James T. Ponton

James T. Ponton graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in 2001 from Siena College in Loudonville, New York. He received his Juris Doctorate in 2004 from Albany Law School in Albany, New York. While at Albany Law, he was a member of the Albany Law Review as well as spending a year interning for The Honorable Joseph C. Teresi at the New York State Supreme Court. After graduation, he began his practice at Downey and Cleveland, LLP in Marietta, Georgia, representing insurance companies and their insureds in first and third party actions. While at Downey and Cleveland, LLP, he tried numerous cases to verdict as well as authoring numerous successful decisions in Georgia's appellate courts, including Penny v. McBride, 282 Ga. App. 590 (2007); Mealer v. Kennedy, 290 Ga. App. 432 (2008); and Whatley v. Sharma, 291 Ga. App. 228 (2008). As a former insurance defense attorney, James is keenly aware of litigation tactics employed by insurance companies to pressure the injured party to accept a smaller settlement or simply walk away from their case.

In 2008, James began his representation of Georgia families who have experienced personal injury or death due to the negligence of others when he joined Goldstein & Hayes, P.C., in Atlanta, Georgia. While at Goldstein & Hayes, P.C., he tried numerous cases to verdict, including Alexis Hall, by next friend and natural guardian Akili Hall v. Tampico Taxi, Inc., No. 07-EV-002644D, which resulted in a verdict in favor of the Halls on November 19, 2010, in the amount of $851,137.40. He has litigated numerous wrongful death, brain injury, trucking cases, and other cases involving catastrophic injuries. James was selected by his peers as a Georgia Rising Star in 2010, and 2014-2016. No more than 2.5% of lawyers in Georgia under the age of 40 are selected.

He is currently a member of the State Bar of Georgia and is admitted to practice before all Georgia State, Superior, and Appellate courts, including the Georgia Supreme Court as well as the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Georgia and the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th District. James is also a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Lawyers Club of Atlanta.Member, Albany Law Review.