Arnold, John W.

Direct Contact: 404-845-1950
 

Rosemary S. Armstrong is a partner with Mozley, Finlayson & Loggins, LLP, and formerly with the firm Burton & Armstrong, LLP. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University in 1982. She attended the University of Georgia School of Law, graduating in 1989, where she was named to the Order of the Barristers; was a Member of the Joseph Henry Lumpkin Inn of Court; received the Attorney’s Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. Real Estate Award; was a Member of the Team Winner for the Moot Court Program, American Bar Association Southeast Regional Competition; was a Finalist in the Mock Trial Program, Intrastate Team; was the American Bar Association National Moot Court Competition Quarter Finalist; was the Talmadge Competition Quarter Finalist; and was the Russell Competition Semifinalist.

Ms. Armstrong began her legal career as an associate with the firm Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP. Deciding that a small complex business litigation boutique was better suited to her interests at that time, she became an associate with the firm Sumner & Hewes, LLP, where she participated in the trial of matters ranging from construction litigation, securities fraud, to antitrust. Ms. Armstrong participated as one of plaintiffs’ counsel for over two hundred plaintiffs in the largest security fraud trial in the State of Georgia, at that time, involving the Biltmore Hotel commonly referred to as the "Renaissance" case. As a fourth year associate, she was given the responsibility of being sole counsel in a fraud trial involving the development Harbor Club in Greene County, Georgia where she successfully obtained a jury verdict of just under one million dollars.

Ms. Armstrong decided to start her own litigation practice in February 1995, to allow her the opportunity to expand her representation to a broad cross-section of individuals and corporations with varying claims ranging from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars making that representation affordable for each client. Since that time, she has maintained a practice of her own, first as a sole practitioner, then as a partner in Burton Anderson & Armstrong, LLP and later as a partner in Burton & Armstrong, LLP. Her practice includes the representation of individuals or small privately held companies with claims against varying defendants including corporate defendants General Electric Credit Corporation, CitiGroup Global Markets, Inc., Rare Hospitality, Inc., General Motors Acceptance Corporation, Drawbridge Special Opportunities Fund LP, an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group, and Chatham Capital Partners, Inc., as well as the representation of corporations including J. A. Jones Construction, Inc., Atlantic United Construction, Inc., and John Weiland Homes.

Noteworthy decisions include Hedquist v. Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith, 272 Ga. 209, 528 S.E. 2d 508 (2000) (voluntary dismissal of employee does not bar vicarious liability of employer for tortious conduct under certain conditions) More recently, she represented the Plaintiff in the noteworthy and often cited securities fraud decision Holmes v. Grubman in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, 568 F.3d 329 (2nd Cir. 2009), and in the Georgia Supreme Court, 286 Ga 636, 691 S.E. 2d 196 (2010) (Georgia allows "holder" claims in securities fraud litigation and stockbrokers owe clients fiduciary duties in non-discretionary accounts).

Early in her legal career (1990-1995), Ms. Armstrong was an active member in the Federal Bar Association where she was instrumental in organizing and obtaining grants for the annual Robert S. Vance Forum on the Bill of Rights. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta Bar Association and Lawyers Club of Atlanta. Her civic involvement includes fund raising and coordinating work crews for the construction of homes for low income families through FCS Urban Ministries, Inc. (1983-1986); President of the Homeowner’s Association of Foxcroft Condominiums in Athens, Georgia (1987-1989); President of Chaparral Community Club (2004-2005); and Elder of St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church (Class of 2010); and Board Member, Foundation for the Improvement of Justice (2009-present).