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McDonald & Cody

Free Consultations

706-778-5291

Free Consultation

706-778-5291

Georgia's Top
Trial Lawyers

for Catastrophic Injury and Wrongful Death
  • 400+ Jury Trials
  • Hundreds of Millions Recovered
  • 100% Trial Win Rate
Call Us to Discuss Your Case
Featured Case Results
$33M
Settlement — Lithium-Ion Battery Fire
$17.2M
Verdict — Wrongful Death, Vehicle Collision
$14.5M
Settlement — Defective Airbags
$13.1M
Settlement — Defective Furnace Fire
$6M
Settlement — Propane Explosion
$5.2M
Verdict — DUI Collision
$4.2M
Settlement — Construction Wrongful Death

Most Firms Settle.

We Go To Trial.

Most firms settle every case. They take hundreds of cases, spend minimal time on each one, and accept whatever the insurance company offers.

That is not how we work.

We take fewer cases. We prepare every one for trial. When insurance companies know we will go to court, they offer more. When juries hear the full story, they award more.

That is the difference.

Most firms settle fast. It is good for their volume. It is bad for your family.

We do it differently.

McDonald & Cody has been a Georgia trial firm since 1969. We take fewer cases. We prepare every one for trial. Our results run two to four times higher than settlement offers.

That is not an accident. That is the only way we operate.

See How We Work

What We Handle

We Take Serious
 Cases To Trial

Every case we accept involves life-altering harm or loss. We do not handle minor claims. That focus means every resource and every hour of preparation goes toward the cases that matter most.
Wrongful
Death
Someone you love is gone because of someone else's negligence. We have recovered millions for Georgia families who were told there was no path forward.
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Permanent
Life-Altering Injuries
Spinal cord damage. Traumatic brain injuries. Severe burns. Amputations. When someone will never be the same, the value of that case is not what the insurance company's first offer says.
Learn More
Other Types of Cases
We also handle trucking accidents, medical malpractice, birth injuries, premises liability, nursing home abuse, sexual assault, and business litigation. Not sure if we handle yours? Call us. We will give you an honest answer.
Learn More
Defective
Products
A product should not explode, catch fire, or fail without warning. We have uncovered defects nobody else found. Lithium-ion battery fires, defective airbags, propane failures. We find what others miss.
Learn More
Call Us to Discuss Your Case

You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone.

We Have Been Here Before.

Jury Trials
0 +

Hundreds of

Millions

Recovered For Georgia Families

Trial Win Rate
0 %

We Know These Courts.

We Know How To Win.

Built in Georgia. Built for Trial.

McDonald & Cody has been a Georgia trial firm since 1969. We are not a franchise. We are not a volume shop. We are an established firm with deep roots in this state and the resources to take any case to its conclusion.
Our attorneys have tried cases in courtrooms across Georgia and recovered hundreds of millions for families who needed someone to fight for them.

The firm is led by experience. Gus is a nationally recognized authority with 90+ jury trials. Gerald has been practicing since 1982. Jackson clerked at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, one step below the U.S. Supreme Court. Bo serves as a Georgia State Senator. Together they bring 110+ years of combined experience to every case they accept. They have deep roots in Northeast Georgia and try cases in courtrooms across the state. When the insurance company says your case is not worth fighting for, they are the ones who go to court and prove otherwise.

Meet the Attorneys

When something catastrophic happens, you need a real person on the other end of the phone. Someone who knows your case. Someone who can answer your questions. At McDonald & Cody, that person is always your attorney.

Gus
McDonald

When other lawyers said there was no case, Gus found one. 90+ jury trials. Nationally recognized authority on impaired driving. Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
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Gerald
Cody

He has been doing this since 1982. A native of Cornelia. Four decades of courtroom experience across Georgia.
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Sam
Sliger

He won a complete acquittal in a federal DOJ Public Integrity case. Harvard National College for DUI Defense. Top 10% at John Marshall Law School.
Learn More

Bo
Hatchett

He makes laws in the Georgia Senate. Then he comes to court and holds people accountable under them. National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
Learn More

Jackson McDonald

He clerked one step below the U.S. Supreme Court. Then he came home to try cases. Undefeated on all motions filed.
Learn More

Featured  Cases

View All Results
Insurance companies calculate what your case is worth before you hire a lawyer. When you hire a firm that prepares for trial, that number changes. These are some of ours.

Testimonials

Hear What Our Clients Have To Say

Results
"These men have ethics long ingrained and committed to result in a law firm of people who are very accomplished at their work. There are other firms that run huge advertising budgets, however what you see on tv is in many cases not what you get. Choose carefully a firm to represent your case."
Jay Dee Harlee
"Gus is a one of a kind, kinda guy. His firm is well established and his representation is outstanding and well balanced. His rate is fair and he and his associates are well versed in all forms of actions, from injury to criminal, they've got you covered. Gus and the guys are my kind of lawyers, straight forward and prismatic. I highly recommend this law firm to anyone, from destitute to overly wealthy. They are the guys to call at McDonald and Cody."
Mr. Lomax
We had an outstanding experience working with McDonald & Cody. From the very beginning, their team was professional, attentive, and genuinely committed to helping us navigate a difficult situation. Thanks to their expertise and dedication, my wife was able to successfully get the judgment she deserved. The outcome exceeded our expectations, and we truly felt like they had our best interest at heart the entire time. We're incredibly grateful for their hard work and would highly recommend this firm to anyone in need of strong, reliable legal representation.
Brandon Brown
"Absolutely the best of the best! I would recommend them to anyone! Sam and Peggy are a very powerful duo!"
Devin Delay

For Referring Attorneys

When Your Client Has A Case You Need To Refer, We Can Handle It

Most referring attorneys call us because their client has a catastrophic injury or wrongful death case that requires a trial firm. We take the case, prepare it thoroughly, keep you in the loop, and get the best possible result. Your client is taken care of. Your reputation is protected. Your referral fee is fair.

How We Work With Referring Attorneys

What Happens Without the Right Firm

The Insurance Company
 Already Has a Number in Mind.

Before you ever call a lawyer, the insurance company has calculated what your case is worth. They have a team. They have a strategy. And they are counting on you to accept the first offer.

Most personal injury firms settle fast. It is good for their volume. It is bad for your family. You walk away with a fraction of what your case is worth, and the company responsible faces no real accountability. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. The statute of limitations runs out. Once those things happen, there is nothing anyone can do.

The difference between calling the right firm and the wrong one is not small. Our documented results show trial outcomes running two to four times higher than settlement offers. That gap is what the wrong decision costs.

Contact Us Today

How It Works

Three Steps. No Surprises.

We genuinely hope you never need us. But if you do, here is exactly what happens.

01

Call Us. Tell Us What Happened.

We listen. We ask questions. We give you an honest assessment at no charge. If we can help, we will tell you how. If we cannot, we will say so and point you in the right direction. There is no obligation.

02

We Investigate & Prepare for Trial.

We take over the case from day one. We find what others miss. We retain the right experts. We pay every expense except your medical bills. You talk directly to your attorney, not a case manager. We prepare for trial from the start because that is what gets the best result.

03

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win.

We work on contingency. No upfront costs. No loans. No advances against fees. Most cases conclude in about 18 months. When insurance companies know we will go to trial, they offer more. When juries hear the full story, they award more.
Contact Us Today

In the News and Resources

The Work Speaks

For Itself

All Resources

Resources and Press

$31M SK Battery Settlement

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 2024

McDonald & Cody named as plaintiff counsel in landmark lithium-ion battery fire case.
Read The Story

Bo Hatchett Named UGA 40 Under 40

UGA Alumni, 2024

Listed alongside Georgia’s top young professionals as State Senator and attorney at McDonald & Cody.
Read The Story

Inside the $31M Battery Case

The Daily Report / Law.com, October 2024

Jackson McDonald quoted on taking on a global leader in emerging technology.
Read The Story

Banks County v. SK Battery

Now Habersham, October 2024

Bo Hatchett quoted on the five-day blaze and county resources expended.
Read The Story

VIDEOS

Meet Jackson McDonald & Bo Hatchett

Hear how they work and why they go to trial.

The $17.2M Verdict

Two brothers. One trial. Gwinnett County, 2025.

The SK Battery Case

How investigation changes everything.

Two Daughters Lost Their Father

How investigation changes everything.

Blogs

settle or trial
Is It Better to Settle or Go to Trial for a Car Accident in Georgia?
28 Apr, 2026
Settling is faster and more certain. Going to trial takes longer but often recovers significantly more,...
Read More
The Difference
The Real Difference Between a Trial Lawyer and a Settlement Lawyer
28 Apr, 2026
A trial lawyer prepares every case for the courtroom and has the track record to prove it. A settlement...
Read More
Georgia comparative negligence law diagram fault percentage
Georgia Comparative Negligence Law: What Injured People Need to Know
28 Apr, 2026
Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you were less than 50% at fault for an accident,...
Read More
7 Signs You Need a Trial Attorney
7 Signs You Need a Trial Attorney, Not a Settlement Lawyer
28 Apr, 2026
In Georgia, the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit belongs first to the surviving spouse. If there...
Read More
who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Georgia grieving family
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Georgia? 4 Key Rules
28 Apr, 2026
In Georgia, the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit belongs first to the surviving spouse. If there...
Read More
AdobeStock_278503241
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice in Georgia: 5 Things to Know
28 Apr, 2026
In Georgia, you generally have 2 years from the date of injury to file a medical malpractice claim. But...
Read More

Tell Us

What  Happened

We review every inquiry at no charge. If we can help, we will tell you. If we cannot, we will say so.

Prefer to call? 706-778-5291

Tell Us

What  Happened
We review every inquiry at no charge. If we can help, we will tell you. If we cannot, we will say so.

Prefer to call? 706-778-5291