November 21, 2022

MSP Partner, Chris Jackson, recently spoke with the High School Social Studies class at the Georgia School for the Deaf in Cave Spring about Georgia’s legal system and his role as a lawyer and the part-time Rome Municipal Judge. Although Chris is from Cave Spring and speaks some conversational sign language, GSD provided a translator for the discussion. Chris was very impressed by the class, their knowledge about the legal process and the great questions they asked! Thanks to Social Studies teacher, Sydney Boucugnani, and the class for the opportunity to speak.

December 5, 2022

MSP Attorneys Obtain Defense Verdict on Behalf of Floyd Medical Center: MSP attorneys Jason Sanker and Ben Stell completed a jury trial in federal court last week, in which they successfully defended Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center and a phlebotomist employed by the hospital against claims of Assault, Battery, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, and Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress. The claims were brought by a former patient who contended that the phlebotomist failed to obtain consent for a legal blood draw in the hospital’s emergency room. The patient requested $500,000 from the jury as damages for pain and suffering and emotional distress. The patient also requested that the jury additionally impose punitive damages against the hospital and phlebotomist in the amount of $250,000. At the close of trial, the claims were found to be without merit as the jury returned a defense verdict for the hospital and phlebotomist on all counts and awarded no damages to the plaintiff, affirmatively clearing MSP’s clients of any and all alleged wrongdoing. The case was pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division and the two-day trial was presided over by the Honorable Michael L. Brown, United States District Judge. Jason and Ben were assisted with trial preparation and support by MSP paralegal, Kelly Dillard.

November 21, 2022

MSP Partner, Chris Jackson, has been appointed as Chairman of the Heart of the Community Foundation Board of Governors for 2022-2023. The Heart of the Community Foundation’s mission is to recognize individuals in Rome and Floyd County for their community service and recognize agencies whose missions promote heart related and humanitarian missions. Each year recipients are honored at “An Affair of the Heart”, a black-tie gala. The 37th annual event is planned for February 25, 2023, at the Taylor Estate. Proceeds raised by the event support heart healthy and humanitarian projects throughout Rome and Floyd County, including the donation of defibrillator devices to underserved locations, grants to other charitable organizations and the operation of the Wanda J. Witten Heart House, which provides a free place to stay for families of critically ill patients on the AdventHealth Redmond campus.

November 17, 2022

Last week, MSP partner Virginia Harman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Georgia Conservancy, was a part of the celebration of 55 years of GC’s leading the way in protection and good stewardship of Georgia’s fabulous natural resources. Congratulations to The Georgia Conservancy and here’s to a bright future for Georgia because of the hard work of so many dedicated people!

October 17, 2022

We have outgrown our Rome offices! MSP is pleased to announce the opening of the Oscar M. Smith Annex, which is adjacent to our Rome office in Bridgepoint Plaza. Named in memory of longtime firm partner Oscar Smith, this space includes two conferences rooms, a break room, patio and two additional attorney offices. One of the conference rooms is named for the Maddox family, which produced several lawyers associated with the firm, including Judge James D. Maddox. The other conference room is named for firm founder, Colonel William S. McHenry. We hope that this expansion will help us better serve the legal needs of Rome and northwest Georgia, as we have worked to do since 1899.

July 28, 2022

Jason Sanker recently filed and won a motion for summary judgment in a case he was defending in the Superior Court of Gilmer County, Georgia. Jason represented a land owner who was sued by a married couple. The plaintiffs alleged that Jason’s client negligently allowed a horse to escape his property, causing an automobile collision which injured the plaintiffs. Jason’s motion successfully argued that the land owner was not liable because another defendant actually owned the horse and had taken responsibility for maintaining it. The court agreed with Jason and dismissed his client from the lawsuit.

July 22, 2022

MSP partner Chris Jackson has been appointed to serve on the Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia by State Bar President, Sally Akins. Chris joins Andy Davis in representing the Rome Judicial Circuit on the Board of Governors, the statewide governing and policy-making body for lawyers in Georgia. Chris’s appointment fills the remaining term of Rome attorney, Chris Twyman, who has been elected Secretary of the State Bar, vacating his post as a representative from Rome.

July 16, 2022

MSP is proud to have been a firm sponsor of Heart of the Community this year. In the 36 years since its beginning, the Heart of the Community Foundation has continued to raise money to support heart-related projects in the Rome community. Seen here are Chair Elect Chris Jackson, who spoke at the event on Saturday, and Lint Johnson.

July 6, 2022

MSP Partner Virginia Harman has been announced as the new Chair of the Georgia Conservancy’s Board of Trustees, succeeding Dr. Mark Berry.

For immediate release:

A Georgia native and lifelong resident, Virginia Harman began her legal career as one of the first two women to serve as Assistant District Attorney in the Lookout Mountain Judicial District. In 1993, she became the first woman partner at McRae, Smith, Peek, Harman & Monroe, a 123-year-old law firm. She is a member of the Bar of the U.S. Tax Court and has served as a member of both the Investigative and Review Panels of the State Bar of Georgia’s Disciplinary Board. Since 2006, Harman has served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Georgia. Georgia Trend Magazine has recognized Harman as one of Georgia’s “Legal Elite” and she was named by CEO Monthly “Leading Business Women of the Year” for 2018.

As a civic leader in Northwest Georgia and beyond, Harman has served as Chair of and current member of the Legal Counsel Section of the Georgia Bankers Association, as well as Chair of the Board and legal counsel for Cancer Navigators, Inc., a nonprofit serving cancer patients and their families in Northwest Georgia. She is also active in supporting the local free legal clinic for U.S. veterans and local animal rescue initiatives through the North Georgia Animal Partnership. She has served on the Georgia Conservancy Board of Trustees since 2019.

Harman holds a law degree from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University. She is the proud mother of three children and grandmother to two grandchildren.

“The Georgia Conservancy has a rich history of action and leadership after careful deliberation on matters involving stewardship of Georgia’s natural resources,” says Harman. “It is an organization where business leaders who are also conservationists can find a seat at a table to make a positive impact. I have been a proud member of the Georgia Conservancy for many years and look forward to working with our Trustees, partners and staff to see our organization thrive and maintain its role in protecting our state’s remarkable resources long into the future.”

Harman succeeds Dr. Mark Berry as Board Chair, a position that Dr. Berry held for two years and one from which he oversaw a number of positive changes and events, including the development of a new three-year strategic plan and the hiring of Georgia Conservancy President Katherine Moore.

“Since joining the Board of Trustees, Virginia has been an incredible resource for the Georgia Conservancy and a steadfast champion for our state’s natural resources,” says Georgia Conservancy President Katherine Moore. “As we celebrate our 55 years as an organization, the staff of the Georgia Conservancy is beyond excited to welcome Virginia into her new role as Board Chair. Her wise guidance and passion for conservation lead us into an exciting future for Georgia’s land, water and communities.”

Founded in 1967, the Georgia Conservancy’s mission is to protect Georgia through ecological and economic solutions for stewardship, conservation, and sustainable use of the land and its resources. www.georgiaconservancy.org

May 19, 2022

Since the pandemic, MSP, through our Rome and Cedartown offices, has performed over 1,700 real estate closings throughout Georgia, with most in Northwest Georgia. These closings involved all types of deals ranging from residential purchases to multi-million dollar commercial transactions. MSP has represented or assisted lenders, realtors, institutional clients, and individual purchasers/sellers. These have been unusual times with closings taking place remotely, outside, in cars or with people in separate rooms. MSP is glad we could help navigate what can already be a stressful situation, plus being coupled with the unknown of COVID protocols and restrictions. We especially appreciate everyone that we’ve had the opportunity to help, and feel truly blessed to practice law in the communities of Northwest Georgia. Thank you!