For more than 40 years, I have devoted my practice to representing individuals and families whose lives have been forever changed by medical negligence, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death. While I am widely known for medical malpractice litigation, my practice also includes birth injuries, catastrophic trucking and commercial vehicle collisions, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, product liability, swimming pool drowning cases, and other complex negligence matters.

At Goldstein Hayes Trial Lawyers, we intentionally maintain a selective caseload so every client receives direct attorney involvement from beginning to end. Serious cases require substantial financial investment, meticulous preparation, and the willingness to take them to trial when necessary. That philosophy has helped our firm recover nearly $1 billion in verdicts and settlements while earning a reputation for handling some of Georgia's most significant catastrophic injury cases.

What makes our practice different is not simply the results we have achieved, but the way we achieve them. Every case is thoroughly investigated, developed with nationally respected experts, and prepared as though it will ultimately be decided by a jury. I believe clients deserve experienced trial lawyers who are personally invested in their cases and committed to pursuing the best possible outcome.

What types of cases do you handle?

My practice focuses on medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injury, and wrongful death litigation. I also represent clients in birth injury, truck and commercial vehicle accidents, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, product liability, construction and industrial accidents, and swimming pool drowning cases. For more than four decades, I have concentrated my practice on helping individuals and families facing life-changing injuries and losses.

Why do clients choose you and Goldstein Hayes Trial Lawyers?

Most of my clients are dealing with one of the most difficult experiences of their lives. They are looking for an experienced trial lawyer who will personally handle their case, communicate honestly, and prepare it thoroughly. At Goldstein Hayes Trial Lawyers, we intentionally accept a limited number of significant cases so every client receives direct attorney involvement, substantial resources, and meticulous trial preparation rather than a high-volume approach.

Do you personally handle every case?

Yes. I remain personally involved throughout every case we accept. My clients know who is handling their case, can reach me when they have questions, and work with an experienced litigation team that is focused on achieving the best possible outcome—not simply moving cases through the system.

Why are medical malpractice cases so difficult to win?

Medical malpractice cases are among the most challenging in civil litigation. They require an understanding of complex medicine, careful analysis of thousands of pages of medical records, highly qualified expert witnesses, and compliance with Georgia's unique legal requirements. Success depends on proving not only that a healthcare provider made a mistake, but that the negligence directly caused serious harm.

Why does your firm limit the number of cases it accepts?

Catastrophic injury and medical malpractice cases require enormous investments of time, preparation, and financial resources. We believe our clients are best served when we can devote the attention each significant case deserves. That means retaining nationally respected experts, thoroughly investigating every claim, and preparing each case as though it will ultimately be decided by a jury.

Do all of your cases go to trial?

No. Many cases resolve through settlement, but every case is prepared from the outset as if it will be tried before a jury. Thorough preparation often leads to better results, whether through settlement or trial, because opposing parties know we are prepared to present the case in court if necessary.

How important are expert witnesses in catastrophic injury and medical malpractice cases?

Expert witnesses are often essential. Physicians, surgeons, economists, life-care planners, accident reconstructionists, engineers, and other specialists help explain complex issues that juries would otherwise have no way of understanding. We invest the resources necessary to work with highly qualified experts because careful preparation often makes the difference between an average outcome and an exceptional one.

What results has your firm achieved?

Over the years, Goldstein Hayes Trial Lawyers has recovered nearly $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, including more than $200 million in medical malpractice recoveries, over $400 million in commercial motor vehicle cases, and numerous seven-, eight-, and nine-figure results. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes, but our experience allows us to confidently handle the most significant and complex cases.

Where do you represent clients?

Although our office is based in Atlanta, I represent clients throughout Georgia in catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death litigation. We regularly handle cases involving hospitals, healthcare systems, trucking companies, manufacturers, and other corporations across the state.

What should someone do if they believe medical negligence or a catastrophic injury has changed their life?

The first priority is always obtaining appropriate medical care. After that, preserve any records, photographs, and other evidence, avoid discussing the case publicly, and consult an experienced trial lawyer as soon as practical. Early investigation is often critical to preserving evidence and evaluating whether negligence occurred.

Many of your cases are referred by other attorneys. Why?

Catastrophic injury and medical malpractice cases often involve complex legal and medical issues that require significant experience and resources. Over the years, many attorneys have trusted our firm to handle these cases because of our trial experience, our commitment to thorough preparation, and our ability to invest in the experts and technology necessary to pursue the best possible outcome for our clients.

What makes Goldstein Hayes Trial Lawyers different?

For more than 40 years, Goldstein Hayes Trial Lawyers has built its reputation by accepting a limited number of significant cases, investing substantial resources in expert witnesses and trial preparation, and remaining personally involved with every client we represent. We believe serious cases deserve experienced trial lawyers, individualized attention, and a commitment to pursuing justice through verdict when necessary—not a high-volume settlement practice.

One of the most memorable cases I handled this past year involved a family whose loved one suffered catastrophic, life-altering injuries as a result of preventable medical negligence. Like many of the medical malpractice cases I have handled throughout my career, the case required countless hours reviewing medical records, working closely with nationally recognized physicians, and carefully reconstructing the sequence of events that led to the injury.

What made the case particularly meaningful was not simply the result we achieved, but the opportunity to help a family find answers after months of uncertainty. Serious medical malpractice cases are about far more than financial compensation. They are about accountability, helping families understand what happened, and securing the resources necessary for future medical care and long-term support.

After more than four decades of practice, those are still the cases that stay with me. Helping clients through some of the most difficult moments of their lives—and knowing our work can provide both answers and a measure of justice—is what continues to make this profession so rewarding.

Medical malpractice and catastrophic injury cases are among the most demanding cases in civil litigation because they require proving both liability and causation in highly technical, fact-intensive circumstances. Every case begins with a careful review of thousands of pages of medical records, consultation with nationally recognized physicians and other experts, and a thorough understanding of the medicine before we ever step into a courtroom.

One of the greatest challenges is helping a jury understand complex medical issues without losing sight of the human story. At the end of every case is a person or family whose life has been permanently changed. Our responsibility is to translate complicated medical evidence into a clear, honest, and compelling presentation while never losing focus on the client we represent.

Another challenge is that hospitals, healthcare systems, manufacturers, trucking companies, and their insurers often have tremendous resources devoted to defending these claims. Successfully representing catastrophically injured clients requires the experience, financial commitment, and willingness to invest in leading experts, technology, and trial preparation long before a case ever reaches the courtroom.

Those challenges are also what have made this work so rewarding throughout my career. Every successful case reflects months—or often years—of preparation, collaboration, and perseverance. Whether the result is a multi-million-dollar verdict, a confidential settlement, or simply helping a family obtain long-overdue answers and accountability, knowing that our work can make a meaningful difference in someone's life continues to motivate me after more than four decades of practice.

I did not set out to become a medical malpractice and catastrophic injury lawyer. Early in my career, however, I realized that some of the most devastating injuries occur when people place their trust in professionals, hospitals, manufacturers, or corporations and that trust is broken. I was drawn to representing individuals and families during the most difficult times of their lives and helping them seek answers, accountability, and justice.

Throughout my career, I have also been inspired by the trial lawyers and mentors who demonstrated that thorough preparation, integrity, and a willingness to take difficult cases to trial can make a meaningful difference—not only for individual clients, but by encouraging safer practices and greater accountability throughout our communities.

More than 40 years later, that commitment has never changed. Every case presents an opportunity to stand up for someone who would otherwise be facing powerful institutions alone. Helping families rebuild their lives, mentoring the next generation of trial lawyers, and continuing to advance the standards of excellence at Goldstein Hayes Trial Lawyers remains as rewarding today as it was when I first entered the profession.

When I'm not practicing law, I enjoy spending time with my family, playing golf, traveling, and cooking on my Big Green Egg. I've always believed it's important to make time for the people and activities that matter outside the courtroom.

I also enjoy working with younger attorneys and helping them develop as trial lawyers. Seeing the next generation build successful practices and continue the tradition of representing injured individuals is something I find especially rewarding.

After more than four decades in practice, one thing has remained constant: every client deserves experienced counsel, honest advice, and an attorney who is fully prepared to take their case to trial if necessary. While the practice of law continues to evolve, those principles have never changed.

I remain grateful for the trust our clients place in us and for the opportunity to work alongside the outstanding attorneys and staff at Goldstein Hayes Trial Lawyers.  Looking ahead, my goal is the same as it has always been—to continue representing individuals and families in the most significant cases, mentoring the next generation of trial lawyers, and helping ensure that those who have suffered catastrophic injuries receive the justice and accountability they deserve.