Arnold C. Young

• Cranford v. IBM / Curl v. IBM (we represented IBM; separate cases, both federal court): Mr. Cranford sued IBM for theft of ideas (which he had sent to IBM) for pre-perforated data processing cards to enable entry on a single card remote from any machinery to be used in IBM machines. Submitted circa 1943. Rejected by IBM. In 1957, IBM introduced a pre-perforated data processing card with holder (“Port-A-Punch”) for remote use for inventory and such. Cranford sued in 1971 for theft of ideas. Defense asserted that the idea for pre-perforation was not new; the mechanical method for pre-perforation was the obstacle and was invented by IBM. IBM’s method was blades in a rotary press versus Cranford’s stamp-down suggestion. Motion for statute of limitation was denied. Jury trial ensued. One of jury member’s occupation involved use of computers. Jury was hung. Case was certified to Eleventh Circuit on IBM’s motion and resolved by reasonable settlement before appeal was filed. Curl v. IBM in 1965: Mrs. Curl contended she submitted idea/concepts to IBM for improvement of its typewriters, which she contended IBM used in its Selectric Composer. The new feature provided for right margin justification. With much evidence of prior existing design by IBM in existence when Mrs. Curl’s submission was received, the trial court granted summary judgement; affirmed by the Fifth Circuit.
• SCL v. Pacific Carrier & Union Camp: SS Pacific Carrier struck and destroyed a lift bridge that traversed the Savannah River in April 1973. The lift span was open. The night was hazy with heavy smoke from Union Camp at the bridge. The ship struck one of the bridge towers, destroying the bridge. This was the third such incident going back to 1950. Pacific Carrier (580’) was arrested, and suit was filed against ship and Union Camp (for obscuring the bridge). Admiralty jurisdiction, federal court. Defense was that bridge was not properly marked by lighting as required and lacked radar reflection devices on the fender system, which would make the opening apparent to ship’s radar. Full discovery was followed by a lengthy trial in federal court. At trial, vessel’s expert radar witness testified to inadequate radar reflector markings for bridge opening. On cross examination, we pointed out, and expert acknowledged, that fender system, because of its structural exposed steel I-Beams, provided in fact excellent radar reflectors; designed reflectors would be no better. Case was resolved by payment to SCL of $3,750,000.
• Van Etten v. Ford Motor Co & Firestone (we represented Ford): First or among first of Firestone/Ford rollover cases in United States circa 1995. Local counsel with Ford, national counsel defended in federal court. We were able to show fault lay primarily with Firestone tires rather than Ford SUV. Case was resolved on favorable basis.
• Georgia Pacific Corporation (two trials representing Georgia Pacific): Both defense verdicts. Allegations in numerous cases, with two trials in Savannah in the 1980s contending that the wood products (particle board) manufactured by Georgia Pacific used glue containing formaldehyde and caused mobile homeowners serious harm. Cases were tried, with verdicts in favor of Georgia Pacific. Defense proved that while formaldehyde in glue gave odor, it decreased over time and did not cause the injuries and harm claimed. As counsel for Georgia Pacific, the defense counsel drank solution of formaldehyde and water of equal to parts per million as in wood products as prepared by physician/pharmacist in front of jury with no ill effects.
• Arnold performed as general counsel to HunterMaclean from about 1980 to 2021. As general counsel, he was responsible for direction within the Firm respecting proper conduct and ethics observation. He also oversaw and directed handling and defense of claims.

Lawyer of the Year: Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2013
“Arnold C. Young has been named the Best Lawyers’ 2013 Savannah Product Liability Litigation – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year.”

Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant.

Lawyers being honored as “Lawyer of the Year” are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the exhaustive peer-review assessments we conduct with thousands of leading lawyers each year. Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.”

Georgia Trend Magazine Legal Elite: 2012-2013
Georgia Trend Magazine’s annual listing of Georgia’s top attorneys, selected by their peers. The list includes eight practice areas: business law; personal injury litigation; criminal law; labor and employment; taxes, estates and trusts; bankruptcy and creditors’ rights; family law; and general practice/trial law.

Martindale-Hubbell: AV Rated
The Martindale-Hubbell^® PEER REVIEW RATINGS™ are an objective indicator of a lawyer’s high ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States and Canada.