Tony Cochran graduated magna cum laude from Northwestern University Law School in 1976, beginning his legal career in Atlanta with the firm Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy. From 1982 to 1985, Tony served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, prosecuting a variety of criminal cases. While an Assistant United States Attorney, Tony received commendations from the U.S. Attorney General in a Department of Defense procurement fraud prosecution, and from the Director of the F.B.I. in a vote fraud prosecution. Tony has also served as an Adjunct Faculty Member of the Emory University School of Law from 1986-2000. Tony is listed in Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition, under Business Litigation. He is also listed annually in the Publication Best Lawyers in America (Criminal Law) and in Atlanta Magazine's compilation of the Best Lawyers in Atlanta (Criminal Law).
During the 33 years he has been practicing law in Atlanta, Tony has represented many individuals and businesses on a wide variety of matters. Recently, Tony has conducted internal investigations for a large national bank and a large multi-state real estate firm. He has tried dozens of jury trials in many areas of the law (both civil and criminal, federal and state), bench trials (in federal and state courts), administrative and regulatory hearings (before both federal and state agencies and boards), and medical peer review hearings at hospitals. His unique experience allows him to handle parallel civil, administrative and criminal proceedings, which are common in today's legal environment. Being able to competently handle civil, administrative and potentially criminal matters for a client simultaneously can be an enormous savings to a client by preventing duplication of effort. Tony has also appeared on many panels and spoken at a large number of seminars on a variety of topics, including the application of the Daubert rule (most recently at the 2001 11th Circuit Judicial Conference, presented " A Practical Guide to Daubert " at a seminar for the Georgia Bar in 2003 and chaired an all-day seminar on Motions Practice in 2004) and a host of topics related to white-collar criminal law and investigations. In 2005, Tony was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers.
A sampling of the matters handled by Tony are listed below:
- In Mayfield v. Heiman (2011), successfully obtained summary judgment in complex financial litigation involving securitization of copyrights and thousands of documents spanning over a decade.
- In State of Georgia v. [Physician](2011), successfully obtained a plea in which a physician did not admit guilt and received probation where the State Medicaid Fraud Unit sought a sentence of 4 years incarceration.
- In 2010 and 2008, successfully sued State agencies under the Open Records Act obtaining public records and large attorney’s fee awards.
- In State of Georgia v. Riner (2009), successfully obtained a plea agreement involving no incarceration for a business man alleged to have been involved in a ponzi scheme in which investors lost more than $4.5 million.
- Obtained a $650,000 verdict in favor of a physician against the Board of Regents for violation of MCG's Rules and Procedures governing unsubstantiated allegations of research fraud. Affirmed on appeal.
- In re Holbrook (2007), he successfully tried a case against the Georgia Medical Board on behalf of an individual physician. The board sought to revoke the physician's license. The physician was completely exonerated.
- U.S. v. Griffin Industries (2004) A Company, represented by Chilivis, Cochran, had been indicted in an 8-count indictment for alleged felony environmental violations. Successful Daubert motions led to dismissal of these charges.
- Koegler v. Krasnoff, 268 Ga. App. 250, cert denied 268 Ga. App. 906 (2004) - A corporate CFO, represented by Chilivis, Cochran, was sued for securities fraud. Investors lost millions of dollars, and the CEO is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. A State Court jury returned a verdict in favor of the CFO.
- U.S. v. Ray (2003) the charge of accepting an alleged kickback in return for patient referrals was dismissed against a physician represented by Chilivis, Cochran after a Daubert motion was filed by Chilivis, Cochran challenging the statistical evidence on which the prosecution was based.
- Albee v. Krasnoff, 250 Ga. App. 738, cert denied 250 Ga. App. 907 (2002)
- Gibbons v. Alta Anesthesia, 245 Ga. App. 79, 537 S.E.2d 388 (2000) - An individual physician, represented by Chilivis, Cochran, challenged unfair competition by a competing group of anesthesiologists. A State Court jury awarded the physician compensatory damages and $875,000 in punitive damages. She also recovered her attorney's fees.
- Carpenter v. Krumme (2000) - A limited partner, represented by Chilivis, Cochran, sued the general partner for misappropriation of partnership revenues. The matter was successfully settled before a verdict could be returned by a State Court jury.
- Meadow River Lumber Co. v. University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. , 233 Ga. App. 169, 503 S.E.2d 655 (1998) - A patent holder, represented by Chilivis, Cochran, was sued by a licensee claiming breach of the patent licensing agreement and fraud in the inducement. The patent holder successfully obtained summary judgment.
- Boland v. Memorial Medical Center, 235 Ga. App. 492, 509 S.E.2d 342 (1998) - A physician sued for breach of a lucrative employment contract. The Georgia Court of Appeals agreed with Chilivis, Cochran's theories of recovery.
- Thebaut v. Dental Board, 235 Ga. App. 194, 509 S.E.2d 125 (1998) and Thomas v. Dental Board, 197 Ga. App. 589, 398 S.E.2d 730 (1990) - In both of these matters, Chilivis, Cochran successfully prevented the Georgia Dental Board from denying dentists fundamental rights, preserving the dentists' licenses.
- General Electric Co. v. Joiner, 864 F. Supp. 1310 (N.D. Ga.), rev'd, 78 F.3d 524 (11th Cir.), rev'd, 522 U.S. 136 (1997) - Chilivis, Cochran successfully represented a manufacturer in this toxic tort litigation establishing the standard of review on Daubert motions.
- U.S. v. Mujtaba (1997) - A banker, represented by Chilivis, Cochran, was indicted on seven counts of tax evasion. A federal District Court jury acquitted the banker on all counts.
- In re Purohit , 213 Ga. App. 182, 444 S.E.2d 133 (1994) - A manufacturer, represented by Chilivis, Cochran, successfully obtained injunctive relief against a former employee who has defrauded his former employer of approximately $800,000. The injunctive relief prevented the employee from transferring assets which could be (and were) used to recoup the losses.
- Lance v. Comptroller of the Currency, 632 F. Supp. 437 (N.D. Ga. 1986) - A banker challenged the unlawful leaking of a confidential investigative report of the federal banking regulators. Chilivis, Cochran convinced the federal District Court to deny the Comptroller's Motion to Dismiss and to allow depositions of federal regulators.
- Monahan v. Sims, 163 Ga. App. 354, 294 S.E.2d 548 (1982) - The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta successfully established its First Amendment freedom over ecclesiastical matters, that is, eligibility for the priesthood. A "postulant" for the Episcopal priesthood sued the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, two bishops, and several priests, represented by Mr. Cochran among others, for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and breach of contract.
- Raymar, Inc. v. Peachtree Golf Club, Inc. , 161 Ga. App. 336, 287 S.E.2d 768 (1982) - A landowner, represented by Mr. Cochran at trial, successfully obtained a verdict against an adjoining landowner for general and punitive damages and attorneys' fees. The adjoining landowner had damaged property by increasing the volume of runoff water carrying dirt and debris during and following the construction of a commercial building.
