April 17, 2025 – Groth, Makarenko, Kaiser & Eidex, LLC (GMKE) is pleased to announce that Partner Joseph Kaiser has authored a comprehensive article titled “From Six Flags to Carmichael: The Wild Ride of Negligent Security Cases in Georgia,” featured in the Winter 2025 edition of Georgia Defense Lawyer Magazine published by the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (GDLA). In this timely piece, Kaiser delves into the evolving standards of negligent security law in Georgia, offering a critical analysis of recent legal developments and their implications for property owners and legal practitioners.

The article examines the Georgia Supreme Court’s decisions beginning with Six Flags Over Georgia II, L.P. v Martin and culminating with Georgia CVS Pharmacy, LLC v. Carmichael.  “Understanding the nuances of negligent security law is crucial for both legal processionals and property owners,” said Kaiser. “This article aims to provide clarity on how recent legal precedents shape the responsibilities of property owners in safeguarding their premises under the current state of the law.”

It is noteworthy that at the time this article went to press, Senate Bill 68 was being debated in the legislature to address many of the issues raised in the article.  Since then, Senate Bill 68 has fully passed the House and Senate and awaits the governor’s signature.

GMKE continues to be at the forefront of legal discourse, providing insightful analyses on pertinent issues affecting the legal community. To read the full article by Joseph Kaiser, please click here.

About Joseph A. Kaiser, Esq.

Joseph Kaiser is the managing partner of Groth, Makarenko, Kaiser & Eidex LLC. He focuses his practice on automobile, premises and general liability defense as well as insurance coverage opinions and coverage litigation. He is admitted to practice before all state courts in Georgia (2012) and Missouri (2003). He is also admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Joe is a registered neutral with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution and serves as a senior neutral with Sugarloaf ADR, a mediation and alternative dispute resolution firm based in Duluth, Georgia.

In addition to the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Joe is a member of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, CLM, DRI and the Federation of Corporate and Defense Counsel (FDCC).  He is an active member of the Tort and Insurance Practice Section of the State Bar of Georgia and has served as a featured speaker at the Insurance Law Institute hosted annually by the TIPS section. Joe is AV® Preeminent Peer Review rated by Martindale Hubbell. He is also listed in Georgia Super Lawyers for 2025.

Read his full bio here.

About Groth Makarenko Kaiser & Eidex LLC

Groth, Makarenko, Kaiser & Eidex LLC is a Georgia-based insurance defense law firm with an extensive record of trying cases and obtaining results. The firm’s litigators have handled more than 560 trials across the states of Georgia and Tennessee, with a focus on the Metro Atlanta and more recently the Metro Nashville areas.

GMKE concentrates its practice in the areas of motor vehicle liability, premises liability, trucking claims, commercial defense litigation, as well as insurance coverage and declaratory judgments. In 2023, GMKE launched Sugarloaf ADR, a full-service alternative dispute resolution provider operating in Georgia and Tennessee.

Partners and senior partners have extensive experience working as in-house counsel at one of the largest personal line insurance companies in the country. As a result, firm members bring a deep understanding of claims management priorities to every case. Details are available online at https://gmke.law/ and https://sugarloafadr.com/