Matthew F. McGahren

• University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, NC, Student Bar Association, Dean’s List , 1992
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Degree: BA (Bachelor of Arts), Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Dean's List, 1989

• Deans List, University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, NC, 1992
• Dean's List, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1989
• Summa Cum Laude, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1989

• Georgia Bar, 1993
• Florida Bar, 1995
• North Carolina Bar, 1993
• Arizona Bar, 2020

• Informed a small audience of film producers in the ins and outs of contract and liability law for productions. With details about location shooting and copyright. We covered ways to mitigate risk and prevent lawsuits., Main Presenter and Organizer, Legal Advice for Filmmakers: Dragoncon, Movie, Indy Films, Video Production, 2014
• Understanding The Laws of Georgia, Main Presenter, Understanding The Laws of Georgia, Family, Business, Korean, 2004

• State Bar of Georgia - Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) Advanced Storytelling and Persuasion Skills for Lawyers 6 Credit Hours, 2017

• Atlanta Light Bulbs, 2020

• Norcross High School Mock Trial Team; Co-Coach Sponsor and Promoter., 2022
• Norcross High School Mock Trial Team; Co-Coach Sponsor and Promoter. Team finished 5th in the State of Georgia losing to the ultimate state winner 3 ballots to 2 with the one deciding ballot scored 104-105., 2021
• Norcross High School Mock Trial Team; Instructor, Sponsor and Promoter, 2020
• Norcross High School Mock Trial Team; Instructor, Sponsor and Promoter, 2019
• Norcross High School Mock Trial Team; Instructor, Sponsor and Promoter, 2018
• Norcross High School Mock Trial Team; Instructor, Sponsor and Promoter, 2017
• Prepared students for mock jury trials. Taught students legal research and writing skills., 1990

• Negligence Claim for Serious Foot Injury Caused by Forklift Driver. DETAILS:  Truck driver’s left foot was crushed by a I-Beam that fell from a forklift while his flatbed truck was being loaded at a shipyard. Evidence exists that forklift operator’s certification and training had expired. OUTCOME: Settlement for $2.7 Million, 2022
• Negligence claim for fractured ankle sustained in fall on vacant property. DETAILS: Female was viewing a vacant property for sale when she stepped off deck with out-of-code step height. Fractured ankle requiring extensive reconstructive surgery. OUTCOME: Settled prior to trial via full tender of $300,000, 2022
• Negligence claim for serious hip and pelvis injury caused by falling window insert. DETAILS: Female attempting to open window in rental unit injured when a heavy insert dislodged from frame and knocked her to the ground. OUTCOME: Settled prior to trial for One Hundred and Eighty Thousand Dollars ($180,000), 2022
• Negligence claim for severe back and shoulder injuries caused by falling service elevator door. DETAILS: Female working contract job at local facility suffered serious, permanent injury when the service door unexpectedly and without warning closed on her back. OUTCOME: Settled prior to trial for $157,500, 2022
• Negligence claim for automobile collision with city bus resulting in long-term post-concussional syndrome. DETAILS: Female client rear-ended by city bus. OUTCOME: Settled prior to trial for $150,000, 2021
• Negligence claim for torn meniscus in knee resulting from fall in water meter hole on private property. DETAILS: Male client fell through uncovered water meter hole on unoccupied private property. OUTCOME: Settled prior to trial for $175,000, 2021
• Negligence claim for automobile collision resulting in spinal surgery.  OUTCOME: Settled for Two Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand Dollars ($295,000.), 2021
• Negligence Claim for Serious Foot Injury resulting in surgical placement and subsequent removal of hardware. DETAILS:  Female seeking to locate her wrongfully repossessed vehicle from a auto recovery company injured her foot while crossing a landscaped area due to the primary path being blocked. Firm withstood summary judgment. OUTCOME: Partial Settlement from one Defendant of Two Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Dollars. Case will be pursued on appeal against separate company that had been dismissed since the injury did not occur within the physical boundaries of its location., 2021
• Negligence claim for automobile collision resulting in serious, disabling back injury. DETAILS: Female let go by prior attorney when her UM carrier denied claim. OUTCOME: Settled for $100,000 during discovery via full tender of UM insurance coverage, 2020
• Wrongful Death and Injury Claims Caused by Drunk Driver DETAILS: 17-year-old male passenger died upon impact with a vehicle recklessly driven by an intoxicated driver. Mother and Father sustained serious mental and physical injuries. OUTCOME: Settled prior to trial via a full tender of available insurance coverage., 2020
• Tractor trailer truck accident results in personal injury. Settled for $675,000., 2018
• Negligence Claim for Children Injured while in Crosswalk. DETAILS: Two minor children were seriously injured when they were hit at a crosswalk by a pick-up truck. Their injuries resulted in long-term hospitalization and permanent and limiting longstanding injuries. OUTCOME: Settled for $2.2 million., 2014
• Negligence Claim for Serious Arm Injury Sustained by Passenger DETAILS: Female passenger sustained injuries to her arm resulting in multiple surgeries and permanent limitations due to driver’s negligence in striking a tree. OUTCOME: Settled prior to Trial for $875,000., 2013
• Defamation and Libel Claim for Reputation Damage to Accountant. DETAILS: Employee of company who resigned was accused by disgruntled employer of embezzlement. Police investigation revealed claims against employee were unsubstantiated. Subsequently employer published article implied employee had embezzled from him. Employer refused to retract such statements and suit was filed. OUTCOME: Trial verdict awarded in the amount of $750,000., 2011
• Wrongful Death Claim Due to Negligent Security DETAILS: A man living at an extended stay hotel attempted to break up an assault on a pregnant woman but was tragically stabbed to death by the assailant. Evidence revealed the management of the hotel complex should have known of, due to hundreds of prior incidents of criminal activity and violence on their premises yet failed to adequately protect their renters. Defendant claimed that the decedent claim’s failed since he has had been the aggressor. In addition, they claimed they had no prior notice of violent criminal conduct. OUTCOME: Settled prior to trial for $500,000., 2011
• Claims for Back Injury Caused by Negligent Entrustment of Vehicle to Drunk Driver. DETAILS: Two passengers sustained back injury from rear end collision caused by an unlicensed drunk driver who was driving a vehicle entrusted by owner. Owner denied such entrustment and insurance carrier denied claim. Medical bills for each plaintiff were under $10,000. OUTCOME: Trial verdicts of $158,000 and $165,000. Verdict was recognized as one of several top verdicts related to DUI 2009., 2009
• Negligence Claim for Serious Arm Injury Sustained by a Passenger During Test Drive of an ATV DETAILS: A male passenger was encouraged by a salesperson to join him on a test drive of an ATV. During the test drive, salesperson drove at a high speed and flipped the ATV resulting in the passenger severely fracturing his arm leading to several surgeries and permanent injury. OUTCOME: Settled for $400,000 prior to Trial., 2009
• Wrongful Death of a Father Due to Non-Working Smoke Alarm DETAILS: Father of two teenage boys died when a fire engulfed his newly rented apartment. Local Fire Chief determined that the smoke detector failed to emit a warning sound due to missing batteries. Lawsuit was filed. OUTCOME: Confidential Settlement reached at mediation prior to trial., 2007
• Premises Liability Claim for Ankle Injury Caused by Hazardous Conditions in a Restaurant. DETAILS: Elderly woman severely fractured her ankle (requiring 5 pins to be inserted in her ankle) when she fell at a restaurant due to hazardous conditions created from ongoing construction. Medical bills were approximately $19,000. OUTCOME: Jury verdict In Gwinnett County for $250,000., 2007
• Defective Product Resulting in Serious Elbow Injury to Musician. DETAILS: Musician who had been previously recognized in the Georgia Hall of Rock and Roll Fame sustained a serious injury to his left elbow when he was struck by a retractable tape crowd control device while at Hartsfield Atlanta airport. Initially the trial court dismissed the case; however, the Georgia Court of Appeals reversed its decision and remanded for trial. OUTCOME: Confidential Settlement reached at mediation prior to trial., 2006
• Product Liability Claim for Serious Arm Injury Caused by Defective Front-End Loader DETAILS: Hydraulic repair technician’s arm was crushed by a front-end loader that had been negligently designed and/or not properly maintained. OUTCOME: Settled confidentially with manufacturer prior to trial., 2006
• Negligent Security Claim for Injury Sustained During the 1996 Summer Olympics Bombing DETAILS: Male spectator was present at an event at Olympic Centennial Park when explosion unexpectedly occurred resulting in serious arm injury. Suit was filed for negligent and/or insufficient security against various entities, including the Atlanta Committee of Olympic Games. OUTCOME: Confidential Settlement reached after ten years of litigation., 2006
• Wrongful Death of a Mother Due to Collapsed Railing DETAILS: Mother fell from a second story platform at an apartment complex due to the collapse of a rusted railing. Evidence revealed that Landlord had been aware of the issue and had failed to properly repair it despite requests by the resident manager. OUTCOME: Confidential Settlement reached at mediation prior to trial., 2005
• Negligence Claim for Serious Injury to Teenager Injured by Train DETAILS: One of several teenagers sustained severe injury when the car that she was traveling in was struck by a train. Injuries included fractures and scarring. Evidence revealed that the railroad crossing was not working properly and that train did not follow operating procedures to blow its whistle. OUTCOME: Settled for $130,000 prior to Trial., 2001
• Malpractice and Other Claims Against HMO for Negligence Leading to a Coma. DETAILS: Adult female patient was misdiagnosed by a physician’s assistant resulting in her having to be put into a drug induced coma for several weeks. Negligence claims were subsequently filed against Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and its agents for malpractice by the physician assistant who improperly made a diagnosis outside the presence of a physician. OUTCOME: Confidential Settlement reached at mediation prior to trial., 2001

• , Rated by Super Lawyers, superlawyers.com, 2022
• Awarded 2022 Best of Gwinnett In the category of "Best Personal Injury Firms in Gwinnett.", Best Personal Injury Firms in Gwinnett, https://www.guidetogwinnett.com/best/legal-services/personal-injury-firms/2022, 2022
• Awarded in the category of "Best Personal Injury Firms in Gwinnett" in 2021 by Guide to Gwinnett., Best Personal Injury Firms in Gwinnett 2021, https://www.guidetogwinnett.com/best/legal-services/personal-injury-firms/2021, 2021
• Awarded in the category of "Best Full Service Law Firms in Gwinnett" in 2021 by Guide to Gwinnett., Best Full Service Law Firms in Gwinnett 2021, https://www.guidetogwinnett.com/best/legal-services/full-service-law-firms/2021, 2021
• Awarded in the category of "Best Business Law Advisors in Gwinnett" in 2021 by Guide to Gwinnett., Best Business Law Advisors in Gwinnett 2021, https://www.guidetogwinnett.com/best/legal-services/business-law-advisors/2021, 2021
• Voted Among the Best of Gwinnett Full Service Law Firms in Gwinnett 2020 on Guide to Gwinnett., Among the Best of Gwinnett Full Service Law Firms in Gwinnett 2020, https://www.guidetogwinnett.com/best/legal-services/full-service-law-firms/2020, 2020
• Awarded in the category of "Best Personal Injury Firms in Gwinnett 2020" by Guide to Gwinnett., Best Personal Injury Firms in Gwinnett 2020, https://www.guidetogwinnett.com/best/legal-services/personal-injury-firms/2020, 2020
• , Client's Choice, www.avvo.com, 2020
• Rated Best Divorce Lawyer in John's Creek by Expertise.com, Best Divorce Lawyers in Johns Creek, https://www.expertise.com/ga/johns-creek/divorce-attorney/award, 2020
• , Among the Best of Gwinnett in Full Service Law Firms in Gwinnett, https://insidegwinnett.com/, 2019
• , Among the Best of Gwinnett in Business Law Advisors, https://insidegwinnett.com/, 2019
• , Among the Best of Gwinnett in Business Law Advisors, https://insidegwinnett.com/, 2018
• , Runner up for Best Law Firm, https://insidegwinnett.com/, 2017
• , Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell, 2017

“He is a superb trial lawyer. He is meticulous in his advocacy and extremely learned in appellate and trial advocacy. He manages a boutique practice and has an impeccable reputation that separates him from other attorneys in his field.”

“I have been working with the attorney Matthew McGahren for the last ten years. First, I attended an internship with his firm after my graduation. After that, over the years, I collaborated with him on several personal injury cases that I have referred to his firm. He has always been very professional and knowledgeable and reached the best outcome for the clients. I believe Mr. McGaren is one of the best personal injury attorneys in metro Atlanta.”

“I worked for this attorney for 3 years before law school and he is stellar attorney worthy of a nomination.”

“Matt is an outstanding trial lawyer. Definitely among the very best in Georgia, and a pleasure to work with.”

“Matt is a top notch litigator.”

“Super lawyer and litigator.”

“Top notch civil trial lawyer.”