Radigan, Elizabeth C.

When John Garland graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. degree, magna cum laude, he could have chosen any number of professions to pursue, but his instincts, his innate talents and his family legacy all directed his focus on the law. John's family history is replete with attorneys, including his father, Ed Garland, his grandfather, Reuben A. Garland, his great-grandfathers and numerous uncles. From this heritage came three cherished tenets: Be loyal to the client, be fierce in pursuit of the rights of the client, and shoulder the great responsibility for an individual's freedom.

 A native of Atlanta, John selected the law school of the University of Georgia where he graduated cum laude in 2004, and then he joined his father, Ed Garland, at Garland, Samuel & Loeb. He focuses on advocacy at the trial level, including criminal defense, personal injury, and product liability.

John has successfully handled many complex cases. Some notable cases include:

John currently represents former Marietta Police Officer Isaac Saleumsy on charges of conspiracy to possess ecstasy with the intent to distribute, stemming from the allegation that he was part of an international ecstasy trafficking ring. The Georgia Supreme Court recently granted cert on the legality of the wiretaps used in the case.  Oral argument will be in September of 2012.

November 2010 - John represented Atlanta-based Hip-Hop deejay, DJ Drama on RICO charges arising out of allegations that he produced mix-tapes without the proper authorization from the artists and labels.  John was able to negotiate a resolution that resulted in the State dropping all charges against his client.

June 2010 - John represented a father in Cherokee County who was accused of sexually molesting his daughter.  After John developed the many factual inconsistencies and impossibilities in the daughter’s allegations, the Cherokee County District Attorney’s office declined to prosecute the case.

May 2010 - John, along with his father and attorney Richard Grossman, represented a husband and wife who were accused of intentionally setting a fire in the basement of their home in Peachtree City that resulted in burns to the husband’s mother that lead to the mother’s death.  As reported in The Fayette Daily News, FOX5 TV News and the Atlanta Journal & Constitution, all charges against the couple were dropped.  In the AJC article by Marcus Garner, John A. Garland stated that "the facts overwhelmingly support the determination that the mother’s death was a tragic accident and his clients are innocent."

March 2008 - John represented Televangelist Bishop Thomas Wesley Weeks III on charges of aggravated assault based on the allegation that he attacked his wife and fellow Televangelist Dr. Juanita Bynum. Facing a potential 20 years in prison, John and Ed Garland were able to resolve the case without a conviction by negotiating a first offender disposition with one year of probation and community service.
 
January 2007 - John represented the former Financial Aid Director of Morris Brown University, Parvesh Singh, in Federal Court in the Northern District of Georgia against the accusation that Mr. Singh committed financial aid fraud that led to the collapse of Morris Brown University. Though he was facing years in prison, John and Ed Garland negotiated a plea that resulted in 18 months home confinement.

August 2006 - John represented former City of Atlanta Police Officer Jason R. Smith in both Federal and State court on multiple charges including violation of oath of office and felony murder stemming from the shooting death of Kathryn Johnston by City of Atlanta Police in her home in Atlanta in 2006. Facing overwhelming evidence of guilt and possible life imprisonment, John and Ed Garland negotiated a plea that resulted in 10 years of incarceration.

August 2006 - John represented a woman facing federal charges in the Northern District of Georgia for possession of cocaine and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, as well as the possession of a firearm during the commission of crime. After extensive negotiation with the government, all charges were dropped against John’s client.