Is the right to demand a jury trial preserved?
Stephenson: Yes, it does preserve juries. It’ll be interesting to see how it is received in Gwinnett County, which is a more suburban area but also has significant corporate headquarters. There are only 15 states with special business courts; ours was modeled after the North Carolina business court, which I think began in 1995. Editor: Governor Perdue proposed comprehensive tort reform. Please tell our readers about the status of these proposals. Stephenson: Our governor introduced tort reform legislation in 2005, and it has had a positive effect on business tort litigation, creating a friendlier environment for business.It is probably the most significant change related to the elimination of joint and several liability in multi-defendant litigation, as well as the adoption of the Daubert standard for expert testimony. In addition, in the medical malpractice area, Georgia adopted a gross negligence standard for emergency room doctors in order to maintain a malpractice claim and also im
