Familiarity has a value.

Tonight is a post authored by our own, Jeremy Abernathy.



Recently, I made the trek northwest to Cherokee County Superior Court.  Our firm had several cases on the Court’s calendar.  At 9:17 a.m., the Judge called the uncontested cases first.  Uncontested cases involve parties that have entered into an agreement on all issues.  Typically, these matters are short and sweet- but not in Cherokee County!

My client and I sat on the wooden pews in the Courtroom, and witnessed the uncontested case immediately preceding our case.  The lawyer firmly, but respectfully walked to the lectern, and his client gingerly and nervously approached the witness stand, seemingly dressed in his finest suit.  After being given the nod from the Judge to begin, the lawyer swore his client in and began asking him very short leading questions while simultaneously presenting evidence for the Judge.

Out of nowhere, the Judge interrupted and exclaimed to the client, “Would you appreciate being shifted back and forth between two households as often as you are asking your child to do so in this settlement agreement?”  The courtroom silenced.

In fact, the only thing you could hear was my client’s sheepish and nervous rhetorical question, “ Hopefully, the Judge won’t ask us all of that, will he?”

The lawyer and his client were frozen by the Judge’s barrage of questions.  They emotions seemed to go from amazement, to disgruntled, to desperate.  In fact, the client’s wife, who appeared for the uncontested divorce hearing was sworn in as a witness!  (This rarely occurs at an uncontested divorce hearing because only one (1) party, or in some case, neither party (like in Paulding County), is required to appear!)

Despite the wife’s testimony, client’s testimony and lawyer’s argument regarding the appropriateness of the custody arrangement, Judge asserted, “I refuse to approve of this agreement without expert testimony regarding how this arrangement provides stability for this child”  A disappointed client, opposing party and lawyer left the Cherokee County courtroom dismayed and utterly bewildered.

Perhaps if the lawyer on that case was familiar  with Cherokee County uncontested cases, he would have known that they can become quite eventful.   He would have known how to steer clear of that pitfall.

Our law firm, The Manely Firm P.C., provides the value of familiarity.  We handle only family law cases all around metro-Atlanta.  Our familiarity and specialized knowledge is the product of our commitment and focus to only family law cases.

Oh, by the way, the uncontested case that we had on the calendar that morning was done in 7 minutes.

Like I said, familiarity has a value.

Jeremy Abernathy
http://www.allfamilylaw.com/Bio/JeremyAbernathy.asp

Canton of Cherokee County

I think I have lived in Cherokee County, particularly in Canton, more particularly in the Superior Court, for the better part of the past two weeks.

I like our quaint office there.  It is a quiet space, just off the atrium in the Babcock building.  No bustle, little noise, just perfect for diving in to complex issues as you do the final prep for your trial.

And I've "discovered" the R&M Sandwich Shop located cattycornered to the Courthouse entrance across the Square.  I've discovered it, even though it has been there for something like 30 years or so.  I truly enjoy the Prosciutto and Egg sandwich.  What a treat.

Canton has a book store with a fair collection and a pharmacy with many things you could and probably would want in a pinch.  They supplied me with safety pins when I was most unexpectedly in need.  It even has a shoe repair shop.  In short, this town has much of what every town ought to have in its center.  It has stuff that residents need.  It is a functioning downtown.

And, once you get there, it is very walkable.

But back to Court, which, as I say, is where I live.

The past two weeks I've been in front of all three Superior Court Judges and received quite favorable rulings from each.  As you often read here, I make my living by accurately predicting what a judge is likely to do, not from any power of prognostication, but from many, many, many years of working through these issues with most of these same judges.  Still, it is a treat to present a case and have the vindication of a ruling.  As Judge recently said to an opposing counsel, "Well what objection do you have to Mr. Manely's solution.  It seems very reasonable." 

The thing about Cherokee County Superior Court is, when you come to Court, you better pack breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Oh, yeah, for lunch you can scoot over to R&M Sandwich Shop for a Prosciutto and Egg sandwich. 

The Court calendar call starts around 9:00.  Everyone has to be there then, and the Judge's could quite possibly keep you all day.  Twice last week I concluded my case in the evening.  Today I was blissfully done by lunch time, just in time to stop in a R&M Sandwich Shop for a Prosciutto and Egg sandwich.  Yum.

But seriously folks, once you get a ruling from one of the Judges, I predict that with the right advice and competent representation you'll be pleased, but getting to that point can be an endurance test. 

Michael Manely

(Mr. Manely was not paid or otherwise enriched by his ringing endorsement of the Prosciutto and Egg sandwich at R&M Sandwich Shop, except by his sheer pleasure of enjoying the sandwich itself)