Firm Newsletter

January 2018

Wade Copeland will serve as Co-Chair of the American College of Trial Lawyer's Tri-State Meeting in Savannah from January 25-28

Wade Copeland will serve as Co-Chair of the American College of Trial Lawyer's Tri-State Meeting on January 25-28 in Savannah with Fellows attending from Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

Carlock Copeland Welcomes Attorneys to our Atlanta Office
Sally Bright, Of Counsel

John deMoulpied, Of Counsel  

Clinton Fletcher, Of Counsel 

Sara Alexandre, Associate

Taylor Hanks, Associate

Brent Kaufman, Associate

Melissa McDaniel, Associate   

Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP Names Three to Partnership
 
Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP congratulates Laura Paris Paton, Tyler P. Winton, and Tyler J. Wetzel on being selected to join the Firm's partnership.

Laura Paris Paton is a Partner in the Charleston office of Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP.  She is co-chair of the firm's Construction Litigation Practice Group and a member of the firm's General Liability Practice Group.  Laura holds an AV Preeminent Peer Review rating by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Stars® by Super Lawyers® in 2014, 2016 and 2017.  Laura's practice focuses primarily on Construction and Design Litigation representing contractors and design professionals in both the development of various types of construction projects as well as in a variety of disputes. She also provides corporate and individual clients with exceptional legal services in the areas of product liability defense, personal injury defense, and premises liability defense. Laura has successfully developed and executed resolution plans representing corporate entities and individuals in dozens of pre-litigation disputes and litigated cases and is a certified mediator. In addition to her practice with the firm, she is a published author, respected speaker, and avid volunteer.  Laura is a member of the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association, leads the SCWLA Public Service Committee, serves on The CLM's Diversity in Construction Committee, and is a member of the Elliottborough-Cannonborough Community Garden and Good Friends of the Lowcountry. She is a graduate of the South Carolina Bar Leadership Academy's 2014 class. Laura received her J.D. from St. John's University School of Law in 2005 and a B.A. cum laude from Georgia State University in 2000.

Tyler P. Winton is a Partner in the Charleston office where he concentrates his practice in professional malpractice defense work. Tyler proudly focuses on the representation of architects and engineers within the construction litigation context. He frequently defends design professionals against multi-million dollar construction and design defect claims, including class action litigation, multi-family projects, site work design, roadway engineering, design-build projects and more. Additionally, Tyler often represents developers, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and even owners in lawsuits involving any construction-related disputes. Tyler also defends other professionals, including realtors and attorneys. Beyond counsel in the litigation realm, Tyler offers non-litigation support for construction clients providing advice related to industry issues and payment disputes, as well as analyzing contracts in an effort to prevent disputes from arising in the future. Prior to joining Carlock, Copeland & Stair, Tyler practiced law at a well-respected litigation boutique in Columbia, S.C., where he concentrated his practice on complex commercial litigation and the efficient resolution of business disputes. His business litigation background enhances his skills, experience, and perspective necessary to represent clients and resolve issues in the most efficient and desired manner. Tyler has been named a South Carolina Rising Stars® by Super Lawyers® in 2015, 2016 and 2017. After graduating from Porter-Gaud, Tyler attended Vanderbilt University, where he graduated summa cum laude, obtained The Dean's Award for Academic Excellence and became a member of Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society. Tyler also studied abroad at The University of Sydney and pursued additional studies in London. After college graduation and a three-month motorcycle trip across the country, Tyler returned home to attend the University of South Carolina School of Law where he excelled academically, became a Competition Team Member of the Moot Court Bar and was elected to the Editorial Board of the Southeastern Environmental Law Journal. Tyler is engaged in his community through his service on the Advisory Council of Big Brothers Big Sisters and through his ongoing involvement with local organizations like One80 Place and Habitat for Humanity.

Tyler J. Wetzel is a Partner in the Atlanta office and focuses his practice on commercial litigation, including accounting and legal malpractice defense. Prior to joining Carlock, Copeland & Stair, Ty served as a Staff Attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He assisted the Court in several capacities, such as serving on the Court's jurisdiction unit, and worked on a broad range of federal cases. Ty's experience with the Court developed his research and writing skills, and it gave him unique insight into both appellate practice and writing persuasive briefs and motions. Ty graduated cum laude from Washington University School of Law in 2009. While at Washington University, Ty served as a Board Member and Primary Editor of the Washington University Journal of Law & Policy. Ty received his undergraduate degree from Macalester College in 2006, where he also graduated cum laude. During his time at Macalester, Ty participated on the varsity football team.

PUBLICATIONS

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Charlie McDaniel published in CLM MagazineThe article is entitled, "Set-Up" Bad Faith: An Epidemic That Is Not Subsiding. The assault on insurers via bad faith continues. Although this article focuses on Georgia law, the bad-faith experience is not unique to that state's insurers. Over the course of the last several decades, the plaintiffs' bar, in all jurisdictions, has employed various schemes and methods for securing "additional insurance coverage" through the creation of alleged bad faith. Typically, this tactic is used in cases of clear liability, coupled with significant or otherwise catastrophic injuries and limited insurance coverage. Counsel for the injured party submits convoluted or purposely vague and ambiguous time-limited policy limit demands, with the intent of orchestrating a "denial" of the demand through a failure of acceptance. In these instances, the insurer often feels "set-up" solely to increase the amount of available "coverage" through an extra-contractual, bad-faith cause of action. Please click here to read the entire article

 

 

Doug MacKelcan wrote an article, Better Safe than Sorry: Emergency Preparedness for Lawyers, which was published in Attorney Protective's Fall 2017 Risk Management Newsletter, AttyPro Ally. Doug's article discusses the importance of setting up a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and preparing for unforeseen disasters or disruptions. Please click here to read the entire article.

 

  
Lee Weatherly to present, The Opioid Crisis: Are You Prepared? at the CLM Management and Professional Liability Conference - Boston, MA - June 20-22. Please click here for more information.

Angela Kopet, Doug MacKelcan, Patrick Norris and Lee Weatherly have been selected to present at The CLM's (Claims and Litigation Management Alliance) 2018 Annual Conference in Houston, Texas on March 15, 2018. The CLM Annual Conference is the premier event for professionals in the claims and litigation management industries. This year's Annual Conference is March 14-16 at the Marriott Marquis, Houston. 
  • Doug MacKelcan's presentation, Challenges Faced When Sending the Non-Profit Employee Overseas, is on Thursday, March 15 at 11:30 am.
  • Angela Kopet presents on Thursday, March 15th at 2:00 pm, To Apologize or Not To Apologize, That is the Question.
  • Lee Weatherly's session titled, Defending Foreign Born Doctors in Today's United States, is Thursday, March 15th at 3:25 pm.
  • Patrick Norris will present, Upping Your Mediation Game, It Doesn't Have to Be What it Used to Be!, also on Thursday, March 15th at 3:25 pm.
Tyler Winton presenting in  Troubleshooting Construction Project Legal Issues an NBI Seminar, on February 12th.   Please click here for information on Tyler's session.

RECENT EVENTS & PROGRAMS 
PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY SEMINARS
Risk Management for Audit Firms and Accountants
 
Save the Date - May 10, 2018

Joe Kingma  and the Accounting Malpractice Defense Team  to present Risk Management for Audit and Accounting Firms on May 10th in Atlanta, GA. Please check our website for upcoming details. 
INTERESTING CASE RESULTS

COMMUNITY NEWS  
 
The Chattanooga office of Carlock, Copeland & Stair got into the holiday spirit by sponsoring a family through the Chambliss Center for Children this holiday season.  Chambliss is a Tennessee based charity that provides programs and support, hoping to preserve family unity and prevent the dependency, neglect and abuse of local children by responding to the community's most urgent childcare needs.
 


The Charleston office of Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP came together in support of HALOS for the 2017 holiday season.  HALOS is a local charity that provides support to children and caregivers affected by abuse or neglect.  We were able to sponsor 20 individual children this year, as well as collect a box of about 15 toys that will go towards children that are placed in kinship care between now and Christmas. 


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 Health Law and Regulation Update Blog  

Editorial Staff

If you have questions or comments, please email  Jennifer Guerra.
 
The Carlock Copeland Firm  Newsletter is a periodic publication of  Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP, and should not  be construed as legal advice or legal opinion  on any specific facts or circumstances. The  contents are intended for general information  purposes only, and you are urged to consult  counsel concerning your own situation and any  specific legal questions you have.

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