What cases are directly appealable in Georgia?

Kurt Kastorf is a Georgia appellate attorney who handles appeals before the Court of Appeals of Georgia

Is a judgment you received from a Georgia court directly appealable to the Court of Appeals of Georgia? Broadly, there are two classes of directly appealable judgments in Georgia. First are those that are expressly by statute. Second are those for which you’ve obtained a certificate to appeal. Of course, things get a good bit […]

How do you obtain a bond pending appeal in Georgia?

Interior of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

When the other side appeals your favorable trial court judgment, it is often in your interest to seek a bond pending appeal. It makes recovery easier post judgment, can allow quicker enforcement, and may even deter an appeal in some close cases. So how do you obtain a bond pending appeal in Georgia? The easiest […]

Kurt Kastorf again selected for inclusion in SuperLawyers

Kurt Kastorf, an Atlanta appellate and trial attorney, has been selected for inclusion in SuperLawyers Thank you to colleagues and co-counsel for nominating me for inclusion in SuperLawyers for the past seven years (The first four in Washington, D.C., and the most recent in Atlanta, GA). I am listed for appellate litigation, but you’re better […]

The fastest way to make an appellate brief more persuasive

How to make an appellate brief more persuasive

How to increase your odds on appeal Here is the single fastest way to increase the persuasiveness of an appellate brief: Delete your last issue on appeal. Opening briefs that raise fewer questions presented are almost without exception more persuasive than briefs that raise more. I have never read a great appellate brief that raises […]

One simple fix even most good writers can make

One tip to improve your legal writing

What’s one thing many good writers can improve upon? Here’s one simple fix that even most good writers can make: pay attention to where you are placing the word “only” in sentences. Most people are not deliberate about where they put the word “only.” And even good writers are not much better. I often read […]

Should you appeal?

Interior of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

If you never lose a summary judgment motion or a trial, it doesn’t mean you’re a great lawyer. It means you don’t litigate enough cases. And when you do, you’ll need to decide whether to appeal. Thanks to Veridct Magazine for publishing my article on when you should appeal. You can read it here. Below […]