Accepts Credit Cards

(Main Office)

Founded 30 years ago, the firm's investment in its personnel and necessary technology keeps current its commitment to provide excellent, cost-effective representation. Our largest practice area is civil dispute resolution, representing many insurers and self-insured businesses in all aspects of coverage and liability. We have qualified as panel or preferred counsel for a number of clients who consciously limit their legal work to a select list of firms. The firm has one of metro Atlanta's best group of family law attorneys. The firm also has a substantial surety, fidelity practice and construction practice. Our business and corporate practice group represents individuals, national and international corporations, and financial institutions with needs ranging from start-up to mergers and acquisitions. We can assemble a team of litigators and business lawyers to handle complex matters that cross traditional boundaries in business litigation, construction litigation, and bankruptcy litigation. The firm has the privilege of acting as city attorneys for Alpharetta, Georgia.

Statement of Practice

Civil Dispute Resolution (Mediation, Arbitration, Trials, and Appeals), Corporate Transactions, Insurance Practice, Mergers and Acquisitions, Negligence, Products Liability, Personal Injury, Surety and Fidelity, Construction, Workers Compensation, Commercial Litigation, Environmental, Local Government, Commercial Real Estate and Condemnation, Family Practice, and Domestic Relations.

Clients

ACE USA
Acuity Brands Lighting
American International Group
Am Trust North America
Appalachian Insurance Co. of Providence
Archer-Western Contractors, Ltd.
Association of County Commissioners of Georgia
Auto Owners Insurance Company
Bituminous Casualty Corp.
Blackpowder Products Inc.
Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company
Carolina Casualty Insurance Co.
Chubb Insurance Cos.
City of Alpharetta, Georgia
Claims Management Services
CNA Surety Co.
Connecticut Valley Arms, Inc.
Cornerstone Christian Academy
The Covenant Group
Crawford & Company
Crum & Forster Insurance
CUNA Mutual Group
Cumis Insurance Society, Inc.
DD Construction Company
Discovery Property and Casualty Ins. Co.
Elixir Industries, Inc.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Evanston Insurance Company
Federal Express Corp.
Flying J. Inc.
GAB Business Services
General Casualty Insurance Company
General Reinsurance Co.
Georgia Casualty & Surety Co.
Great American Insurance Co.
GT Holding Corp.
The Guarantee Co. of North America
Halco Industries, LLC
Hanover Insurance Company
The Hartford Insurance Group
Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.
Hertz Corp.
John Megle Chevrolet Oldsmobile
Kia Autosport of Stone Mountain, Inc.
Kemper Insurance Company
Liberty Bond Services
Liberty Mutual
Mastermind Marketing, Inc.
Markel Corporation
Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co.(3M)
Mt. Hawley Insurance Company
National Service Industries, Inc.
North Star Reinsurance Corp.
North American Specialty Insurance Co.
OmniVue Business Solutions, LLC
Outdoor Systems, Inc.
Paragon Emergency Physicians, P.C.
Peachtree Corners Baptist Church, Inc.
Project Time & Cost
Republic Land & Investment Co.
RLI Insurance Company
The Salvation Army
The Sauers Group, Inc.
Selective Insurance Co. of America
SMC Marketing Corporation
The Stanley Works
State Farm Insurance Company
Travelers Insurance Company
Waffle House Inc.
Westfield Insurance Company
Woods Industries, Inc.
Zep Manufacturing Company
Zurich North America.

Rate Information

Fixed Hourly Rates
Accepts Major Credit Cards

• Visa
• MasterCard
• American Express

Address

200 Ashford Center North, Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30338-2668, (DeKalb & Fulton Cos.)

Phone

Phone: 770-391-9100
Telecopier: 770-668-0878

Website

http://www.boviskyle.com

MEMBERS OF FIRM

John M. Bovis, (P.C.) (Member) admitted to bar, 1965, Georgia and Florida. Education: Florida Southern College (B.S., 1961); Emory University (LL.B., 1965). Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Insurance Law.Email: John M. Bovis, (P.C.)

Steven J. Kyle, (P.C.) (Member) born Alton, Illinois; admitted to bar, 1969, Georgia and Florida. Education: Emory-at-Oxford (A.A., 1964); University of Florida (B.A., 1966); Emory University (J.D., 1969). Phi Delta Phi. Member: Honor Court; National Moot Court Team. Member: Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (Executive Committee, 2000-2002; President, 1998-1999); International Association of Defense Counsel (Products Liability Subcommittee); Defense Research Institute, Risk & Insurance Management Society (RIMS) (National and State of Georgia); Southern Property Loss Association. Member: American (Member, Tort and Insurance Practice and Litigation Sections) Bar Association; State Bar of Georgia (Member, Tort and Insurance Practice and Products Liability Law Sections); The Florida Bar; Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) (Keynote speaker, Annual Conventions, 1998; 2000). Reported Cases: Bagley v. Shortt, 261 Ga. 533, 409 S.E.2d 522 (1991). Practice Areas: Product Liability; Premises Liability; Outdoor Advertising; Insurance Defense; Litigation; Property Insurance Defense; Professional Liability.Email: Steven J. Kyle, (P.C.)

John V. Burch, (P.C.) (Member) admitted to bar, 1966, Georgia. Education: University of Georgia (B.A., 1965; J.D., 1967). Member, Editorial Board, Georgia Law Review, 1966-1967. Panelist: "Bankruptcy And The Surety," American Bar Association, 2003. Author: Georgia and South Carolina Sections Contractor's State License Bonds Desk Reference American Bar Association, 2006. Co-Author: "Specific Performance of the Surety's Trust Fund Rights," Fidelity and Surety Law Committee, American Bar Association, 2002; "Delays Have Dangerous Ends: An Analysis of Some Common Contractual Legal Issues Affecting the Analysis and Proof of Delay Claims," Forum on the Construction Industry, American Bar Association, January, 1997; "The Surety's Subrogation Rights;" "The Law of Suretyship;" "Performance Bond Claims;" "Handling Fidelity, Surety and Financial Risk Claims," Published by John Wiley & Sons, 1990. Moderator: "Legal, Ethical and Practical Issues with the Tender of Defense to the Principal's Lawyer," National Bond Claims Seminar, October 2000; "Other Insuring Agreements in Commercial Crime and Other Fidelity Policies: An Update," Fidelity Bond Program, 1996; "Cash Collateral Litigation and the Surety," American Bar Association, August, 1993; "Crime Policies and Other Insuring Agreements (or Policy Interpretations Become Curiouser and Curiouser)," National Institute of Fidelity Bonds, American Bar Association, 1991. Presented at the Southern Surety and Fidelity Claims Association: "Subdivision & Maintenance Bonds - What Kind of Critter is this Anyway?," 2009; "Insurance Coverage for Contractor's Defective Work," 2008; "Computers Will Make Life Simpler, Easier and Less Expensive Right?....Welcome to E Discovery!," 2007; "Surety v. Surety: The Pros and Cons of the Right of the Surety for the General Contractor to Maintain Claims Against the Surety for a Subcontractor," 2005; "Practical Pointers or Preferences," 2004; "The Surety's Responsibility Where There Is a Variation Between the Bond & Statutory Requirements (Or Who Wrote This Damn Thing?)," 1996; "Recent Developments in Georgia Law," 1995; "Life After Transamerica v. USA - A Partial Overview of Cross Collateralization," 1994; "Back to Bankruptcy Basics for the Bond Bunch," 1993; "Pre-Bankruptcy Agreement to Abandon an Executory Construction Contract - A New Tool for the Surety," 1992. Presented at the Surety Claims Institute: "Back to the Basics - a Review of the Surety's Completion Options," 2006. Director and President, Southern Surety and Fidelity Claims Association, 1990—. Civil Mediation Training, Henning Mediation and Arbitration Service, Inc. Member: State Bar of Georgia; American Bar Association (Member: Fidelity and Surety Law Committee, Tort and Insurance Practice Section; Forum Committee on the Construction Industry). Reported Cases: L&B Construction Co. v. Ragan Enterprises, Inc., 482 S.E.2d 279 (Ga. 1997); Transamerica Ins. Co. v. U.S., 989 F.2d 1188 (Fed. Cir. 1993); Employers Insurance of Wausau v. Construction Management Engineers of Florida, Inc., 377 S.E.2d 119 (S.C. App. 1989); Ramsey v. Thomas, 133 Ga. App. 869, 212 S.E.2d 444 (1975); Anderson v. U.S.F.&G., 267 Ga. App. 624, 600 S.E.2d 712 (2004). Practice Areas: Fidelity and Surety Law; Construction Law; Business Litigation; Mediation; Arbitration.Email: John V. Burch, (P.C.)

C. Sam Thomas, (P.C.) (Member) born Stone Mountain, Georgia; admitted to bar, 1975, Georgia. Education: Georgia State University (B.B.A., with honors, 1972); University of Georgia (J.D., cum laude, 1975). Recent Decisions Editor, Georgia Law Review, 1974-1975. City Attorney, Alpharetta, Georgia, 1985—. Member, International Municipal Lawyers Association. Member: State Bar of Georgia (Member, Sections on: Local Government Law; Corporation, Banking and Business Law). Practice Areas: Local Government Law; Business Law; Real Estate; Labor and Employment.Email: C. Sam Thomas, (P.C.)

James E. Singer (Member) born Atlanta, Georgia; admitted to bar, 1982, Georgia, U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. District Court, District of Colorado. Education: Mercer University (A.B., 1979; J.D., cum laude, 1982). Member: State Bar of Georgia (Member, Sections on: Torts and Insurance Practice; Products Liability; Environmental Law); American Inns of Court (National Member); Defense Research Institute; Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (President); Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. Reported Cases: McDonald Const. Co., Inc. v. Bituminous Cas. Corp., 632 S.E.2d 420 (Ga. App. May 24, 2006); Tate v. Kia Autosport of Stone Mountain, Inc., 616 S.E.2d 112 (Ga. App. May 10, 2005); Perkins Hardwood Lumber Co. v. Bituminous Cas. Corp., 378 S.E.2d 407 (Ga. App. February 8, 1989). Practice Areas: Product Liability Law; Insurance Coverage; Complex Litigation.Email: James E. Singer

J. Wesley Skinner (Member) admitted to bar, 1984, Georgia. Education: University of Georgia (A.B.J., summa cum laude, 1981; J.D., cum laude, 1984). Member: State Bar of Georgia (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Intellectual Property; Labor and Employment; Real Property). Practice Areas: Business; Commercial; Corporate.Email: J. Wesley Skinner

Gregory R. Veal (Member) born Augusta, Georgia; admitted to bar, 1982, Georgia, U.S. District Court, Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Georgia, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth and Eleventh Circuits and U.S. Court of Federal Claims.. Education: Furman University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1979); University of Georgia (J.D., cum laude, 1982). Editorial Board, 1980-1981 and Managing Board, 1981-1982, Georgia Law Review. Author: "Annotated Commercial Crime Policy (2d)," Chap. 17, ABA Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2006; "Arbitration and the Performance Bond Surety," Surety Claims Institute, 2005; "Commercial Crime Policy (2d)," Chap. XIX, ABA Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2004; "Subrogation - The Duties and Obligations of the Insured and Rights of the Insurer Revisited," XXVIII Tort and Insurance Law Journal 69 (Fall, 1992). Contributing Author: "The Most Important Questions a Surety Can Ask About Performance Bonds," ABA Tort and Insurance Practice Section, 1997. Member: American Bar Association (Member: Litigation Section; Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Fidelity and Surety Law Committee; Forum on the Construction Industry); State Bar of Georgia (Member, Litigation Section). Reported Cases: Transamerica Insurance Co. v. United States, 31 Fed. Cl. 602 (1995); Transamerica Insurance Co. v. H.V.A.C. Contractors, Inc., 857 F.Supp. 969 (N.D.Ga. 1994); L&B Construction Co. v. Ragan Enterprises, Inc., 482 S.E.2d 279 (Ga. 1997); Fidelity & Deposit Co. of MD. v. Williams, 699 F.Supp. 897 (N.D.Ga. 1988). Practice Areas: Fidelity and Surety; Construction; Commercial Litigation.Email: Gregory R. Veal

Timothy J. Burson (Member) born Birmingham, Alabama; admitted to bar, 1986, Louisiana; 1990, Georgia. Education: University of Alabama (B.A., 1982; J.D., 1985). Member: John A. Campbell Moot Court Board; Bench and Bar. Law and Psychology Review, 1984-1985. Member: American Bar Association; State Bar of Georgia (Member, Fiduciary Section). Reported Cases: Continental Insurance Company v. Gazaway, 216 Ga. App. 125, 453 S.E.2d 91 (1995); Twineham v. Daniel, 233 Ga. App. 25, 476 S.E.2d 814 (1996); Crolley v. Haygood Contracting, Inc., 207 Ga. App. 434, 429 S.E.2d 93 (1993). Practice Areas: Fidelity and Surety Law; Construction Law; Commercial Litigation; Bankruptcy; Banks and Banking.Email: Timothy J. Burson

Charles M. Medlin (Member) born Florence, South Carolina; admitted to bar, 1990, Georgia; 1991, U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit. Education: Duke University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1982); University of North Carolina (J.D., with honors, 1990). Van Hecke Scholar. Holderness Moot Court. Certified Arbitrator/Mediator and Guardian Ad Litem, Fulton, and DeKalb Counties. Member: Atlanta (Member, Family Law Section) and Forsyth County Bar Associations; State Bar of Georgia (Member, Sections on: Litigation; Family Law); Lawyers Club of Atlanta. Reported Cases: Anepohl v. Ferber, 202 Ga. App. 552, 415 S.E.2d 9 (1992), cert. denied, 202 Ga. App. 905 (1992); Jourdan v. First National, 203 Ga. App. 155, 416 S.E.2d 162 (1992); Griffin v. Kangaroo, 208 Ga. App. 190, 430 S.E.2d 82 (1993), cert. denied, 208 Ga. App. 910 (1993); Zaytzeff v. Safety-Kleen Corp., 222 Ga. App. 48, 473 S.E.2d 565 (1996); Southwire Co. v. Molden, 223 Ga. App. 389, 477 S.E.2d 646 (1996), RLI v. Highlands on Ponce, 280 Ga. App. 798, 635 S.E.2d 168 (2006); Harris v. Albany Lime & Cement Co., 291 Ga. App. 474, 662 S.E.2d 160, 2008 WL 1821872, 08 FCDR 1514; Matchmaker Foods, Inc. v. Simmons Foods, Inc., 2006 WL 1816269, N.D.Ga., (2006); Denney v. Forensic Analysis Engineering Corp., F.Supp.2d, 2006 WL 2469381, M.D.Tenn. (2006); Gordon v. Lee, F.Supp.2d, 2007 WL 1450403, N.D.Ga., (2007). Practice Areas: Litigation; Domestic Relations; Contracts.Email: Charles M. Medlin

John "Jay" H. Peavy, Jr. (Member) born Atlanta, Georgia; admitted to bar, 1987, Georgia. Education: University of Georgia (A.B.J., 1984; J.D., 1987). Member: State Bar of Georgia; Lawyers Club of Atlanta. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Transportation Law; Products Liability; Civil Litigation; Construction Law; Commercial Litigation; Business Litigation; Estate Litigation.Email: John "Jay" H. Peavy, Jr.

J.S. Scott Busby (Member) admitted to bar, 1990, Georgia, Florida, U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th and 11th Circuits. Education: Asbury College (B.A., cum laude, 1985); Georgia State University (M.B.A., 1987); Emory University (J.D., 1990). Member: Southern Loss Association; Board Member, Committee Chairperson: Atlanta Claims Association. Member: State Bar of Georgia; The Florida Bar. Languages: German. Practice Areas: First and Third Party Insurance; First and Third Party Insurance Defense; Insurance Coverage; Condemnation; Commercial Litigation; Products Liability; Employment Litigation; Construction Litigation; Railroad Litigation; Trucking Litigation; Trust and Estate Litigation.Email: J.S. Scott Busby

Christina A. Craddock (Member) admitted to bar, 1982, Georgia. Education: University of Georgia (B.B.A., magna cum laude, 1979; J.D., cum laude, 1982). Law Clerk for Judge William H. Alexander, Fulton County State Court, 1982-1983. Assistant Solicitor General, Fulton County Solicitor General's Office, 1983-1988; Assistant District Attorney, Cobb County District Attorney's Office, 1993-1995. Member: State Bar of Georgia; American Bar Association (Member, Fidelity and Surety Law Committee). Practice Areas: Fidelity and Surety Law; Construction Law; Creditor Bankruptcy; Commercial Litigation.Email: Christina A. Craddock

David Russell Smith (Member) born Decatur, Georgia; admitted to bar, 1985, Georgia. Education: West Georgia College (B.S., 1982); University of Georgia (J.D., 1985). Author: "When Does a Lawsuit Trigger a Duty to Defend in Georgia?," Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Law Journal, 2006; "Choice of Counsel When an Insurer Defends under a Reservation of Rights in Georgia," Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Law Journal, 1993. Former Assistant-General Counsel, CIGNA Property and Casualty Insurance Company and ACE USA. Member: State Bar of Georgia (Member, Tort and Insurance Section); Georgia Defense Lawyers Association; Defense Research Institute. Reported Cases: Advocate Networks, LLC v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 296 Ga.App. 338, 674 S.E.2d 617 (2009); Metro Parts, Inc. v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 2008 WL 975086 (S.D. Ga. April 9, 2008); Savannah Bank & Trust Co., et al. v. Weiner, et al., 193 Ga. App. 616, 388 S.E.2d 725 (1989); Worsham v. Pickeral, 195 Ga. App. 330, 393 S.E.2d 488 (1990); Pyramid Construction Co., Inc., et al. v. Star Manufacturing Co., 195 Ga. App. 644, 394 S.E.2d 598 (1990). Practice Areas: Insurance Litigation; First and Third Party Insurance; Extra Contractual Insurance Claims; Insurance Agents and Brokers Defense; Commercial Litigation; Insurance Defense.Email: David Russell Smith

Gregory T. Presmanes (Member) born Atlanta, Georgia; admitted to bar, 1973, Georgia, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia and U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th and 11th Circuits. Education: Emory University (B.A., 1970; J.D., 1973). Member: Atlanta Bar Association; State Bar of Georgia (Member, Workers Compensation Section); American Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Tort and Insurance Practice; Labor and Employment Law Practice); Atlanta Lawyers Club. [U.S. Army Quartermaster]. Practice Areas: Workers Compensation Law; Insurance Defense.Email: Gregory T. Presmanes

Ronald F. Negin (Member) born Newton, Massachusetts; admitted to bar, 1994, Massachusetts; 1995, Georgia; New York; 1997, Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: Tulane University (B.A., 1991; J.D., 1994). Named, Atlanta Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2007. Member: New York State and Massachusetts Bar Associations; State Bar of Georgia; The Florida Bar. Practice Areas: Products Liability Defense; First and Third Party Insurance Defense; Bad Faith Litigation; Construction Litigation; Trucking Law; Premises Liability Defense.Email: Ronald F. Negin

Melanie M. Norvell (Member) admitted to bar, 1991, Florida; 1992, Georgia. Education: Georgia State University (B.S., 1986; M.S., 1988; J.D., 1991). Member: The Florida Bar; State Bar of Georgia. Practice Areas: Domestic Relations; Labor and Employment; Creditors Rights; Litigation.Email: Melanie M. Norvell

OF COUNSEL

John G. Vlahakis (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1986, Alabama; Georgia. Education: Harding University (B.S., 1982); Vanderbilt University (J.D., 1985). Member: Atlanta Bar Association; Alabama State Bar; State Bar of Georgia. Practice Areas: Workers Compensation.Email: John G. Vlahakis

Benjamin A. Leonard (Of Counsel) born Dearborn, Michigan; admitted to bar, 2000, Georgia. Education: University of North Carolina; Mercer University (J.D., 2000). Associate Editor, Journal of Southern Legal History. Member: State Bar of Georgia. Reported Cases: Advance Auto Parts v. Reville, Ga. Court of Appeals A09D0353 (2009); Abdul-Hakim v. Mead School & Office Products, 267 Ga.App. 121, 598 S.E.2d 808 (2004); City of Warner Robins v. Milton Baker, 255 Ga.App. 601, 565 S.E.2d 919 (2002); Trucks, Inc. v.Trowell, Ga. Court of Appeals A09A1624 (2009). Practice Areas: Workers Compensation(100%).Email: Benjamin A. Leonard