Cornelia, GA

Dennis T. Cathey

Dennis T. Cathey is a graduate of the University of Georgia undergraduate and law school. Mr. Cathey was born in Rabun County, Georgia, and has served on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia, as president of the Mountain Circuit Bar Association, is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, has served on the Investigative Panel of the State Bar of Georgia Disciplinary Committee, has been a member of the Federal Bar Council for the Northern District of Georgia and is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is a past recipient of the State Bar of Georgia Traditions of Excellence Award and past-president of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Cathey was an officer in the United States Army Medical Service Corps, has served as a youth sports coach for the Habersham County Parks and Rec Department, is active in the Cornelia United Methodist Church and serves on the Board of Trustees of Piedmont College.

Gerald Cody

Gerald is a native of Cornelia, Georgia. He attended Piedmont College graduating cum laude in 1979. He continued his education at Woodrow Wilson College of Law, graduating in 1982. Gerald was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1982 and began practicing law with partner Doug McDonald in 1982 following graduation from law school. Gerald currently focuses his practice on representing individuals who has been injured as the result of the negligence of others, as well as, family members of individuals who have died as the result of the negligence of others. Gerald’s areas of practice include personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, trucking accidents and wrongful death. Gerald also continues to serve as a Guardian ad Litem for children who has been abused or removed from their home.

David Alan Sleppy

David Sleppy is an AV rated attorney with plaintiff’s civil trial and appellate experience, admitted to practice in Georgia and the District of Columbia. He graduated from the George Washington University National Law Center in 1981 and summa cum laude from Gettysburg College in 1978. Prior to joining Cathey & Strain, Mr. Sleppy was a partner at Herman & Sleppy for ten years and worked as a sole practitioner in Atlanta for three years. He has also served as an adjunct law professor and has been invited to speak at the Center for International Legal Studies. Mr. Sleppy has been selected as a Georgia “Super Lawyer.” His practice places an emphasis on catastrophic product liability cases, construction/industrial equipment, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and consumer products with a particular focus on automotive defects/crashworthiness cases. Mr. Sleppy also handles trucking/motor carrier, railroad, sovereign immunity cases and complex insurance/coverage disputes. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial, contractual, and real estate matters. With over thirty years experience as lead counsel in cases filed in state and federal courts around the country, Mr. Sleppy has handled all aspects of trial practice including complex discovery, depositions, expert development, motions, hearings, alternative dispute resolution, Daubert challenges, trial preparation, trials and appeals. He has tried dozens of cases to verdict as first and second chair counsel.

Gus McDonald

Gus McDonald is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, as well as the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He has been litigating cases since 1995 across Georgia, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Since 2012, Gus has focused exclusively on Personal Injury with a focus on Dram Shop litigation and product liability. He is recognized as an authority in injury law where alcohol is involved and wrongful death caused by automobiles. Gus has tried in excess of 90 jury trials and has lectured on Dram Shop and impaired driving in 12 States. He has also represented Judges, Lawyers and Law Enforcement Officers.

Bo Hatchett

Bo Hatchett is a personal injury attorney specializing in catastrophic injury cases. Bo assists clients who have suffered life-altering accidents and incidents, including numerous six and seven figure claims. Known for his strong client relations and negotiation skills, Bo has earned a well-deserved reputation as an effective advocate. In addition to his expertise in applying the law, Bo is also a law maker: he has served as a Georgia State Senator since January, 2021 and represents nine northeast Georgia counties in the legislature.

Matthew A. Cathey

Matt is a plaintiff’s civil trial attorney with an emphasis on catastrophic injury cases, including product liability, trucking, roadway, railroad, medical malpractice and mass tort cases. Matt was raised in Habersham County, Georgia and received his undergraduate degree cum laude from the University of Georgia. Upon graduation, he attended Georgia State University College of Law where he graduated with honors in litigation. Matt began his professional career working in Atlanta, where he practiced for five years prior coming to Cathey & Strain. Throughout his legal career Matt has successfully tried numerous jury trials as well as litigating and handling all other aspects of trial practice, including trial preparation, appeals, motions, hearings, Daubert challenges, motions for summary judgment and expert testimony development.

Jackson McDonald

Jackson McDonald is a third-generation attorney who grew up around the law. After gaining extensive experience clerking in trial and appellate courts, at both the state and federal level, Jackson returned to McDonald & Cody and now focuses primarily on complex litigation, including wrongful-death, products-liability, and catastrophic-injury cases. Jackson quickly developed a reputation for his ability to make complicated issues, simple.