Practice areas: Medical Malpractice, Utilities, Business Litigation; view more
Licensed in Georgia since: 1986
Education: Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2010 - 2013, 2019 - 2025 Details
William F. Jourdain is an experienced attorney with over 39 years of handling complex litigation matters in both state and federal courts. Serving as the chair of the litigation section of The Minor Firm, located in Dalton, Georgia, he has focused primarily on litigation, business law, medical malpractice defense, health care law for professionals, human resources law, and municipal and utility law.
His experience in health care law extends beyond litigation, as Mr. Jourdain regularly counsels clients on risk management and medical staff matters. Additionally, he has served as a hearing officer and represented clients in contested peer-review matters at hospitals in North Georgia. He also has a robust background in defending cases for several insurance companies, covering property casualty matters for businesses and homeowners.
Notably, Mr. Jourdain has over 25 years of experience representing a regional amusement park. He has been admitted pro hac vice to represent floor-covering clients in litigation across several other states. His legal acumen also includes public utility law, where he serves as general counsel to a large municipal utility.
Throughout his career, Mr. Jourdain has been honored multiple times, including being peer-review rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell. Beyond litigation, he is certified as a mediator in the state of Georgia for general civil cases and is a registered neutral (mediator) in Georgia. His extensive experience in the mediation process includes participating in hundreds of mediations over his career.
Holding a B.A. from Furman University, Mr. Jourdain completed his J.D. from Mercer University – Walter F. George School of Law. He is admitted to practice in Georgia and Tennessee, as well as before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and the U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia.
Mr. Jourdain is deeply involved in his community, having served as the chairman of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, the Dalton/Whitfield Chapter of the American Red Cross and more. He also volunteers as counsel for the American Radio Relay League.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Defense, Utilities, Business Litigation, General LitigationFocus areas
Birth Injury, Delayed or Incorrect Diagnosis, Dental Malpractice, Informed Consent, Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Restraining Order, Small Claims
- 40% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Defense
- 40% Utilities
- 10% Business Litigation
- 10% General Litigation
First Admitted: 1986, Georgia
Professional Webpage: https://www.minorfirm.com/attorney/jourdain-william-f/
- Georgia, 1986
- Tennessee, 2009
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia, 1986
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia, 1987
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1994
- Member, Georgia Defense Lawyer's Association, 2020
- Fellow, Lawyer's Foundation of Georgia
- Director, Georgia Academy of Health Care Attorneys, 2010
- Obtained seven figure settlement for Plaintiff in wrongful death case involving allegations of food poisoning., 2024
- Jury verdict in favor of defendant physician in above the knee amputation case, 2022.
- Dominy v. Shumpert, 235 Ga. App. 500 (1998)
- Defense jury verdict for physician client in medical malpractice jury trial in Payne v. Vaughn, et. al., in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division (November 2009)
- On behalf of defense, settled environmental contamination suit that had been pending since 2001. Following multiple appeals, this multiparty case was settled one week from the trial date. This case involved significant issues of state and federal environmental and tort law. This case also presented hotly contested coverage issues. Walnut Ave. Partners v. Big B Cleaners, et. al., Whitfield County, Georgia Superior Court, 2012.
- Christian v. Atha, 267 Ga. App. 186 (2004)
- Kittle v. ConAgra Poultry Co., Inc., 247 Ga. App. 102 (2000)
- White v. Arthur Enterprises, Inc., 219 Ga. App. 124 (1995)
- Jury verdict in favor of State Farm Fire and Casualty Company in first party suit filed by insured in case pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Rollins v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, 2011.
- Pottinger v. Smith, 293 Ga. App. 626 (2008)
- Payne v. Harbin, 254 Ga. App. 402 (2002)
- Bituminous Cas. Corp. v. Advanced Adhesive Technology, Inc., 73 F.3d 335 (1996)
- Defense jury verdict for physician in case of Duke v. Boutwell, et. al. in Superior Court of Floyd County, Georgia. In this medical malpractice case, Plaintiffs had sought $20 million for alleged birth related brain injury, 2011.
- Defense verdict for vascular surgeon in medical malpractice case involving below the knee amputation of woman in her 20's. The case was tried in Catoosa County Superior Court. Allen v. Hamilton, et. al., 2017.
- Jury verdict in the amount of $305,000 in favor of corporation against former employee for violation of non-compete agreement. Perpetual Machine Company, Inc. v. Brown, Whitfield County, Georgia Superior Court, 2011.
- Houston v. Bedgood, 263 Ga. App. 139 (2003)
- Bradley Medical Center, LLC, 2024
- GSH Investments, LLC, 2022
- Skin Cancer and Cosmetic Dermatology Center, 2019
- Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce
- MAG Mutual Insurance Company
- Perpetual Machine, Inc.
- Naughton Insurance Company
- Lyle Industries, Inc.
- Hamilton Medical Center, Inc.
- State Farm Fire and Casualty Company
- Dorsett Industries, Inc.
- Dalton Whitfield Bank (An FSG Bank)
- Hamilton Health Care System, Inc. d/b/a Vitruvian Health Care System
- Dalton Family Practice, P.C.
- Dalton Utilities (City of Dalton, Georgia)
- Thompson Energy, Inc.
- State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company
- Textile Rubber & Chemical Company, Inc.
- Hamilton Emergency Medical Services, Inc.
- Lake Winniepesaukah Amusements, Inc.
- Certified and Registered Neutral (Mediator) in Georgia, 2022.
- Licensed as an Amateur Extra Class (highest class) amateur radio operator by the Federal Communications Commission.
- Chair, Voluntary Action Center of Northwest Georgia
- Board Member, Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership, 2020.
- Volunteer Counsel, American Radio Relay League
- Chair, Looper Speech, and Hearing Center
- Coach, Dalton High School Mock Trial Team
- Disaster Committee Chair, Dalton Chapter, American Red Cross
- Chair, Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce
- Chair, Dalton Chapter American Red Cross
- Included in Georgia Super Lawyers List, Super Lawyers Magazine
- AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Dalton Daily Citizen News Reader's Choice Award as "Best Lawyer in Northwest Georgia", Reader's Choice Award, Dalton Daily Citizen-News, 2009
- Young Person of the Year, Dalton Jaycees, 1993
- Furman University (B.A., 1983)
- Lectured on basics of EMTALA and recent changes in EMTALA for CME credit to attendees., Presenter, EMTALA Basics, Hamilton Medical Center, Medical Staff
- Lectured on 2005 Georgia Tort Reform Act at the annual meeting of the Georgia Academy of Health Care Attorneys., Presenter, Georgia 2005 Tort Reform Act, Georgia Academy of Health Care Attorneys
- Lectured on updates and changes to the 2005 Georgia Tort Reform Act., Presenter, Updates on 2005 Tort Reform in Georgia, Hamilton Medical Center, Medical Staff
- Lectured to group of physicians regarding best risk management practices in the medical office., Risk Management in the Medical Practice, MAG Mutual Insurance Company, Physicians
- Have lectured in the workplaces of numerous clients regarding best workplace practices and risk management related to claims of workplace discrimination., Best Workplace Practices
- Presented seminar to physicians, nurses, and other health care providers regarding the basics of HIPAA and the upcoming changes in the law. Physicians received CME credit., Presenter, HIPAA Basics, Hamilton Medical Center, 2009
- Presented on topics of general risk management, medical malpractice defense litigation and Georgia Tort Reform to approximately 60 physicians in this seminar sponsored by State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company of Tennessee., Presenter, General Risk Management Seminar, State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company, 2012
- Was co-presenter to group of physicians and health care providers at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton, Georgia regarding the updates in HIPAA rules and regulations., Co-Presenter, HIPAA Update, 2013
- Graduate, Leadership Georgia, 1999
- President, Leadership Dalton-Whitfield, 2003
- Floor Covering
- Health Care
- Insurance
- Medical
- Municipal Utility
- Utility
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2010 - 2013, 2019 - 2025
