Clarkesville attorney inducted into Ga. Verdicts Hall of Fame

ATLANTA - Tricia Hise, a Clarkesville attorney, was recently inducted into the Fulton Daily Report's inaugural Georgia Verdicts Hall of Fame for the case of Melinda McCoy v. Creative Consulting Inc. et al. and the $35.8 million verdict obtained by Hise. <br /> <br /> This verdict is the largest awarded by a jury in the Mountain Judicial Circuit (Habersham, Rabun, and Stephens Counties). <br /> <br /> McCoy was a Department of Family and Children Services employee who blew the whistle on Creative Consulting Inc., a drug testing company that was owned by and employed people who were either employed by DFACS or had family members employed by DFACS.<br /> <br /> The Fulton Daily Report notes in a news release that Creative Consulting wrongly drug tested families in Rabun County and the number of drug tests conducted were exponentially greater in Rabun County than any other county in the circuit (Habersham and Rabun). It goes on to say that when McCoy reported these issues and discrepancies to her supervisors, she lost her job, 18 years of retirement, her home, her vehicle, her health and life insurance. <br /> <br /> The jury heard three days of evidence regarding malicious prosecution and violations of Georgia's RICO statute before returning verdicts for actual damages and punitive damages that totaled $35.8 million. <br /> <br /> Hise is partner at Hotard & Hise, Attorneys at Law in Clarkesville.<br /> <br /> Read more about the Fulton Daily Report by clicking on the link below.<br /> <br />

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/12/282743