William James Atkins
Top rated Medical Malpractice attorney in Atlanta, Georgia
Warshauer Woodward Atkins, LLC
Practice areas: Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Civil Rights; view more
Licensed in Georgia since: 1994
Education: Emory University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2026 
Free Consultation Warshauer Woodward Atkins, LLC
2740 Bert Adams RdAtlanta, GA 30339 Phone: 404-476-2458 Email: William James Atkins Visit website
William James Atkins is a partner at Warshauer Woodward & Atkins in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a legal virtuoso, renowned for representing clients in diverse areas such as medical malpractice, wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury cases. He also possesses a unique skill in advocating for children who have been injured or killed in day care facilities, victims of sexual abuse within youth services, religious institutions or academic settings, and those subjected to excessive force by law enforcement officers. In addition to his impressive legal skills, he is a certified mediator and arbitrator.
Having started his career defending major and minor criminal offenses in Douglas County, Mr. Atkins shifted his focus to civil proceedings in 2000, marking his determination as a trial attorney. He has a steady flow of record-breaking victories, achieving numerous six and seven-figure settlements in cases involving employment discrimination, civil rights, medical malpractice and other catastrophic personal injury incidents.
Mr. Atkins' proficiency in medical malpractice and commercial trucking cases is particularly significant, as evidenced by his impressive history of securing multimillion-dollar verdicts each time. Notably, he fearlessly tackled cases involving the vile sexual abuse of children by a volunteer in a youth services organization, getting favorable outcomes for his clients. Furthermore, he secured a multimillion-dollar settlement for the family of a young girl who tragically choked to death in a day care center.
Beyond his legal pursuits, Mr. Atkins holds affiliations with the Cobb County Bar Association, the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, the Atlanta Bar Association and The Lamar American Inn of Court. He is also an associate of the executive committee for the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA) and a highly respected GTLA Champion and PAC member.
Mr. Atkins has generously shared his extensive knowledge on multiple topics, ranging from medical malpractice to nonemergency medical transport and from auto and trucking to trial strategies, employment discrimination and police misconduct, through numerous seminar presentations. Furthermore, he selflessly dedicates his time to serving as co-director of the Walton High School Mock Trial Program, where he scouts the best attorneys to educate high school students on the intricacies of trial practice.
After completing his undergraduate studies in history at Vassar College in 1991, Mr. Atkins attended Emory University School of Law and received his Juris Doctor in 1994. He obtained his license to practice in Georgia the same year he graduated law school.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Civil Rights, Personal Injury - Products: PlaintiffFirst Admitted: 1994, Georgia
Professional Webpage: https://warlawgroup.com/personal-injury-attorneys-in-atlanta...
Bar / Professional Activity
- Member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association’s Executive Committee
- GTLA Champion and PAC member
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Marisa Bailey v. Millstead Food Mart et al, Rockdale County State Court. Mr. Atkins served as lead counsel for Ms. Bailey in this tort action alleging False Imprisonment and Malicious Prosecution. Ms. Bailey was wrongfully arrested for bad checks and spent 36 hours in custody. Ms. Bailey had no significant economic damages. The jury awarded $250,000.00 in compensatory damages and $100,000.00 in attorneys fees. The jury found a specific intent to cause harm but, due to a single hold out on the jury, was unable to agree on a punitive damages award and so awarded just $1.00. The parties reached a confidential settlement that fairly reflected the anomaly of a finding of specific intent, yet a small punitive award. The total verdict of $350,001.00 is believed to be among the largest awarded to a single plaintiff in a personal injury action by a jury in Rockdale County State Court., 2008
- In Re: Estate of Vincent Minor. Verdict: $3,450,000, Fairfax Circuit Court, Virginia, Personal Injury – Medical Negligence
- Valencia Warren v. Fulton Co, GA et al. Verdict: $192,500.00, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 – 4th Amendment (False Arrest)
- Richard Lucas v. City of Braswell et al. Verdict: $1,000,000.00, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 – 4th Amendment (False Arrest) (Plaintiff)
- Estate of Shari Edwards v. DeKalb Medical Center Medical Malpractice – DeKalb County, Georgia $3,000,000.00
- Estate of Michael Banks v. South Atlanta Neurosurgery Medical Malpractice – Clayton County, Georgia) $3,500,000.00
- Mark Tuggle v. Sheriff Victor Hill et al, Northern District of Georgia - Atlanta Division. Mr. Atkins served as lead counsel for Mark Tuggle in this civil rights action alleging False Arrest and Malicious prosecution against former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill. Mr. Tuggle was arrested for Harassing Phone Calls and served approximately 29 hours in custody. A jury returned a verdict of $250,000.00 in compensatory damages and $225,000.00 in punitive damages for a total verdict of $475,000.00. Mr. Atkins filed a Fee Petition and Judge Orinda Evans awarded attorneys fees and expenses of litigation in excess of $175,000.00., 2008
- M.S. v. Rental Car Company, Fulton County State Court. Mr. Atkins served as lead counsel for M. S. (name withheld) in this personal injury action alleging false arrest against a major Rental Car Company (name withheld). M.S. rented a car from the Rental Car Company, drove it to Indiana on vacation, and was arrested because the license plate had been reported stolen by the Rental Car Company. M.S. spent four hours in custody and had no significant economic damages. A Jury awarded $195,000.00 in compensatory damages and $64,000.00 in attorneys fees and expenses. The case settled confidentially after jury trial., 2009
- Keith Brancheau v. Norman Schwartz & Allstate Insurance Co., Douglas County Superior Court. Mr. Atkins and his law partner, James Attwood, represented Mr. Brancheau in this personal injury action arising from an automobile collision in April of 2008. Mr. Brancheau was seriously injured in the collision. Mr. Schwartz's insurance carrier tendered policy limits and the case went to trial against Brancheau's underinsured motorist carrier, Allstate, defending the action in Mr. Schwartz' name. A jury returned a verdict in the amount of $954,000.00 in favor of Mr. Brancheau. The verdict is believed to be among the largest single plaintiff personal injury verdicts in Douglas County, a notoriously conservative venue., 2009
- Jim Tillman v. City of Ocala, FL, Middle District of Florida - Ocala Division. Mr. Atkins served as lead counsel for Jim Tillman, a former employee of the City of Ocala in this employment discrimination action (race discrimination and retaliation). A jury awarded $884,000 to Mr. Tillman. Mr. Atkins filed a fee petition seeking more than $175,000.00 in attorneys fees and expenses. The case settled confidentially. The verdict is believed to be the largest single plaintiff jury award in an employment discrimination matter in the history of the Ocala Division of the Middle District of Florida., 2005
- Ellen Cauthen v. Richmond County Board of Education, Southern District of Georgia - Augusta Division. Mr. Atkins served as lead counsel for Ellen Cauthen, an employee of the Richmond County Board of Education, in this action alleging race discrimination. A jury returned a verdict of $268,000 in compensatory damages despite the absence of any economic damages. Mr. Atkins filed a Fee Petition seeking an award of attorney's fees and expenses in excess of $175,000.00. The parties settled the matter for $435,000.00., 2006
Educational Background
- Vassar College Vassar College, AB, History, Activities and societies: Varsity Soccer, Drama Department productions, 1987 – 1991
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Defeating Qualified Immunity: Excessive Force & False Arrest Cases, 2007 GTLA Annual Convention
- Randall v. Scott, 610 F.3d 701 (11th Cir. 2010), Establishing “right to candidacy” as basis for 1st Amendment Retaliation claim.
- Bates v. Harvey, 518 F.3d 1233 (11th Cir. 2008), Establishing law on entry into home without a warrant to search for minor on “Pick Up Order.”
- Laura Skop v. City of Atlanta, 485 F.3d 1130 (11th Cir. 2007), Reversing grant of summary judgment in §1983 false arrest case.
- In Re: J.S.J., 253 Ga. App. 174, 558 S.E.2d 763 (2002), Finding Juvenile Court acted without jurisdiction to declare child deprived.
- Death by a Thousand Cuts: The Expansion of Qualified Immunity Threatens the Continued Viability of Constitutional Torts GTLA’s Verdict Magazine
- Ministerial Duty Claims Under Georgia Law, ICLE Seminar: Litigation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
- Representing Citizens Against Law Enforcement in the Eleventh Circuit, ICLE Seminar: Litigation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Using Depositions Testimony to Avoid Summary Judgment, GTLA Seminar – Depositions: From Good To Great To Winning
Office location for William James Atkins
2740 Bert Adams Rd
Atlanta, GA 30339
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2026