William H. Major, III

Biography

Bill Major focuses his practice on issues pertaining to transportation, product liability, professional liability, civil litigation, insurance issues, financial institution liability, and general liability.

Bill has tried cases in trial courts throughout Georgia as well as in the federal courts and has appeared in the appellate courts of this State on many occasions.

His trial experience includes cases arising out of trucking accidents, product liability, premises criminal assault, professional liability, malicious prosecution, conversion, trespass, premises liability and chemical exposure claims. He has also participated in numerous mediations and other alternative dispute resolution methods over the years. He has spoken at seminars on a variety of topics to include cross-examination techniques, depositions, effective use of discovery techniques, damages, legal ethics, financial institution liability, trucking company liability, and alternative dispute resolution methods.

Services

Education

  • University of Georgia School of Law  (J.D., cum laude, 1982)
    • Member, Georgia Law Review (1980-81)
    • Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Phi Delta Phi
    • College of Business Administration, Department of Legal Studies (Teaching Assistant)
  • University of Georgia  (B.B.A., magna cum laude, 1979)

Bar Admissions

  • Georgia

Courts

  • Supreme Court of Georgia
  • Georgia Court of Appeals
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

Professional Affiliations

  • Atlanta Bar Association
  • State Bar of Georgia
    • Insurance Committee (2018-2019)
  • DRI
  • Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
  • ALFA International, Product Liability, Retail, Transportation
  • Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)
  • Lawyers Club of Atlanta
  • Old Warhorse Lawyers Club
    • Past President

Honors

  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Best Lawyers® Personal Injury LitigationDefendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Atlanta (2017)
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (2009-2024)
    • Litigation - Banking and Finance
    • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
    • Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
  • Top 100 Georgia Super Lawyer, Georgia Super Lawyers (2009, 2010, 2011, 2014)
  • Georgia Super Lawyers (2004-2022, 2024)

Charitable & Civic Involvement

  • Northside United Methodist Church (former Chairman of the Board of Trustees)

Selected Decisions

  • Walker v. Mecca, Ga. App. LEXIS 144; 2013 Fulton County D. Rep. 510 (2011)
  • SunTrust Bank v. Hightower, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 291 Ga. App. 62, 660 S.E.2d 745 (2008)
  • GEM Indus. v. SunTrust Bank, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31042
  • Dixie Group, Inc. v. Shaw Indus. Group, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 303 Ga. App. 459, 693 S.E.2d 888 (2010)
  • Ogle v. Nationwide Ins. Co. of Am., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 41487
  • Spacemakers of America, Inc. v. SunTrust Bank, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 271 Ga. App 335, 609 S.E.2d (2005)
  • Family Partners Worldwide v. SunTrust Bank, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 242 Ga. App. 618, 530 S.E.2d 742 (2000)
  • Tishcon Corp. v. Soundview Commun., Inc., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97309
  • Sallion v. SunTrust Bank, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, 87 F. Supp. 2d 1323 (N.D. Ga. 2000)
  • Kilday v. Kennestone Physicians Ctr., L.P., Court of Appeals of Georgia, 296 Ga. App. 818, 676 S.E.2d 271 (2009)
  • Progressive Classic Ins. Co. v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., Court of Appeals of Georgia, 294 Ga. App 787, 670 S.E.2d 497 (2008)
  • Mowell v. Marks, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 269 Ga. App. 147, 603 S.E.2d (2004)
  • Moresi v. Evans, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 257 Ga. App. 670, 572 S.E.2d 327 (2002)
  • J.B. Hunt Transp. v. Brown, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 236 Ga. App. 634, 512 S.E.2d 34 (1999)
  • Smith v. Trust Co. Bank, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 215 Ga. App. 413, 450 S.E.2d 866 (1994)
  • Morris v. Baxter, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 225 Ga. App. 186, 483 S.E.2d 650 (1997)
  • Bernard v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., Court of Appeals of Georgia, 206 Ga. App. 519, 426 S.E.2d 29 (1992)
  • Dege v. Nationwide Ins. Co., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Gainesville Division, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 41487
  • Rowland v. Rowland, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30296
  • Swain v. Citizens & S. Bank, Supreme Court of Georgia, 258 Ga. 547, 372 S.E.2d 423 (1988)
  • Continental Research Corp. v. Reeves, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 204 Ga. App. 120, 419 S.E.2d 48 (1992)

Presentations

  • “Texting and Cell Phone Usage,” Panel Member, ALFA Transportation Seminar (May, 2013)
  • "Affirmative Defenses, Contributory Negligence, Assumption of the Risk and Non-Party Apportionment," ICLE Boating Torts Seminar, Savannah, GA (October 2012)
  • “Ten Things Lawyers Like/Hate about Mediators," Panel Member, Atlanta Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section (January 2012)
  • “Walking the Walk: Advanced Claim Handling,” Panel Moderator, Arkansas Transportation Seminar (September 2011)
  • "Tough Topics in Troubling Times," Arkansas Transportation Seminar (August 2009)
  • "Strategies for Effective Discovery and Depositions," ICLE - Georgia (May 2006)
  • "Strategies for Effective Discovery and Depositions," ICLE - Georgia (May 2007)
  • "The Apology after a Catastrophic Accident," Arkansas Transportation Seminar (2007)
  • "Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods," DRI Damages Seminar (March 1996)