Lynn Wood
Encyclopedia
L. Lin Wood born October 19, 1952 in Raleigh, North Carolina
and is a high profile American attorney based in Atlanta Georgia. He represented Richard Jewell
, the security guard falsely accused in the Atlanta Olympic bombing. Wood's representation of Richard Jewell propelled L. Lin Wood to be known as one of the top libel, defamation and First Amendment lawyers in the U. S. thus attracting other high profile clients and cases, including presidential candidate Herman Cain, in his efforts to fight off sexual harassment charges.
, Georgia., at a young age and was raised in Georgia. Wood has said in interviews with news media that, his family struggled to make ends meet. He has one sibling Diane born February of 1951. "Their parents' heavy drinking often led to violent arguments. After a school dance, the then 16-year-old Wood came home to find his father crying and his mother lying battered and lifeless in a bedroom. Wood has stated in interviews; 'It could just as easily have been my mother who killed my father,' Wood says. 'They both were capable of violence. I would have fought just as hard for her.' L. Lin Wood Sr. pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, a charge reduced from first-degree murder. He served two years in prison. It was this experience that Lin Wood has stated made him decide to become a lawyer.
Wood lived with friends and graduated from Mark Smith High School in Macon, Georgia in 1970. Per his profile from Powell Goldstien LLC He graduated from Mercer University
cum laude in 1974 and graduated from Walter F. George School of Law
cum laude in 1977.
For the next nineteen years from 1977 - 1996 Wood established a name for himself in Atlanta as someone who could win large settlements -- and judgments -- in medical malpractice cases.
and Patsy Ramsey
, the parents of JonBenét Ramsey
, had several defamation lawsuits ensued since JonBenét's murder. L. Lin Wood. was the plaintiff's lead attorney for John and Patsy Ramsey and their son Burke, and has prosecuted defamation claims on their behalf against St. Martin's Press
, Time, Inc., The Fox News Channel, American Media, Inc., Star
, The Globe
, Court TV
and The New York Post. John and Patsy Ramsey were also sued in two separate defamation lawsuits arising from the publication of their book, The Death of Innocence, brought by two individuals named in the book as having been investigated by Boulder police as suspects in JonBenét's murder. The Ramseys were defended in those lawsuits by Lin Wood and three other Atlanta attorneys, James C. Rawls, Eric P. Schroeder, and S. Derek Bauer, who obtained dismissal of both lawsuits including an in-depth decision by U.S. District Court Judge Julie Carnes that "abundant evidence" in the murder case pointed to an intruder having committed the crime.
In November 2006, Rod Westmoreland, a friend of JonBenét Ramsey's father, filed a defamation suit against Keith Greer, who posted a message on an Internet forum using the pseudonym "undertheradar". Greer had accused Westmoreland of participating in the kidnapping and murder. Greer has defended his statement.
Wood went on to represent former U.S. Congressman Gary Condit, and the victim in the Kobe Bryant case. He has also represented fellow attorney Howard K. Stern
in defamation lawsuits against John O'Quinn
, lawyer for Virgie Arthur, the mother of Anna Nicole Smith
and against Rita Cosby
, the author of Blonde Ambition, The Untold Story of Anna Nicole Smith.
reports that "Wood has 28 years of experience as a trial lawyer focusing on civil litigation, representing individuals and corporations as plaintiffs and defendants in tort
and business cases involving claims of significant damage. He also has extensive experience in First Amendment
litigation and management of the media in high-profile cases. He was the lead civil attorney for Richard Jewell
related to reporting about Jewell in connection with the 1996 bombing of Centennial Olympic Park
in Atlanta; the attorney for John
and Patsy Ramsey
and their son in matters relating to the 1996 murder of JonBenét Ramsey
in Boulder, Colo
.; the attorney for former U. S. Congressman Gary Condit
over the May 2001 abduction and murder of Chandra Levy
in Washington; co-counsel in the civil action in Colorado
against NBA star Kobe Bryant
; lead counsel for MedQuest Associates Inc. and J.P. Morgan Partners LLC
in a class action in Atlanta dealing with health-care issues; and lead counsel for AirTran
in defamation litigation against the Cleveland, Ohio
, newspaper The Plain Dealer."
Dary Matera
described Wood's successes in the Richard Jewell case: "Richard Jewell hired himself some crack libel attorneys, and they've been hammering the media ever since. So far, Atlanta lawyers L. Lin Wood and Wayne Grant have torched NBC
, CNN
, a community college where Jewell once worked, and other media outlets for more than $2 million and counting. And that doesn't include the undisclosed "six figure" fee they secured for the movie story. The biggest lawsuits - against the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and some other major media outlets - are still pending."
A 2008 book by Jim Fisher described Wood's role in the Ramsey case, which led to the couple's exoneration: "In 1999, after absorbing an enormous amount of abuse from the media, the Ramseys went on the offensive. They hired a more aggressive attorney, L. Lin Wood, and published a book, The Death of Innocence: JonBenét's Parents Tell Their Story."
The Los Angeles Times
described Wood's role in the Kobe Bryant case: "The woman allegedly raped by Kobe Bryant has hired renowned attorney L. Lin Wood, a libel specialist who has represented such clients as the family of JonBenet Ramsey, former Rep. Gary Condit and Richard Jewell in lawsuits against the media."
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
and is a high profile American attorney based in Atlanta Georgia. He represented Richard Jewell
Richard Jewell
Richard A. Jewell was an American security guard who became known in connection with the Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
, the security guard falsely accused in the Atlanta Olympic bombing. Wood's representation of Richard Jewell propelled L. Lin Wood to be known as one of the top libel, defamation and First Amendment lawyers in the U. S. thus attracting other high profile clients and cases, including presidential candidate Herman Cain, in his efforts to fight off sexual harassment charges.
Early years
Lin Wood moved to MaconMacon
-Places:In Belgium:* Macon, BelgiumIn France:* Mâcon** The name Mâcon is also applied to the Mâconnais wine from that region** There is also a Catholic titular see named for the Ancient Diocese of MâconIn the United States of America:* Macon, Georgia...
, Georgia., at a young age and was raised in Georgia. Wood has said in interviews with news media that, his family struggled to make ends meet. He has one sibling Diane born February of 1951. "Their parents' heavy drinking often led to violent arguments. After a school dance, the then 16-year-old Wood came home to find his father crying and his mother lying battered and lifeless in a bedroom. Wood has stated in interviews; 'It could just as easily have been my mother who killed my father,' Wood says. 'They both were capable of violence. I would have fought just as hard for her.' L. Lin Wood Sr. pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, a charge reduced from first-degree murder. He served two years in prison. It was this experience that Lin Wood has stated made him decide to become a lawyer.
Wood lived with friends and graduated from Mark Smith High School in Macon, Georgia in 1970. Per his profile from Powell Goldstien LLC He graduated from Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
cum laude in 1974 and graduated from Walter F. George School of Law
Walter F. George School of Law
The Walter F. George School of Law of Mercer University, founded in 1873, is one of the oldest law schools in the United States and is the second oldest of Mercer's eleven colleges and schools. The School of Law, with approximately 420 students, is located in Macon, Georgia on its own campus one...
cum laude in 1977.
For the next nineteen years from 1977 - 1996 Wood established a name for himself in Atlanta as someone who could win large settlements -- and judgments -- in medical malpractice cases.
Defamation and libel lawsuits
JohnJohn Bennett Ramsey
John Bennett Ramsey is the father of homicide victim JonBenét Ramsey. He was the first to discover JonBenét's body in the wine cellar of the Ramseys' 15-room home in Boulder, Colorado, on December 25, 1996, just hours after her murder....
and Patsy Ramsey
Patsy Ramsey
Patricia Ann "Patsy" Ramsey was the mother of JonBenét Ramsey, a 6-year-old American beauty pageant contestant who was murdered on December 25, 1996.-Background:...
, the parents of JonBenét Ramsey
JonBenét Ramsey
JonBenét Patricia Ramsey was an American child beauty pageant contestant who was murdered in her home in Boulder, Colorado, in 1996. The six-year-old's body was found in the basement of the family home nearly eight hours after she was reported missing. She had been struck on the head and strangled...
, had several defamation lawsuits ensued since JonBenét's murder. L. Lin Wood. was the plaintiff's lead attorney for John and Patsy Ramsey and their son Burke, and has prosecuted defamation claims on their behalf against St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...
, Time, Inc., The Fox News Channel, American Media, Inc., Star
Star (magazine)
Star is an American celebrity tabloid magazine.-History:Star was founded by Rupert Murdoch in 1974 as competition to the tabloid National Enquirer with its headquarters in New York City. In the late 1980s it moved its offices to Tarrytown, NY and in 1990 Murdoch sold the magazine to The Enquirers...
, The Globe
The Globe (tabloid)
Globe is a supermarket tabloid first published North America on November 10, 1954 in Montreal, Canada as Midnight by Joe Azaria and John Vader and became the chief competitor to the National Enquirer during the 1960s. In 1978 it changed its name to the Midnight Globe after its publisher, Globe...
, Court TV
Court TV
truTV is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Time Warner. The network launched as Court TV in 1991, changing to truTV in 2008...
and The New York Post. John and Patsy Ramsey were also sued in two separate defamation lawsuits arising from the publication of their book, The Death of Innocence, brought by two individuals named in the book as having been investigated by Boulder police as suspects in JonBenét's murder. The Ramseys were defended in those lawsuits by Lin Wood and three other Atlanta attorneys, James C. Rawls, Eric P. Schroeder, and S. Derek Bauer, who obtained dismissal of both lawsuits including an in-depth decision by U.S. District Court Judge Julie Carnes that "abundant evidence" in the murder case pointed to an intruder having committed the crime.
In November 2006, Rod Westmoreland, a friend of JonBenét Ramsey's father, filed a defamation suit against Keith Greer, who posted a message on an Internet forum using the pseudonym "undertheradar". Greer had accused Westmoreland of participating in the kidnapping and murder. Greer has defended his statement.
Wood went on to represent former U.S. Congressman Gary Condit, and the victim in the Kobe Bryant case. He has also represented fellow attorney Howard K. Stern
Howard K. Stern
Howard Kevin Stern is an American attorney, and a former domestic partner of the late Anna Nicole Smith. On September 28, 2006. Stern and Smith exchanged vows in a legally nonbinding ceremony in Nassau, Bahamas...
in defamation lawsuits against John O'Quinn
John O'Quinn
John Maurice O'Quinn was a Texas trial lawyer and founding partner of The O'Quinn Law Firm . His firm made its business handling plaintiff's litigation, including representing clients suing breast implant manufacturers, medical facilities, and tobacco companies...
, lawyer for Virgie Arthur, the mother of Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith
In 1992 Smith was chosen by Hugh Hefner to appear on the cover of the March issue of Playboy, where she was listed as Vickie Smith, wearing a low-cut evening gown. The centerfold was photographed by Stephen Wayda. Smith said she planned to be "the next Marilyn Monroe". Becoming one of Playboys...
and against Rita Cosby
Rita Cosby
Rita Cosby is a television news anchor and correspondent, radio host, and best selling author. She is currently a Special Correspondent for the CBS syndicated program Inside Edition, specializing in interviewing newsmakers and political figures...
, the author of Blonde Ambition, The Untold Story of Anna Nicole Smith.
Coverage in newspapers and books
The Atlanta Business ChronicleAmerican City Business Journals
American City Business Journals is an American newspaper chain based in Charlotte, North Carolina owned by Advance Publications. It has a range of media including 41 primary metropolitan weekly publications, which reach 4 million readers with business community related news, and Bizjournals, the...
reports that "Wood has 28 years of experience as a trial lawyer focusing on civil litigation, representing individuals and corporations as plaintiffs and defendants in tort
Tort
A tort, in common law jurisdictions, is a wrong that involves a breach of a civil duty owed to someone else. It is differentiated from a crime, which involves a breach of a duty owed to society in general...
and business cases involving claims of significant damage. He also has extensive experience in First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
litigation and management of the media in high-profile cases. He was the lead civil attorney for Richard Jewell
Richard Jewell
Richard A. Jewell was an American security guard who became known in connection with the Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
related to reporting about Jewell in connection with the 1996 bombing of Centennial Olympic Park
Centennial Olympic Park bombing
The Centennial Olympic Park bombing was a terrorist bombing on July 27, 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States during the 1996 Summer Olympics, the first of four committed by Eric Robert Rudolph...
in Atlanta; the attorney for John
John Bennett Ramsey
John Bennett Ramsey is the father of homicide victim JonBenét Ramsey. He was the first to discover JonBenét's body in the wine cellar of the Ramseys' 15-room home in Boulder, Colorado, on December 25, 1996, just hours after her murder....
and Patsy Ramsey
Patsy Ramsey
Patricia Ann "Patsy" Ramsey was the mother of JonBenét Ramsey, a 6-year-old American beauty pageant contestant who was murdered on December 25, 1996.-Background:...
and their son in matters relating to the 1996 murder of JonBenét Ramsey
JonBenét Ramsey
JonBenét Patricia Ramsey was an American child beauty pageant contestant who was murdered in her home in Boulder, Colorado, in 1996. The six-year-old's body was found in the basement of the family home nearly eight hours after she was reported missing. She had been struck on the head and strangled...
in Boulder, Colo
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
.; the attorney for former U. S. Congressman Gary Condit
Gary Condit
Gary Adrian Condit is a former American politician, a Democrat who served in the House of Representatives from 1989 to 2003...
over the May 2001 abduction and murder of Chandra Levy
Chandra Levy
Chandra Ann Levy was an American intern at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, D.C., who disappeared in May 2001. She was presumed murdered after her skeletal remains were found in Rock Creek Park in May 2002...
in Washington; co-counsel in the civil action in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
against NBA star Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
; lead counsel for MedQuest Associates Inc. and J.P. Morgan Partners LLC
CCMP Capital
CCMP Capital is a private equity investment firm that focuses on leveraged buyout and growth capital transactions. Formerly known as JP Morgan Partners, the investment professionals of JP Morgan Partners separated from JPMorgan Chase on July 31, 2006. CCMP has invested approximately $12 billion...
in a class action in Atlanta dealing with health-care issues; and lead counsel for AirTran
AirTran
AirTran may refer to:* AirTran Airways, a low cost airline* AirTran Holdings, an airline holding company* AirTran JetConnect, an outsourced and defunct brand operated by Air Wisconsin* Airtrans APM, an automated people mover system...
in defamation litigation against the Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, newspaper The Plain Dealer."
Dary Matera
Dary Matera
Dary Matera is an America author and newspaper columnist who specializes in real-life casebooks. He is from Chandler, Arizona.The son of a Voice of America foreign service officer, Matera grew up in Bangkok, Thailand, and Angeles City, Philippines...
described Wood's successes in the Richard Jewell case: "Richard Jewell hired himself some crack libel attorneys, and they've been hammering the media ever since. So far, Atlanta lawyers L. Lin Wood and Wayne Grant have torched NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, a community college where Jewell once worked, and other media outlets for more than $2 million and counting. And that doesn't include the undisclosed "six figure" fee they secured for the movie story. The biggest lawsuits - against the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and some other major media outlets - are still pending."
A 2008 book by Jim Fisher described Wood's role in the Ramsey case, which led to the couple's exoneration: "In 1999, after absorbing an enormous amount of abuse from the media, the Ramseys went on the offensive. They hired a more aggressive attorney, L. Lin Wood, and published a book, The Death of Innocence: JonBenét's Parents Tell Their Story."
The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
described Wood's role in the Kobe Bryant case: "The woman allegedly raped by Kobe Bryant has hired renowned attorney L. Lin Wood, a libel specialist who has represented such clients as the family of JonBenet Ramsey, former Rep. Gary Condit and Richard Jewell in lawsuits against the media."