7 Signs You Need a Trial Attorney, Not a Settlement Lawyer
Most personal injury lawyers settle every case — they take a percentage, then move to the next one. If...
Georgia's Top
Trial Lawyers
for Catastrophic Injury and Wrongful Death
- 400+ Jury Trials
- Hundreds of Millions Recovered
- 100% Trial Win Rate
Featured Case Results
$33M
Settlement — Lithium-Ion Battery Fire
$17.2M
Verdict — Wrongful Death, Vehicle Collision
$14.5M
Settlement — Defective Airbags
$13.1M
Settlement — Defective Furnace Fire
$6M
Settlement — Propane Explosion
$5.2M
Verdict — DUI Collision
$4.2M
Settlement — Construction Wrongful Death
Most Firms Settle.
We Go To Trial.
Most firms settle every case. They take hundreds of cases, spend minimal time on each one, and accept whatever the insurance company offers.
That is not how we work.
We take fewer cases. We prepare every one for trial. When insurance companies know we will go to court, they offer more. When juries hear the full story, they award more.
That is the difference.
Most firms settle fast. It is good for their volume. It is bad for your family.
We do it differently.
McDonald & Cody has been a Georgia trial firm since 1969. We take fewer cases. We prepare every one for trial. Our results run two to four times higher than settlement offers.
That is not an accident. That is the only way we operate.
What We Handle
We Take Serious
Cases To Trial
Every case we accept involves life-altering harm or loss. We do not handle minor claims. That focus means every resource and every hour of preparation goes toward the cases that matter most.
You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone.
We Have Been Here Before.
Jury Trials
400+
Hundreds of
Millions
Recovered For Georgia Families
Trial Win Rate
100%
We Know These Courts.
We Know How To Win.
Built in Georgia. Built for Trial.
McDonald & Cody has been a Georgia trial firm since 1969. We are not a franchise. We are not a volume shop. We are an established firm with deep roots in this state and the resources to take any case to its conclusion.
Our attorneys have tried cases in courtrooms across Georgia and recovered hundreds of millions for families who needed someone to fight for them.
The firm is led by experience. Gus is a nationally recognized authority with 90+ jury trials. Gerald has been practicing since 1982. Jackson clerked at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, one step below the U.S. Supreme Court. Bo serves as a Georgia State Senator. Together they bring 110+ years of combined experience to every case they accept. They have deep roots in Northeast Georgia and try cases in courtrooms across the state. When the insurance company says your case is not worth fighting for, they are the ones who go to court and prove otherwise.
Meet the Attorneys
When something catastrophic happens, you need a real person on the other end of the phone. Someone who knows your case. Someone who can answer your questions. At McDonald & Cody, that person is always your attorney.
Gus
McDonald
When other lawyers said there was no case, Gus found one. 90+ jury trials. Nationally recognized authority on impaired driving. Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Gerald
Cody
He has been doing this since 1982. A native of Cornelia. Four decades of courtroom experience across Georgia.
Sam
Sliger
He won a complete acquittal in a federal DOJ Public Integrity case. Harvard National College for DUI Defense. Top 10% at John Marshall Law School.
Bo
Hatchett
He makes laws in the Georgia Senate. Then he comes to court and holds people accountable under them. National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
Jackson McDonald
He clerked one step below the U.S. Supreme Court. Then he came home to try cases. Undefeated on all motions filed.
Featured Cases
Insurance companies calculate what your case is worth before you hire a lawyer. When you hire a firm that prepares for trial, that number changes. These are some of ours.
For Referring Attorneys
When Your Client Has A Case You Need To Refer, We Can Handle It
Most referring attorneys call us because their client has a catastrophic injury or wrongful death case that requires a trial firm. We take the case, prepare it thoroughly, keep you in the loop, and get the best possible result. Your client is taken care of. Your reputation is protected. Your referral fee is fair.
What Happens Without the Right Firm
The Insurance Company
Already Has a Number in Mind.
Before you ever call a lawyer, the insurance company has calculated what your case is worth. They have a team. They have a strategy. And they are counting on you to accept the first offer.
Most personal injury firms settle fast. It is good for their volume. It is bad for your family. You walk away with a fraction of what your case is worth, and the company responsible faces no real accountability. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. The statute of limitations runs out. Once those things happen, there is nothing anyone can do.
The difference between calling the right firm and the wrong one is not small. Our documented results show trial outcomes running two to four times higher than settlement offers. That gap is what the wrong decision costs.
How It Works
Three Steps. No Surprises.
We genuinely hope you never need us. But if you do, here is exactly what happens.
Call Us. Tell Us What Happened.
We listen. We ask questions. We give you an honest assessment at no charge. If we can help, we will tell you how. If we cannot, we will say so and point you in the right direction. There is no obligation.
We Investigate & Prepare for Trial.
We take over the case from day one. We find what others miss. We retain the right experts. We pay every expense except your medical bills. You talk directly to your attorney, not a case manager. We prepare for trial from the start because that is what gets the best result.
You Pay Nothing Unless We Win.
We work on contingency. No upfront costs. No loans. No advances against fees. Most cases conclude in about 18 months. When insurance companies know we will go to trial, they offer more. When juries hear the full story, they award more.
In the News and Resources
The Work Speaks
For Itself
Resources and Press
$31M SK Battery Settlement
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 2024
McDonald & Cody named as plaintiff counsel in landmark lithium-ion battery fire case.
Bo Hatchett Named UGA 40 Under 40
UGA Alumni, 2024
Listed alongside Georgia’s top young professionals as State Senator and attorney at McDonald & Cody.
Inside the $31M Battery Case
The Daily Report / Law.com, October 2024
Jackson McDonald quoted on taking on a global leader in emerging technology.
Banks County v. SK Battery
Now Habersham, October 2024
Bo Hatchett quoted on the five-day blaze and county resources expended.
VIDEOS
Blogs
Is It Better to Settle or Go to Trial for a Car Accident in Georgia?
Is It Better to Settle or Go to Trial for a Car Accident in Georgia? Settling is faster and more certain....
The Real Difference Between a Trial Lawyer and a Settlement Lawyer
The Real Difference Between a Trial Lawyer and a Settlement Lawyer A trial lawyer prepares every case...
Georgia Comparative Negligence Law: What Injured People Need to Know
Georgia Comparative Negligence Law: What Injured People Need to Know Georgia follows a modified comparative...
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Georgia? 4 Key Rules
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice in Georgia? In Georgia, the right to file...
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice in Georgia: 5 Things to Know
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice in Georgia? The statute of limitations for...
Tell Us
What Happened
We review every inquiry at no charge. If we can help, we will tell you. If we cannot, we will say so.
Prefer to call? 706-778-5291