North Atlanta Injury Law Wins Service Dispute in Georgia Trial Court

MILTON, GA, September 11, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- In a recent legal case involving a rear-end collision in Gwinnett County, Georgia, the Court of Appeals of Georgia has declined to review a defendant's application for interlocutory appeal. The case, Baratian v. Strickland, Case No. A26I0187, centers on a dispute over service of a summons and complaint, with the plaintiff, represented by North Atlanta Injury Law PC, prevailing in the lower court.

The incident occurred in August 2023 when a vehicle rear-ended another, resulting in a legal challenge from the defendant. According to the plaintiff’s attorney, Travis J. Little, the defense focused on the timing of service, arguing that it had not been received within the statute of limitations. However, the court found that the plaintiff had demonstrated the greatest possible diligence in perfecting service.

The defendant had recently moved into a subdivided residence near an out-of-state university, where he had been living only a matter of weeks when the lawsuit was filed. Despite the defendant providing a street number without the unit designation, the firm initiated two simultaneous methods of service: statutory service through the Georgia Secretary of State under the Nonresident Motorist Act, and personal service through the sheriff’s office in the county where the defendant was living. The firm documented its efforts every business day from the date of filing until service was confirmed.

During a March 2026 hearing, the State Court of Gwinnett County rejected the defendant's motion for summary judgment, finding that the plaintiff had exercised the greatest possible diligence. The court ruled that the service after the expiration of the statute of limitations related back to the timely filing of the complaint. The defendant’s application for interlocutory review was subsequently denied by the Court of Appeals of Georgia on May 6, 2026, maintaining the trial court’s decision.

North Atlanta Injury Law PC, based in Milton, Georgia, specializes in personal injury cases, including automobile and trucking collisions, premises liability, product liability, nursing home negligence, and wrongful death matters. The firm’s principal attorney, Travis J. Little, emphasized that the court’s decision affirmed the firm’s thorough and diligent approach to service. Little stated, "The defense didn't dispute that their client caused the impact. Their defense was focused on the calendar. Our answer to that was a record of exactly what we did, every business day, until service was perfected, and the court found it sufficient."

The outcome of the case, while not detailing the specific terms of the resolution, underscores the importance of thorough documentation and diligence in legal proceedings. The case highlights the challenges faced by plaintiffs in service disputes and the rigorous standards applied by the courts in such matters.