Walter H. Bush, Jr. 404.873.8678 [direct] 404.873.8679 [fax] walter.bush@agg.com Area of Practice General Litigation, First Amendment and Media Law

Walter Bush is a partner in the Atlanta office of the firm. He conducts a litigation and trial practice focusing on complex cases in a variety of areas including media and First Amendment matters, toxic tort and environmental matters, telecommunications, transportation, medical malpractice and general business litigation. Recently, Mr. Bush has served as lead trial counsel in a CERCLA cost recovery case in which the court entered an $18 million judgment in favor of his client and has obtained a jury verdict for the defense in a significant professional negligence case in Fulton County, Georgia. He also serves as lead outside counsel for editorial matters for two daily newspapers.

Reported Cases

• Bethlehem Steel Corporation v. Tidwell, 66 B.R. 932 (U.S.D.C.M.D. Ga. 1986) (enforceability of lien rights);


• Beverage Management Solutions, Inc. v. Yankee Spirits, Inc., 218 Ga. App. 95, 460 S.E.2d 564 (1995) (Application of long-arm statute to non-resident corporation);


• Canadyne-Georgia Corp. v. Cleveland, 72 F. Supp. 2d 1373, 49 ERC 1518, 30 Envtl. L. Rep. 20, 139 (M.D. Ga., Sep 30, 1999) (NO. 5:96-CV-114-1 DF);


• Canadyne-Georgia Corp. v. Nations Bank, N.A. (South), 982 F. Supp. 886, 49 ERC 1473 (M.D. Ga., Jun 11, 1997) (NO. 5:96-CV-114-1 (DF));


• Canadyne-Georgia Corp. v. Nations Bank, N.A. (South), 183 F.2d 1269, 49 ERC 1001, 29 Envtl. L. Rep. 21, 468, 12 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. C 1166 (11th Cir. (Ga.), Aug 11, 1999) (NO. 97-9357) (series of CERCLA Cost Recovery Cases);


• Goss v. Bayer, 184 Ga. App. 730; 362 S.E.2d 768 (1987) (Right to jury trial);


• Hart v. Allen, 211 Ga. App. 431; 440 S.E.2d 26 (1993) (enforceability of restrictive covenant in employment contract);


• Macon Telegraph Publishing Co v. Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia et al., 256 Ga. 443; 350 S.E.2d 23; 35 Ed. Law Rep. 820; 13 Media L. Rep. 1748 (1986) (newspaper access to University of Georgia Athletic Association records under Open Records Act);


• Macon Telegraph Publishing Co. v. Tatum, 263 Ga. 678, 436 S.E.2d 655, 22 Media L. Rep. 1126 (1993) (invasion of privacy claim based upon publication of name of victim of alleged sexual assault);


• Marathan Oil Company v. Hollis, 167 Ga. App. 48; 305 S.E.2d 864 (1983) (enforceability of lien rights);


• Neely v. McCants, 258 Ga. 298; 368 S.E.2d 516 (1988) (Application of Open Meetings Act to county commission meeting regarding hazardous waste incinerator);


• Shankman v. Coastal Psychiatric Associates, 258 Ga. 294; 368 S.E.2d 753 (1988) (enforcement of restrictive covenant in physician employment contract);


• Stewart v. Walton, 254 Ga. 81; 326 S.E.2d 738; 11 Media L. Rep. 1871 (1985) (Libel based upon allegations in pleadings);


• Willis v. Georgia Northern Railway Company, 169 Ga. App. 743; 314 S.E.2d 919 (1984) (claim of tortious interference with plant workers’ employment contracts arising out of catastrophic railway accident).
Community Activities

• Georgia Chamber of Commerce (past Director)
  
• Leadership Georgia
  
• First Macon Bank & Trust Company (past Chairman and charter Board of Directors member)
  
• Colonial Bank (past Director, Central Georgia Region)
  
  
Professional Activities

• State Bar of Georgia (past President, Younger Lawyers Section)
  
• Judicial Nominating Commission of the State of Georgia
  
• Georgia Institute for Continuing Legal Education (past member, Board of Trustees)
  
• American Bar Association, Litigation Section (Member, Forum on Communications Law; First Amendment and Media Law Committee)
  
• Georgia Press Association (Associate Member)

Education
B.A., University of Georgia, 1972
J.D., University of Georgia Law School, 1975

Admitted to Practice
State of Georgia, 1975
Supreme Court of the United States
United States Tax Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit
United States District Court for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia