Presented by: Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG)

Course Overview: This comprehensive training is designed specifically for Georgia municipal and county officials, administrators, and staff who need a practical understanding of liability exposure, insurance fundamentals, and effective incident response. Participants will leave with actionable knowledge to help protect their municipalities from costly litigation and ensure compliance with state and federal law.

Who Should Attend: This training is open to members of both the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and the Association County Commissioners Georgia (ACCG), including: · City and county officials and commissioners · Municipal and county administrators and managers · Law enforcement personnel · Risk managers and finance officers · City and county attorneys and legal staff · Other employees who deal with risk and insurance.

Course Agenda:

Module 1 – Liability Overview (1 Hour) An in-depth look at the types of liability facing Georgia municipalities, including: · non-employment liability · Federal liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 · Georgia state law claims and sovereign immunity · Street, sidewalk, and pothole claims · The Milton decision and its impact on municipalities · Ante litem notice requirements under Georgia law

Module 2 – Insurance Fundamentals: What You Need to Know (45 Minutes) A practical overview of municipal insurance coverage, including key concepts every official should understand to manage risk effectively.

Module 3 – Nuclear Verdicts and Litigation Trends (45 Minutes) An examination of emerging litigation trends affecting municipalities, including nuclear verdicts, tort reform developments, and strategies for minimizing exposure.

Module 4 – Critical Incident Response (1 Hour) Best practices for responding to high-stakes incidents, with a focus on: · Communication considerations · Transparency obligations · Due process requirements · Liability implications · Group Exercises: Case study discussions based on real-world critical incidents

Learning Objectives: By the end of this course, participants will be able to: · Identify the primary sources of liability exposure for Georgia local governments · Understand the basics of insurance coverage · Recognize emerging litigation trends and how to mitigate risk · Apply a structured framework for critical incident response · Navigate ante litem notice requirements under Georgia law

About the Presenter: James Westbury is a lawyer and insurance professional holding BBA and JD degrees from Georgia State University and an MBA from the University of Georgia. He has earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation. James is a nationally recognized expert in local government liability, claims, and insurance coverage. He has represented cities and counties directly and through public risk pools as both defense and coverage counsel. From 2018 to 2023, he served as Property and Liability Claims Manager and Coverage Counsel for the Georgia Municipal Association. In 2024, James returned to private practice, where he provides legal and consulting services to public entities and public entity risk pools. James lectures frequently to public officials and insurance professionals and provides training nationally to police executives on law enforcement liability claims. He also served on the Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education for two terms, including six years as board chair.