Cruser & Mitchell, LLP

           Toll Free: 1-800-965-8001

Atlanta

Mitchell, William T.
Chilivis, Nickolas P. T.
Cook-Jones, Shalena
Cowart, Jennifer G.
Grant, R. Russell
Hall, Christine H.
Hamilton, Richard P.
Harris, John C.
Hoffer, Michael D.
Hurley, Kathleen M.
Jackson, Nola D.
Terrett, Craig P.
Webb, Robyn O.
Woodward, Karen E.

Florida

Sammis, Jason D.

New Jersey

Sanchez, Doug V.
Costanza, Danielle M.
Voronov, Jackie

New York

Novitz, Rondiene E.
Dvoskin, Gary E.
Gereg, Beth S.
Tola, Keith V.

J. Robb Cruser Cruser & Mitchell, LLP Meridian II, Suite 2000 275 Scientific Drive Norcross, GA 30092 Phone: (404) 881-2626 Fax: (404) 881-2630 E-mail: rcruser@cmlawfirm.com

J. Robb Cruser is a Partner at Cruser & Mitchell, LLP.  Prior to forming Cruser & Mitchell, LLP, Robb was a partner at one of the largest litigation firms in the southeast.  He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting.  He is a former Certified Public Accountant who worked in the audit department with the accounting firm of Ernst & Young.  Robb received his Juris Doctor degree at Emory University School of Law.   He specializes in civil tort litigation and represents individuals, corporations and insurance companies in state and federal courts.  His practice emphasizes the areas of transportation liability, professional liability, products liability, premises liability, coverage disputes and other significant civil matters.  He has tried, mediated, and arbitrated cases throughout Georgia and established landmark appellate decisions on a variety of legal issues.  Robb is a member of the American Association of Attorney - Certified Public Accountants, the American Bar Association, the Atlanta Bar Association, the Atlanta Claims Association, the Defense Research Institute, the International Litigation Management Association, the Georgia Bar Association and the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association.   He is a frequent lecturer on a variety of litigation and insurance topics throughout the State of Georgia.

Areas Of Practice:

Litigation

Professional Liability

Automobile Liability

Trucking Liability

Bad Faith Litigation
Construction Law

Premises Liability
Products Liability

Litigation Percentage:

100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Certifications/Specialties:

Certified Public Accountant, Maryland, 1988
Mediator, 2004

Bar Admissions:

Georgia

U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit

U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia

Education:

Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia

J.D.

College of William & Mary, B.B.A.

 

Papers and Presentations

:

Speaker, “Adjusters Are From Mars – Attorneys Are From Venus,” ACE/SCLA Annual Claims Exposition and Conference, Chicago, Illinois October, 2004

Speaker, “Avoiding The Hit,” CLE Seminar, Atlanta, Georgia 2002

Author and Speaker, “Don’t Go Looking For Trouble - How to Avoid Negligent Hiring and Retention and How to Take The Best of a Bad Situation - Handling Civil and Criminal Charges, Venue Issues and Jury Prejudices.”  Georgia Motor Trucking Association Annual Convention, Amelia Island, June, 1999

Author and Speaker, “Making The Best of a Bad Situation - Handling Criminal Charges; Handling the Press; Venue Issues; Jury Prejudices,” Georgia Motor Trucking Association, Inc., Transportation Seminar, Atlanta, Georgia, April 28, 1999

Author and Speaker, “I Slipped and Fell and Your Food Made Me Sick: Defending Restaurant Claims,” DEF Legal Forum, 1998

Author and Speaker, “Application of Assumption Of The Risk, Contributory Negligence and Comparative Negligence Under Georgia Law” Insurance Seminar, Macon, Georgia, 1996

Author and Speaker, “Recent Developments Regarding Punitive Damages,” National Business Institute, Inc., 1995

Author and Speaker, “Are Punitive Damages Claims Paper Tigers? – Tort Reform In The 90's,” Legal Forum, 1995

Speaker, “Bad Faith Litigation,” Insurance Seminar, Macon, Georgia, 1994

Author, “Use of Effective Disclaimers to Avoid Malpractice Claims: An Epilogue” published, Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, Current Accounts, 1994

Author, “Use of Effective Disclaimers to Avoid Malpractice Claims” published, Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, Current Accounts, 1994

Speaker, “Defending Uninsured Motorist Claims,” Insurance Seminar, Macon, Georgia, 1993

Author, “Duty To Defend and Duly To Settle: Breaches of Either As Bad Faith” published, Georgia Defense Lawyers Law Journal, 1992
 

Selection of Reported Appellate Decisions:

Brock et al. v. Allen d/b/a Complete Pest Control, (Ga App. A02A0114,July 2002)

Hicks v. Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc., (Ga. App. A02A0256, February 22, 2002) (Not officially reported pursuant to Court of Appeals Rule 36) (Court of Appeals affirming the grant of summary judgment in Defendant's favor)

Holman v. Ferrell, et al., 250 Ga. App. 272, 550 S.E. 2d 470 (2001) (Grant of summary judgment affirmed in multiple wrongful death litigation)

Salinas v. Skelton, et al., (Ga. App. 217, 547 S.E. 2d 289 2001)

Barrego v. OHM Remediation Services Corporation, 245 Ga. App. 389, 537 S.E.2d 774 (2000)

American Southern Ins. Co. v. Abbensett, 232 Ga. App. 16, 501 S.E. 2d 53 (1988)

Astin v. Callahan, 222 Ga. App. 226, 474 S.E. 2d 81 (1996) (Grant of summary judgment based on prior pending action defense affirmed by Georgia Court of Appeals).

Savannah College of Art & Design v. Nulph, 265 Ga. 662, 460 S.E. 2d 792 (1995) (Georgia Supreme Court limited employer's liability to contract employees).

Johnson v. Savannah College of Art & Design, 218 Ga. App. 66, 460 S.E. 2d 308 (1995) (Transfer of employee to other, comparable position was not a breach of contaract-Judgment in favor of employer).

First National Bank of Newton County v. Sparkmon, 212 Ga. App. 558, 442 S.E. 2d 804 (1994) (Accountant who prefaces financial reports with proper disclaimers owes no duty of care to third parties).

Ditch v. Royal Indemnity, 205 Ga. App. 478, 422 S.E. 2d 868 (1992)