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Atlanta Partner Plays Role in New Georgia Legislation during Pandemic
Sep 02, 2020Atlanta Partner Bill Custer has had a significant impact on Georgia’s business community over his 34-year career as a business litigator. Custer has developed a reputation for representing business clients in a wide range of high-profile and complex commercial litigation disputes. What sets him apart, however, is how active he has been in organizations that further the interest of both business and the citizens of Georgia – even in the midst of the pandemic.
On Aug. 5, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 359 into law, which shields businesses and health care providers from certain COVID-19-related lawsuits. Custer, who has served as a member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative and Judiciary Committee, its Board of Directors and on the Board of its affiliate, Georgians for Lawsuit Reform, helped draft the bill and act as a sounding board for legislators and policy makers during the legislative process. This bill, among other things, provides immunity to businesses from COVID-19-related cases unless the litigant can prove “gross negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, reckless infliction of harm, or intentional infliction of harm.”
In May, Custer was also appointed to the Georgia Judicial COVID-19 Task Force to help address issues facing the courts during the pandemic. Created by Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton, the task force has been led by Judge Shawn LaGrua of the Fulton County Superior Court and staffed by other judges, attorneys and court administrators as well as health professionals. Custer, appointed by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce to serve as its representative on the task force, has helped the Task Force formulate policies the courts will implement to ensure the court system remains efficient and safe for staff, attorneys and citizens.
