David Zacks is a trial lawyer representing both plaintiffs and defendants in complex litigation matters. Mr. Zacks also represents plaintiffs in catastrophic injuries. He has tried or settled over 100 catastrophic injury cases and handled numerous complex business and health care litigation matters. Mr. Zacks is a certified arbitrator and mediator with the American Health Lawyers Association and a Founding Member of the Georgia Academy of Mediators and Arbitrators. He practices in the health care industry and represents both hospital and physician providers. In addition, Mr. Zacks also practices in the area of special investigations and white collar crime. He has handled a wide range of criminal defense matters on behalf of individuals and corporate entities, and has extensive experience conducting internal corporate investigations. He also has substantial experience practicing Native American law and is co-chair of the firm's Native American practice group.
Several international, national and local organizations have entrusted Mr. Zacks with their development and well-being, and he is a proven leader of teams that consistently achieve positive results. Mr. Zacks works with organizations as a leadership coach. He is past National Chair of the Board of the American Cancer Society, which is a billion dollar organization and one of the oldest, largest and most effective voluntary health agencies in the world. Mr. Zacks is founder and past President of the Legal Clinic for the Homeless in Atlanta, has served on the Executive Board of University Hospital Health Care Foundation, and is a past Trustee of Leadership Georgia. He also served on the firm's Executive Committee.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Zacks served as a Captain and certified military judge in the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Army where he successfully defended a captain in a My Lai related trial.
Mr. Zacks is the recipient of the Wake Forest University Distinguished Alumni Award and the Georgia Bar Community Service Award. He is also the recipient of the Atlanta Bar Palmer Ansley Leadership Award. Mr. Zacks has been listed as a Georgia "Super Lawyer" in Litigation, Personal Injury and Alternative Dispute Resolution law by SuperLawyers magazine numerous times, most recently in 2012 for General Litigation. He was recognized in the National Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals. He is listed in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Commercial Litigation Law. Mr. Zacks was recognized in The Best Lawyer's in America® for Alternative Dispute Resolution, Health Care Law and Personal Injury Litigation in 2012 and each of the 11 years preceding. He is listed among Georgia Trend's "Legal Elite" in 2011 and the two years immediately preceding for Personal Injury law. Mr. Zacks is AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Professional & Community Activities
American Cancer Society, Past National Chair of the Board
Wake Forest University School of Law, Law Board of Visitors, Co-Chair
American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program, Chair, South-Atlantic Division
Emory School of Medicine, Dean's Advisory Board, Member
Legal Clinic for the Homeless in Atlanta, Founder and Past President
Georgia Academy of Mediators and Arbitrators, Founding Member
Leadership Georgia, Past Trustee
University Hospital Health Care Foundation, Former Executive Board Member
Industries
Health & Life Sciences; Native American
Experience
Class action suit for major hospital, Represented a major hospital in a multimillion dollar, putative class action involving billing practices for managed care patients. During discovery, plaintiffs' counsel agreed to settle the matter for pennies on the dollar.
Product default claim stemming from off-road vehicle accident, Served as counsel for an individual in a product liability action against a manufacturer of components for 4x4 vehicles. Our client became paralyzed after an accident involving the defendant's product. After extensive mediation a favorable settlement was obtained.
Burn injury and wrongful death, * Represented a man in litigation when a hot water heater explosion killed his wife and burned one of his sons.
Wrongful death, Represented the parents of a 28-year-old woman in wrongful death action filed in Kentucky against a corporate defendant. The decedent was a single, bright, talented lobbyist in Washington, who was on track for a very promising career. The settlement achieved was well above the amount typically awarded in cases of unmarried young women.
Water labeling class action for Nestlé Waters North America Inc., The firm served as lead trial counsel for Nestlé Waters North America Inc. in a class action related to spring water bottle labeling, concerning both federal and state laws. The case was brought in California and a successful mediation produced a favorable outcome for the defendant.
Negligence and personal injury claim against regional company for burned machine operator, Represented a machine operator in a negligence and personal injury claim. The man was burned when the machine he operated came into contact with a power line. They jury trial went in favor of our client. The claims were later upheld in an appeal.
*Experience gained by attorney prior to joining Kilpatrick Townsend
Publications
01 June 1995, Non-Competition Clauses: Friend or Foe?
Source: The Georgia Health Care News, Articles
01 June 1995, Health Care Portability and Accountability Act: A Tempered Victory, Articles
01 March 1995, Communication: The Key to Controlling Legal Costs
Source: Medical Group Management Update, Articles
News
21 February 2012, Kilpatrick Townsend Once Again Achieves Top Recognition in 2012 Georgia Super Lawyers, News Releases
15 December 2011, Kilpatrick Townsend Attorneys Named 2011 "Legal Elite", News Releases
06 September 2011, Kilpatrick Townsend Earns Record-Breaking Recognition in Annual Best Lawyers in America 2012, News Releases
21 June 2011, COBELL CASE WINS FINAL APPROVAL IN MAJOR VICTORY FOR NATIVE AMERICANS, News Releases
13 June 2011, Kilpatrick Townsend Again Earns Highest Recognition From CHAMBERS USA 2011, News Releases
02 March 2011, Kilpatrick Townsend Once Again Achieves Top Recognition in 2011 Georgia Super Lawyers, News Releases
19 December 2010, Judge Gives Preliminary Approval to Cobell Settlement, News Releases
13 December 2010, Kilpatrick Stockton Attorneys Named 2010 "Legal Elite", News Releases
08 December 2010, President Embraces Cobell Settlement, News Releases
30 November 2010, Elouise Cobell Hails Historic Vote To Resolve Trust Case, News Releases
19 November 2010, Cobell Welcomes Senate Action Approving Settlement, News Releases
15 October 2010, GDOT to pay half of $3 million settlement in auto wreck case, In the News
12 August 2010, Kilpatrick Stockton Earns Record-Breaking Recognition in Annual Best Lawyers in America 2011, News Releases
06 July 2010, Kilpatrick Stockston's David Zacks Named Co-Chair of the Law Board of Visitors for Wake Forest University School of Law, News Releases
22 June 2010, "American Cancer Society Dedicates Kilpatrick Stockton Community Room at Hope Lodge", News Releases
14 June 2010, Kilpatrick Stockton Again Earns Highest Recognition From CHAMBERS USA 2010, News Releases
04 March 2010, Kilpatrick Stockton Ranked Number One in Five 2010 Georgia Super Lawyer Categories, News Releases
08 December 2009, Kilpatrick Stockton Attorneys Named 2009 "Legal Elite", News Releases
10 September 2009, Kilpatrick Stockton Partners Donate Mural Painted by Their Own Hands to American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge in Atlanta, News Releases
04 August 2009, Kilpatrick Stockton Earns Record-Breaking Recognition in Annual Best Lawyers in America 2010, News Releases
15 June 2009, Kilpatrick Stockton Once Again Earns Highest Recognition From Chambers USA, News Releases
01 May 2009, David Zacks: The Passionate Professional
Source: The Jurist, In the News
02 March 2009, Kilpatrick Stockton Ranked Number One in Five Georgia Super Lawyer Categories, News Releases
30 January 2009, Kilpatrick Stockton Reaches $750,000 Milestone In Contributions to the American Cancer Society, News Releases
08 January 2009, Miles Alexander and David Zacks Recognized as Founding Members of Georgia Academy of Mediators and Arbitrators, News Releases