Press Releases

Chestney Law Firm Files Lawsuit to Stop Illegal Practice in Georgia of Suspending Driver's Licenses without Sworn Reports from Police Officers

17 plaintiffs join in action to seek TRO and permanent injunction against routine practice in state, reinstate Implied Consent Law that has been routinely ignored for past decade

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) June 14, 2010 -- Robert W. Chestney, founding partner of the Atlanta-based Chestney Law Firm, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of 17 plaintiffs who are seeking to put a halt to a routine practice in which the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) suspends a citizen's driver's license even when law enforcement officers fail to submit a sworn report to DDS regarding the alleged violation that was involved.

Attorneys from the Chestney Law Firm represent clients accused of DUI and related traffic offenses.

In the case, Brigida, Porter, Schorr, et al v. Dozier (Docket No. 2010CV186818), the plaintiffs seek to "temporarily restrain and permanently enjoin" DDS from suspending their driver's licenses because the arresting officers in their cases "failed to submit to DDS a sworn report as required by the statute authorizing such a suspension."

The statute involved in the dispute is the Implied Consent Law, specifically a section found in OCGA 40-5-67.1. According to the statute, if an officer arrests someone for suspicion of DUI and the suspect refuses to submit to a chemical sobriety test, the officer is required to report the refusal to the DDS and - upon receipt of a sworn report - the department is authorized to suspend the suspect's driver's license.

"For the past decade, DDS has routinely ignored the mandatory statutory requirements relating to the administrative suspension of driver's licenses in Georgia and, as a result, the rights of drivers suspected of DUI have been repeatedly violated," said Chestney. "We decided that it's time for someone to take a stand against this practice and put an end to it once and for all."

According to Chestney, his firm is collaborating on the lawsuit with Georgia civil litigation attorney Aubrey T. Villines, Jr. and fellow DUI defense attorney Charles Magarahan. They are now in the process of seeking class certification for their clients who have filed similar complaints against DDS.

Each client at Chestney Law Firm is represented by an entire team of skilled defense lawyers. Chestney's firm works exclusively in the areas of DUI defense and related serious traffic offenses, such as vehicular homicide. Although one lawyer is designated as the lead counsel, all the lawyers at the firm collaborate on the trial strategy for the case. The attorneys at Chestney Law Firm are specially trained and educated in the unique aspects of DUI defense.

For more information, please go to www.dui-lawyer.com or call 404.816.8777.

James "Skip" Sullivan Honored by Georgia Super Lawyers as Rising Star

Attorney from Chestney Law Firm joins firm's proud tradition of hiring and training highly regarded lawyers in the state

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) May 15, 2010 -- James "Skip" Sullivan, an attorney in the Atlanta-based Chestney Law Firm, has been recognized by Georgia Super Lawyers Magazine as a "Rising Star" for 2010.

Attorneys from the Chestney Law Firm represent clients accused of DUI and related traffic offenses.

Sullivan, who is a former Assistant District Attorney in the Rockdale Judicial Court and has been in private practice with the Chestney Law Firm since 2006, was selected by his peers as a Super Lawyer Rising Star. This designation is limited to no more than 2.5% of the attorneys in the state of Georgia.

Sullivan follows in the footsteps of four associates at the Chestney Law Firm who have been selected as Rising Stars or Super Lawyers by the magazine. Chestney himself was recently recognized as a SuperLawyer in DUI defense for the seventh straight year, a feat shared by only one other lawyer in Georgia - another former Chestney associate himself.

"I'm very proud of Skip for this well-deserved recognition, which places him in excellent company with a line of associates at the firm who have achieved this honor," said Robert Chestney, the firm's founding partner and one of the first few lawyers in the nation to achieve the distinction of being board-certified in DUI defense -- and still one of only four such attorneys in the state of Georgia. "Skip is a gifted lawyer with experience as both a prosecutor and defense counsel, which gives him a valuable perspective on how to zealously represent our clients."

Chestney's firm works exclusively in the areas of DUI defense and related serious traffic offenses, such as vehicular homicide.

The selection process for Georgia Super Lawyers magazine is conducted by the research team at Super Lawyers, which is a service of the Thomson Reuters Legal division based in Eagan, Minn. Each year, Super Lawyers undertakes a rigorous multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area, and a good-standing and disciplinary check.

Each client at Chestney Law Firm is represented by an entire team of skilled defense lawyers. Although one lawyer is designated as the lead counsel, all the lawyers at the firm collaborate on the trial strategy for the case. The attorneys at Chestney Law Firm are specially trained and educated in the unique aspects of DUI defense. For more information, please go to www.dui-lawyer.com or call 404.816.8777.

Atlanta Law Firm Shares Insights into How to Handle Driver's License Suspension Hearings

Attorneys from Chestney Law Firm present detailed review of Georgia Administrative License Suspension hearings process to attorneys statewide from Georgia Public Broadcast Studios

Atlanta, GA (Martindale-Hubbell® Newswire / PRWEB) April 2, 2010 -- Attorneys from the Atlanta-based Chestney Law Firm, a law firm that represents clients accused of DUI and related traffic offenses, were among the featured speakers at a recent seminar regarding how to navigate the serious process of driver's license suspension hearings in the state of Georgia.

The program, "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Administrative License Suspension (ALS) Hearings but Were Afraid to Ask," was broadcast from the Georgia Public Broadcast Studios to more than 120 attorneys across the state.

In the seminar, Chestney Law Firm DUI attorneys James "Skip" Sullivan and Rebecca Kozycki reviewed the step-by-step process for attorneys approaching an ALS hearing, what happens at the hearing, implications of post-arrest agreements between defendant's counsel and arresting officers, and how to effectively use cross-examination at an ALS hearing.

Chestney Law Firm was founded by Robert Chestney, one of the very first few lawyers in the nation to achieve the distinction of being board-certified in DUI defense -- and still one of only four such attorneys in the state of Georgia. The firm works exclusively in the areas of DUI defense and related serious traffic offenses, such as vehicular homicide.

"My firm made a professional commitment roughly two decades ago to share our professional expertise with other Georgia attorneys in order to enhance legal education in the state and to help improve the quality of the legal counsel that we collectively provide to our clients," said Chestney. "I'm proud of Skip and Rebecca for their efforts to support this mission by offering their insights regarding how attorneys can help their clients navigate the process surrounding driver's license suspension hearings in Georgia."

Each client at Chestney Law Firm is represented by an entire team of skilled defense lawyers. Although one lawyer is designated as the lead counsel, all the lawyers at the firm collaborate on the trial strategy for the case. The attorneys at Chestney Law Firm are specially trained and educated in the unique aspects of DUI defense. For more information, please go to www.dui-lawyer.com or call 404.816.8777.