Danielle Griffith, Esq.
Commercial Lawyer
Raised in Atlanta from a young age, Danielle Griffith, Esq. is well versed in Atlanta and Georgians alike. She earned a BA from the College of Charleston and her law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, the latter in December 2001. Danielle has focused on litigation matters her entire career, on both the defense and plaintiff’s side. In her first years as a litigator, she became a trial attorney managing complex cases from inception to resolution and second chaired two seven figure bench trials while preparing numerous others for trial – truly a trial by fire start to her career. She quickly earned a reputation as the “go-to” attorney for the most complex and high value cases and a reputation for always going the extra mile for her clients, a well-earned reputation that continues today. The partner Danielle did the bulk of her work for during her first 10 years of practice says she was the best attorney he ever trained and other peers have said that if they ever got into any trouble, Danielle would be their first call. After working for other litigation firms, Danielle opened her own law firm in San Diego in 2014 representing a diverse group of clients on both the plaintiff and defense side, from a Fortune 500 company to commercial real estate developers, business owners, and individuals. Danielle has always been intimately involved in initial case work-ups and analysis, preparation and response to discovery, motions and oppositions, taking of and defending depositions, document review and analysis, evaluation of insurance coverage and potentially additional coverage, all matters associated with mediation, alternative dispute resolution, trial preparation and trial.
Danielle’s excellence has earned her the highest possible “AV Preeminent” rating by Martindale Hubbell’s peer & client review rating system, a recognition she’s maintained for over ten years. In addition to being awarded the San Diego Super Lawyers – Rising Star recognition, she has also repeatedly received awards for Top Lawyer in San Diego Magazine, & Top Attorney in the San Diego Daily Transcript. Danielle was a panel speaker at the West Coast Casualty Construction Defect conference. She served on the board of directors as a board member/Treasurer for San Diego Defense Lawyers Association & as Co-chair of the Construction Section of the San Diego County Bar Association. Danielle served on the Board of Directors for the United Services Organization (“USO”) in San Diego. More recently she served as President on the Board of Directors for The Vox Artium Foundation in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lil Meech
Commercial Lawyer
Renowned for his portrayal of Demetrius Flenory in the hit STARZ production BMF, Lil Meech has swiftly transitioned from a college student at UNLV to a highly sought-after figure in the entertainment industry, drawing more than five million viewers weekly. Beyond his artistic endeavors, he fervently dedicates himself to serving his community and philanthropy, driven by a deep-seated desire to empower the younger generation through educational avenues and mentorship.
At My 25% Lawyer™, our commitment extends beyond legal representation. We actively contribute to the communities we serve by facilitating access to crucial resources and advocating for the rights of the injured by putting more money back into their pockets. We’re here to foster community support through collaborations with like-minded leaders such as Mr. Flenory. We are trailblazers and together, we strive to enact meaningful change and leave a lasting positive impact.
Joseph A. Fried
Commercial Lawyer
Joe Fried is one of the original truck accident lawyers in the country and is widely recognized as a top attorney in the field. His passion for what he does shines through, and his reputation and record-setting results speak for themselves. Joe has litigated cases in more than 43 states, which gives him an unmatched perspective, and his leadership in the field of truck accident law and trucking safety is second to none.
Joe is known as one of the principal founders of truck accident law as a unique field. He has changed the way truck crash cases are handled, helping Fried Goldberg LLC earn a national reputation. Joe is credited with developing many of the best practices used by lawyers nationally in truck accident investigation and truck accident litigation.
In addition, Joe has:
- Co-founded the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys with the goal of educating lawyers around the country about how to maximize results in truck crash cases.
- Worked with the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) to create and get approval from the American Bar Association for a Board Certification in Truck Accident Law.
- Chaired the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group and the National Trial Lawyers Trucking Trial Attorneys Group.
- Given over 1,000 presentations to lawyer, judge, police, and trucking industry audiences in the last 15 years.
A. Ed Khalili
Commercial Lawyer
Ed is a partner in the firm’s intellectual property practice group and a registered patent attorney. His practice involves all aspects of intellectual property law, including patent procurement, trademark prosecution, copyrights, and trade secret. Ed’s intellectual property experience encompasses patent prosecution, patent and IP strategy formulation, licensing, due diligence, patent opinions, and post-grant proceedings. Ed has served a variety of clients, including multinational corporations and start-up companies, in a variety of technological fields, including chemical, pharmaceutical, polymers, textiles, biotechnology, medical technology, pharmacy information systems, energy, consumer products, mechanical devices, computers, software, electronics, and IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
Prior to entering private practice, Ed was a Clinical Pharmacist at Northside Hospital. While a Clinical Pharmacist, Ed also served on numerous hospital governance committees, evaluated new drug formulary additions, participated in clinical investigational drug trials, pharmacy information systems operations and development of therapeutic drug protocols. Ed continues to work with health care and pharmaceutical companies, now providing counsel on issues ranging from regulatory matters before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to services agreements and compliance.
Ed Khalili has been recognized as Best Lawyers “One to Watch” since 2024.
Max Borger
Commercial Lawyer
Born and raised in Marietta, Max Borger is a former Fulton County prosecutor who specialized in DUI prosecution. As a prosecutor, Max handled thousands of DUI and Domestic Violence cases and served as a lead prosecutor in the Fulton County Recovery Court Program. Today, Max is eager to help his clients navigate the complex criminal justice system. Max‘s experience as a prosecutor makes him uniquely informed about what his clients can expect with their case. Max understands that anyone with an open case can often feel tired and overwhelmed. Therefore, Max is ready to walk his clients through every step of their case so that they can mount an informed, successful defense.
Atlanta’s Law Firm, LLC is committed to answering your questions about Criminal Defense, DUI, Drug Charges and Traffic Violations law issues in Atlanta, GA.
Michael G. Kaufman
Commercial Lawyer
Michael has recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients, including a recent $1,000,000 settlement for a client injured by another driver’s negligence. Michael aims to guide his clients through the complicated personal injury process while providing concierge legal counseling. Michael focuses his practice on representing people injured in automobile and trucking collisions, dog bites, slip and fall incidents, negligent security, and families in wrongful death cases.
Michael is an active member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and has served on several committees in that organization. In 2019, a panel of Georgia’s top trial lawyers selected Michael as a member of the 2019-2020 LEAD Program, a prestigious, highly-acclaimed program consisting of qualified applicants with less than ten years of legal practice experience and those who are 35 years of age or younger. In addition, Michael’s peers have selected him as a Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2021. No more than 2.5 percent of attorneys under 40 with less than ten years of practice experience are named to the Rising Stars list. His peers have also selected Michael as a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40 recipient based on his achievements, settlements, and verdicts as a trial lawyer.
Michael is an Atlanta native and graduate of The University of Georgia and Mercer University School of Law. Michael worked as a judicial clerk for the Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia and as a law clerk for a reputable Atlanta law firm during law school. Michael was a mock trial team member and competed in several national trial advocacy competitions. Michael was also highly active in his law school community and held several leadership positions, including President of the Mercer Trial Lawyers Association, American Bar Association Chair, Student Bar Association Class Representative, and Student Mentor. Michael graduated on the Dean’s list and was awarded the Faculty Award for Outstanding Legal Writing in 2013 and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in 2015.
Michael enjoys reading, meditating, playing sports, running, and hiking in his spare time. His other hobbies include photography and travel. Michael also loves spending time with his wife, son, and golden retriever.
David Eichholz, Esq.
Commercial Lawyer
An advocate for the underdog since his youth, David was inspired by his grandfather and father to pursue a career in law.
David was born and raised in Savannah. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia before enrolling at the Florida Coastal School of Law, from which he graduated cum laude, ranking in the top ninth percentile of his class.
Shortly after earning his Juris Doctor, David returned to his hometown of Savannah and joined The Eichholz Law Firm. He quickly earned his license to practice law in Tennessee and by the end of 2009 was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia and the State Bar of South Carolina. His current admissions include the Supreme Court of Tennessee and all State Courts in Tennessee; the United States District Court for Northern, Southern, and Middle District of Georgia; the Supreme Court of Georgia; the Georgia Court of Appeals; the United States District Court of South Carolina; and the Supreme Court of South Carolina.
David’s relentless fight for justice and the rights of injury victims has earned him esteem as a mentor, a track record of recovering multiple million-dollar settlements for clients, and several accolades and awards. In 2021, he was voted Best Lawyer by the readers of Savannah Magazine.
R. Shannon Carpenter
Commercial Lawyer
R. Shannon Carpenter, a native of Augusta, Georgia has been practicing law in Atlanta since 2003. Mr. Carpenter received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and graduated with honors from Georgia State University College of Law.
Prior to joining Van Sant law, Mr. Carpenter practiced at one of the most respected law firms in Atlanta, Georgia where he focused on defending large insurance companies, commercial trucking companies, and product manufacturing companies. He left this position to found Sammons & Carpenter, P.C., as he realized that working with individuals and their families was much more fulfilling. The insider knowledge into how such companies evaluate claims gives Mr. Carpenter a unique perspective which he continues to use to maximize the settlements he obtains for his clients at Van Sant Law.
J.D., Georgia State University College of Law, 2003
Cum Laude
B.A. Environmental Economics, The University of Georgia, 1997
All Trial Courts of Georgia, 2003
Georgia Court of Appeals, 2003
Georgia Supreme Court, 2003
How to Establish Damages for Lost Household Services
Establishing damages for lost household services is a critical aspect of personal injury and wrongful death claims. When an individual suffers an injury that affects their ability to perform household tasks, it can have significant financial implications for both the injured party and their family. This article outlines how to establish these damages, the methods used for calculation, and the factors that influence the assessment of lost household services.
Understanding Lost Household Services
Lost household services refer to the value of tasks that an injured person can no longer perform due to their condition. These tasks may include cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, childcare, and home maintenance. When individuals are unable to fulfill these responsibilities, it may become necessary to hire someone else to perform them, leading to additional expenses.
Legal Basis for Claims
The right to claim damages for lost household services is recognized in many jurisdictions. In personal injury cases, plaintiffs can seek compensation for the economic impact of losing these services. Courts typically allow claims based on the principle that the injured party or their family should not suffer financially due to someone else’s negligence.
Methods for Calculating Damages
There are several methods used to calculate damages for lost household services. Each method has its advantages and limitations, and the choice may depend on the specifics of the case.
1. Replacement Cost Method
The replacement cost method is the most commonly used approach. This method estimates how much it would cost to hire someone to perform the household services that the injured party can no longer provide.
- Data Sources: Economists often use resources like The Dollar Value of a Day and data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine average hourly rates for various household tasks.
- Calculation Process: The calculation involves determining the number of hours per week the injured party spent on household services before the incident and multiplying that by the hourly wage for similar services.
For example, if a person previously spent 20 hours a week on household tasks at a market rate of $15 per hour, the annual cost of replacement would be calculated as follows:
2. Market or Opportunity Cost Method
The market or opportunity cost method considers what the injured party could have earned if they were not performing household tasks. This approach is less common but may be applicable in certain cases where an individual had significant earning potential.
3. Housekeeper Method
The housekeeper method involves estimating how much it would cost to hire a housekeeper or domestic worker full-time or part-time to take over all household responsibilities. This method can be particularly useful when multiple tasks are involved.
Factors Influencing Damage Calculations
Several factors can influence how damages for lost household services are calculated:
1. Pre-Incident Services
Understanding what services were performed before the incident is crucial. This includes determining:
- The specific tasks completed regularly.
- The time spent on each task.
- Any unique circumstances affecting service provision (e.g., caring for children or elderly relatives).
2. Post-Incident Capacity
Evaluating how much of those services can still be performed post-incident is essential. An assessment by a life-care planner or rehabilitation expert may be necessary to determine:
- The extent of physical or cognitive impairments.
- Changes in daily routines and responsibilities.
3. Life Expectancy
The plaintiff’s life expectancy plays a significant role in determining long-term damages. A longer life expectancy means a greater potential loss of household services over time.
4. Changes Over Time
As individuals age or their circumstances change, their ability to perform household tasks may also change. Evaluating potential future needs is vital in calculating damages accurately.
Gathering Evidence
To support claims for lost household services, comprehensive documentation is essential:
- Testimony: Personal accounts from family members about the changes in service provision can be valuable.
- Expert Witnesses: Engaging forensic economists or vocational experts can provide credible assessments regarding lost services and their value.
- Documentation: Bills from hired help or estimates from service providers can substantiate claims.
Conclusion
Establishing damages for lost household services is a complex but necessary process in personal injury and wrongful death claims. By utilizing appropriate methods such as replacement cost calculations and considering various influencing factors, plaintiffs can effectively demonstrate their losses.Accurate calculations require thorough documentation and often involve expert testimony to ensure that all aspects of lost household services are accounted for. Understanding these elements not only strengthens a claim but also helps ensure that individuals receive fair compensation for their losses, allowing them to navigate the challenges posed by their injuries with greater financial security.