R. Clay Ratterree, a founding partner of the firm,
has broad civil litigation experience in a wide range of matters in
state and federal courts, including serious personal injury, wrongful
death, professional liability (defending physicians, dentists, engineers,
architects, accountants, attorneys, realtors, nursing homes, etc.),
premises liability, auto and trucking law, construction litigation,
toxic torts and general commercial litigation. Mr. Ratterree has also
maintained an extensive mediation and arbitration practice, and has been
certified in alternative dispute resolution, since 1992.
Mr. Ratterree is a member of the bars of Georgia and Colorado. He is also a member of the
Georgia, Colorado, and the American Bar Associations, and is admitted to practice in the United States
District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Georgia, and the Eleventh and Fifth
Circuit Courts of Appeals. He has previously served as Chairman of the Insurance Law Section of the State
Bar of Georgia, as a member of the Professionalism Committee for the State Bar of Georgia, and as an
officer of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Georgia.
Mr. Ratterree previously served as a board member of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
for eight years and is a member of the Defense Research Institute. He has been elected to membership
in the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel.
Since 2002 Mr. Ratterree has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America and as a Georgia Super
Lawyer since 2004 by Atlanta Magazine.
Education:
University of Georgia,
J.D. cum laude (1977)
Undergraduate: University
of Virginia, B.A. English (1971)
Selected Experience:
Formerly represented manufacturers of asbestos-containing fireproofing and insulation materials in hundreds of product liability cases involving personal injury and property damage.
Represents parties in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death litigation in state and federal courts.
Represents prominent physicians, lawyers, nursing homes, and other professionals in successful defense of numerous claims for professional liability.
Appointed to serve on arbitration panels by the American Arbitration Association and private parties for resolution of complex construction and employment-related disputes.
Successfully mediated over 450 lawsuits and disputes.
Serves as counsel in major tractor-trailer litigation, claims involving watercraft injuries, and a wide range of product liability claims.
Memberships:
State Certified Mediator and Arbitrator Savannah, Colorado and American Bar Associations
State Bar of Georgia (past Chairman, Insurance Law Section; past Member, Professionalism Committee; past ADR Section Board Member)
Defense Research Institute
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
International Academy of Mediators
Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution
American Board of Trial Advocates
Georgia Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates
Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
Ratings:
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2002-present
Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory's highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards (AV)
Selected as Georgia "Super Lawyer" by Atlanta Magazine, 2003-present
Court Admissions:
Georgia State and Superior Courts
Court of Appeals of Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
United States District Courts, Southern Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia
United States Courts of Appeal, Eleventh Circuit and Fifth Circuits
Representative Cases (Client names deleted in some cases):
Ida Branch v. David's Supermarket - Jury trial defense verdict in premises liability case
Jacobson v. Vaughn - Jury trial defense verdict in motor vehicle accident case
Henry v. (Law Firm) - Summary judgment for defendants granted in legal malpractice case
Moody v. Carver - Jury trial defense verdict in motor vehicle accident case
Osteen v. Stone Container - Jury trial defense verdict in federal court employment/race discrimination case
Stephens v Mock, et al. - Summary judgment granted for defendant in construction matter
Towson v. Riverview Health - Jury trial defense verdict in nursing home malpractice case
Sawyer v. Knight, et al. - Summary judgment granted in premises liability case
Walker v. Howard - Jury defense verdict in motor vehicle accident case
McCane v. Ace Pole Company, Inc., et al. - Summary judgment granted in motor vehicle accident case
Webber v. Campbell Soup - Jury trial defense verdict in product liability case
White v. WGM Safety Products - Jury trial defense verdict in federal court product liability toxic tort case
Bush v. Kemira Pigments, Inc. - Jury trial defense verdict in multi-plaintiff federal court employment law/discrimination case
Smith v. Dobbs. Williams Co. - Summary judgment granted to defendant in construction defect case
Durrence v. Dykes - Summary judgment granted in motor vehicle accident/road construction matter
Green v. Kemira Pigments, Inc. - Jury trial defense verdict in federal court employment law case
Bell v. Horton Homes - Jury trial defense verdict in toxic tort/product liability case
Bryant v. Bradley - Jury trial defense verdict in jet ski watercraft accident
Willett v. Cohen - Jury trial defense verdict in legal malpractice case
Jones v. Hicks - Summary judgment granted to defendant in motor vehicle accident case
