Posted On: July 17, 2009

Atlanta lawyer helps get charges against Hindu leader dismissed

The head of the Hindu Temple of Georgia, Annamalai Annamalai, was arrested in November for theft and practicing medicine without a license. The Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office has dropped those charges.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has the story.

Annamalai, also known as Dr. Commander Selvam, was accused of charging a credit card which belonged to a member of the Temple without her permission. In another incident, a woman claims that he gave her medical advice.

However, Georgia law allows for the practice of medicine without a license if it is done by a religious healer. The District Attorney’s Office also explained that there was no evidence that Annamalai made the charges on the credit card.

Annamalai maintains that the two women and a police detective conspired against him and the Temple.

The Hindu leader was represented by Atlanta lawyer Jerry Froelich, a well-respected defense attorney and a friend of our firm.

Pate & Brody is an accomplished Georgia law firm with offices in Atlanta, Macon and Madison. Our lawyers are dedicated to pursuing justice for people charged with serious crimes. We have successfully represented clients facing serious federal criminal charges and state criminal charges in courts across Georgia. Our lawyers have been recognized on the list of Georgia's "Super Lawyers", and included among Georgia's "Legal Elite" by Georgia Trend Magazine. Page Pate was recently the Chairman of the Criminal Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association.

Bookmark and Share

Posted On: July 16, 2009

McDonough Georgia lawyer pleads guilty in Ponzi scheme

On Thursday, a former Henry County lawyer pleaded guilty in federal court to running a real estate scam in which he stole more than $2 million. Authorities say 24 individuals across Georgia, Tennessee and Florida fell victim to the scheme.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has the story.

Steven H. Ballard was accused of operating the scheme between 2002 and 2006. Authorities say he promised clients profits in excess of 50 percent, but upon taking their money, he would simply deposit the funds into his firm’s escrow account. Prosecutors believe he would show investors forged legal documents and deeds to make them think transactions had occurred. Perhaps most shocking of all is the fact that many of the victims were friends and colleagues of Ballard.

In one case, Ballard sold a condo in Panama City, Florida to a retired firefighter. However, the condo was actually an empty lot that had been sold to numerous parties. The firefighter used his life savings to make the investment.

Ballard is scheduled to be sentenced in late September and faces a possible 20 years in prison. He must also pay the money back he stole. He has thus far returned about half the money, and is currently working at a convenient store and organizing golf tournaments to pay back the rest.

Ballard started practicing law in 1981 and was even an adjunct professor at Clayton State University. He was disbarred in 2006.

Pate & Brody is an accomplished Georgia law firm with offices in Atlanta, Macon and Madison. Our lawyers are dedicated to pursuing justice for people charged with serious crimes. We have successfully represented clients facing serious federal criminal charges and state criminal charges in courts across Georgia. Our lawyers have been recognized on the list of Georgia's "Super Lawyers", and included among Georgia's "Legal Elite" by Georgia Trend Magazine. Page Pate was recently the Chairman of the Criminal Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association.

Bookmark and Share

Posted On: July 8, 2009

Macon Georgia attorney helps get sex offense case against Milledgeville teacher dismissed

A Baldwin County High School teacher was arrested in March 2008 for allegedly having sex with two students. The Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office has dismissed those charges in light of a recent Georgia Supreme Court case.

The Macon Telegraph has the story.

Alison Ivey was indicted on five counts of sexual assault in October of last year and was scheduled for trial in August. Prosecutors alleged that Ivey performed oral sex on a 17-year-old student off school property in late 2007. Authorities also believe that Ivey had intercourse with the student on two different occasions in her home in the spring of 2008. She was also accused of having intercourse with an 18-year-old student in her classroom and in her car off school property in late 2007. In addition to the charges, Ivey was placed on administrative leave after her arrest and later resigned as a teacher.

In the past, Ivey’s alleged actions were criminal under the law. In fact, it was generally criminal for a teacher to have relations with any student regardless of age. However, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled in June that consensual intercourse between a 16-year-old student and a teacher is not a crime. This is because the legal age of consent in Georgia is 16. Charges against Ivey were dropped when the Georgia Supreme Court refused to reconsider its June decision.

Ivey has always denied having sex with the students and is happy with the District Attorney’s decision according to her defense attorney, Macon criminal lawyer Frank Hogue.

Pate & Brody is an accomplished Georgia law firm with offices in Atlanta, Macon and Madison. Our lawyers are dedicated to pursuing justice for people charged with serious crimes. We have successfully represented clients facing serious federal criminal charges and state criminal charges in courts across Georgia. Our lawyers have been recognized on the list of Georgia's "Super Lawyers", and included among Georgia's "Legal Elite" by Georgia Trend Magazine. Page Pate was recently the Chairman of the Criminal Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association.

Bookmark and Share