Jed D. Manton

Practice Focus

I handle catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, with a particular emphasis on trucking and transportation cases, defective products, dangerous road designs and birth injuries.  Cases where the consequences are severe and the defense is aggressive. These cases are not simply about what happened in the moment of impact. They are about the decisions that led up to the catastrophic event, including hiring, training, supervision, and compliance with safety rules.

Every case must be prepared as if it will be tried. That approach has led to my significant jury verdicts, including serving as trial counsel in a trucking case that resulted in a $27 million verdict—the largest trucking verdict in Georgia in 2023. (Fielder v. Latium USA Products, Inc)

In that case, the defense attempted to frame the crash as an unfortunate but rather routine accident. The evidence revealed something far more troubling: a company that lacked a real safety culture. Through private equity takeovers, the transportation company failed to properly screen drivers during hiring, failed to provide adequate training, and operated without meaningful safeguards. Despite generating hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue, the company spent less than $100,000 on training.

By focusing on why the crash occurred—not just how—it became clear that this was not an isolated mistake, but the result of systemic failure.

“When a company makes a conscious decision not to invest in safety, the consequences are predictable. This wasn’t an accident…..it was the result of choices.”

I have also taken on government entities when unsafe conditions lead to tragedy. In a wrongful death case involving a roadway hazard, I served as trial counsel in securing a $35 million verdict against a municipality. (Chang v. City of Milton) The verdict was one of the top 10 largest verdicts in Georgia in 2023 and the number one verdict against a governmental entity.

The defense argued a roadside hazard was insignificant and unavoidable. The evidence showed that the city had failed to follow its own code, failed to comply with standards designed specifically to protect the public and as a result, a known hazard was never addressed. The case ultimately came down to the city’s failure to place proper emphasis on safety.

By showing the jury why the hazard existed and why it remained, we were able to demonstrate that the tragedy was preventable.

“If safety rules exist but aren’t followed, they don’t protect anyone. When that happens, responsibility follows.”

These cases are not won by paperwork alone. They are built through detailed investigation, a willingness to take on difficult facts, and the ability to present those facts in a clear and meaningful way to a jury.

Our clients are often facing overwhelming circumstances. They are not looking for a quick answer. They are looking for someone who will take their case seriously, stand up to well-funded defendants, and stay with them through the entire process.

“Our clients didn’t choose this fight. But once we take the case, we do”.

I am a Georgia native and a partner at Harris Lowry Manton LLP. I graduated with honors from Dartmouth College and with honors from Mercer University School of Law, where I served on the Law Review, competed on the Moot Court team, and was the sole recipient of the International Trial Lawyers Award. I have been recognized by Super Lawyers and previously named a Rising Star, honors awarded to a limited number of attorneys in Georgia.  I am honored to be appointed by the Georgia Supreme Court to serve as a Special Master on attorney disciplinary cases where the Court has exclusive jurisdiction to revoke an attorney’s right to practice law in Georgia for ethical and professional abuses.

“At the end of the day, this isn’t just about a case. It’s about a family that deserves answers—and someone willing to fight to uncover them.”

I am humbled and honored to be partners with Jeff, Steve and Molly and to work day in and day out with the attorneys, paralegals and support staff at Harris Lowry Manton.   All successes are the result of these incredible and talented teammates.