Apex Doctrine – S.B. 74
Georgia – 2023
Includes language commonly referred to as the apex doctrine, which provides for certain criteria required to secure the deposition of certain high ranking public and corporate employees. The legislation defines a “high-ranking officer” as someone who is or has been a high-ranking officer of any large governmental entity or large corporation. A high-ranking official may demonstrate good cause for a protective order by showing they had no unique personal knowledge of any matter relevant to the subject matter involved in the underlying action. When the party seeking discovery has exhausted other reasonable means of discovery and the discovery is deemed inaccurate, good cause will not be considered sufficiently demonstrated. Finally, the court will have the ability to limit the scope of the deposition when a high-ranking officer lacks only some unique personal knowledge as it relates to the underlying litigation.
Latest News
View all news
The Louisiana Supreme Court’s Alarming U-turn
The Pelican State deserves a judicial system that stands firmly on principles — not one swayed by the most recent political winds.
Trial Lawyers’ Latest Target: Life-Sustaining Baby Formula
Judges must recognize these cases for what they are: a cynical attempt to turn the suffering of families into a litigation jackpot.
Wall Street Journal: Junk Science Sometimes Still Prevails in Court
A recent Delaware case shows that not all states follow the Supreme Court’s 1993 Daubert ruling.
ATRA Applauds Utah AG Candidate Rudy Bautista for Signing Transparency Pledge
Republican Candidate Derek Brown Urged to Sign Pledge
Baltimore’s Opioid Lawsuit Is Wrong Approach to Overdose Crisis
Maryland taxpayers should be assured that state leadership is working in their best interests and not those of entrepreneurial trial lawyers.
ATRA Sounds Alarm on Colorado’s ‘Lawsuit Inferno’ in New Report
ATRA Declares State a ‘Lawsuit Inferno’ Amid Liability Onslaught