Update on September 8, 2015: The Supreme Court of Georgia accepted certification in Bickerstaff v. SunTrust Bank. Georgia Watch and the National Consumer Law Center submitted a “friend-of-the-court” brief for consideration by the Supreme Court...
More infoHow will the passage of HB 72 impact Georgia’s Seniors in the Financial Sector?
Elise Blasingame, Director of Community Education Senior citizens are increasingly becoming victims of financial fraud and abuse. Georgia Watch supports protecting seniors by making needed improvements to existing law, including allowing fraud cases to be...
More infoCFPB Study Finds That Arbitration Agreements Limit Relief for Consumers
In 2012, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) began investigating the prevalence and impact of mandatory arbitration clauses on consumers in the financial services market. Last week, the CFPB released their findings from three years of...
More infoNEW VERSION OF “PATIENT COMPENSATION ACT” INTRODUCED
SB 86, introduced in the Senate on February 4, would significantly harm Georgia consumers by limiting access to the courts in cases of medical negligence. If enacted, the bill would virtually eliminate the right of a Georgia resident to bring a cause of...
More info“Business, consumer advocates push legislative issues”
By Walter C. Jones Morris News Service ATLANTA — Some of the issues legislators will consider this year with the broadest impact are those advocated by business organizations and consumer watchdogs. And contrary to what many people might think, the...
More info“Many consumer advocates’ goals on track in Georgia General Assembly”
By Walter C. Jones Wed, Jan 14, 2015 @ 5:11 pm ATLANTA | Consumer advocates were beaming Wednesday over their fortunes on just the third day of the legislative session because most of their main goals are on track. The Atlanta-based Georgia Watch...
More infoLandmark Decision Ensures Access to Courts, Strengthens Patients Rights
In March, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled unanimously that limits on jury awards in medical malpractice cases are unconstitutional. “The very existence of the caps, in any amount, is violative of the right to trial by jury,” wrote Chief Justice Carol...
More infoSupreme Court rules ‘cap on damages’ unconstitutional
On March 22 the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that a controversial law capping the amount of money an injured patient could recover from a negligent medical provider is unconstitutional. The 7-0 decision was written by Justice Hunstein. Senate Bill 3...
More infoWe the people: Challenging Georgia’s malpractice caps
The following is a short film on Betty Nestlehutt. After receiving plastic surgery, Mrs. Nestlehutt, 72, was left with severe injuries to her face. Her ordeal and the botched procedure has caused Georgia’s arbitrary $350k cap on damages to come under...
More infoCAPS on Damages: What is your life worth?
By Matt Bouillon and Danny Orrock Georgia Watch is keeping a keen eye on Atlanta Oculoplastic Surgery, P.C. v. Betty & Bruce Nestlehutt at the State Supreme Court that is challenging the cap on non-economic damages in the 2005 tort reform law...
More infoMedical malpractice
In 2005 , the Georgia General Assembly delivered a present to Big Insurance, the hospital and medical lobbies, and corporate giants Georgia Pacific, Home Depot, Georgia Power and Coca-Cola. It was called Senate Bill 3, and it severely changed the state’s...
More infoSenate Bill 101: legal bailout for drug companies?
Despite decades of dangerous recalls and fraudulent drug trials related to FDA-approved drugs and medical devices, Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens) filed Senate Bill 101 which would extend immunity from civil lawsuits filed in Georgia to Georgia-based...
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