Jordan K. Van Matre

Warehouse Trip-and-Fall. Client was a day-worker at a warehouse through a staffing agency. She followed other workers and a manger through the crowded warehouse, ultimately tripping on a errantly laid pallet. She gashed her head open and suffered a blow-out orbital fracture. Insurance company denied our claim before seeing the demand. We sent a $500,000 demand, which was then accepted by their attorney. , 2023 Dog Bite. Client was a delivery driver who was following the delivery instructions of the home-owner when she was attached by the family dog. The client suffered a bad bite wound that required debridement of dead skin and permanent scarring. Settled the case after law suit for $135,000. , 2023 Premises Liability - Broken Ankle. Client was visiting a friend at a run-down housing development. The drainage system was clogged with debris from lack of care and attention. There was also poor lighting. Client stepped in a mudhole that was filled with water because he could not see it. He suffered a broken ankle. After disputed liability and a contested mediation, we settled for $165,000. , 2022 Fractured Vertebrae, Car wreck. Client was passenger in a friends car when the friend lost control and flipped it. Client suffered a fractured vertebrae, which healed over time with a brace and therapies. We were able to get her $300,000.00., 2023 Tumlinson v. Dix, Habeas Pre-Trial Appeal. We alleged client was denied bail unconstitutionally. Litigated two separate motions to recuse, and then was finally before a judge with no conflicts. That judge dismissed without a hearing, finding client was not entitled to habeas relief. Appealed to Supreme Court, which reversed the habeas court and remanded. , 2020 Client 1: Was credibly accused of taking a picture of his daughters friend while at a sleep-over. Family man who was terrified of what such an accusation might do. I ed detective and persuaded him to hold off while I investigated. I took phone and had it forensically investigated and could prove no photos were taken during the girls time frame - and argued it was likely a dream. Detective closed case without arrest. Client 2: - Client was accused and arrested for Rape of his grocery-store co-worker girlfriend. I was able to get him a bail, and then investigated the text messages / emails which showed the girl just had buyers remorse about hooking up with him in the Kroger parking lot. I persuaded prosecutors to drop charges and not indict him - saving him from years of torment. Client 3: Client - federal clearances working for FAA - found out his girlfriend was cheating. They got in a spat and he went into kitchen - emotional and distraught. He pulled a kitchen knife and looked upset - his brother tried to take it from him and got cut by accident. He was arrested and accused of two counts of Aggravated Assault. Because of his job - he needed total dismissal. I gave him a plan (community service, anger management, etc) and obtained victims statements that he didnt intentionally do anything. Prosecutor dismissed the charge. Client tripped on decrepit stairs at landlords house - breaking her ankle. Obtained a limits settlement of $100,000 after locating the owner in Texas. 70 year old man riding his bike was clipped by a motorist - flipped over and crushed his hip. Full hip replacement. Got his health insurance to pay for it and obtained a $125,000 settlement for him within 60 days. Carter et. al. v. Jewell. Client, a mother, her friend, and Clients minor daughter were hit head on by an at-fault driver. Totaled the car and caused terrifying injuries and emotional distress to all involved. Clients transported to hospital. Successfully obtained policy limits on all available insurance policies for tortfeasor and a favorable amount on UM. Total settlement was over $94,000 for client, over $55,000 for child, and over $40,000 for friend/passenger. , 2020 Confidential Parties - Client v. Major Telecommunications Client. Client was young adult female who went to phone store to have phone upgraded. Store worker took charge of her phone to transfer data, and having gained access to it, searched through clients photos and found private photos of client which depicted client in a nude or sensuous fashion. Worker emailed these to himself. Client was alerted to this fact through cloud system and ed our office. We submitted a demand under a theory of invasion of privacy and master/servant. Obtained a confidential settlement that far exceeded clients expectations. , 2020 Bruce v. Too, 2019. Represented passenger in rear-end collision. Client suffered torn rotator cuff. Obtained policy limits of $125,000 and negotiated her bills so she could obtain her surgery. , 2019 State v. Sherry Hall, 2020. Represented former police officer who was charged, arrested, indicted, and tried for 11 counts related to the States claim that she staged an officer involved shooting that was made up. She was charged with 4 counts of felony false statement, four counts of violation of oath predicated on those false statements, and other felonies. She was sentenced to 38 serve 15 - with no application of merger or rule of lenity. I filed a motion for new trial and to modify sentence, arguing, among other claims, that prosecution of VOO was vague, and that the trial court failed to properly merge and apply ROL. I also argued that her Garity rights were violated. Negotiated a resolution to permit a new trial, and enter a plea to two counts - one felony false statement and one other felony. 10 serve 5, credit for time served. She should be out in 20 months. , 2020 Cook v. Too, 2019. Represented driver of vehicle rear-ended by at-fault driver. Soft Tissue Injuries. Obtained policiy limits settlements on at-fault policy and UM, total of $125,000.00, 2019 Cochran v. Cochran, 2018. Represented ex-wife of plaintiff, who sued her in contempt of original divorce decree that required her to make monthly payments to him and other matters. Successfully argued that the divorce agreement was null and void because it was not approved by the bankruptcy court for my client, who was at the time in a chapter 13 bankruptcy. Trial Court agreed with our argument and my client prevailed., 2018 Woodall v. Johnson, Appeal. Represented client Beau Woodall in petition by ex-wifes husband to terminate his rights and adopt the child. Trial court granted the petition over our strenuous objection and amply proved case. Appealed to the Court of Appeals, who reversed the trial courts decision., 2019 Ronnie Goins v. Benjamin Summerfield. Soft-Tissue Injury from head-on collision. Settlement of $50,000.00., 2017 State vs. David Watts, 2018 Verdict of Not Guilty, Aggravated Child Molestation and related charges. Client accused of abusing step-granddaughter in the home. Outcry was made to childs mother, who had also been allegedly abused by Defendant when the mother was younger. At trial, evidence was admitted against Defendant that he had engaged in three separate similar transactions with adolescent girls, had been charged, and convicted or entered pleas. These witnesses testified against him at trial. Through use of expert testimony, client testimony, and persuasive theory of the case, we successfully persuaded the jury that he was not guilty. Verdict of Not guilty on all counts., 2018 State v. Sean Evans, 2018 Criminal Jury Trial on murder and related counts. Verdict of guilty to reduced charge of Voluntary Manslaughter. Indigent Client represented on appointed basis. Client was involved in a gang-on-gang shooting. Client admitted to being involved, confessed to shooting. Through careful cross examination and expert witnesses, we argued self-defense, as there was a confirmed hit on the clients life. After a week-long jury trial, client was convicted only of manslaughter. Successfully argued that the felony murder conviction merged into the manslaughter conviction for a lower and parolable sentence., 2018 State v. Keisha Wingfield, 2018 Criminal Jury Trial on traffic offense in Gwinnett County. Verdict: Not Guilty. Client given traffic citation after being in an accident that was not her fault. Despite being on dash cam of passerby, State would not dismiss. Conducted jury trial, verdict of not guilty in 25 minutes., 2018 State v. John Chris Christopher, 2018. Hung Jury, Aggravated Child Molestation reduced to simple battery. Client was accused by two step-daughters of abuse during five year period of time. Client hired separate lawyer, conducted inconclusive polygraph. Client retained our firm. We prosecuted a special demurrer to the date range of the indictment, and successfully quashed the first indictment. The second indictment actually narrowed the date range to a specific date for one offense, for which Defendant had solid alibi. We prosecuted a motion to declare the rape shield statute unconstitutional, and permit questioning into the victims character. All were denied. Conducted 10-day jury trial, with extensive witnesses and expert testimony, and powerful client testimony, and obtained a hung jury of 11-1, 11 for Not Guilty. Mistrial declared, and negotiated a plea to simple battery on new accusation with no sex offender registration, no fine, and no jail. Client reunited with family., 2018 Barbara Watts v. John Doe. Hit-and-Run Driver, Settlement. Client injured in severe hit-and-run accident. At-fault driver fled the scene. Client obtained $50,000 settlement for soft-tissue injuries., 2018