The Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation (CEASE) Clinic at the University of Georgia School of Law has secured a verdict of approximately $4.3 million for a survivor in Carroll County Superior Court. The trial representation was led by third-year law students Hannah M. Peters and Ellis H.P. Schmitt, who worked under the supervision of Staff Attorney Brian Atkinson. Clinic Director Emma M. Hetherington provided additional support, while Esther Panitch from Panitch Ivory Law Group served as cocounsel.
Devin Mashman, a graduate of the School of Law, contributed to earlier stages of the case during proceedings before the Georgia Supreme Court as part of his participation in the clinic.
Social Work Advocate Jocelyn Crumpton also supported the client throughout the process, assisted by J. Simone Hayes, who is now a first-year law student at the University of Georgia School of Law.
The article about this outcome was written by Legal Administrative Specialist Alice Hayes and published on October 29, 2025.
