Episode Details

This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Randy Edwards and Paul Piland of Cochran Edwards (https://www.cochranedwardslaw.com/) & John Sherrod of Sherrod Bernard (https://www.sherrodandbernard.com/).

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Episode Details:

Accomplished trial lawyer and former NFL defensive lineman Randy Edwards of Cochran Edwards, personal injury attorney John Sherrod of Sherrod Bernard, and experienced litigator Paul Piland, also of Cochran Edwards, explain how they strategically represented Adrian Johns, a motorcyclist who was catastrophically injured due to a brake defect concealed by manufacturer Suzuki Motor Corp. In August 2013, Adrian, an experienced rider and U.S. Air Force Special Ops veteran, was thrown off his 2006 Suzuki GSX-R1000 when his front brakes failed to work on an Austell, Georgia roadway. As a result, Adrian shattered his back and permanently damaged his spinal cord, requiring surgery and leading to irreversible motor problems as well as sensory deficits. As early as December 2012, Suzuki Motor Corp. knew riders were in danger due to front brake issues and failed to warn consumers like Adrian until nearly a year later in an effort to maintain sales during peak season. In spite of Suzuki's attempts to blame Adrian's injuries on his own reckless driving or gravel on the roadway, a Douglas County, Georgia jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $10,500,000 in compensatory damages to Adrian and $2,000,000 to his wife Gwen. This was the fifth-largest motorcycle accident verdict in the U.S. in 2018.

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Guest Bios:

Randy Edwards:

Randy is an “AV” rated lawyer by Martindale Hubbell and has been practicing law for over 25 years. He spent the first half of his career at two of Atlanta’s premier law firms, Kilpatrick Stockton (now Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton) where he was a partner for 8 years, and Smith Currie & Hancock where he was an associate for 4 years.

In 2009, he opted for lower overhead and a shorter commute and formed Cochran & Edwards with his childhood friend and neighbor, Scott Cochran. He is licensed in both Georgia and Alabama. As a former NFL defensive lineman, Randy brings a “unique” attitude to the courtroom.

Randy is a trial lawyer and primarily handles the following types of cases:

Business Litigation

With a master’s degree in finance, Randy has unique experience with business cases involving complex damage models. He has handled a wide variety of cases involving unfair competition, “business divorces”, trade secrets, patents, failed business acquisitions, franchise disputes, non-competition agreements, construction disputes (representing contractors, suppliers and owners).

RICO

Many types of business disputes may fall under the Georgia or Federal “RICO” statutes (Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations), depending on exactly what the defendant did, including: larceny, embezzlement and theft, theft of labor or services, mail and wire fraud, health care fraud and various investment scams. Randy has experience on both sides and has obtained several six and seven figure RICO judgments and settlements.

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

Randy has extensive experience with serious personal injury and death cases involving cars, trucks and motorcycles, products liability, road construction, particularly cases against the Georgia Department of Transportation and its contractors, and failed medical devices

Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith

Randy started his career defending insura