Appellate Litigation
- Successfully defended a plaintiff’s verdict under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) at the 11th Circuit (Cephus v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 771 Fed. Appx. 883 (11th Cir. 2019)).
- Defended and prevailed in a First Amendment challenge to the City of Atlanta’s public comment policy, including through appeal and oral argument before the 11th Circuit. See Cardinale v. City of Atlanta, 2022 WL 2983366 (11th Cir. July 28, 2022); Cardinale v. City of Atlanta, 2021 WL 10330479 (N.D. Ga. Feb. 25, 2021) (trial court granted summary judgment).
- Successfully represented the City of Brookhaven and its officials in a suit brought by a developer over a failed redevelopment, including first getting an adverse jury verdict reversed, then summary judgment granted for the defense on remand. See Ardent Companies, LLC v. City of Brookhaven, 2025 WL 1792666 (Ga. Court of Appeals June 30, 2025) (upholding trial court’s grant of summary judgment following earlier remand); City of Brookhaven v. Ardent Companies, LLC, No. A22A1540 (Ga. Ct. of Appeals Dec. 28, 2022) (setting aside jury verdict, dismissing claims, and remanding for further action).
- Prevailed in defending a major annexation and development of hundreds of affordable housing units in the City of Clarkston, Georgia, including through appeal (City of Tucker v. City of Clarkston, et al., Civil Appeal No. A23A0511 (Ga. Ct. of Appeals June 15, 2023)).
- Successfully defended the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) at the Georgia Supreme Court, preserving a favorable liability standard from the Georgia Court of Appeals for MARTA and other Georgia transit providers.
- Successfully represented a healthcare provider at the Georgia Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court against a multi-decade-long local government effort to tax it, saving the healthcare system over $160 million. See Columbus Board of Tax Assessors v. Medical Center Hospital Authority, 368 Ga. App. 489 (2023) (cert granted, then denied as improvidently granted).
Business Disputes
- Successfully defended a national developer sued over a zoning dispute in Savannah, Georgia, including winning sanctions against the plaintiff developer (Vista Acquisitions, LLC v. West Shore Walden, LLC, 2023 WL 2145515 (N.D. Ga. Feb. 21, 2023)).
- Won an extraordinary motion for a new trial on behalf of a bank seeking to enforce a guaranty.
- Successfully represented a commercial landlord in arbitration against a tenant regarding lease performance.
Class Actions
- Served as plaintiffs’ counsel in a class action breach of contract and RICO case against a major shipping company, settling for $21.5 million.
RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations)
- Secured a confidential settlement for TASER International, Inc., and shareholders in a RICO and securities violation lawsuit.
- Successfully defended a national developer sued over a zoning dispute in Savannah, Georgia, including winning sanctions against the plaintiff developer (Vista Acquisitions, LLC v. West Shore Walden, LLC, 2023 WL 2145515 (N.D. Ga. Feb. 21, 2023)).
Government and Internal Investigations
- Won a trial defending an international hotel company against government property theft charges.
Government
- Successfully defended the City of Atlanta against the secessionist Buckhead City Committee (BCC), including testifying at the Georgia State Senate and getting BCC’s lawsuit alleging various constitutional and tort claims against the City dismissed with prejudice. See Buckhead City Committee v. City of Atlanta, 1:22-CV-00234 (N.D. Ga.).
- Defended and prevailed in a First Amendment challenge to the City of Atlanta’s public comment policy, including through appeal and oral argument before the 11th Circuit. See Cardinale v. City of Atlanta, 2022 WL 2983366 (11th Cir. July 28, 2022); Cardinale v. City of Atlanta, 2021 WL 10330479 (N.D. Ga. Feb. 25, 2021) (trial court granted summary judgment).
- Successfully defended a $250 million food and beverage concessions contract at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport through administrative proceedings and litigation while also advising other concessionaires and vendors on compliance matters.
- Guided and successfully defended the City of Atlanta’s annexation of Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control, resulting in the largest expansion of the City of Atlanta in several decades.
- Led a trial team securing a unanimous ruling permitting a major annexation by the City of Brookhaven, facilitating a major mixed-use development in north DeKalb County.
- Successfully represented the City of Brookhaven and its officials in a suit brought by a developer over a failed redevelopment, including first getting an adverse jury verdict reversed, then summary judgment granted for the defense on remand. See Ardent Companies, LLC v. City of Brookhaven, 2025 WL 1792666 (Ga. Court of Appeals June 30, 2025) (upholding trial court’s grant of summary judgment following earlier remand); City of Brookhaven v. Ardent Companies, LLC, No. A22A1540 (Ga. Ct. of Appeals Dec. 28, 2022) (setting aside jury verdict, dismissing claims, and remanding for further action).
- Prevailed in defending a major annexation and development of hundreds of affordable housing units in the City of Clarkston, Georgia, including through appeal (City of Tucker v. City of Clarkston, et al., Civil Appeal No. A23A0511 (Ga. Ct. of Appeals June 15, 2023)).
- Successfully represented Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the Atlanta City Council against Governor Kemp’s lawsuit challenging the City of Atlanta’s Mask Order during COVID.
- Successfully represented Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, in a lawsuit defending COVID-related ordinances.
- Successfully defended the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority against Open Records and Open Meetings Act claims.
- Successfully defended the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) at the Georgia Supreme Court, preserving a favorable liability standard from the Georgia Court of Appeals for MARTA and other Georgia transit providers.
- Successfully represented a healthcare provider at the Georgia Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court against a multi-decade-long local government effort to tax it, saving the healthcare system over $160 million. See Columbus Board of Tax Assessors v. Medical Center Hospital Authority, 368 Ga. App. 489 (2023) (cert granted, then denied as improvidently granted).
