Kim M. Jackson

Partner
Photo of Kim M. Jackson
4000 SunTrust Plaza
303 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30308-3243


Kim Jackson defends attorneys and other professionals in malpractice claims, represents companies and professionals in various types of complex commercial litigation, handles coverage disputes, defends catastrophic injury cases and defends employers in employment discrimination claims.

Kim also has extensive experience defending individuals and companies in automobile and premises personal injury, food product liability, pharmaceutical liability, wrongful death, and motor carrier liability.

Professional Experience

Legal Malpractice and Bar Defense

Kim has represented many attorneys in both civil claims brought by clients and non-clients in Georgia, Texas, California, and Ohio, and in licensing issues brought before the State Bar of Georgia. Among the many cases that Kim has handled include the following examples:

Kim authored a successful amicus curie brief to the Supreme Court of Georgia on behalf of a client that was facing a legal malpractice action had the Supreme Court not ruled as it did.

Kim won summary judgment in a legal malpractice case on an issue of first impression involving the application of res judicata against a corporation with a complex corporate structure.

Kim obtained summary judgment, which was upheld on appeal, for business litigation attorneys accused of failing to sufficiently document their client’s settlement agreement arising out of a real estate development.

Kim obtained a reversal of a Supreme Court issued suspension, then tried the bar complaint on the remand before a special master. The lawyer was eventually issued a private reprimand rather than the two year suspension issued prior to Kim’s representation.

Kim obtained a judgment on the pleadings against a workers’ compensation attorney accused of negligently advising a client to engage in conduct that resulted in a criminal conviction for fraud.

Kim successfully defended the constitutionality of Georgia’s affidavit of merit statute which resulted in an opinion by the Georgia Supreme Court and the denial of cert by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Coverage

Kim has represented many insurers and their third-party administrators in coverage analysis, coverage opinions, the preparation of coverage denial and reservation of rights letters, serving as coverage counsel in cases where a reservation of rights was issued but declaratory judgment was not filed, and serving as counsel in cases where coverage was litigated in either a declaratory judgment or bad faith actions or where insurance companies sought contribution or indemnity.

His experience in coverage litigation includes the representation of insurers in dozens of declaratory judgment and bad faith cases. He was counsel of record in the following published opinions:

In late 2010, Kim obtained summary judgment in the USDC, Northern District of Georgia, and recovered attorneys fees for a liability insurer sued as garnishee following a judgment against its insured in Federal Court arising out of a professional liability action.  The insurer had denied the claim on the basis that it came after the policy period of the claims made policy.  The claimant argued that its suit was within the grace period of the claims made policy and that an ambiguity existed in the policy summary.  The Federal Court sides with the insurer and awarded defense costs under Georgia’s garnishment statutes.

Other examples of coverage appellate opinions obtained by Kim include the following:

Meadows Motors v. USAA, 230 Ga. App. 387, 496 S.E.2d 355 (1998) (summary judgment for insurer affirmed)

Ga. Farm Bur. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Russum, 250 Ga. App. 39, 550 S.E.2d 441 (2001) (lower court’s opinion for claimant reversed, no coverage found)

Ga. Farm Bur. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Burch, 222 Ga. App. 749, 476 S.E.2d 62 (1996) (won - Court of Appeals found no coverage)

Kim’s coverage work has included the analysis and litigation of the following types of policies: (1) automobile; (2) homeowners; (3) general commercial liability; (4) personal and business umbrella; (5) tractor-trailer insurance regulated by Ga. Dept. of Public Safety; (6) professional liability E&O coverage, including accountant policies, attorney policies, and broker policies; (7) construction company commercial liability policies; (8) Multi-media liability policies; (9) D&O policies; (10) governmental liability policies; and more.

Other recent matters:

Kim obtained a dismissal, which was upheld on appeal, in favor of a security company alleged to have illegally used radar to enforce traffic regulations in a private, gated community.  The claims included false imprisonment, fraud, and theft by taking.

Kim, along with Robert Gilbreath and Michael Goldman, obtained summary judgment for a portable plastic gasoline can manufacturer in the USDC, S.D.Ga., arising out of a home fire that began in an indoor wood burning stove/fireplace.  The claim alleged wrongful death of a child and injury to an adult based on alleged product defects in the portable plastic gasoline container.

Professional affiliations

Community involvement

Honors

Presentations

Facebook, Twitter, Your Practice -- The Ethical Implications of Social Media. 2011 Fiduciary Law Institute in St. Simons Island, Georgia. July 2011.

Abusive Litigation:  Defending Abusive Litigation Claims, Georgia ICLE Seminar, including 40 page paper.  Delivered paper and presentation Feb. 2003, Feb. 2004, Feb. 2005, Feb. 2006, Feb. 2007, Feb. 2008, Feb. 2009, Feb. 2010 (paper only), Feb. 2011. 

Specialty Ethics in Georgia (Eliminating Bias and Building Credibility):  The Impact of Religious Orientation in Performance of One’s Professional Duties and Ethical Obligations, NBNR Seminars, November 2004, including written materials.

Gaining the Competitive Edge: Litigating to Win Through Advanced Trial Advocacy in Georgia:  Using Jury Selection To Increase Your Success At Trial, NBI Seminars, April 2006, including written materials.

Litigation Skills:  A Short Course For Legal Assistants:  Understanding Georgia Civil Courts and Procedure, Half Moon Seminars, April 2006, with written materials.

Litigation Skills:  A Short Course For Legal Assistants:  Practical Law Office Ethics and Client Relation Skills, Half Moon Seminars, April 2007, written materials but did not orally present material.

Depositions A-Z:  Ethical Challenges in Depositions and Deposition Reflections, BNI Seminars, August 2007, with written materials.

Depositions A-Z:  Ethical Challenges in Depositions, BNI Seminars, December 2007, internet/phone conference attended CLE, with written materials.

Professional and Ethical Dilemmas in Litigation, panelist, ICLE Seminar, October 2008.

Winning Your First Civil Trial: Select The Right Jury For Your Case and Avoid Common Ethical Pitfalls, NBI Seminars, March 2010, including related papers.

Ending the Attorney-Client Relationship:  Ethical and Fiduciary Duties, panelist and presenter, Strafford Publications, August 2010, 90 minute CLE webinar.

Ethical Considerations: Attorneys' Fees, Avoiding Conflicts of Interest, and Confidentiality, NBI Seminars, December 2010.

Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young Trial Tactics Seminar; Motions for Summary Judgment; January 2011; in-firm CLE approved presentations.

Articles and publications

Trials

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Practice areas

Education

J.D., University of Kentucky

B.A., magna cum laude, Economics and Mathematics, Wabash College

Bar admissions

Courts

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