Congratulations to Attorney Adam Walters in his recent victory in the matter of Gateway Cmty. Serv. Bd v. Bonati

Gateway Cmty. Serv. Bd. v. Bonati, A18A0589 (Ga. App., 2018) - Walters Law congratulates Attorney Adam Walters, and client Dr. Frank Bonati, regarding their victory in an employment matter argued before the Georgia Court of Appeals.  Following Dr. Bonati’s amicable completion of all of his employment commitments, along with the expiration of his contract as the executive director of Gateway Community Service Board (“Gateway”), Gateway attempted to invalidate Bonati’s employment contract and the payments still due and owing to him.  On October 2, 2013, Gateway brought a declaratory judgment suit to achieve those ends, and Bonati counterclaimed for breach of contract and other claims.  Following a bench trial, the trial court ruled in favor of Bonati and awarded him over $320,000 in contractual damages, plus over $100,000 in attorney's fees.  Gateway appealed that decision arguing that the contract was not enforceable because it contained terms exceeding Gateway’s authority, violated public policy and the Georgia Constitution’s Gratuities Clause, and that the extent of attorney’s fees awarded at trial exceeded the purview of the contract.  The Court of Appeals rejected all of the above arguments, and issued a decision, dated June 27, 2018, affirming the judgment in Bonati’s favor.  A copy of the decision can be found here.