Articles Posted in Constitutional Rights

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Attached is an Order for Sanctions we recently won in a case regarding the other side’s conduct in discovery. Discovery is a crucial phase in any litigation, as it allows both parties to obtain information and evidence from each other in order to build their case. However, there are instances where one party may engage in discovery abuse, such as through inappropriate deposition conduct or failure to produce requested electronically stored information (ESI).

In Georgia, discovery abuse can result in sanctions, which can include the payment of attorney fees and expenses, the striking of pleadings, and even dismissal of the case. Sanctions may be imposed when a party engages in misconduct during a deposition, such as harassing or abusive conduct, or when a party fails to comply with the rules governing the production of ESI.

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Williams Oinonen LLC client, Project South, is representing a whistleblower who received allegations of abusive practices at the Irwin County Detention Center that violate the human rights of these immigrant women. Project South’s staff attorney Project South’s Priyanka Bhatt remarked that: “For years, advocates in Georgia have raised red flags about the human rights violations occurring inside the Irwin County Detention Center. Ms. Wooten’s whistleblowing disclosures confirm what detained immigrants have been reporting for years: gross disregard for health and safety standards, lack of medical care, and unsanitary living conditions at Irwin….We call on DHS to conduct an investigation into the Irwin County Detention Center in order to protect the health and safety of the detained immigrants and the workers there.”

Williams Oinonen LLC is proud to represent human rights organizations that promote movement building like Project South. Project South is rooted in the legacy of the Southern Freedom Movement, and has a mission of cultivating strong social movements in the South powerful enough to contend with some of the most pressing and complicated social, economic, and political problems we face today. For more information on our client’s important work, see here.

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Williams Oinonen LLC attorneys are proud members (and on the Board) of the National Employment Lawyers Association of Georgia, a civil rights organization made up of lawyers who represent employees. We stand behind the following statement of our organization and likewise “condemn the racist system that continues to devalue the lives of Black Americans. Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd are sadly only the latest victims. Their murders, like the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955, has again brought nationwide and worldwide attention to the racial violence and injustice still so prevalent in America. We mourn the losses of these individuals’ lives and stand in solidarity with those seeking to hold the murderers accountable. Georgia’s capital, Atlanta, has long been uniquely poised to champion these rights, as the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and mecca of the modern civil rights movement. BLACK LIVES MATTER!

As employment lawyers [and civil rights lawyers] on the side of the employee, we fight to remain vigilant in the face of a judicial system that too often ignores the realities of the world we live in and the racial divide that still exists in our society today. We fight to prevent the watering down of laws that were meant to ensure justice and equal rights to all. We do not become complacent or desensitized to the world around us. We cry when our clients are denied the right to have their voices heard by a jury of their peers. We mourn every judicial decision that silently strips away the equal rights that were so hard fought by so many who have died. But we continue to fight the good fight. We call on you to get involved however possible to support an America that equally values all of its citizens. Whether that is attending a protest, writing a letter, running for office, taking out your cell phone camera or other recording device when you see/hear instances of racial wrongdoing, or discussing these issues with your friends, we encourage you to stay strong in the fight for social justice and against racial oppression.”

For more information on NELA-Ga, go to www.nela-ga.org

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Attorney Esther Moody Graff Radford, Of Counsel with Williams Oinonen LLC was featured in this recent issue of the Atlanta Business Chronicle Executive Profile.

When asked, “What’s the most rewarding part of your job?” Ms. Graff-Radford was quoted: “My favorite moment is when I connect with a new client and see the change in their demeanor and stress level when they realize they have someone in their corner. It doesn’t matter if it’s just an hour consultation or a years-long case; I love making sure my clients understand their matter and that they know they have an advocate. We can crack jokes about people saying, ‘Call my lawyer.’ But when you’ve been bullied by someone more powerful, or you feel forgotten in an immigration prison, that sentence is life-affirming. It means, ‘Call my teammate. Call the person who has committed to put my interests first and protect my rights and amplify my voice.’ My second favorite moment is winning justice or compensation for someone who has been wronged. It’s a sacred trust to have earned the right be someone’s lawyer; it will never get old.”

Ms. Graff-Radford handles employment, whistleblower, discrimination, civil rights, and injury cases with Williams Oinonen LLC. She also has a thriving landlord and tenant practice and provides pro bono legal services to undocumented immigrants seeking asylum.

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The Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority (FDHA) awarded Clarkston Councilman and Williams Oinonen LLC partner, Mario Williams with the Lew Horne Social Justice Champion Award during the organization’s 8th Annual Healthcare Champions awards ceremony.

Mr. Williams was recognized for his commitment to advocating for responsible policies and legislation to improve the lives of under served populations. A special video honoring Mario’s lifetime achievement of work committed to social justice was shown during the award ceremony and can be shown here:

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Williams Oinonen LLC files a race discrimination lawsuit on behalf of African American CNN employee who alleged that his executive threatened to kill him over his race discrimination lawsuit.

The AJC wrote about the story which can be read here. Other news media sources also wrote about the story which can be read here as well as here.

Soon after, CNN terminated Mr. Walker which was written about here.

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Mario Williaims filed a lawsuit on behalf of fired Rape Crisis Center Executive Director Kesha Gibson-Carter who brings claims against law enforcement government officials and the center for race discrimination and violations of her First Amendment rights.

The 57-page civil suit, filed in U.S. District Court on June 3, named twenty five defendants, including the center and board of directors, including the Chatham County District Attorney Meg Heap, along with several local police officials.

For more on the story in the Savannah newspaper you can read here.

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Williams Oinonen LLC partner Mario Williams obtained a $285,000 settlement on behalf of our client Governor Henderson in a gender discrimination case against District Attorney Paul Howard. It was featured on the Daily Report front page today which can be read here.

The plaintiff in this case, former District Attorney Governor Henderson claimed he was told “the position would only be filled by a woman because some jobs are not for certain people.”

Williams Oinonen LLC is proud to represent victim of wrongful death, serious injury, employment discrimination and civil rights claims. For more information contact 404-654-0288

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Mario Williams, partner at Williams Oinonen LLC, filed a class action race discrimination case against Atlanta Police Department. The Daily Report featured a front page article which can be read here.

The temporary restraint order motion and lawsuit names the city of Atlanta and its Police Chief as defendants. Chief Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is assigned to the case.

The lawsuit challenges a promotion policy that allegedly requires the police department allegedly requires that the vacant post be filled by a candidate of the same race, the TRO motion contends.

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Williams Oinonen LLC is proud to announce that each of its lawyers was honored for the 5th year in a row by Georgia Super Lawyers.

Mario Williams and Julie Oinonen were both named Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2019. Only 5% of lawyers in Georgia receive this distinction after a rigorous selection process and third-party validation of their accomplishments, including reviews and ratings from fellow lawyers.

Williams Oinonen LLC is made up of civil trial attorneys who regularly handle serious injury, employment, education, business, and high profile civil rights cases. For more information, contact us at 404-654-0288.

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