Some corporate franchisors try to have their cake (or, allegedly in this case, pizza pie) and eat it too when it comes to independent franchisees. Franchise agreements seek to control the franchisee as if it is an agent, but gain protection from liability that working with an independent entity affords. That independent contractor label can pose a difficult hurdle to holding a corporate franchisor liable for the actions of a franchisee. But, in Weiderhold v. Domino’s Pizza, Mark Avera proved the link to render Domino's Pizza liable for the actions of its franchisee pizza store, and the delivery driver involved in a catastrophic car crash. In the process, he secured a nine-figure verdict. 

Daniel Smith delivers his opening statement at trial against Waste Services of Florida, whose 15-ton truck struck bicyclist, Thomas Truong, severely injuring him. 

Orlando, FL—A host of driver errors caused a 15-ton truck to hit a bicyclist, severely injuring him and putting the future of one of his legs in jeopardy, lawyers for the cyclist claimed as trial opened Tuesday against the truck driver and waste company that employed him. Truong v. Waste Services of Florida, 2013-CA-00353.

Dr. Angela Ashley "knows more about the human brain in her thumbnail than all of us in this courtroom put together!" Keenan Nix says in his closing argument against Papa John's. 

How does a jury shown no more than $225,000 in past medical expenses—no future lost wages, no future medical expenses—return an $11 million verdict in a traumatic brain injury trial?

James Scarbrough delivers his closing argument on behalf of MARTA at trial over the death of Jeffrey Usher, who died after his motorcycle struck a MARTA paratransit vehicle. 

Atlanta—A Fulton County Superior Court jury Wednesday cleared the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority of fault in the death of a motorcyclist who collided with a MARTA paratransit vehicle. Lynn v. MARTA, 2015CV259595.

Stock photo.

Atlanta—Jury selection is set to begin Monday at trial over MARTA’s alleged role in the death of an Atlanta-area motorcyclist. Lynn v. MARTA, 2015CV259595.