May 23, 2023
Scott Smith brings the world of law to life for our city’s smallest explorers on their grand tour of Rome. A day of discovery and learning beyond the classroom!
March 21, 2023
We are excited to host the next Business After Hours with the Rome Floyd Chamber on April 20! Please be sure to RSVP here. We look forward to seeing you!
February 24, 2023
McRae, Smith, Peek, Harman & Monroe, LLP is pleased to announce the election of Benjamin P. Stell as a partner in the firm as of January 1, 2023. Ben has worked as an associate attorney at MSP since 2017 following two summers clerking at the firm during law school. Ben is a 2008 graduate of South Paulding High School in Douglasville, GA. He went on to obtain his undergraduate degree and an MBA from Shorter University, where he was a pitcher for Shorter’s baseball team. Ben then attended The University of Georgia School of Law, graduating Cum Laude in 2017. During law school, Ben was heavily involved with UGA’s Advocacy program, competing on both the Moot Court and Mock Trial teams. In his third year, Ben’s advocacy experience earned him a selection into the Joseph Henry Lumpkin American Inn of Court. He was also sworn in under the Third Year Practice Act during his final year at UGA and worked in the Newton County District Attorney’s Office where he helped prosecute both felonies and misdemeanors. Prior to graduation, Ben was presented with the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Willis J. “Dick” Richardson, Jr. Student Award for Outstanding Trial Advocacy.
Ben’s practice at MSP is litigation focused, having advised and represented clients in a wide variety of civil matters. He has developed an expansive domestic relations practice after representing clients throughout Northwest Georgia in contested divorce actions and custody disputes. Ben also serves as co-litigation counsel for Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center, defending the hospital and its care providers in complex medical malpractice and general liability matters at both the federal and state court level. Additionally, Ben represents clients who have suffered severe and catastrophic injuries as a result of the negligence of third parties, routinely helping clients achieve substantial settlements through pre-suit negotiation and contested litigation.
In 2019, Ben sat for the bar exam in Alabama and now holds an active license in both Georgia and Alabama. Ben also serves as a board member for the Open Door Home in Rome, a long-standing nonprofit providing care and resources to youth in need. Ben lives in Rome with his wife, Abby, a Rome native.
February 20, 2023
We’re proud to have our partner Scott Smith serve as the chairman of the Community Foundation for Greater Rome! Last Thursday, several local nonprofits received funding through the Foundation’s Greater Rome Impact Grants and First Christian Church Heritage Grant. Congratulations to Open Door Home, Restoration Rome, Harbor House Child Advocacy Center, A Teen’s Choice, and The Salvation Army for their well-deserved recognition and support. We were honored to host the reception at our office of McRae, Smith, Peek. Thank you to the Community Foundation for all the incredible work they do to improve our community!
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.
