BURDGES LEGAL
Trial Attorneys
Notable Cases
Plaintiff’s attorney in the case of T.G.B. v. Thomas Idziak, as Personal Representative for the Estate of Stanley Dominic
Idziak, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, Case No. 1:17-cv-1296-MHC. This case involved former Catholic priest
Stanley Idzaik who had molested T.G.B. when he was an alter boy for the Catholic Church. The molestation occurred in the 1980’s
when T.G.B. was between the ages of 8 – 12. The lawsuit was brought under the Georgia "hidden predator act". The case was
settled for 90% of the value of the Estate.
Elizabeth Leigh Butler v. Gwinnett County, Georgia and Paul Tremblay, U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, No. 17-12607. I was Plaintiff’s counsel that in this case that involved allegations of police officer Tremblay planting drugs on the Plaintiff and false arrest. The case was dismissed in the trial court on summary judgment, immunity grounds. Appeal was denied.
Attorney for the defense in the case of State v. Eman Moss, Case No. 14-B-00384-1, Gwinnett County Superior Court. This case involves the
alleged starvation death of the Defendant’s 10-year-old daughter, and the burning of her body in a trash can in an attempt to destroy the evidence. The District Attorney is seeking the death penalty.
Plaintiff’s attorney in the case of Dean et al. v. Cobb County et al., Civil Action File No. 1:95-CV-01697-RWS, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia. This case involved a civil rights violation where 13 police officers fired a total of 54 shots at a fleeing DUI driver and his passenger. The driver was shot 9 times and died at the scene. The passenger was shot twice and survived. A 42 U.S.C. 1983 action was brought before the Court and the case was dismissed in favor of the defendants on Motion for Summary Judgment, defense of immunity. The case was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, and was settled at mediation.
Plaintiff’s attorney in the case of Anderson et al. v. Farley et al., Civil Action File No. 07-A-01002-2 and 07-A-04624-10, Gwinnett County Superior Court. This case involved the uncovering of a multi-million dollar real estate fraud scheme. After the fraud was discovered, I started litigation against the investment company and the individuals that were involved. One of the Defendants was a closing attorney. Once the lawsuit(s) was filed, the Defendants immediately filed for bankruptcy protection. The filing of bankruptcy brought the fraudulent scheme to the attention of the bankruptcy trustee, who notified the U.S. Attorney. The main principal of the fraud was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 25 years to serve in prison, and restitution in excess of $23,000,000.00. The closing attorney was disbarred and sentenced to federal prison and was required to pay restitution in excess of two (2) million dollars. My clients were never fully compensated for their loss.
In January 2008, attorney for the defense in the case of State v. Grambling T. Dominique, Case No. 05-B-03315-3, Gwinnett County Superior Court. Mr. Dominique was a light heavy weight boxer from Chicago and was also deaf. Prior to trial, he had been held in the Gwinnett County Detention Center for three (3) years without bond. The Defendant was charged with six (6) felony counts of terroristic threats [to commit murder] and one (1) count of aggravated stalking. After a week long jury trial, Mr. Dominique was found not guilty on all counts and was released from custody.
In the case of State v. Xavier Daniels, Case No. 10-B-01965-3, Gwinnett County Superior Court, Mr. Daniels was charged with one (1) count of murder, two (2) counts of felony murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault and aggravated battery. I was lead attorney for the defense during the jury trial in July 2010. Mr. Daniels was accused with two (2) co-defendants in shooting an individual during a drug deal in Gwinnett County. The victim was paralyzed as a result of the shooting and died at Grady Hospital forty- four (44) days later. After three (3) days of deliberation, the jury was unable to reach a decision and a mistrial was declared by the Court. Mr. Daniels entered a plea to the armed robbery and aggravated battery charge and the three (3) murder counts were dismissed.
Appellate Cases
Jackson v. State, A13A0949 (Ga. 2013)
Attorney for Appellant. Ms. Jackson was convicted in Gwinnett County Superior Court for armed robbery. The conviction was affirmed.
Osborne v. State, 318 Ga.App. 339, 734 S.E.2d 59 (2012)
Attorney for Appellant. Mr. Osborne entered a plea to statutory rape (misdemeanor), fornication, and battery. The appeal stems from the issue whether the fornication charge should merge into the statutory rape charge as a matter of fact and law. The sentencing was affirmed.
Bonilla v. State, 289 Ga. 862, 717 S.E.2d 166 (2011)
Attorney for Appellant. Mr. Bonilla was convicted in Gwinnett County Superior Court of murder, felony murder and aggravated assault for the stabbing death of a friend. The convictions were affirmed.
Marlow v. State, 288 Ga. 769, 707 S.E. 2d 95 (2011)
Attorney for Appellant. Mr. Marlow was convicted in Gwinnett County Superior Court for murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault for killing his girlfriend with an ax. The convictions were affirmed.
Sanders v. State, 308 Ga.App. 303, 707 S.E.2d 538 (2011)
Attorney for Appellant. Mr. Sanders was convicted in Gwinnett County Superior Court on several counts of aggravated child molestation and child molestation of two (2) young girls. The Defendant was sentenced to three (3) life sentences and several years in prison. The Defendant was resentence at the time of the Motion for New Trial, and two (2) of the life sentences were converted to 30 years to serve in prison. The convictions were affirmed after appeal.
Baker v. State, 311 Ga.App. 532, 716 S.E.2d 580 (2011)
Attorney for Appellant. The Defendant was convicted in Gwinnett County Superior Court on one (1) count of theft. The conviction was affirmed.
Hawkins v. State, 690 S.E.2d 440 (2010)
Attorney for Appellant. Mr. Hawkins was convicted in Gwinnett County Superior Court on one (1) count of burglary and one (1) count of felony eavesdropping. The convictions were affirmed.
Whitley v. State, 293 Ga.App. 605, 667 S.E.2d 447 (2008)
Attorney for Appellant. The Defendant was convicted in Gwinnett County Superior Court for armed robbery (home invasion). The convictions were affirmed.
Cantrell v. State, 299 Ga.App. 746, 683 S.E.2d 676 (2009)
Attorney for Appellant. Mr. Cantrell was convicted in Gwinnett County Superior Court for armed robbery and robbery by intimidation. The convictions were affirmed.
Slade v. State, 289 Ga.App. 877, 658 S.E.2d 439 (2008)
Attorney for Appellant. The Defendant was convicted in Gwinnett County Superior Court on one (1) count of possession of cocaine. The conviction was affirmed.
Vonhagel v. State, 287 Ga.App. 507, 651 S.E.2d 793 (2007)
Attorney for Appellant. The Defendant was convicted in Gwinnett County Superior Court for aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The convictions were affirmed.
Williamson v. State, 285 Ga.App. 779, 648 S.E.2d 118 (2007)
Attorney for Appellant. The Defendant was convicted in Gwinnett County Superior Court for armed robbery. The conviction was affirmed.