Georgia Staton

Partner

Arizona

 

gstaton@jshfirm.com
TEL: 602.263.1751
FAX: 602.200.7854
Legal Assistant: Cecily Benson
602.263.4530
cbenson@jshfirm.com

Georgia Staton has more than 49 years of experience representing governmental entities, including state, counties, and cities, as well as school districts and privately-held corporations. She is committed to defending clients on issues involving governmental liability, employment law, personal injury, and civil rights. Georgia has tried more than 75 cases to verdict in state and federal court in matters involving wrongful death and claims brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Title VII discrimination, and sexual harassment claims and retaliation, as well as false arrest and excessive force allegations against law enforcement including pursuit cases and SWAT actions.

Georgia is a Certified Specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death, an Advocate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and a Fellow and Past-Chair of the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL).

Away from the office, Georgia enjoys traveling the world, reading novels, and learning Russian.

 

  • Cooper v. Window Rock Unified School District, No. 3:20 CV-08346-DJH (Summary judgment granted – employment)
  • Lewis v. Window Rock Unified School District, CV 20-08193-PCT-DJH (Summary judgment granted – employment)
  • Perrault v. Marana Unified School District, No. CV-17-00002-TUC-DTF (Defense verdict on employment retaliation claim)
  • Kennedy v. Mohave County, No. CV-17-08206-PCT-SPL (Jury found in favor of the defendants on all counts)
  • Hamilton, Dan v. Yavapai Community College, et al., Defendants, No. 3:12-cv-08193-PCT-GMS (Jury rejected all of plaintiff’s claims and found unanimously in favor of defendant)
  • Krause, et al. v. County of Mohave, et al., Defendants-Appellees., 20-16189, 2021 WL 1667042, at *1 (9th Cir. Apr. 28, 2021) (Ninth Circuit affirms summary judgment on all claims in officer-involved shooting case)
  • Krause, et al. v. County of Mohave, et al., 3:17-CV-08185, 2020 WL 2541728 (D. Ariz. 2020) (obtained summary judgment on all claims in officer-involved shooting)

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow; Chair of Arizona State Chapter 2017 – 2019
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Advocate Member
  • U.S. District Court of Arizona, Lawyer Representative, 2010 – 2013
  • International Association of Defense Counsel, Member, 1996 – Present
  • Defense Research Institute, Member
  • Government and Administrative Law Committee, Chair, 1999 – 2000
  • Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, Member, 1995 – Present
  • Arizona Women Lawyers Association, Member
  • Federal Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section, State & Local Government Relations Section, Member

Professional Recognition & Awards

  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Phoenix Chapter, Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2021
  • Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law – Management, 2015-2024; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2020-2024
  • Southwest Super Lawyers, 2007-2010, 2013-2023
  • Southwest Super Lawyers, “Top 25 Female Lawyers in Arizona,”, 2013-2015
  • Arizona Women Lawyer’s Association, President’s Award, 2006; Sarah Herring Sorin Award, 2007
  • Arizona Business Magazine, “Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona,” 2015
  • AV® Preeminent™ Rated on Martindale Hubbell

Presentations & Publications

  • “Cap’n Jack Sparrow Reveals Trial Treasures:  Closing Arguments – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” ACTL Annual Seminar, May 2023
  • “Trials in a Radically Changing World:  Views from the Pit and the Bench,” ACTL Annual Seminar (Jury Selection), May 2022
  • Litigating Parallel Personal Injury Cases and Criminal Prosecution: Managing the Competing Interests of Defendants, Injured Parties, Insurance Carriers, and Law Enforcement,” Strafford Publications CLE, August 2021
  • “Bifurcation of Liability and Damages in Arizona Personal Injury Cases,” Co-Presenter, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, CLE, May 2019
  • “Beyond Pain and Suffering – Hedonic Damages/Loss of Enjoyment of Life – What is it and How do you Prove it?,” Co-Presenter, ACTL Annual CLE: Damages – It’s All About the Money, May 2019
  • “Ethical Pitfalls During Jury Selection and Trial.” Co- Presenter, The American College of Trial Lawyers CLE “It’s All About the Evidence,” May 2018
  • Beyond the Charge: Exhaustion of EEOC Administrative Remedies for Events Taking Place During the EEOC Investigation,” Co-Author, USLAW NETWORK Magazine, Spring/Summer 2018, p. 20
  • “Transgender Students: The Changing Legal Landscape,” Co-Presenter, ASRRT Community College Risk Management Summit, November 2017
  • “Keeping Up with Appearances: Trends in Appearance-Based Discrimination,” Co-Presenter, 12th Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar/HR Summit, May 2017
  • “Transgender Students – Legal Development and Best Practices,” Co-Presenter, 3rd Annual Trust Community College Risk Management Summit, November 2016
  • “Cross Examination,” Presenter, 2016 American College of Trial Lawyers CLE, April 2016
  • “Jury Selection: How to Lose A Trial Before You Even Start,” Presenter, Current Issues in Governmental Liability Seminar, November 2015
  • “Sham Affidavit,” Presenter, 2015 American College of Trial Lawyers CLE Event, May 2015
  • “Policies and Procedures: Do You Have One For This?” Co-Presenter, Arizona Counties Insurance Pool’s Eighteenth Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar, May 2015
  • “Notice of Claims: It’s Not That Hard,” Presenter, ABOTA’s Day with the Masters CLE, April 2015
  • “You Think You Know What Juries Are Thinking?….Think Again,” Presenter, 2014 JSH Annual Seminar: Current Issues in Governmental Liability, November 2014
  • “Jones, Skelton & Hochuli Attorney Finds Honor in Job,” AZCentral, Who’s Who in Business, 2014
  • “Internal Investigations (It’s A Dirty Job, But Somebody Has To Do It),” Presenter, Arizona Counties Insurance Pool HR Summit, June 2014
  • “Retaliation and Whistleblower Claims (Revenge Is The Name Of A Television Show, It is Not An Employment Practice),” Presenter, Arizona Counties Insurance Pool HR Summit, June 2014
  • “Background Investigations (Or How To Set Yourself Up For a Lawsuit Without Really Trying),” Presenter, Arizona Counties Insurance Pool, 2014 Public Practice Legal Seminar, May 2014
  • “Who’s The Boss: Employer Liability After Vance v. Ball State, Is the Line Really as Bright as the Court Intended?” Co-Author, IADC Employment Law Newsletter, July 2013
  • “First Grader’s Approach to Trial Presentations – Use of Technology in the Courtroom/Handling Personnel Appeals Board Cases,” Presenter, Arizona Counties Insurance Pool’s 16th Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar, May 2013
  • “From Focus Group to Verdict,” Presenter, American College of Trial Advocates CLE, April 2013
  • “A Practical Guide to Opening Statements and Closing Arguments,” Speaker, Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Seminar, Defense Research Institute, January 2013
  • “First Grader’s Approach to Trial Presentations – Use of Technology in the Courtroom,” Presenter, JSH Current Issues in Government Liability Seminar, November 2012
  • “Course and Scope Issues,” Presenter, Arizona Public Risk Management Association’s 5th Annual Summer Educational Series, August 2012
  • “Mum’s Not the Word – Intersection of Title VII and The NLRB,” Author, Arizona Attorney, November 2005
  • “Campus Violence – School District Liability and Students’ Fourth Amendment Right” Author, Arizona Attorney, August 2000
  • “Rule 68 Offers of Judgment” and “Defense Counsel’s Sword” Author, Defense Counsel Journal, July 2000
  • “A Practical Perspective on Employee Violence and Americans with Disabilities Act,” Author, Arizona Attorney, April 1999
  • “Parallel Proceedings – A Discovery Minefield,” Author, Arizona Attorney, July 1998
  • “Sexual Harassment: The ‘Reasonable Woman,’” Author, Standard, For the Defense, Defense Research Institute, December 1991

Teaching Experience

  • Arizona Trial College, Faculty Member, 1991 – Present
  • Arizona State University College of Law, Adjunct Faculty Member, 1994 – 1996
  • Defense Research Institute:
    • “Case Evaluation – Making it Matter,” Sharing Success: A Seminar for Women Lawyers, 2008
    • “Use of Technology in Trial – First Grader’s Approach to Trial Practice,” February 2007
    • “Age Discrimination…The ‘Graying’ of Employment Lawsuits,” 2004
    • “Employment Retaliation Claims – the Tail that Wags the Dog,” 2001
    • “Current School District Liability Issues: Sexual Harassment, School Searches and Disaster Plans,” 2000
    • “Americans with Disabilities Act,” 1997
    • “Jury Selection in Sexual Harassment Cases,” 1996
    • Handling Section 1983 Cases,” Public Practice Legal Seminar, May 2005
  • State Bar of Arizona:
    • “Trial Advocacy Today,” 2004 – 2009
    • “Getting Inside the Jury’s Mind,” May 2005
    • “The Art of Opening Statements,” April 2005
  • International Association of Defense Counsel:
    • “Providing Accommodation to the Deaf Under Title III of The Americans With Disabilities Act,” 2001
    • “Parallel Proceedings – A Discovery Minefield,” 1998
  • “Reasonable Accommodation Under The ADA,” Counsel on Education in Management, 1999
  • “The Persuasion Edge: Winning Persuasion Strategies and Tactics for Trial Lawyers,” Instructor
  • Evidence Workshop, State Bar of Arizona, Instructor, 1988
  • Federal Trial Advocacy, Instructor, 1987
  • National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Instructor, 1985 – 1987
  • Maricopa County and Arizona Bar Association CLE Seminars, Faculty Member, 1985 – Present:
    • RICO – The Ultimate Commercial Weapon
    • Dram Shop Liability
    • Making a Record; Objections
    • Comparative Negligence/Contribution
    • Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Issues
    • Ethics in Practice
    • Intangible Damages
    • Liquor Liability in Motor Vehicle Accident Cases
    • Sexual Harassment: Surviving the Nightmare
    • Ethical Questions for Lawyers in Personal Injury Cases
    • Negotiation Strategies for Women Lawyers
    • Sexual Harassment Litigation
    • Juror Challenges Under Batson
    • Legends of Litigation… Discovery and Deposition

Education

University of Kansas, J.D., 1974
University of Kansas, B.A., English and Russian, 1971

Admissions

Arizona, 1977
Kansas (Inactive), 1974
Illinois (Inactive), 1983
U.S. District Court, District of Arizona; Kansas
U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court, 1980