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February 28, 2018

2-27-18MSP Associate Ben Stell was recently sworn in to practice law in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. This authorizes Ben to practice in any of the four divisions comprising the Northern District of Georgia, which are the Atlanta, Gainesville, Newnan and Rome divisions. Ben had the distinct honor of being sworn in by Senior Judge Harold Lloyd Murphy (pictured).

Judge Murphy was nominated for his position by President Jimmy Carter, and received his commission on July 29, 1977. Judge Murphy has a long career of public service. Some of Judge Murphy’s many accolades include serving in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946, as a Georgia state representative from 1951 to 1961, as a Superior Court judge for the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit from 1971 to 1977, and in his current role as a federal judge from 1977 through the present.

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February 17, 2018

2-17-18Congratulations to MSP Partner Scott Smith. As previously posted, Scott has been named by the Heart of the Community Foundation as a 2018 recipient of the Heart of the Community Award. The black tie affair was held on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at the Forum in downtown Rome. Congratulations again, Scott!

Pictured left to right are Chris Jackson, Lee Niedrach, Scott Smith, Jule Peek, Jordan Knight, and Brian Bojo.

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January 31, 2018

1-31-18Several MSP attorneys were honored today to attend the local reception of Michael P. Boggs, Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Justice Boggs has an impressive resumé, having previously served as a Georgia House Representative, Superior Court Judge of the Waycross Judicial Circuit, and judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals, before being appointed in 2016 to the Georgia Supreme Court by Governor Nathan Deal. MSP thanks local firm Brinson Askew Berry for hosting the reception. Pictured left to right are Chris Jackson, Lee Niedrach, Justice Michael P. Boggs, Brian Bojo, and Ben Stell.

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January 9, 2018

1-9-18MSP extends its congratulations to partner Scott Smith who has been named a 2018 recipient of the Heart of the Community Award. Since 1987, the Heart of the Community Foundation has honored and celebrated our local “unsung heroes” who have made valuable contributions to the Rome community. Scott has a long history of service to Rome. He has volunteered with, or served on the board of, many local organizations, including: the Boys and Girls Club, Mercy Senior Care, Tri for Kids Fundraiser, First Baptist church, the Development Authority, the Rome Chamber of Commerce, Floyd Healthcare Foundation, United Way of Rome, Coosa Country Club, Seven Hills Rotary Club (Charter Member), and the Community Foundation. You can read more about Scott and the other 2018 recipients here.

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November 21, 2017

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MSP partner Andy Garner has been elected vice-chair for industry services and public policy for the Rome Floyd Chamber of Commerce. Andy is finishing up his second year of a three year term on the Chamber board of directors, having served as vice-chair for community development in 2017. His practice includes business and commercial law, which makes him well qualified to serve the chamber and Rome community is this capacity. Andy also practices in the areas of estate planning and administration and local government law. He has been with the firm for 16 years.

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November 17, 2017

11-17-17McRae, Smith, Peek is pleased to announce the addition of Benjamin P. Stell as a new associate to the firm. Ben has already clerked for the firm for two summers during law school before starting full time in 2017. Ben received his Juris Doctorate from The University of Georgia School of Law, graduating cum laude, and very recently passed the Georgia Bar Exam.

Ben excelled as a law school student, competing on both the Moot Court and Mock Trial teams. Ben’s team won the 2016 Intrastate Moot Court Competition and took home the award for “Best Brief”. In his third year of law school, Ben’s advocacy experience earned him a selection into the Joseph Henry Lumpkin American Inn of Court. Ben was also sworn in under the Third Year Practice Act during his final year of law school, allowing him to work in the Newton County District Attorney’s Office where he helped prosecute both misdemeanors and felonies. Ben was presented with the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Willis J. “Dick” Richardson, Jr. Student Award for Outstanding Trial Advocacy.

Ben is married to Abby Stell, a fourth grade teacher and Rome native.

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November 6, 2017

17-6-17Congratulations to MSP Partner Jason Sanker for his recent 1.7 Million Dollar settlement of a personal injury case. Jason’s client was struck by a drunk driver who was driving a company vehicle in early 2017 in Haralson County. Jason’s client suffered a fractured pelvis and sacrum and had to be airlifted to Grady Hospital, and eventually had over $150,000.00 in medical expenses.

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October 20, 2017

10-20-17Congratulations to MSP Partner Jule Peek who in September of 2017 was admitted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. Founded in 1950, the College is a professional association of trial lawyers throughout the United States and Canada. The College maintains and seeks to improve the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics, and the administration of justice through education and public statements on important legal issues relating to its mission.

Fellowship in the College is limited to, at most, one percent of the lawyers in any individual State. In practice, far less than one percent of attorneys ever qualifies for this honor, and Fellows are chosen strictly by invitation and only after a rigorous, confidential investigation. Membership is only extended to those whose professional careers are marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality.

Jule is the third MSP attorney to be invited into the College. Former MSP attorney Bill Davidson was a Fellow of the College, as well as former MSP attorney and former U.S. Attorney General Griffin Bell (1918-2009), who also served as President of the College. Established in his name, the Griffin Bell Award for Courageous Advocacy is the highest honor conferred on a single individual by the College. In its 53 years of existence, the award has been extended previously only 14 times.

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September 28, 2017

9-28-17McRae, Smith, Peek celebrated its new office on Thursday, September 28, located at 111 Bridgepoint Plaza, Suite 300 in historic downtown Rome. MSP completed a floor-to-ceiling renovation of the new space, which was unveiled with a ribbon cutting event and open house. “We are proud of our long-standing tradition of excellence” remarked Scott Smith, managing partner, to a group of over 100 community members. “We have been in existence since 1899, and look forward to continuing to serve the community in all its legal needs.”

Scott highlighted the firm’s momentous decision to expand to Polk County by joining with York, McRae & York in 1999. Scott also showcased two conference rooms at the new office dedicated to recently departed attorneys Charlie Shaw and Jo Stegall. MSP is inspired every day to represent its clients as vigorously as Charlie and Jo did.

Pictured are (left to right): Linton Johnson, Jordan Knight, Scott Smith, Chris Jackson, Jule Peek, Andy Garner, Mike McRae, and Jason Sanker.

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August 7, 2017

8-7-17Congratulations to MSP’s Chris Jackson, who competed over the weekend in the Rome Celebrity Dance Challenge benefiting the Sexual Assault Center of Northwest Georgia. Team Jackson, consisting of Chris and his partner Tahnya Jones, won the People’s Choice Vote for raising an incredible $38,939. Chris follows in the footsteps of his mother, Christa Jackson, who also won the People’s Choice Vote in 2015, raising $32,354. Way to go Chris!

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