Thanks to our friends at Northside Mortgage for sharing this hot update to the current mortgage rates.

Rate on 30-year mortgages falls to record low 3.87%

Evans Plowden and Bo Plowden attended the 2011 USA Peanut Congress on June 18-22 in Ashville, North Carolina at Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa. They made this PowerPoint presentation on new legislation imposed to improve food safety for consumers through proactive measures instead of the reactive nature of the past.

(Albany, Ga.) Kelley Boswell recently attended the Family Law Institute conference which took place from May 26 through May 28 at Amelia Island Plantation. Kelley is a member of the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the Georgia Bar Association which is responsible for organizing the conference. Forty judges from across the state of Georgia attended to impart invaluable advice on the attending lawyers on how to better prepare and try their cases. There were also other speakers who focused on various subjects of family law including military divorce issues, international custody issues and family law issues for same sex couples and their children.

(Albany, Ga.) Watson Spence partner Bo Plowden attended the annual Keller and Heckman’s Practical Food Law program on March 21 through March 24, 2011 held in San Francisco, California. The program covered various areas of the recently passed Food Safety Modernization Act and other food safety legislation including food safety regulations, agency guidelines, recall policy, food safety concerns, labeling requirements, marketing regulations and many other areas.

With Watson Spence’s number of agriculture clients, it was essential for the practice to be aware of these new regulations and policies. Plowden says, “This was a great program for Watson Spence to attend. With all of our agriculture clients, it is critical that we stay up-to-date with all the policy changes and regulations that impact our clients.

(Albany, Ga.) Joe Dent, an attorney at Watson Spence, attended the ABA Midyear meeting held February 10 – 13, 2011 in Atlanta, GA. During the meeting, he participated as a panelist for a continuing legal education program, Finding your Own Voice – Ethical Dilemmas, Race and Gender Challenges and the Pitfalls of Practice. The program was presented by the Torts Trial and Insurance Practice Section.

The seminar was a series of video vignettes that presented ethical and professionalism issues which were discussed by the panel on which Dent served. Dent served with Ginger Busby, chairperson of the Tort Trials and Insurance Practice Section of the ABA, Judge Sara Doyle of the Georgia Court of Appeals, Jahnisa Tate with Alston and Bird, LLP in Atlanta, and Rahmah Abdulaleem with King and Spalding in Atlanta. The CLE was one of two premier CLE’s presented by TIPS during the ABA Midyear Meeting in Atlanta, attended by well over 100 attorneys.

(Albany, Ga.) Watson Spence, a leading local law firm, has hired a new firm administrator, Brenda Ramsey. With over 20 years of experience in an administrative position, Ramsey is ready to become a valued member of the Watson Spence team.

“Having worked in the medical field and other office settings, I am ready to take on this new challenge and move forward with Watson Spence,” says Ms. Ramsey.

She is married to Gene Ramsey and they have three children and seven grandchildren. She grew up near Hattiesburg, Miss., and has resided in Albany for the past 17 years. She attended Jones College and The University of Southern Mississippi with an emphasis in Business Administration and Bookkeeping.

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(Albany, Ga.) Flint Equipment Co., represented by Watson Spence, recently purchased Atlanta-based METRAC Inc., and its holdings in Atlanta, Braselton, Adairsville, Augusta, Macon, and Columbus to become the state's largest John Deere equipment dealer.

The purchase, according to Flint President and CEO Chris Cannon, could potentially increase Flint's market "one and a half to two times."

“We went through significant due diligence to make sure it was a good fit for our company. Our objective has always been to expand into contiguous markets, and this latest acquisition links our South Georgia, Florida and Alabama markets with our markets in the Carolinas.

"This transaction greatly benefits the Albany economy, making one of our local businessmen the largest John Deere dealer in the state of Georgia," said Bo Plowden of Watson Spence.

“We have strong relationships here in Albany,” Cannon said. “I grew up here, and I plan to stay here. This is where we are, and this is where we’re going to be.”

"As a native firm to Albany, Watson Spence is always happy to help our friends and neighbors, because when Albany grows, we all reap the benefits," responded Plowden.

ABOUT FLINT EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Flint Equipment Co., a subsidiary of Flint Equipment Holdings, Inc. has dealerships in Albany, Ga, Aynor, S.C.; Dothan, Ala.; Perry, Fla.; Simpsonville, S.C.; Tallahassee, Fla.; Troy, Ala.; and West Columbia, S.C. Flint Equipment Holdings Inc., known locally as FlintCo, is also the parent company for Albany Tractor Company branches and Flint Power Systems., which operates in six states in the Southeast and Caribbean. The company sells and services John Deere construction, forestry, industrial and agricultural equipment.

(Atlanta) Joseph W. Dent of Watson Spence LLP in Albany was elected to serve on the Board of Governors of the 41,000-member State Bar of Georgia and was installed June 19 during the organization’s annual meeting at Amelia Island, Fla.

Dent will serve in the Dougherty Judicial Circuit, Post 1 seat on the board. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia Law School and was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1991.

The Board of Governors is the 150-member policymaking authority of the State Bar, with representation from each of Georgia’s judicial circuits. The board holds regular meetings five times per year.

(Albany, Ga.) Cohilas joins Watson Spence as a senior associate in the litigation and trial practice group after seven years of service in Dougherty County has the chief assistant district attorney.

“We welcome the addition of Chris to our litigation and trial practice group. I have come to know Chris’ character, integrity and his passion for representing the interests of our State and the citizens of Dougherty County. He comes with well honed trial skills, judgment derived from years of practice, and a passion that will serve our clients well in the years ahead,” said Faison Middleton, managing partner of Watson Spence.

In his time with the District Attorney's office, Cohilas prosecuted every kind of crime imaginable. However, he is most widely known for his prosecution of crimes against women and children. For years Cohilas headed up a specialized unit dedicated to prosecuting pedophiles and rapists, achieving tremendous results for the citizens of Dougherty County.

Watson Spence is certain these experiences have prepared him for private practice and will make him an asset to the litigation team at the firm.

(Albany, Ga.) The Dougherty County District Attorney's Office would like to announce that after seven years of service, Chief Assistant District Attorney, Chris Cohilas, will be leaving the office to go into private practice with the Albany-based firm of Watson Spence LLP.

In his time with the District Attorney's office, Cohilas prosecuted every kind of crime imaginable.  However, he is most widely known for his prosecution of crimes against women and children.  For years Cohilas headed up a specialized unit dedicated to prosecuting pedophiles and rapists, achieving tremendous results for the citizens of Dougherty County.

District Attorney Greg Edwards says Cohilas has been a tremendous asset to the office and the community at large.  “Chris is a hard-working and talented attorney, who takes his job very seriously.  His hard work and commitment raised the office’s conviction rate on cases involving crimes against children to nearly 100%.  We will miss him and I wish him well as he embarks on his new career.  Our loss is certainly Watson Spence’s gain.”

Cohilas will join Watson Spence as a senior associate in the litigation and trial practice group. “We welcome the addition of Chris to our litigation and trial practice group. I have come to know Chris’ character, integrity and his passion for representing the interests of our State and the citizens of Dougherty County. He comes with well honed trial skills, judgment derived from years of practice, and a passion that will serve our clients well in the years ahead,” said Faison Middleton, Managing Partner of Watson Spence.

(Albany, GA) - Cindy Harrell, represented by Attorney Louis Hatcher with Watson Spence, has reached a settlement with Decatur County, Georgia in a lawsuit filed by her last year in the Albany Division of the United States Middle District of Georgia. The County’s insurer, Association County Commissioners of Georgia (“ACCG”), agreed to pay $600,000.00 to settle Ms. Harrell’s claims that she was the victim of repeated sexual harassment by her male co-workers at Decatur County Fire & Rescue. Prior to Ms. Harrell’s settlement, the most ACCG had ever paid to settle sexual harassment claims was $85,000.00. Ms. Harrell is the only female ever to work at Decatur County Fire & Rescue.

“Decatur County and ACCG understand we know how to try a case; they underestimated us once, and I doubt they want to do that again.” Hatcher was referring to a case he tried against Decatur County last April on behalf of three firefighters who were retaliated against when they supported the efforts of Michelle Lagace to try to become the first woman ever hired to work at Decatur County Fire & Rescue. Ms. Lagace was denied employment despite being imminently more qualified than the males chosen in her stead. Hatcher settled her case for $175,000.00.

Jimmy Bellflower, Steve Enfinger, and Guy Yates were Decatur County firefighters who supported Ms. Lagace in her EEOC charge of discrimination, and the men were the subject of unfounded disciplinary actions, including suspensions without pay. Although the men were later reimbursed the time off without pay, Decatur County refused to clear their names of the false accusations made against them. ACCG offered $30,000.00 to each plaintiff on the eve of trial. Although the plaintiffs did not have any lost wages or other special damages, the jury returned a verdict of $750,000.00, or $250,000.00 to each plaintiff. “ACCG informed us we had the fourth highest verdict ever against an ACCG insured, regardless of the nature of the case,” stated Hatcher. “The most important thing to us was the jury’s resounding declaration of wrongdoing on the part of Decatur County, and the unequivocal clearing of the men’s good names.”

(Albany, Ga.)- Gov. Sonny Perdue announced his new executive appointments last Thursday, March 18. Faison Middleton, partner in the law firm of Watson Spence, was one of the 14 new appointments. Middleton was appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the Georgia Student Finance Commission as the Second Congressional District Representative.

“I am honored by the appointment and look forward to serving the students of our State through the work of this commission,” said Middleton.

Faison received his Bachelor’s degree education from Emory University in 1992 and moved on to graduate cum laude in 1995 from Georgia State University College of Law, where he also served as Managing Editor of the law review. He then began his career in Atlanta, but left the partnership of McKenna, Long and Aldridge LLP in late 2003 to move back to his hometown of Albany and join Watson Spence.

Middleton was previously active in the Atlanta Bar Association and has been active in the Dougherty Circuit Bar Association since his move to Albany. Middleton currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Leadership Georgia Foundation, Inc. and he is a graduate of Leadership Albany. He currently serves in numerous capacities locally, including serving since its inception as the President of the non-profit Lily Pad SANE Center, Inc., and as Treasurer of the Dougherty County Rotary Club. Middleton has served in many community organizations and on numerous boards and committees over the past six years, including the Board of Directors of the Albany Area Chamber Commerce, the Board of Trustees of the Albany Museum of Art, Board of Directors of First Tee of Albany, and Younger Executive Board of Regions Bank in Albany. He has served on committees to raise funds for Albany Community Hospice and the Flint Riverquarium. He and his wife, Kari, have two boys and attend St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

(Albany, Ga.)- After being a part of the Watson Spence law practice for the past six years, Faison Middleton has been asked to serve as the practice’s managing partner. His years of dedication to the community and personal excellence in his case load involving civil trial and litigation practices stand out as qualities Watson Spence values in its managing partner’s character and work ethic.

Faison received his Bachelor’s degree education from Emory University in 1992 and moved on to graduate cum laude in 1995 from Georgia State University College of Law. He then began his career in Atlanta, but left the law firm of McKenna, Long and Aldridge in late 2003 to move back to his hometown of Albany and join Watson Spence.

Middleton serves in many community organizations and on several boards and committees including the Board of Directors of the Albany Area Chamber Commerce, the Board of Trustees of the Albany Museum of Art, President of the non-profit organization Lily Pad Center, Inc., the Dougherty County Rotary Club, as well as many others attends St. Paul’s Episcopal church with his family.

I would also include a line that says something like: Thanks to our friends at Northside Mortgage for sharing this hot update to the current mortgage rates.

Rate on 30-year mortgages falls to record low 3.87%

Kelley O’Neill-Boswell, a partner of the law firm of Watson Spence LLP in Albany and an active member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia, has recently been appointed to serve on the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. The Executive Committee is comprised of 16 attorneys throughout the state of Georgia who specialize in family law litigation. Kelley O’Neill-Boswell focuses her practice in family law litigation, adoption and catastrophic injury litigation with over 18 years of experience.

The Executive Committee is involved in completing a multitude of tasks critical to the State Bar and Georgia citizens including managing and promoting the Family Law Section’s continuing legal education seminars, monitoring family law legislation, drafting legislation in the family law area, and providing guidance to family law attorneys throughout the state. The Committee also publishes a quarterly newsletter which includes articles on emerging areas of family law, interviews with judges, summaries of new appellate cases and legislative updates.
After graduating from the University of Georgia with her bachelor’s degree, O’Neill-Boswell earned her law degree from Mercer University and was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1991. She has also served as past president of the Dougherty Circuit Bar Association.