In the Headlines
► Antonini & Cohen: Carolina Antonini (Immigration Law, 2007) spoke with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the effects of the 35-day government shutdown on immigration proceedings. “It is hindering immigration adjudications, enforcement—all the good, the bad, and the ugly. It is insane,” Antonini said. The trouble began when immigration court judges were put on unpaid leave, halting progress on existing cases and contributing further to a case backlog that exceeds 800,000.
► Pursley Friese Torgrimson: G. Douglas Dillard (Land Use and Zoning Law; Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, 2007) addressed community concerns of a proposed concrete-mixing facility in Blandtown. Neighboring residents pointed to air pollution and increased traffic as arguments against the facility. Dillard, speaking to Curbed Atlanta, said that “Cement and its manufacturing process is very different from concrete and the preparation of ready-mix concrete products.” Conflating the two materials and their processes was contributing to misinformation on the part of the public, Dillard argued.
Honorable Mention
► Andersen, Tate & Carr: Trinity Hundredmark (Criminal Defense: General Practice; Family Law; Family Law Mediation, 2018) received an individual award during the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce’s Moxie Awards in November. Hundredmark was one of five women to receive an award, which recognizes “standout women” across a wide range of professional backgrounds. Hundredmark received the “On the Rise” award.
► King & Spalding: Pete Robinson (Government Relations Practice, 2007) moved from his previous position as managing partner of Troutman Sanders to King & Spalding, where he will be partner of the Government Advocacy and Public Policy team. “I am thrilled to join King & Spalding,” Robinson said in a press release. “The firm’s wide range of high-quality practices and extraordinary lawyers are invaluable to its clients, many of which I already work with.”
► Malone Law: Adam Malone (Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, 2010) was featured on the “Great Trials” podcast which launched in January 2019 by Savannah CEO, a daily business publication and a part of the Georgia CEO Network. The podcast focuses on significant trials and courtroom strategies through conversation with top legal talent: “Every episode includes one or two lawyers talking about a significant case they successfully argued in front of a judge and jury,” writes Savannah CEO.
ITN Feature
► L. Lin Wood: L. Lin Wood (Litigation – Trusts and Estates, 2012) is representing cave explorer Vernon Unsworth in his lawsuit against Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Unsworth accused Musk of defamation after the Silicon Valley car manufacturer called him a “pedo guy” and a “child rapist” to his 22 million Twitter followers on July 15. According to court documents, Unsworth is seeking $75,000 in damages and an injunction requesting Musk “refrain from making further publication of the False and Defamatory Accusations.”
Musk made the defamatory comments against Unsworth amid the rescue of a boys’ soccer team from a flooded cave in Thailand. Unsworth aided in rescue efforts, while Musk and his rocket company SpaceX built a small submarine, which was sent to Thailand but ultimately went unused. Unsworth called Musk’s submarine a “PR stunt.” Musk tweeted the pedophilia accusations in retaliation and told a Buzzfeed reporter to “stop defending child rapists,” in reference to Unsworth and the tweet incident.
“Elon Musk falsely accused Vern Unsworth of being guilty of heinous crimes,” Wood said in a statement. “Musk’s influence and wealth cannot convert his lies into truth or protect him from accountability for his wrongdoing in a court of law.” Musk filed for the lawsuit to be dismissed, with a hearing scheduled for April 1. Wood didn’t believe the motion would pose a threat to Unsworth’s case: “Mr. Musk does not let the facts or well-established law get in the way of his novel but inaccurate contentions in his motion to dismiss,” Wood said. “I am confident the trial court will likewise reject this fanciful position.”
