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Bert Hummel Publishes Article in Georgia Bar Journal on Importance of Attorney Veracity

Atlanta, Ga. (June 7, 2021) - Atlanta Partner Bert Hummel recently published an article in the Georgia Bar Journal titled,  “The Veracity of Our Pursuits: ‘Reality’ Should Be Authentic, Our Voices Matter and the Public is Listening,” which discusses the importance of attorneys remaining honest, authentic, and truthful in their pursuits both in and out of the courtroom.

Mr. Hummel opens the article by describing that truthfulness should be at the center of attorneys’ statements and actions, explaining that “we must respect and honor the veracity of the statements we make, the positions we take and the arguments we construct. Otherwise, we are misleading the public, damaging the profession and ruining our own reputations.”

Next, citing to Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4, which prohibits lawyers from engaging in dishonest or fraudulent conduct, Mr. Hummel goes on to describe how Senator Joseph McCarthy, along with other lawyers, “abandon[ed] the truth for personal and professional gain or national notoriety.” Mr. Hummel concludes the article by calling for attorneys to remain vigilant and hold others accountable. He writes, “I challenge each of you to hold our fellow attorneys accountable when they do not seek truthfulness in their pursuits. Use your own voice to drown out the few attorneys who choose not to honor our professional oaths and aspirational goals, and who jeopardize our systems of justice for future generations.”

Mr. Hummel is a member of Lewis Brisbois’ General Liability and Workers' Compensation Practices, and serves as the President of the State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division. He has extensive experience in litigation and has handled hundreds of claims in his practice for a variety of insurance companies, Fortune 500 companies, large corporations, small businesses, and self-insurers, as well as TPAs, PEOs, and staffing companies.

You can access the full Georgia Bar Journal article here.

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