James E. Butler Jr. - Atlanta, GA
Attorney at Butler Prather LLP
Personal Injury Lawyers in Atlanta, GA
12 Lenox Pointe Atlanta, GA 30324
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
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49
Years
Experience
Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer
Updated: 02/16/2026
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury
- Business Torts
- Class Actions
- Product Liability
- Auto Defects
- Whistleblower/Qui Tam
Attorney Information
Overview
JAMES E. BUTLER, Jr. is a founding partner of Butler Prather LLP, a nationally known civil trial practice firm which has litigated cases in 30 states – from Massachusetts to California, Montana to Florida. Jim has been lead counsel in five cases where the verdict exceeded $100 million. He has won record-setting verdicts in several states. He has set the record for largest verdict in Georgia history on four separate occasions – in four completely different kinds of civil cases (medical malpractice, trucking, auto products liability, and business torts/breach of fiduciary duty). No other lawyer has done that more than once. Jim was lead counsel in the Six Flags vs. Time Warner case, a business tort case, which is believed to be the largest collected judgment in American history ($454 million). In addition to the five verdicts over $100 million, Jim has been lead counsel in cases with verdicts of $90 million, $37 million, $30 million, $25 million, $17.7 million, $15.5 million, $13 million, $8 million. $4.7 million, $4.2 million, plus another six verdicts in excess of $1 million. In addition to verdicts, Jim has served as lead counsel in False Claims Act cases, class action cases, and fraud cases each of which resulted in settlements over $170 million.
Jim began writing for newspapers at age15 and graduated from the University of Georgia School of Journalism. He won a full scholarship to law school at the University of Georgia School of Law, graduating cum laude. In law school he won both the first year and second year moot court competitions and was a member of the National Moot Court team. He was also elected to the Law Review. Jim began his law practice in Columbus Georgia, but soon thereafter opened an office in Atlanta.
Jim has long been active in politics and with conservation groups. He served on the Georgia Board of Natural Resources, was a founder of Flint Riverkeeper, Inc., of the Chattahoochee RiverWarden and the Chattahoochee Valley Land Trust, and has served on the boards of many similar groups. He has also been active in a variety of charitable and philanthropic organizations, was a founding member of the Board of the Arch Foundation for the University of Georgia and subsequently served as a member of the Board of the University of Georgia Foundation. He has received a variety of professional honors, including the State Bar of Georgia General Practice & Trial Section "Tradition of Excellence Award," the University of Georgia Law School's "Distinguished Scroll Award", and the American Board of Trial Advocates Civil Justice Award. He is currently a Master of the Bench, Columbus Inns of Court. Jim has long been recognized as a leader among trial lawyers in Georgia, and served as President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, and as a founding Director of the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation. He has served his profession in a variety of capacities, including serving on the State Bar Disciplinary Board. Jim has been recognized as a "Super Lawyer" for many years, and was one of the youngest lawyers ever to receive Martindale-Hubbell’s, the leading national rating agency, "AV Preeminent—5.0 out of 5.0" rating.”
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Recipient, American Board of Trial Advocates Civil Justice Award, 1993 - Present
- Recipient, State Bar of Georgia Tradition of Excellence Award, 2002 - Present
- Georgia Super Lawyers, 2004 - 2015
Other Sources of Feedback About James E. Butler Jr.
Included on the 2026 Georgia Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2009 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2008 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2007 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2006 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2005 Georgia Super Lawyers list
- 2004 Georgia Super Lawyers list
Education
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Legal Education
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University of Georgia School of Law,
Athens,
Georgia, 1977
J.D.
Honors: Best Oralist, Southern Moot Court Competition
Honors: Winner, Russell First Year Moot Court Competition
Honors: Winner, Talmadge Second Year Moot Court Competition
Honors: Member, National Moot Court Team
Honors: The Order of Barristers
Honors: Woodruff Merit Scholar
Law Review: Georgia Law Review, Member
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University of Georgia School of Law,
Athens,
Georgia, 1977
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Non Legal Education
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University of Georgia, 1972
A.B.
Major: Journalism
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University of Georgia, 1972
Current Employment Position(s)
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Partner
Languages
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Spanish
Published Works
Articles
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Hospital Liability for Physician Negligence in Georgia: A Realistic Approach, 37 Mercer L. Rev. 701, 1986
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Jones v. State Farm: Effectuating Legislative Intention, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, 1981
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Jones v. State Farm, The Insured's Perspective, Georgia State Bar Journal, August, 1982
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What's A Human Life Really Worth: Recovering Damages For Decedents' Non-Economic Loss In Georgia Wrongful Death Actions (Co-Author), 7 Ga. St. L. Rev. 439, 1991
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The Bench As A Battleground: The Discovery System is Broke and Only Judges Can Fix It, The Verdict, May/June, 1992
- The Boundaries of Zealous Advocacy: Properly Representing Consumers Against Corporations and Their Tactics, 31 Tort & Insurance Law Journal 977, 1996
Bar Admissions
- Georgia, 1977
- Alabama, 1977
Specialties and Certifications
- Certified Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy
Other Affiliations
- State of Georgia, Department of Natural Resources/Environmental Protection Division, 1998 - 2005 (Member, Board of Directors)
- Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, 2000 (Chairman, Environmental Protection Committee)
- Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, 1988 - 1989 (President)
- Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, 1983 - 1986 (Vice President)
- Columbus Trial Lawyers Association, 1981 - 1983 (Member, Amicus Curiae Committee)
- Columbus Trial Lawyers Association, 1982 - 1983 (Chairman, Special Jones Committee)
- Columbus Trial Lawyers Association, 1986 (President)
- State Bar of Georgia, 1993 - 1996 (Member, Disciplinary Board Review Panel)
- Alabama Trial Lawyers Association
- The American Association for Justice
- Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
Reviews
Customer Reviews for James E. Butler Jr.
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Verified ClientHired Attorney 2009Mr. Butler represented my wife and me in a very professional (and successful) manner. Even after the successful settlement, his firm stayed with us to insure that we were properly advised on the best use of our assets. His experience and professionalism and honesty were much appreciated and, therefore, we can recommend him highly.
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Verified ClientHired Attorney 1998I am the general partner of a limited partnership that was represented by Mr. Butler. His time, energy and resourcefulness led to a jury verdict in our favor that was the highest jury verdict in Georgia history. Prior to and during trial, Mr. Butler constantly tried to make sure that there were not any errors that might lead to a reversal. His efforts paid off when the Georgia Court of Appeals, Georgia Supreme Court and United States Supreme Court all allowed the verdict to be affirmed.
Photo
Contact
12 Lenox Pointe
Atlanta, GA 30324
Fax: 404-321-1713
Email: Send a message
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https://www.butlerprather.com
- https://www.butlerprather.com/blog/ (Georgia Personal Injury Blog)
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