Special Veteran’s Day Episode of Atlanta Legal Experts Radio
Fred Burkey w/ The Burkey Law Firm
What if you took a taxi one night to celebrate with friends and you ended up seriously injured when a car hit the taxi, then took off? And when you tried to get help to pay for injuries and loss of income, your insurance company denied your claim because no one could find the at-fault driver? That is what happened to Melissa. What if you were stopped by police on a misdemeanor and incarcerated but while detained you fell seriously ill and denied proper medical treatment? Would you risk death? That is what happened to James. When faced with an unforeseen crisis, people should choose the best legal representation that has the knowhow and commitment to take on aggressive insurance adjustors and mounting healthcare bills. Fred Burkey of the Burkey Law Firm successfully litigated the cases of Melissa and James. Since 1994, the Burkey Law Firm has obtained verdicts and settlements valued over millions of dollars for individuals and families who have been seriously harmed by the actions of dangerous drivers or harmed due to no fault of their own. The practice focuses on trucking accidents, car accidents and accidents caused by drunk and reckless drivers often exceeding client expectations. The Burkey Law Firm is dedicated to legal excellence and integrity while providing a voice that gives clients a fair shot at justice.
Kelly Michael Hundley w/ Kelly Michael Hundley, LLC.
For more than 25 years, Kelly Michael Hundley has been a trusted legal adviser to businesses and executives in all manor of industry across the Metro-Atlanta region. Having spent time in the board room and shop floor, Kelly understands that legal issues don’t arise in a vacuum. Whether its a lawsuit, helping a client chart a path to avoid a lawsuit, or helping a new business figure out what laws impact what it wants to do, the focus and philosophy is the same–providing practical effective advice and solutions tailored to each clients unique circumstances.
Kelly Michael Hundley graduated with High Honors from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1987. Outside the office, Kelly enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with his wife, Pam, and friends … and his dogs, Ellie and Scooter. His passion for education led him to sit on the board of the Georgia Perimeter College Foundation.
H. Lane Dennard, Jr. w/ Emory Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans
Lane Dennard was born in Macon, Georgia, and graduated from Mercer University in Macon with an A.B. degree in 1966. He served in the Army as a Captain and Company Commander in Vietnam. His decorations include the Silver Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. After his military service, Mr. Dennard attended the University of Georgia School of Law where he received the J.D. degree in 1973.
After graduation from law school, he was associated with the firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, and Stewart and served as managing partner of the Atlanta office. He joined King & Spalding as a partner in January of 1991 and served as a senior partner on the Labor and Employment Law Team. Prior to his retirement from King & Spalding in 2003, Mr. Dennard represented both unionized and union-free employers in the field of labor and employment law for over 30 years, litigating the full range of cases in state and federal courts.
Since his retirement, Mr. Dennards legal practice has focused on veterans advocacy and the pro bono representation of veterans before the VA. In 2011 Mr, Dennard received the Georgia Bar’s Marshall-Tuttle Award as the top lawyer in the state providing pro bono services to veterans. He has played a role in the start-up and operation of the Emory Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans and currently serves as co-director with Professor Charles Sanor.
Cary King w/ Jacobs & King, LLC
I am an Atlanta native and am married to an Atlanta native, Sherry King. We have 5 children and 6 grandchildren and reside in Dekalb County, Georgia near Murphy Candler park and have lived there since 1993. My wife and I both are 1959 graduates of Henry Grady High School. I graduated from Georgia State University in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received a law degree from John Marshal Law School in 1983. I also attended Graduate School at Georgia State University and the University of Alabama at Huntsville in Finance and Economics.
As an attorney, I currently practice as the Senior Attorney in the firm of Jacobs & King, LLC along with my son Scott, Greg Jacobs and 4 other attorneys. I was the senior partner of Slater & King for 17 years and a partner with Shuster, King & King for 11 years prior to that. I was one of the lead defense counsel for Tonya Craft, in the case of the State of Georgia vs. Tonya Craft, a jury trial in Catoosa County which lasted over 6 weeks and has garnered national media attention. I have appeared on Good Morning America, Inside Edition and several local television and radio shows regarding various cases in which we were involved. I also have been involved in numerous high profile civil litigation matters in state and federal courts.
In January 2013, I was awarded the Marshall-Tuttle Award as the Outstanding Lawyer of 2013 by the Military and Veterans Affairs Section of the State Bar of Georgia for services rendered to veterans for the last 16 years and received a Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Washington, D.C. for co-founding and operating the free legal clinic at the VA Medical Center on Clairmont Road in Decatur. In March 2013, I received the Public Service Law Section from John Marshall Law School for community and public services rendered throughout the last 30 years. In March and April 2013, I began serving on the Fulton Count Mentoring sub-committee to establish Veteran Mentors for a special Veteran’s Court in Fulton County along with Judge T. Jackson Bedford, also a Vietnam Veteran, Judge Todd Markle and other lawyer veterans. The Court began operation in April 2013 and is now a little over 18 months of operation and recently received an award from the Congressional Black Caucus of the United States House of Representatives.
I remain involved in a wide range of litigation scenarios. I practice in both state and federal courts, am a member of the Georgia Bar, the Federal Bar for the Northern District of Georgia, the 11th United States Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court Bar.
By way of other general background, after graduation from college, I entered the United States Army and was commissioned through the ROTC program. I served on Active Duty as Regular Army officer until January 31, 1970. I retired from the Army Reserve/Army National Guard in 1987 after 24 years total service. In Vietnam, I served in the Infantry with 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry, 2nd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division supervising and conducting search and seal operations, and Commanded both C Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Artillery and HHB, 1st Infantry Division Artillery. Additionally while with 2nd Brigade, I served as an Aerial observer. I was there during the 1968 Tet Offensive and the Spring and Fall Counter Offensives of 1968. While on active duty I was assigned to various military installations and served oversea tours in Germany and South Vietnam. My Vietnam service began in early 1967 and continued through November 4,1968 with the U.S. Army First Infantry Division. I received the following decorations for my service:
Five Bronze Stars ( With “V” Device for Valor)
Purple Heart
2 Air Medals
The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/ Palm
Two Army Commendations Medal (one with V Device for Valor)
The Vietnamese Campaign Medal & The Vietnam Service Ribbons
The Vietnamese Honor Medal 1st Class
Combat Infantryman’s Badge & Air Crewman’s Wing
The National Defense Service Medal
3 Meritorious Unit Citations
I was a member of the Dekalb County Veteran’s Advisory Committee for several years, and a Past President and Chairman of the Board of the Atlanta Vietnam Veteran’s Business Association, where I have been a member since the mid 80’s. I currently serve on the board of directors. For the last 16 years, I have provided Pro Bono legal services to the VA Medical Center in Atlanta and was one of the organizing and founding members of the clinic. As part of the Georgia State Bar Military Legal Assistance Program (MLAP), since January 2013, I have also assisted in opening 4 new pro bono clinics throughout the state, at Ft MacPherson, Carrollton and Augusta. I have served on the Board of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation as a Vice president as well as other civic and charitable organizations in the past, to include the Atlanta and National Humane Societies. I also do volunteer work at the USO at the Atlanta Airport and assist with Oral History Interviews for the Legacy Project.
Drew Early w/ Shewmaker & Shewmaker
Drew is an elder law attorney practicing in the greater Atlanta area. He is experienced in probate and estate matters, adult guardianships and conservatorships, and trust work. His elder law work led him into adult disability matters. That, coupled with his career military experience, serves him well in assisting veterans and their families in matters before the VA. He is published and a frequent CLE presenter on elder law and VA issues. He is the immediate past Chair of the Military and Veteran Section of the GA State Bar and also serves on the Executive Committee of the GA State Bar’s Military and Legal Assistance Program. He is a registered mediator and serves on the DeKalb County Probate Court’s Court-appointed list as a guardian ad litem. He is admitted to a variety of courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States, the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, both Middle and Northern Districts of the US Courts for Georgia, and all State of Georgia courts. He further serves as an adjunct professor at Emory University’s School of Law.
Education: JD, Georgia State College of Law (cum laude), Atlanta GA; MA, US Army Command and General Staff College (with honors), FT Leavenworth KS; BS, US Military Academy, West Point NY.
