Terrell W. Benton III

Terrell W. “Chip” Benton, III, is a Partner in the Atlanta office of Hall Booth Smith, and he specializes in general liability, professional malpractice and ethics, professional negligence and medical malpractice. His primary focus is representing physicians, hospitals and other healthcare workers in medical malpractice lawsuits, and he has represented physicians before the State Composite Medical Board and the State Dental Board.

He also has extensive experience in handling premises liability, toxic torts, malicious prosecution, trucking and automobile liability cases, and has tried many cases throughout the state in these matters.

Chip began his legal career as a law clerk to Honorable Kenneth Kilpatrick in the Superior Court of Clayton County, where he was responsible for drafting orders on all motions before the Court. He joined Hall Booth Smith in 2000, and became a partner in 2004.

Chip is very active in the community, and volunteers with the Truancy Intervention Project where he represents children in juvenile court on truancy matters. He serves on the Advisory Board for the Metro Atlanta Salvation Army, and has served as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. He has been active in Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, and coaching in various youth sports programs in Atlanta.

He is married to Mary T. Benton and they have two sons, Will and Marshall.

PUBLICATIONS

•“Update of Georgia Law on General Liability,” Atlanta Claims Convention, 2003.
•“Hospital Liability for Doctors Practicing as Independent Contractors,” For the Record, Hall Booth Smith, 2002.
•“Recent Developments in Medical Malpractice,” Hall Booth Smith Healthcare Law Seminar, 2002.
•“Court of Appeals Adopt, Continuing Treatment Doctrine in Appropriate Medical Malpractice Case Including Alleged Misdiagnosis,” For the Record, Hall Booth Smith, 2001.

Recognitions

•Super Lawyer Rising Star 2009, 2010, 2013
•Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Top 40 Under 40”, 2009
•AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

PRESENTATIONS

•“Situational Ethics: Ethics and Professionalism at Alternative Dispute Resolution and Trial,” The Atlanta Claims Association.
•“How to Avoid Malpractice Lawsuits,” The Medical Protective Company CME for Dentists and Physicians, Atlanta, 2003 & 2004.
•“Defense of a Personal Injury Case,” Georgia ICLE, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
•“Update of Medical Malpractice Case Law,” 2008
•Medical Malpractice Seminar, ICLE, November 2008
•Jury Trials CLE, State Bar of Georgia, May 2007
•“How to Avoid a Lawsuit?” Medical Protective Physician’s Group, October 2007
•“Defense of a Personal Injury Claim: Update on Tort Reform” October 2009
•Medical Malpractice Seminar: Update on Case Law, 2009.
•“Update on Medical Malpractice Law: Recent Cases and Their Impact on the Defense,” Annual North Georgia Seminar, November 2004.