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Matthew G. Moffett is a civil litigation defense attorney handling cases in both state and federal courts. His legal ability is rated "AV", as published in Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating afforded to lawyers by their peers. He is listed among the Georgia Super Lawyers in Atlanta Magazine and among the Legal Elite in Georgia Trend magazine.
As panel counsel for many national insurers and third party administrators, Mr. Moffett is regularly called upon to evaluate and negotiate pending claims and to defend cases having significant damages exposure. During 2010, he has successfully tried to defense verdict four wrongful death cases where each plaintiff's attorney asked the jury to award between $4 million and $5 million dollars in damages. He also tried to defense verdict, earlier this year, an employment action against a religious institution wherein the plaintiff's attorney sought a million dollars in damages. And, he recently argued before the Georgia Supreme Court and won a decision this July in a case involving qualified immunity of a government employee.
See Mr. Moffett argue before the Georgia Supreme Court
See Mr. Moffett's opening statement in a recent wrongful death trial
Read about Mr. Moffett in the News:
Kia defends against wrongful death suit
Justices hear 'explosive' debate
Defense uses 'Reptile' strategy against Keenan
Litigation Counsel of America - "Litigation Commentary & Review"
Mr. Moffett's civil litigation defense practice involves:
--Property and Casualty claims (defense of serious injury and wrongful death claims in premises liability, products liability, auto and motor carrier cases)
--Multi-District Litigation (defense of toxic tort claims)
--Employment Practices Litigation (defense of public and private employers)
--Education Law (defense of public school systems and independent schools)
--Insurance coverage (declaratory judgment actions and defense of first party claims)
--Insurance subrogation (product failure, fire loss, water intrusion)
--Professional Liability (errors and omissions defense)
A representative listing of the appellate cases handled by Mr. Moffett at the state and federal level is found below under Representative Appellate Cases.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Mr. Moffett stayed in Georgia for college and law school. He attended and majored in journalism at the University of Georgia, where he graduated cum laude. He then attended Emory School of Law, where his father also had attended and graduated.
While at Emory School of Law, Mr. Moffett was selected to become a part of the Emory Moot Court Society. Representing Emory, he then competed in the Georgia Intrastate Moot Court Competition where he was selected as the Best Advocate. From there he competed for Emory regionally and nationally in the National Moot Court Competition, again being selected as the Best Advocate and helping Emory win the national championship. Emory subsequently named him the outstanding member of the Moot Court Society. Thereafter, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers recognized him with their Litigation Award, and he was selected into membership in the Order of the Barristers.
During the early years of his private law practice, Emory asked Mr. Moffett to return annually as an Adjunct Professor of Law and teach by lecture and demonstration on effective appellate advocacy. When a West Publishing affiliate learned about his teaching at Emory, they asked Mr. Moffett to create an audiotape program on appellate advocacy, which continues in circulation under the title "Moot Court Success" (Sum & Substance).
This commitment to teaching has always been important to Mr. Moffett, who regularly presents on relevant legal issues and developments to his clients and his lawyer peers. During 2010, he was a featured speaker at the annual seminar of the
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, the annual Insurance Law Institute and the annual Premises Liability Seminar of the State Bar of Georgia.
Several years ago, Mr. Moffett was selected as a Charter Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation only, honorary society representing less than one half of one percent of American lawyers for effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation and trial work, along with ethical reputation. He also was selected as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an organization recognizing lawyers for skill, civility and integrity.
Mr. Moffett is vice president and a member of the board of directors for the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, which is dedicated to enhance the knowledge and improve the skills of defense lawyers. He is a former board member and still active member of the Atlanta Claims Association, and a member of the Council on Litigation Management, which is comprised of risk managers, claims managers and adjusters, general counsel, insurance company executives, attorneys, brokers and service providers dedicated to the principles and practices of litigation management. His other memberships are with the Atlanta Bar Association, State Bar of Georgia, Defense Research Institute and Lawyer's Club of Atlanta.
Mr. Moffett is a Lifetime Fellow of the Atlanta Bar Foundation, which supports public service projects that assist youth, provide pro bono legal services, and promote higher education through scholarships. He previously served on the board of directors of Global Health Action, a non-profit organization addressing the world's most pressing health problems, and also on the board of directors for the Silver Lake Civic Association, which manages the preservation of two lakes and a multi acre wilderness area in metro Atlanta.
Matt is married to his high school sweetheart Diane, and they have two daughters, Kate and Megan, who attend Marist School and St. Martin's Episcopal School, respectively, with Matt serving as a trustee at St. Martin's. The family attends Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, where Matt has chaired the Administrative Board and now teaches in the adult education program. The family enjoys traveling with their church to Nicaragua each Christmas to build homes in partnership with El Ayudante, an inter-denominational, Christian ministry striving to bring hope and change to lives and communities by providing humanitarian and spiritual aid.
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