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Cynthia Lynn Counts
Resurgens Plaza, 945 East Paces Ferry Rd. NE, Suite 2000, Atlanta, GA
Practices
5.0
Avvo rating
5 Reviews
Data reflects the status as of the latest update. Updates are typically done monthly.
License
License ID number: -
Licensed in: -
Year admitted: -
Education
1992:
University of Georgia School of Law, JD - Juris Doctor
Last reviews
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Overall rating
5.0
5 reviews
5.0
Kenneth
11 Sep, 2015
I was at my "wit's end" after 16 months with the legal system having charged me with 4 criminal counts. I contacted Counts Law Group on Friday for HELP and Cynthia Counts agreed to meet with me on Saturday at 10:30 (Father's Day Weekend w/Family visiting) to evaluate my case. Come early Monday morning Cynthia and Family were siting on a Court room bench with me.
She had taken a Good part of her Father's Day Weekend to prepare my case before the court and traveled two hours "early thirty" Monday to have the court to acknowledge her as my co-counsel and at noon to present a motion to dismiss all 4 charges. Because of her arguments before the court, ALL 4 charges were later dismissed! If the legal system had more Cynthia Counts, those condensing "lawyer" jokes would most likely disappear! Bottom Line - 16 Months of sleepless nights vs. a weekend
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C. herman
15 Jan, 2015
I was served in April '14 in GA; this was the only time I have been sued. It was a terribly stressful time because I was struggling to make ends meet and with two small babies in diapers, my wife and I did not know where to turn for help. I asked the lawyer of a colleague if he knew a good attorney to help me in a defamation lawsuit. Without any hesitation, he emphatically told me, “Cynthia Counts is the best there is for that type of case”. The fact that my colleague’s lawyer knew of Cynthia and was so adamant in stating her abilities immediately gave me confidence because the referring lawyer is a criminal defense attorney whose clientele and case load are in a different realm of law than what my case was, yet he knew of Cynthia Counts and her abilities.
I immediately called Ms. Counts and let her know who referred me to her. We agreed to have an initial consultation to discuss the case. Not having any previous experience in legal matters, I was concerned about being kept in the loop and having a comprehensive understanding of what was taking place, as I tend to be somewhat of a micro-manager, which is a difficult thing to be in a subject for which I had no formal training. It became apparent to me immediately that there was an added benefit when I learned that Ms. Counts is an adjunct professor, as she was able to frame things for me in an easy-to-understand context. Her teaching experience was also an added benefit because when I expressed my desire to be able to assist in my own defense, she gladly provided me the opportunity and gave me specific research assignments and tasks to be performed in order to help myself. She would then take the time to explain the results, meaning and impact of my research while all the time continuously teaching me and citing other precedents and GA case law concerning defamation and Free Speech. She also provided an in-depth and invaluable education in Georgia’s Anti-SLAPP legislation, background and intent.
Furthermore, once we entered the courtroom for the first time and found out that the Plaintiff’s attorney steered the intended purpose of the initial hearing from evidentiary to something else, I got to see what Ms. Counts was really made of. She basically walked into an ambush on that first day in court and we were not prepared at all for where the first day lead us because it was supposed to be an evidentiary hearing that ended up being bifurcated, for which the first part was never disclosed in advance by the Counsel for Plaintiff but for which he was fully prepared. So we started our first day in court with the deck stacked against us, but in the end it did not matter because Ms. Counts knew the law.
Because of her vast knowledge and depth of understanding of Georgia law, Federal law, Constitutional Law and her intimate familiarity with the Georgia Anti-SLAPP statute and precedents, she was able to successfully ward off the attack by Counsel for Plaintiff not only that day but two days later when we continued. Her courtroom delivery over those two days resulted in turning an ambush, and potential disaster, into the Judge issuing an order that protected my speech and resulted in Plaintiff’s immediate dismissal of the case.
Throughout all phases of the case, Ms. Counts was always available either in person or via proxy through one of her diligent and well-written associates. Even when time constraints and schedule conflicts would have prevented other people from making time to talk, she was available and responsive through holidays, weekends, as well as nights. She is passionate about her work, knowledgeable about the law and is one of few that still believes in the truth above all else. If you are being sued for defamation or other alleged First Amendment violations and you were right and you were just in your actions, Cynthia Counts is the lawyer for you.
She is highly recommended by me; simply 'Google' Cynthia Counts and the results speak for themselves.
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Anonymous
10 Jan, 2014
Cynthia worked on my trial on false criminal charges that stemmed from a civil rights violation. She has demonstrated a thorough and in-depth knowledge of First Amendment and other constitutional and civil rights case decisions and a willingness to think outside the box. I consider her to be a first-rate attorney, especially for media and free speech matters.
When questioning one of the witnesses at my trial, Cynthia was matter-of-fact, calm, and professional in working inconsistencies out of the witness. When writing motions, she cited an extensive case law history that applied to my specific case - demonstrating to me that she works hard on her cases.
Also, Cynthia is one of the most ethical and trustworthy attorneys I would recommend - her manner of speaking is very straightforward and her presentation skills are first-rate. She arrived early for my continuance sign-ins to avoid the huge waste of time that I've seen other defense attorneys put on their clients, and her court time was used efficiently and appropriately during trial. It was a truly healing experience being vindicated at trial.
As a client, I have been treated with respect and dignity and was followed-up with promptly on questions. This is one lawyer I will always have on my short list to refer other people to, especially regarding civil rights matters.
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Publications
2016:
Communications Lawyer (ABA), Demystifying the Law on Opinion and Embracing Milkovich
2012:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, DeKalb County Should Open Process
2011:
ABA Media, Privacy, and Defamation Law Committee Newsletter, Strategies for Efficiently and Economically Winning a Media Case
2011:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Taxpayer Money Always Needs Public Scrutiny - No Exceptions
2010:
Media Law Resource Center, Avoiding the Blitz: The MLRC Model Decorum Order for High Profile Cases
2009:
Media Law Resource Center, Georgia TV Station Wins Summary Judgment: News Broadcast was True; Plaintiff Failed to Show Fault
2008:
Media Law Resource Center - Media Law Letter, Georgia’s Anti-SLAPP Statute Applied in Media Case” First Published Decision Applying Statute to Media Defendant Boxcar Development Corp., et al. v. New World Communications of Atlanta
2001:
Media Law Resource Center - 50 State Survey of Privacy Law, Co-Author - "Survey of Georgia Privacy Law", Libel Defense Resource Center
1996:
Albany Law Review, Co-Author of "Libel in Cyberspace: Liability and Jurisdictional Issues in this New Frontier"
1996:
Appellate Law Review, Co-Author, Handbook Appellate Procedure in Georgia
1996:
5th Annual Product Liability Seminar, Co-author, "Litigating Product Liability Case Under the Banks "Risk/Utility" Test: Predicting the Line Between Summary Judgment and Triable Claims and Outlying Trial Strategies for a Risky but Utilitarian World"
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