a medical device. I was referred the case solely to handle the appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court after the case twice went to the Georgia Court of Appeals. The issue in the Supreme Court was whether the learned intermediary doctrine precluded a claim by a patient against the manufacturer for failure to warn. The Supreme Court held that the doctrine precluded a claim only where the manufacturer had provided sufficient information about the device’s risks and benefits to physicians so that they could reach their own judgment as to its use and advise the patient accordingly. Because a question of fact existed concerning the nature and extent of warnings conveyed by the manufacturer to physicians, summary judgment was reversed, and the case subsequently resolved.

Pearson v. Tippman Pneumatics, Inc., 281 Ga. 740, 642 S.E.2d 691 (2007). This product liability claim against a paintball gun manufacturer arose out of an incident in which the teenage plaintiff was shot in the eye by a friend, who had not intended to fire the device. We alleged that the gun was defective in that there was no clear marking on the gun to indicate if it was in the “safe” or “fire” position. The shooter settled prior to trial, and we proceeded only against the manufacturer. We requested a jury charge on proximate cause that would help the jury understand that there can be more than one cause of an injury. The trial court refused to give the charge, and the jury returned a defense verdict. The Court of Appeals affirmed, but the Supreme Court reversed the judgment. For the first time in many years, the Georgia Supreme Court clarified the doctrine of proximate cause and the foreseeability of intervening acts in the context of a civil lawsuit involving multiple tortfeasors. I was lead author of the appellate briefs.

Tera Mize and Dallas Mize, Individually and as Administrators of the Estate of Tyler Wayne Mize v. Cobb Hospital, Inc., et al., State Court of Fulton County, Georgia; Civil Action No. 00VS002589A. This was a professional negligence action in which plaintiffs alleged that the failure to perform a state-mandated newborn metabolic screening test on their newborn son resulted in his death from undiagnosed galactosemia, a metabolic disorder that, if properly diagnosed, is treatable solely with diet. Following the resolution of the case, the parents started a non-profit organization, Saving Babies Through Screening, which advocates for states’ adoption of additional screening protocols to prevent further injury or death from undiagnosed metabolic disorders. I have since been involved in a number of cases involving metabolic disorders and the screening process.

Heather Carpenter and Benjamin Carpenter as Next Friends of Gracie Carpenter v. St. Francis Hospital, Inc., et al., Superior Court of Muscogee County, Georgia, Civil Action No. SU13CV2494. This was a medical malpractice case in which plaintiffs alleged that their daughter suffered from Group B Streptococcal Meningitis and associated disabilities as a result of the defendants’ failure to properly screen Heather Carpenter for GBS during her pregnancy and to properly recognize and treat Gracie after birth. Gracie’s injuries included cerebral palsy, cortical visual impairment, and developmental delays. The case was litigated for over five years before settlements were reached with all parties. This case was meaningful for many reasons. This is a family that demonstrated sheer dedication to their injured child and a commitment to do everything necessary to ensure the best possible outcome given her challenges. The recovery obtained helps to ensure that the family would have the resources to provide for her needs for the rest of her life. Further, as a result of this litigation, the facility involved changed its policies regarding GBS screening to avoid future injuries such as occurred in this case. I was lead counsel in the litigation, which spanned over six years.

When they are not working, Michael and Lyle enjoy outdoor activities, renovating houses, and traveling—particularly to visit their five children and their families. Lyle is involved in numerous volunteer activities and is especially passionate about her work with Second Helpings Atlanta, an organization dedicated to eliminating food insecurity and food waste in the metro-Atlanta area.

Community Involvement

Children’s Literacy Outreach Project

Adjunct teacher in 3rd Grade Class at Scott Elementary School, Atlanta, GA

Riverwood International Charter School Foundation

Board Member, 2011-2014

Secretary, 2012-2013

Member, Junior League of DeKalb County, 1993 – Present

Sustaining Member

President’s Award (Volunteer of the Year), 2004

Committee/Community Positions:

Editor, The Leaguelet (Quarterly Publication)

Chair, Community Research and Project Development

Volunteer Coordinator, Dance for Everyone (The Organization Provides Dance Instruction for

Persons with Disabilities)

Chair, Fine Print, a Major Fundraiser for League Activities: Creation and Sale of

Cards and Stationery)

Volunteer, Wesley Woods Geriatric Center (Alzheimer Unit)

Volunteer, Children’s Restoration Network

Member, Holy Innocent’s Episcopal Church

Member, Temple Sinai

Former Member, Decatur First Baptist Church, 1993-2010

Mother’s Circle (Jewish Outreach Institute – Interfaith Families)

Common Cause

Sierra Club, John Muir Society

Georgia PIRG

Environment Georgia

Upper Chattahoochee River Keeper

Lake Lanier Conservancy

National Audubon Society

The Nature Conservancy

Parents’ Association, The Westminster Schools, 2010 – Present

Riverwood High School Parents’ Association, 2008 – 2013

Parents’ Association, The Galloway School, 2000 – 2010

Parents’ Association, The Day School, 2004 – 2010

Brownie Troop Leader, Troop No. 21316, 2001 – 2003

Member, United Transportation Union, Local 1910, 1998 – 2003