The First District Court of Appeal reversed a trial court's order appointing a Ward's siblings as her guardians instead of her husband, contrary to the Ward's designation of pre-need guardianship, and remanded for further findings. The First District Court of Appeal established new law in two areas of guardianship: (1) the level of competency required to execute a designation of pre-need guardianship; and (2) how to interpret a "best interest" standard that allows a trial judge to override a Ward's designation of a pre-need guardian. Attorneys Bryan Gowdy and Jessie Harrell handled the appeal. The opinion can be found here.
Creed & Gowdy secured a reversal for an injured driver after the trial court granted summary judgment to the defense based on the rule against inference stacking. Holding there was no stacking of inferences in the case and summary judgment should not be granted on the issue of causation, the Fourth District reversed. The opinion can be found here. Bryan Gowdy and Jennifer Shoaf Richardson handled the appeal.
Creed & Gowdy successfully defended a business against its competitor's attempts to enforce a non-solicitation agreement. On appeal, the firm persuaded the First District Court of Appeal to uphold the judgment in the client's favor. The firm also sought attorney's fees and costs on the client's behalf. The First District Court of Appeal affirmed in part and reversed in part in a decision that can be found here. The Court granted appellate attorney's fees and asked the trial court, on remand, to decide whether to award additional attorney's fees for the work of the client's trial lawyers.
Jenny Richardson argued to the First District Court of Appeal on behalf of a 14 year-old student banned from attending local public schools. Creed & Gowdy, along with two other law firms, is representing the student pro bono. More about the case can be read here.
Creed & Gowdy successfully represented a plaintiff in an attempted appeal of an order granting new trial by defendant. In the personal injury case, the trial court granted plaintiff's motion for new trial based on the court's failure to strike a juror. Plaintiff offered race-neutral reasons for striking the juror which the trial court found to be credible and not pre-textual in the order granting new trial. Defendant attempted to appeal the trial court's order granting new trial. As a result of the denial of interlocutory review, plaintiff will have a new trial. Attorneys Jennifer Richardson and Gray Thomas are licensed to practice law in Georgia and admitted in the Court of Appeals of Georgia.