Category: News Releases

Kennesaw, GA (May 12, 2021) – Williams Elleby Howard & Easter is proud to announce two achievements by firm partner Chase Elleby – his graduation from Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA) LEAD Program, and his election to President of Cobb County Bar Association Younger Lawyers Division.  The GTLA LEAD Program (LEAD stands for “Leadership Education & Advanced Direction”) was founded in 2013 for the purposes of educating GTLA’s youngest and newest members on both the benefits and expectations of membership and building strong relationships between young promising trial lawyers from all four corners of Georgia as well as diverse trial practice areas. Its mission is ultimately to better prepare tomorrow’s leaders, today.  Through an intense application review and selection process, 18 attorneys, including Elleby, were chosen to participate in the program in August 2020. The GTLA LEAD Program includes qualified applicants with less than 10 years of experience working in a legal practice, or those who are 35 years old or younger. The program consisted of six sessions throughout the state in which members heard from judges, legislators and other attorneys about various topics covering law, politics and general leadership. “It was an honor to be selected to the GTLA LEAD class for 2020-2021,” says Elleby. “I enjoyed learning from others and growing my network to better serve our clients and the state. I’m looking forward to using the leadership skills and industry knowledge I’ve gained to serve in my new role as President of Cobb County Bar Association Younger Lawyers Division.” The Cobb County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division is a section of the Cobb County Bar that is exclusive to all young and new lawyers to the Cobb County Bar Association, one of Georgia’s largest local bar organizations. As President, Elleby will lead monthly meetings that highlight speakers who are thought leaders in their legal areas of expertise. Additionally, he will lead the group by encouraging participation in the Bar Association through volunteering, networking and other community-building opportunities. “Chase has been working hard over the past few years to establish himself as an excellent attorney and firm partner while also becoming involved in professional opportunities within our broader legal community,” says Joel Williams, Partner and founder of Williams Elleby Howard & Easter. “I am proud to see that his hard work and dedication to our profession continues to be recognized by leading lawyer groups like GTLA and the Cobb County Bar Association, and know he will continue doing a great job serving our community through his new role.” Attorneys Joel Williams and Chase Elleby are based in Kennesaw, but they litigate catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases throughout the State of Georgia. Reach out to Joel and Chase by phone at (833-534-2542) or by email at joel@gatrialattorney.com and chase@gatrialattorney.com.

Joel Williams and Chase Elleby Named 2021 Super Lawyers Rising Stars

Joel Williams and Chase Elleby, partners of Williams Elleby Howard & Easter, were recently selected to the Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for 2021. This honor is only received by 2.5% of attorneys in the state of Georgia through a rigorous selection process and recognizes the Georgia attorneys who go above and beyond for their clients. 

To become a Super Lawyer Rising Star, lawyers are nominated by their peers or identified by the Super Lawyers research department. A research staff led by attorneys then searches for accredited lawyers who have been awarded certain honors, taking into consideration the list of nominees. Candidates for Rising Stars are evaluated based on their experience, awards, verdicts and other outstanding achievements.

Williams and Elleby have a proven record of obtaining justice for personal injury victims throughout Georgia. This has earned Williams the title of Rising Star lawyer since 2013, and Elleby a Rising Star lawyer for both 2019 and 2020.

2020 was a pivotal year for Williams and Elleby. They took on new challenges to accommodate for clients in a virtual world. The partners made a switch to Zoom meetings and virtual dispositions to make sure their clients’ needs were met. They handled the hurdles of 2020 and remained successful amidst the unknown. 

Attorneys Joel Williams and Chase Elleby are based in Kennesaw, but they litigate catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases throughout the State of Georgia. You can learn more about the firm by visiting https://gatrialattorney.com/. If you prefer a more personal touch, reach out to Joel and Chase by phone at (404) 389-1035 or by email at joel@gatrialattorney.com and chase@gatrialattorney.com. 

Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Selects Chase Elleby for 2020-2021 LEAD Program

ATLANTA – The Georgia Trial Lawyers Association recently announced the selections for the 2020-2021 Leadership Education and Advanced Direction Program, or LEAD Program. This widely acclaimed and exclusive program trains and equips GTLA members who are considered potential leaders in the association with the tools and knowledge to advance in their legal careers and outside of the courtroom.

Through an intense application review and selection process, 18 attorneys were chosen to participate in this program, including Chase Elleby, one of the partners of our firm.

“It’s an honor to be selected to this year’s LEAD class with GTLA,” says Elleby. “I am looking forward to growing my knowledge and network to better serve our clients and community.”

 

The GTLA LEAD Program includes qualified applicants with less than 10 years of experience working in a legal practice, or those who are 35 years old or younger. The 2020-2021 LEAD Program begins this month with a kickoff event, followed by six sessions and a graduation at the GTLA Annual Convention & President’s Gala in the spring of 2021.

“I am very proud of Chase,” says Joel Williams, Partner and founder of Williams Elleby Howard & Easter. “He is a warrior and I am glad to see that his hard work and dedication to our profession is being recognized by the leading trial lawyer group in the State of Georgia, GTLA.”

“The GTLA LEAD program is one of the single-best sources for identifying and honing the talent in our association” remarked Lyle Warshauer, President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. “These 18 attorneys were chosen from one of the most competitive selection processes in the program’s history, and I know that they will uphold the successful legacy of the LEAD program as they work toward becoming the future leaders of our association.”

Case Highlights the Importance of Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. (Aug. 28, 2019) –  On Aug. 14 a jury awarded $1,213,399.18 to Maria Rosas of Riverdale, Georgia for injuries sustained in an I-285 car cash. Kennesaw trial attorneys Joel Williams and Chase Elleby represented Rosas during the two-day trial. The verdict was rendered nearly four years after the incident took place in the northbound lanes of I-285 near the Georgia 166 interchange.

“We are pleased that we were able to obtain justice for Mrs. Rosas,” Williams said. “It was a complicated case involving several parties and their insurance companies but at the end, we are happy the jury came back with this decision.”

The Key Parties Involved

The wreck involved Rosas, Defendant Joel Nelson and an industrial tree truck driven by Andrew King of King Tree Experts. On August 21, 2015, Nelson attempted to merge onto I-285 in his Ford Focus while Rosas was driving her van in the far-left lane of the interstate. As Nelson merged, he failed to yield the right of way and collided with the truck driven by King. The impact caused Nelson to lose control of his vehicle and cross several lanes of traffic, striking Rosas’ van. Rosas sustained injuries to her lower back as a result of the crash and she required more than $73,000 in medical treatment.   

This case was defended by Rosas’ own insurance company, State Farm. The at-fault driver’s insurance company tendered its limits of $25k early on in the case and Rosas requested that her own insurance company pay its underinsured motorist limits of $125k to cover the remainder of her damages. State Farm refused to do so, choosing instead to take advantage of a Georgia law that allows an underinsured motorist carrier to deny its insured’s claim and defend the case in the name of a negligent driver that injures its own insured.

“It is a falsehood the law forces on the jury,” Williams said. “Even though the case is being defended by the Plaintiff’s own insurance company, the law will not allow the lawyers to mention the word insurance in front of the jury.”

Injured by an Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist

When someone is injured by an uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM), if the injured party does not have enough UM coverage, their insurance may not cover the full amount of damages.

“This case should stand as a reminder to all of us about how important it is to purchase ample uninsured motorist coverage,” Williams explained.

Jason Green of Lynn Leonard & Associates represented State Farm.

Attorneys Joel Williams and Chase Elleby are based in Kennesaw but they litigate catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases throughout the State of Georgia. You can learn more about the firm by visiting https://gatrialattorney.com/. If you prefer a more personal touch, reach out to Joel and Chase by phone at 833-LEGALGA or by email at joel@gatrialattorney.com and chase@gatrialattorney.com.