Profile
Taylor English delivers value. We share a commitment to quality work. The practice of law has become far more service-oriented over the last 25 years, but Taylor English is on the cutting edge in providing first-rate talent and the breadth of large-firm expertise.
Hal Meeks defends your business: from your clients or patients who are unhappy with outcomes, competitors who seek to take your talent, employees who refuse to honor post-employment agreements, employees who assert claims of discrimination, vendors who fail to honor contractual agreements, and minority partners or investors who impede your success. Whether a business dispute, a business divorce or a business challenge, Mr. Meeks often repeats his recipe for success: “Business litigation needs to be two parts ‘business’ to one part ‘litigation.’” Your business objectives are the foremost concern.
Mr. Meeks is a member of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department at Taylor English. He has tried well over 100 bench and jury trials and binding arbitrations in his career in substantive areas including medical malpractice defense, health care industry disputes, securities defense, construction claims and general commercial/contract disputes. He also has extensive experience representing professionals facing sanction or loss of license/privileges, representing securities firms and individual brokers, and representing all industries faced with breach of employment covenants, trade secret violations, and other white-collar employment disputes. Mr. Meeks is a frequent speaker at legal seminars sponsored by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia.
Mr. Meeks is a Waycross native who has practiced law in Atlanta since 1979. He was a partner at a business law firm until 1989, when he left to form his own firm, where he practiced for 23 years.
Mr. Meeks has served on the Board of Directors of the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children Inc. since 1996, served as President from 2001 to 2008, and as Chairman of the Board from 2005 to 2012. BTFC merged with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation in 2014. Mr. Meeks also has held several positions of responsibility at Northside Drive Baptist Church, including deacon, president of the adult choir and Callaway Cup Tournament Chair. He is married and has two adult children. In his free time, he plays golf, guitar and piano.
Memberships
Atlanta Bar Association
The Defense Research Institute
The Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
Old War Horse Lawyers Club
Community Involvement
Northside Drive Baptist Church, Deacon, Choir President, and Callaway Cup Chair
Brain Tumor Foundation for Children (now known as the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation), Board Member, President, and Chairman of Board during 1997-2012
Practice Highlights
Experience
The Court of Appeals reversed the denial of summary judgment below and granted judgment to the hospital in a contract dispute over whether Plaintiff held an enforceable option to lease a downtown building. The Court agreed that the option was lost years earlier when the corporate owner of the option was dissolved and did not timely reinstate its corporate status.
Summary judgment obtained for building owner in a premises liability case involving elevators; decision affirmed by the Court of Appeals.
$5.1 million dollar punitive damage award, plus damages and attorney’s fees, obtained in arbitration of tortious interference claims by SunTrust Investment Services against securities firm that hired employees subject to covenants not to solicit.
Injunction obtained against employees who were subject to covenants not to solicit. Affirmed by FINRA arbitration panel. Confidential settlement before hearing on damages.
More than $1 million award in arbitration on behalf of Kaiser Permanente against insurance broker who failed to test accuracy of fraudulent applications submitted on behalf of a group.
Dissenting shareholders action arising from a reverse stock split. Valuation of company was primary issue. Seven figure settlement achieved after two weeks of trial in Federal District Court.
More than $1 million recovery for remedial action against engineering firm on behalf of owner of airplane hangars built to faulty design and without proper subsurface testing.
Litigation of “usual, customary and reasonable” rates for out-of-network healthcare services in light of the Affordable Care Act.
Recovery of more than $2 million for limited partners against general partner for breach of fiduciary duty in the handling of partnership investments. General partner removed from management of the partnership.
Court of Appeals decision limiting assertion of new claims against defendant health care provider as principal, based on the conduct of agents who were not sued within the time permitted by the statute of limitations.
Defense verdict for hospital and physicians who failed to diagnose mesenteric ischemia in 58-year-old female who returned to emergency room multiple times.
Appellate decision affirming hospital’s right to change criteria for the granting of staff privileges.
Newsroom
Speaking Engagements
- November 20, 2015
- "The Seven Deadly Sins of Lien Claimants," Institute of Continuing Legal Education in GeorgiaMay 17, 2013
- "Avoiding Your Day in Court," Prevention of Medical Malpractice Claims, the Family Medicine Residency Program, Mercer University School of MedicineJuly 22, 2011
- "Claimant’s Perspective: Claiming and Perfecting Lien Rights," Construction Mechanics and Materialmen’s Liens Seminar, ICLEMay 20, 2011
- "Avoiding Your Day in Court," Prevention of Medical Malpractice Claims, Grady Health System ClinicMarch 29, 2011
- "Perfecting the Construction Lien," Construction Mechanics and Materialmen's Liens Seminar, ICLEMay 22, 2009
- "Thomas v. MCCG; The Decision and Its Implications," 23rd Annual Medical Malpractice InstituteDecember 1, 2007
- "Statutory Requirements for Claiming and Perfecting a Construction Lien," ICLE SeminarMay 18, 2007
- "Perfecting the Construction Lien; Construction, Mechanics' & Materialmen's Liens," ICLEMay 19, 2006
- "Protecting the Owner in a Lien Dispute; Construction, Mechanics' & Materialmen's Liens," ICLEMay 6, 2005
- "Construction, Mechanics' & Materialmen's Liens," ICLEMay 2, 2004
- "Liens on Tenant Improvements; Construction Mechanics' & Materialmen's Liens," ICLEMay 22, 2003
- "Lien Rights in Georgia," ICLE Lien SeminarMay 23, 2002
- "Subcontractor/Materialmen Lien Law," Atlanta Bar CLEMarch 2, 1997
- "Fiduciary Responsibility: Some Basic Principles; Business Torts," ICLENovember 2, 1989
Publications
- September 30, 2016
- "Georgia Door-Closing Statute: Who Bears the Burden?" Ga. St. B.J. 24: 141February 1988
- With David C. Jensen. "Usurpation of Corporate Opportunities: Liability of the Former Officer or Director," Ga. St. B.J. 18: 150May 1982
Headlines
- March 4, 2020
- June 19, 2019
- September 22, 2017
- September 13, 2017
- December 16, 2016
- December 16, 2016
- August 17, 2016
- August 17, 2016
News Releases
- February 24, 2020
- August 15, 2019
- February 20, 2019
- August 15, 2018
- February 22, 2018
- February 23, 2017
- December 15, 2016
- August 15, 2016
- February 19, 2016
- August 17, 2015
- April 28, 2015
Services
Education
The University of Georgia School of Law, JD, 1979
- Georgia Law Review, Senior Editor, 1978-1979
- Georgia Law Review, Editorial Board Member, 1977-1978
The University of Georgia, BA, cum laude, 1976
Bar Admissions
Georgia
Courts & Adjudicative Bodies
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Accolades
The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, 2014, 2016-2020
Georgia Super Lawyers, 2010-2020
Georgia Trend's Legal Elite, 2011
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated for more than 20 years