Experience

Jonathan Granade represents businesses and individuals as both plaintiffs and defendants in all phases of civil disputes.  He has successfully mediated, arbitrated, settled and tried hundreds of cases in Georgia’s state and federal courts.  Mr. Granade also serves as general counsel for a pre-K through 12th grade private school in Cherokee County, advising the school on a variety of matters, including contract, employment and liability issues.

Mr. Granade joined the firm in 2003, coming from the Toombs Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office, where he served as an Assistant District Attorney.  Prior to his prosecution experience, Mr. Granade clerked for Chief Judge E. Purnell Davis II and Judge Roger W.  Dunaway, Jr., of the Superior Courts of the Toombs Judicial Circuit.  In this position, he prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases on behalf of the State of Georgia, primarily in McDuffie, Taliaferro and Wilkes Counties.  During law school, Mr. Granade interned for Presiding Judge William LeRoy McMurray, Jr. of the Georgia Court of Appeals, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and the United States Trustee’s Office for Region 21.  

Representative Cases:

• Represent Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver for failed financial institutions in connection with investigations into why those in institutions failed. 

• Represented medical device manufacturer in dispute with competitor involving trademark and copyright infringement, false advertising, and other unfair competition and RICO claims.  Obtained dismissal of RICO claims in district court.  Obtained vacation of district court’s preliminary injunction in 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.  Court of Appeals decided that district court abused its discretion by presuming irreparable harm at preliminary injunction stage on Lanham Act false advertising and trademark infringement claims.  North American Medical Corp. v. Axiom Worldwide, Inc., 522 F.3d 1211, No. 07-11574 (11th Cir. April 7, 2008), on remand, No. 1:06-cv-1678 (N.D. Ga.).

• Represented perishable preservation device manufacturer (e.g. misting devices in grocery stores) in commercial disputes with competitor involving false advertising, breach of contract, unfair and deceptive trade practice, and corporate and product disparagement claims.  Miatech, Inc. v. KES Science & Technology, Inc., et al., No. 3:08-cv-0155 (D. Or.); KES v. Miatech, Inc., et al., No. 1:08-cv-0413 (N.D. Ga.).

• Defended nutritional and dietary supplement manufacturing companies in dispute with marketing firm involving claims of breach of contract, open account, quantum meruit, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and attorney’s fees.  Won summary judgment on the plaintiff’s claims for open account and fraud.  Odyssey Marketing Group, Inc. v. Atrium, Inc., et al., 1:08-cv-0655 (N.D. Ga.).

• Represented general contractor against homeowner in breach of contract claim, suit to foreclose on lien, and malicious prosecution claim.  Successfully defended general contractor against counterclaims of breach of contract, conversion, fraud, and RICO.  Creef v. Merry, No. 05-CV-362, Lumpkin County Superior Court.

• Defeated truck driver’s and landowner’s motion for summary judgment based on Georgia Equine Activities Act in quadriplegic’s claims for personal injuries sustained in pedestrian-vehicle collision on horse farm.  Defeated driver and landowner’s application for interlocutory appeal which ultimately resulted in settlement of case.  Martin v. Barbree, No. 2004-CV-0446, White County Superior Court.

• Defeated surgeon’s motion for summary judgment based on charitable immunity in medical malpractice suit by demonstrating factual dispute over whether surgeon was grossly negligent and convinced district court to allow claim for punitive damages against surgeon.  District court then ordered case to mediation where it settled.  Ferguson v. Noggle, No. 2:06-cv-0071 (N.D. Ga.).

• Obtained reversal of trial court’s denial of motion for summary judgment in railroad crossing accident based on intervening criminal and negligent act of co-defendant, who was DUI when she pushed plaintiff’s vehicle into side of train.  CSX Transp. v. Deen, 269 Ga. App. 641, 605 S.E.2d 50 (2004).

• Represented sheriff’s deputy’s widow and estate in jury trial against driver who turned in front of deputy’s motorcycle with lights and siren activated.  Land v. Sells, et al., No. 04CV-0810, Forsyth County Superior Court.

• Represented client in premises liability case involving building and fire code violations.  Stowe v. Filmworks USA, Inc., No. 65794, Bibb County State Court.
  
  
• Obtained jury verdict for client who was injured when rear-ended by 18-wheeler.  Lemons v. Smithfield Packing Transp. Co., Inc., et al., No. 04C-00641, Gwinnett County State Court.