Justin O'Dell
Top rated Family Law attorney in Marietta, Georgia
O'Dell O'Neal Hungerford & Blanchard
Practice Areas: Family Law, Estate & Trust Litigation, General Litigation; view more
Licensed in Georgia since: 2002
Education: University of Georgia School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2017 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2013 - 2016 Call today:
877-493-0121
O'Dell O'Neal Hungerford & Blanchard
506 Roswell StreetSuite 210
Marietta, GA 30060 Visit website
Details
Justin O’Dell has been actively practicing law in Georgia since his admission to the bar in 2002. He founded O’Dell, O'Neal, Hungerford, and Blanchard in January 2013, based on a commitment to clients and community. Mr. O’Dell has litigated bench and jury cases in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, and in the various Superior, State, Probate and Juvenile Courts of Metro Atlanta, Georgia. He has also appeared before the Cherokee and Cobb County Board of Commissioners as well as the Marietta City Council on various client matters related to licensing and zoning.
Mr. O’Dell has a broad range of practice areas, including but not limited to business and civil litigation disputes, family law matters, probate litigation and property litigation. He has appeared in a variety of forums related to property title and use. Justin has also litigated consumer cases involving personal injury, wrongful foreclosure, wrongful eviction, breach of fiduciary duty and defective construction. He has also successfully represented residential and commercial property owners facing claims of eminent domain. Mr. O’Dell has successfully handled each of the last three election disputes in Cobb County.
Justin O’Dell was raised on a small family farm in Southern Idaho. He attended Furman University, graduating in 1999 with a degree in Political Science. He attended law school at the University of Georgia and completed his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, in 2002. In addition to working on a farm, Mr. O’Dell worked as a summer seasonal wild land firefighter for the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management.
Since coming to Marietta, Mr. O’Dell has become ingrained in the local community through civic and nonprofit service. He serves on various civic and non-profit boards and is one of the founding Board members and Board Chairman of Reconnecting Families, Inc. and the recipient of their annual Juanita Stedman Celebrating Families award. Mr. O’Dell is an active member of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and completed the Leadership Cobb program in 2007. He has been elected to leadership within the Kiwanis Club of Marietta to serve as Club Secretary, President-Elect and Club President. Justin is active within the faith community as a member, Deacon and Sunday School Instruction at First Baptist Church of Marietta.
Mr. O’Dell’s work has been recognized in a variety of ways. In 2010, he was named one of the 20 Rising Stars Under 40 in Cobb County, Georgia. Also in 2010, Justin was recognized by the State Bar of Georgia with the Robert Benham Award for Community Service. In 2012, Georgia Power awarded him their annual Citizen Wherever We Serve Award. Super Lawyers selected him for the past three years as a Georgia Rising Star. He has received recognition for outstanding service by the Marietta Kiwanis club and the Cobb Collaborative. In 2015, he was given the Chairman’s Award by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce in recognition for his work in Co-Chairing the 2014 Countywide SPLOST referendum. He was also awarded the 2016 Next Generation Award by the Cobb Young Professionals division of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. In 2019, he was voted Best of Cobb for Civil Attorney, Overall Attorney, and Family/Divorce Attorney.
Practice areas
Family Law, Estate & Trust Litigation, General LitigationFocus areas
Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Litigation
- 50% Family Law
- 30% Estate & Trust Litigation
- 20% General Litigation
First Admitted: 2002, Georgia
Professional Webpage: http://www.odelloneal.com/justin-odell/
- American Bar Association
- Cobb County Bar Association Board of Trustees, 2010
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
- Georgia, 2002
- Tibbetts v. Galt - Superior Court of Fulton County (2019). Successful dissolution of business partnership, plus award of attorney's fees., 2019
- Cary v. Cary - Superior Court of Cobb County (2018). Favorable custody award to Mother, plus support and alimony payments in excess of $15,000 per month and property division over $1 million. Award of attorney's fees over $350,000.00., 2018
- Gonzales v. Gonzales, Superior Court of Cobb County (2019). Verdict for client of lump sum alimony obligation only $32,000 against a claim of $450,000+. Preservation of separate assets of $900,000+. , 2019
- In RE: Paulding County Pipeline Property Acquisition and Construction Easements (2017). Condemnation defense resulting in award to client 11 times higher than first offer., 2017
- Mr. A v. Mrs. A. - Superior Court of Cherokee County, Georgia (2017). Custody award of toddler to Father due to demonstration of instability in Mother and Mother's family., 2017
- Executive Parking v. Ace Parking, S. Phillips - Superior Court of Fulton County (2017). Injunction and award of full attorney's fees incurred enforcing employee covenant not to compete and recovery of misappropriated corporate information., 2017
- Mrs. P. v. Mrs. P. - Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia (2017). Successful trial of case involving control of legacy family of business. Substantial assest award and six year alimony award to offset business interference and taking by Husband and Husband's parents., 2017
- Ledbetter v. Baer, Superior Court of Cobb County (2018). Settlement mid-trial following exposure of false testimony and undisclosed material witness. Favorable boundary line determination for client, plus attorney's fees., 2018
- Reid v. Lindsey, 348 Ga. 425, 2019
- SEC v. Torchia, Southerland, Duscio, et. al, 2019 WL 1911823 (11th Cir. Apr. 30, 2019), 2019
- Mr. B. v. Debt Collector. Confidential settlement for violation of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 2007
- Tselios v. Sarsour, 341 Ga. App. 471, 2017
- PMC v. CII Global, Superior Court of Cobb County. Defense of individual partner and prosecution of claims against other partners. Successful enforcement of settlement of dissolution of partnership in favor of client. , 2008
- Mrs. D v. Mr. D, Superior Court of Cobb County. Judges award of requested property division in high asset divorce with substantial separate property, despite allegations of misconduct, 2010
- Cobb County School District v. Crawford, Cobb County, Georgia. Successfully defended Principal against false allegation of failure to report. Following the case, the Head of Professional Standards and Ethics was non-renewed and the Lead Investigator resigned. The Cobb County School Board later proposed revised standards for conducting investigations. , 2013
- Mr. N. v. Mrs. N., Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia. Successful trial of case after multiple prior counsel failed to obtain relief. Award of custody to father, along with support, award of 100% of business started by father back to father and recovery fees., 2015
- Hines v. Board of Elections, Superior Court of Cobb County. Successfully set aside 2012 Sunday Sales Referendum in Cobb County due to lack of compliance with legislation and disenfranchisement of City voters, 2012
- Buckner v Complete Wrecker, Eviction Services, Inc. & MSP, State Court of Dekalb County, Plaintiff's jury verdict for wrongful eviction in excess of $200,000.00., 2007
- Anderson v.Fluid Management, (U.S. District Court, N.D. Georgia) (2016). Successful settlement of wage and hour claim, 2016
- In Re: Mrs. B., Probate Court of Gilmer County. Successful resolution of contested guardianship and conservatorship of incapacitated adult against claims of abuse, 2007
- Burleigh v. Shackelford, State Court of Cobb County. Defendant verdict of only $65,451.17 against a Plaintiff's request of in excess of $800,000.00., 2006
- Godwin v. Pearlberg, Superior Court of Cobb County. Successful defense to legal challenge of eligibility of incumbent City Councilman, 2009
- Bejdic v. Smitherman, Cobb County, Georgia. Six figure settlement of automobile wreck involving compound fracture of spine against liability insurance and uninsured motorist insurance carriers. , 2013
- Ms. D. v. Mr. D., Superior Court of Cobb County. Temporary award of support totaling approximately $7,500.00 per month, plus $10,000 in attorney's fees against high asset executive. Result led to substantial permanent settlement, 2011
- Mr. R. v. Mrs. R., Superior Court of Paulding County, Georgia. Successful custody case on behalf of a father against stay at home mother with issues of substance abuse and anger management. , 2014
- Mr. and Mrs. B v. Ms. G. Superior Court of Cherokee County, Successful defense of Mother against paternal grandparents attempt to take custody, 2012
- Lincoln v. Beaumont Tax, Superior Court of Cobb County, Plaintiff's jury verdict in excess of $150,000.00, plus punitive damages for breach of fiduciary duty and fraud and attorney's fees arising from negligent tax services, 2011
- Mr. D v. Ms. B, Superior Court of Cobb County. Award of custody of infant to Father due to abandonment, alienation and erratic behavior of Mother, 2007
- Perry, Sexton v. Amah, Superior Court of Cobb County. Verdict in excess of $140,000.00, including substantial attorney's fees, for claims arising from trespass and nuisance over disputed easement rights., 2015
- Church v. Board of Elections, Superior Court of Cobb County. Successfully set aside election for Mayor of City of Kennesaw, 2008
- Chemlink v. Christian, et. al, Superior Court of Cobb County. Temporary restraining order, injunction and judgment against employee and third-party entities for violation of covenant not to compete, fraud, conversion of trade secrets and tortuous business practices. , 2011
- Cardoza v. Wells Fargo, Superior Court of Cobb County. Successful action to set aside foreclosure and confidential settlement, 2010
- Ms. H. v. Fitness International, U.S. District Court, N.D. Georgia. Successful settlement of claims involving sexual harassment. , 2014
- Mrs. F v. Mr. F. Superior Court of Cobb County. Successful divorce defense of high asset executive involving multimillion dollar compensation, stock options and deferred compensation against claims of spouse for excessive property distribution and alimony. Spouse received nearly $1 million less than requested in property division and less than one-third of the alimony requested, 2012
- Weeks v. Huck, Superior Court of Cobb County, Plaintiff's jury verdict establishing a property boundary line and award of $20,000.00 in attorney's fees, 2011
- Mrs. M. v. Dr. J. Superior Court of Cobb County. Award in favor of Wife of $8,000.00 per month in total support, over $80,000.00 in attorney's fees and property settlement of approximately $500,000.00, 2006
- In RE: E.W. (U.S. District Court, N.D. Georgia) (2016). Successful settlement of claims for pharmacy compounding negligence affecting minor child., 2016
- Questions About Divorce?, 2022
- President,Board of Directors, Flag Committee, Kiwanis Club of Marietta, 2017
- Center for Family Resources - Annual Gala
- Kiwanis Club of Marietta (service includes Spiritual Aims, Sports and Social, Scholarship, Membership, Programs Committees, Young Children Priority One Chair), 2017
- Board of Directors & Board Chairman, Reconnecting Families, Inc., 2017
- Cobb Alcohol Task Force Policy Council Chair, 2017
- Active Member, Cobb Chamber of Commerce, 2017
- Founder & Committee Member, Cobb County Diaper Day, 2017
- American Heart Association/American Stroke Association NW Georgia Heart Walk Committee, 2016
- Member, Sunday School Instructor, Deacon, First Baptist Church of Marietta, 2017
- American Cancer Society Swordsman's Ball Committee, Event Co-Chair, 2014
- Leadership Cobb Alumni Association (Public Safety Committee, Social Services Committee Chair, Cobb Youth Leadership/Leadership Cobb Joint Program Committee Chair, 2017
- SPLOST/E-SPLOST Campaigns Co-Chairman, Secure Cobb's Future, 2014
- ., Cobb Young Professionals Next Generation Award, 2016
- ., Best Overall Attorney, Best of Cobb
- ., Judge Juanita Stedman Celebrating Families Award, 2015
- ., Best Family/Divorce Attorney, Best of Cobb, 2019
- Community Service Recognition Award, Cobb Chamber of Commerce, 2008
- ., Best Civil Attorney, Best of Cobb, 2019
- 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016, Super Lawyers Georgia Rising Stars
- Georgia Super Lawyer, 2017
- Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service, State Bar of Georgia, 2010
- Next Generation Award, Cobb Young Professionals, 2016
- Judge Juanita Stedman Celebrating Families Award, 2015
- Citizen Wherever We Serve Award, Georgia Power, 2012
- 20 Rising Stars Under 40 in Cobb County, Cobb Life Magazine
- ., Chairman's Award, Cobb Chamber, 2015
- Furman University, B.A. in Political Science, 1999
- Presenting Speaker, Technology In the Law Office: Helping Small Firms Compete, 2010
- Author, Election Challenges in Georgia, 2011
- Presenting Speaker, The Court System & You: A Primer for Clergy, Non-Profit Organizations and Churches, 2011
- Presenting Speaker, Facebook Meets Voir Dire: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of Mining the Internet During Litigation, 2011
- Presenting Speaker, Ethics for Litigators, National Business Institute, 2012
- Dirty Litigation Tactics: Ethics & Professional Conduct, National Business Institute, 2013
- When Your Business Partner Dies, Cobb County Bar Association, 2015
- Probate Litigation Basics, Cobb County Bar Association, 2015
- Estate and Trusts Contests, Disputes & Challenges, National Business Institute, 2016
- Outstanding Service, Marietta Kiwanis Club and Cobb Collaborative
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Justin is a seasoned family law attorney and highly regarded among his peers and the overall business community. He provides high quality legal representation to his clients. ”
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2017 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2013 - 2016
