Georgia Department of Corrections v. Couch

BARNES, Presiding Judge.

David Lee Couch, an inmate at Walker State Prison, was injured while working on a painting detail at the warden’s house. He filed a *235complaint for damages against the Georgia Department of Corrections (“the Department”), which proceeded to trial, and Couch was awarded a jury verdict of $105,417. Couch filed a motion for attorney fees and expenses pursuant to OCGA § 9-11-68 (b) (2) based on the Department’s earlier rejection of his pre-judgment offer to settle the claims. Couch had a contingency agreement with his attorneys to pay them 40 percent of any recovery plus…