Naveen’s practice focuses on appeals and class actions.
As one of Georgia’s top appellate attorneys, he is frequently sought by attorneys and clients to provide trial lawyers with preservation assistance, for strategic legal guidance during trial, and as lead counsel for post-trial, appeal, and certiorari … Read more
Naveen Ramachandrappa
Naveen’s practice focuses on appeals and class actions.
As one of Georgia’s top appellate attorneys, he is frequently sought by attorneys and clients to provide trial lawyers with preservation assistance, for strategic legal guidance during trial, and as lead counsel for post-trial, appeal, and certiorari proceedings. Naveen regularly appears and gives oral argument before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Georgia Supreme Court, and the Georgia Court of Appeals, as well as assisting in jury trials across Georgia.
Naveen also maintains an active class action practice and has been appointed as class counsel for both national and Georgia classes.
In addition to his legal practice, Naveen is a dedicated advocate for mental health and suicide prevention, actively promoting awareness through legislative advocacy work and speaking at law schools and law firms. He serves on the Board of Directors for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Georgia Chapter.
Naveen also serves on the Board of Directors for Gideon’s Promise, an organization dedicated to providing training, mentorship, and a community of support for public defenders and to fulfill the constitutional promise of Gideon v. Wainwright.
Argued and won a landmark victory for victims of crime in Ga. CVS Pharmacy, LLC v. Carmichael, 890 S.E.2d 209 (Ga. 2023), in which the defendants were represented by two former Georgia Supreme Court justices. The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed a $42.75 million jury verdict for a plaintiff who was shot multiple times at a CVS in Atlanta, Georgia. Naveen’s client collected the judgment in full.
Argued and won another important victory for victims of crime in Taylor v. Devereux Found., Inc., 885 S.E.2d 671 (Ga. 2023). The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed $7.6 million jury verdict for a plaintiff who was sexually assaulted as a minor at a Devereux behavioral health facility in Kennesaw, Georgia. Naveen’s client collected the judgment in full.
Won, solely on the briefs, a case preserving the right of residents of public housing to hold their landlords accountable for negligence in Pass v. Athens Hous. Authority, 890 S.E.2d 342 (Ga. Ct. App. 2023). The Georgia Court of Appeals denied the Athens Housing Authority’s request for sovereign immunity, which would have left tenants with no recourse for the injuries caused by the housing authority’s negligence.
Argued and won what appears to be the first case holding that a social media app is subject to products liability law in Maynard v. Snapchat, Inc., 870 S.E.2d 739 (Ga. 2022). The Georgia Supreme Court held that Snap can be liable for personal injuries caused by its negligent design of the Speed Filter within its Snapchat app.
Argued and won another precedent-setting issue involving social media in Lemmon v. Snap, Inc., 995 F.3d 1085 (9th Cir. 2021). The Ninth Circuit held that Snap was not entitled to immunity under the Communications Decency Act. The Ninth Circuit’s opinion has been cited hundreds of times in other cases, legal articles, and media coverage. The case settled on remand.
Argued and largely won post-trial motions in June 2020, defending a $69.6 million jury verdict in favor of a plaintiff who was shot multiple times at Kroger in Atlanta, Georgia. See Taylor v. The Kroger Co., No. 15A57407E3 (Dekalb State Ct. 2020). The trial court remitted the judgment to $61.4 million, but otherwise denied Kroger’s motions for JNOV or new trial. Days before oral argument in the Georgia Court of Appeals, the case settled.
Won, solely on the briefs, a case affirming a $21.6 million jury verdict for a plaintiff who was struck directly by a pickup truck, requiring an above-the-knee amputation of his left leg in Lane’s Equipment Rental, Inc. v. Monroe, No. A21A1156 (Ga. Ct. App. 2021). Naveen’s clients collected the judgment in full.
Argued and won a case protecting the rights of victims of sexual assault to hold massage companies liable for abuse by therapists in Cleveland v. Team RTR2, LLC, 854 S.E.2d 756 (Ga. Ct. App. 2021). The Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s summary judgment in favor of the massage company. The case settled on remand.
Successfully represented a cult victim in a two-and-a-half week jury trial in November 2018, in which the jury awarded $13.8 million to the plaintiff against Extended Stay America for negligently allowing a cult leader to operate out of the hotel and starve and sexually abuse the plaintiff and her child. Naveen served as “legal counsel” to the plaintiff’s lawyers and advised them throughout the trial. The case settled after the jury’s verdict.
Arguedand won multiple appeals affirming a $3.6 million jury verdict in favor of homeowners against American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc. for wrongful foreclosure. See McGinnis v. Am. Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc., 901 F.3d 1282 (11th Cir. 2018); McGinnis v. Am. Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc., 817 F.3d 1241 (11th Cir. 2016). The Eleventh Circuit twice rejected a variety of challenges to the jury’s $3 million punitive-damages verdict.
Won, solely on the briefs, multiple appeals defending a property insurance company’s claims that the insurer’s coverage was void due to misrepresentations in its application. See Ga. Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Valley Wood, Inc., 812 S.E.2d 94 (Ga. Ct. App. 2018); Ga. Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Valley Wood, Inc., 783 S.E.2d 441 (Ga. Ct. App. 2016).
Argued and won a case defending a property insurance company’s right to seek subrogation claims against tortfeasors in Woodcraft by MacDonald, Inc. v. Ga. Cas. & Sur. Co., 743 S.E.2d 373 (Ga. 2013). The Georgia Supreme Court held that the made-whole doctrine does not apply to commercial property insurance that authorizes subrogation.
Argued, as a third-year associate, and won a case defending CompuCredit and its directors and officers in appeal brought by noteholders to enjoin payment of a $25 million dividend and two separate $100 million tender offers to shareholders in Akanthos Capital Mgmt., LLC v. CompuCredit Holdings Corp., 677 F.3d 1286 (11th Cir. 2012). The Eleventh Circuit order dismissed the plaintiffs’ suit entirely and allowed the company to proceed with distributing $150 million to its shareholders.
Class Actions
Appointed and served as lead class counsel in 2020 through 2022 for tenants in three separate class actions against various landlords in Georgia. See Roberson v. ECI Group, Inc., No. 17-A-64506-4 (DeKalb State Ct. 2020); Tucker v. Columbia Residential, LLC, No. 17-A-66551-4 (DeKalb State Ct. 2021); Whelan v. Wesley Apartment Homes, LLC, No. 18-A-70827-4 (DeKalb State Ct. 2022). The court in each case approved settlements of $1 million or more, providing a total of $3 million aggregate available relief to Georgia tenants.
Appointed in 2020, along with four others, as class counsel for public-school employees in a breach-of-contract class action against the DeKalb County, Georgia School District. See Gold v. DeKalb County Sch. Dist., No. 11-CV-3657-5 (DeKalb Sup. Ct. 2020). The court approved a $112.5 million settlement in direct payments to the class.
Naveen was appointed in 2017, along with six others, as class counsel for consumers in a breach-of-contract class action against Bank of America. See Dorado v. Bank of Am., N.A., No. 1:16-CV-21147 (S.D. Fla. 2017). The court approved a $29 million settlement in direct payments to the class.
Appointed in 2017, along with four others, as class counsel for consumers in a breach-of-contract class action against SunTrust. See Felix v. SunTrust Mortgage, Inc., No. 2:16-CV-00066 (N.D. Ga. 2017). The court approved a $3.5 million settlement in direct payments to the class.
Appointed in 2013, along with six others, as class counsel for consumers in a breach-of-contract and RICO class action against FedEx. See No. 2:11-CV-02131 (W.D. Tenn. 2013). The court approved a $21.5 million settlementin direct payments to the class.
