David Llewellyn Wins 2.3 Million Dollar Verdict!

Atlanta, Georgia
March 27, 2009

Attorneys David J. Llewellyn of Johnson & Ward, Atlanta, Georgia and Craig T. Jones of Edmond, Jones & Lindsay, LLP, Atlanta, Georgia today obtained a 2.3million dollar verdict in a case involving a boy who was permanently damaged in a botched circumcision at birth.

D. P., Jr. was born on November 5, 2004 at Tenet South Fulton Medical Center in East Point, Georgia, a small city adjacent to the Atlanta airport. He was circumcised on November 6, 2004 by Haiba Sonyika, M.D. The nurse assisting in the circumcision noted excessive bleeding and believed that excess tissue had been removed. In fact, a large portion of his glans penis had been severed.

In a suit filed in the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia in 2006 the child and his mother contended that Dr. Sonyika was negligent in performing the circumcision. They also contended that Dr. Cheryl J. Kendall, the child’s pediatrician, was negligent in not coming into the hospital to examine the child when she was informed of the nurse’s concern of continued bleeding and of tissue that looked like it had the tip of the penis in it. They further contended that the hospital’s nurses had a duty to make sure the child was examined by a doctor for the apparently wrongly severed tissue. Dr. Donald Block of Atlanta testified that Dr. Sonyika was negligent in the way she performed the circumcision. Dr. Robert Van Howe, Marquette, Michigan said in court that in his opinion the standard of care required Dr. Kendall to come in to the hospital to examine the boy or send another doctor to do so if she felt unqualified to handle the matter. Elizabeth Katz Sperlich, RN, of Santa Fe, New Mexico opined that the nurses should have insisted that a doctor come in to the hospital to address the severed tissue. Dr. M. David Gibbons, a pediatric urologist from Washington, D.C., testified that if a pediatric urologist had seen the child within 8 hours of the circumcision it was more probable than not that the severed piece could have been successfully reattached with good cosmetic and functional results. Instead, the tissue was placed in a biohazard bag and left at the nurses’ station. No doctor came in to examine the child after the nurse noted the severed tip. The tissue with the tip in it was eventually sent to pathology. The pathologist’s report confirmed the loss of part of the glans penis. A local pediatric urologist eventually diagnosed the boy with a significant circumcision injury resulting in an iatrogenic hypospadias, a physician-caused condition where the urinary opening is on the underside of the penis. Christopher Cold, M.D. of Marshfield, Wisconsin, a pathologist, confirmed the loss of glanular and urethral tissue from examination of slides of the severed tissue. Dr. Gibbons confirmed the iatrogenic hypospadias. Joseph Shrand, M.D., of Pembroke, Massachusetts testified that the boy and his family would need significant psychiatric counseling at various stages of his life in order to avoid a bad psychological outcome.

The jury found Drs. Sonyika and Kendall liable and awarded $1,800,000 to the child. The mother was awarded $500,000 for future medical expenses for psychiatric counseling while the boy is a minor. The hospital was not found liable. Mr. Llewellyn, a civil litigation attorney who regularly represents the victims of wrongful circumcision and genital injury in lawsuits throughout the United States, said, “I am pleased that Craig Jones and I were able to obtain justice for this permanently disfigured little boy. He has had a serious injury – one from which he will suffer his entire life. The accident could have been easily prevented. If the doctors had met the standard of care the damage could have been easily repaired. I am thrilled that the jury recognized those facts and held the responsible doctors accountable. This is a substantial verdict to rectify a substantial injustice. It is a perfect example of the way the jury system protects the rights of the people and works to improve medical practice.”

The case was D. P., Jr., et al. v. Sonyika, et al., Civil Action File No. 2006ev001125-J in the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia. Judge Diane E. Bessen presided over the two week trial.

Gate City II is a Regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Brad Shane Exemplifies The Meaning of The Craft. Jeremy and Dallas Johnson are Grateful.

Somewhere around Georgia 400 North and Northridge Road there is a large pine tree with a large piece of an Audi Quad 4 embedded two feet deep in it.

Monday, March 16, 2009, 2:30 AM, a tow truck drives south on 400 near the Northridge Road exit. The driver, Brad Shane, has been operating his tow truck while earning his pilot’s license. He receives a dispatch from the office to pick up a car that has been engaged in a serious wreck. He sees the wreck on the other side of the highway. Noticing the amount of Police cars, ambulances and fire trucks, he figures that there must be a fatality and goes to Waffle House to wait out the red tape. In a wreck of this nature, the customary police reports can take up to three hours.

Something about the wreck nags at Brad. He decides to drive over to the other side of the highway and investigate. Meanwhile, around the same time, Dallas Johnson, at home, in his bed, can’t sleep. He gets up from his bed and goes to sleep in the living room. As Brad nears the wreck, he notes the destroyed Audi 400. He cringes at the damages and thinks that there is no way that anyone survived the wreck.

Brad is also a retired police officer and knows many other officers around Atlanta. A few of the Sandy Springs Patrolmen begin speaking with Brad about the wreck. Uncharacteristically, Brad asks the Sandy Springs Police about the identity of the driver of the mangled Audi Quad 4. They informed him that the driver was on his way to Grady Hospital in Atlanta, GA and that they did not think that he was going to “make it.” After looking through the wallet found on the victim, One of the Sandy Springs Officers informed Brad that the driver of the car was a Mason from Alpharetta Lodge which also happens to be Brad’s Masonic Lodge. Brad, operating under the worst possible premise as to the final outcome for the driver, felt sick to his stomach.

After ascertaining the identity of the driver, Brad realized that he knew the victim…well. It was Jeremy Johnson whom he had known for at least three years. Brad had the number for Dallas Johnson, Jeremy’s father, in his cell phone. Brad could not bring himself to call Dallas so he called one of Dallas’ best friends, Robert Young.

Obviously shocked and having no idea as to the state of Jeremy Johnson, Robert phoned Dallas from 4AM until 8Am when he finally answered. During the same period, Forsyth County Officers, where Jeremy and his family live, were dispatched to Jeremy’s house to inform anyone that they might find home of the accident. No one was there. While on the way to pick up Robert Young, Dallas and Carolyn (Dallas' wife) phoned Grady Hospital to check on Jeremy's condition. There was no record of Jeremy being admitted. They began thinking the worst. If he wasn't in the hospital, where was he? The morgue? When they got to Robert's house, they found that he had also been on the phone with Grady and somehow discovered where Jeremy was. He was in the ICU, room 7K5.

Miraculously, Jeremy survived. Jeremy had broken his Clavicle, left side of his ribs, and crushed his left arm and femur. He was also unconscious and would be for the next two days. He had been admitted into Grady hospital under a number, as his identity at the time of the wreck was unknown.

Supposing Brad hadn’t been driving the tow truck that night. Imagine if he had not asked questions as to the identity of the driver. Jeremy’s family might have wondered for two or three days as to the whereabouts of their father. Dallas might have put an all points bulletin out for his son. As it turned out, Brad was there and acted in a most brotherly fashion during an incredibly difficult time. He exemplified the behavior that we are legendary for.

Last Tuesday, they brought Jeremy home from the hospital. Gene Lacombe, a friend of Dallas' and a member of Master's Lodge, came to Jeremy's house to assist him in getting Jeremy up the stairs. Jeremy's wife and children were there and his wife had been preparing the children for their father's homecoming. They got Jeremy to the kitchen in his wheel chair still in a lot of pain. He talked to the children telling them he would be okay but that he would be home resting for a long time. They then took Jeremy to the living room where he got onto the large sofa and was talking to the children and everyone else. Gene Lacombe was playing with Jada and talking to her. Jada is five and she told Gene that her Daddy was sick and that she was a nurse.


Gate City II is a Regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

On 24, June 1717, four London Lodges came together at the Goose and Gridiron Tavern, St. Paul's Churchyard and declared themselves to be a Grand Lodge. The first Grand Master of the newly formed Grand Lodge was Anthony Sayer. Shortly afterward, the installation of Nobles as Grand Master increased the influence of the Grand Lodge across Great Britain. Three Kings of Great Britain have been Grand Masters: George IV (Hanover), King Edward VII (Sax Coburg) and King George VI (Windsor). Presently, His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent is Grand Master of The United Grand Lodge of England. Built in the twenties, The United Grand Lodge of England's Headquarters in London, England is more than just a beautiful building with an overbuilt foundation which mimics that of an American Skyscraper. It is a Shrine to the Masonic Dead of World War I. The foundation of the Grand Lodge building is so strong that during the German Air raids of World War II, the building did not shift or move...much like Brother Winston Churchill's leadership.

The above pictures show the impressive approach to the Grand Lodge of England from Covent Garden. Yes, those are blue skies. A rarity.

Gate City II is a Regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Sundays in the Park

Worshipful Master Bjelajac has announced plans to hold a monthly lodge picnic in Piedmont Park during the spring and summer months. The picnic is open to friends and family. More details are coming at this Tuesday's meeting.

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Charles Williams Jazz Guitarist Extraordinaire To Play GCII on March 24, 2009

As reported below, due to personnel issues, Agnes Scott Strings will not be performing on March 24, 2009. Charles Williams will be performing instead. Charles is the founder of the Bonaventure Quartet who will be playing the Doctors Without Borders benefit in April. This should give you a very small taste of what's to come. Keep in mind, when they do play in April it will four other pieces: singer, violinist, clarinet, and bass. This is intended as a small preview.

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Agnes Scott Strings To Reschedule

Our Music of the Enlightenment program is being postponed. Agnes Scott Strings can not perform on March 24, 2009 due to personnell issues. They will be rescheduling for later in the year.

Gate City II is a Regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Our Fernbank CHIP Event Serves 70 Children

Seventy children received their GACHIP packets this past weekend as GCII held it's first CHIP event for the year. Fourteen Gate City Brethren were on hand at different hours of the day. The event went smoothly and plans are in the works to have a few more in the same location in conjunction with other DeKalb County School System efforts. A couple of more Fernbank events will put us in tip top shape for the Stone Mountain Highland Games in October. At the Scottish Games we are expecting twenty five GCII members with additional support from Rick Conn and the Royal Order of Scotland. If even a third of these show up in Kilts, it could make for a lot of hairy legs.

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Sir Christopher Wren, (1632-1723) Grand Architect of England

Saint Pauls Cathedral, London, England


After the conflagration of the great fire of 1666, Charles II commissioned Sir Christopher Wren, architect, with the design and rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral in London. This was to be among the numerous other undertakings with which Wren was charged over his lifetime including: the Royal Hospital at Chelsea (1682-1689), the work done at Hampton Court Palace (1689-1696) for King William III and Queen Mary, and the Royal Naval Hospital at Greenwich (1696-1705). Wren was initiated into the Fraternity of Accepted Masons on May 18, 1691. "Records of the Lodge Original, No. 1, now the Lodge of Antiquity No. 2" mention him as being Master of the lodge.

The design, purposefully lacking the stain glass windows which had heretofore been customary in most houses of worship, opted for clear windows which allowed a spectacular amount of light to enter the cathedral. The natural light cascaded over the numerous features and carvings of the monochromatic marble walls. The floor was a tesselated black and white tile pattern. The dome of St Paul's Cathedral is 300 feet high.

Towards the end of his life, Brother Wren would sit in various places of the Cathedral and marvel. He is buried in the crypt of St Paul's. His simple tomb reads, "Reader, if you seek his monument, look about you."

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Update on Lauren Johnston: Great News!

Lauren was doing incredibly well just a day after abdominal surgery; even had a sense of humor and some smiles. The report is positive after removal of one ovary with a very large, non-cancerous cyst and also, a germ cell tumor that was stage 1 (which meant it was caught early and had not spread). After treatment with several courses of chemotherapy, thankfully, Lauren should be fine.

Lauren is anxious to get back to New York City, her job, work friends, and her church family there. The plan as of now is that after recuperating a bit at home, Lauren will head back to NYC with Beth so that she can continue the work she loves - the best of both worlds as she goes through her chem o treatments...TLC from Mom and friends!

Some wonderful news that Lauren received Saturday was that she was accepted into grad school at NYU! She is thrilled and her Dr. told her that she should be OK to begin this fall.

The Johnston's are all grateful for all of your kind thoughts and prayers for them. They feel so fortunate that Lauren was visiting home here in Atlanta when all this happened and that the surgery is behind her. Please continue your prayers for her speedy recovery and smooth sailing through chemo treatments.

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Fernbank Science Center GACHIP event today!

In conjunction with a larger event held by DeKalb County Schools, Fourteen Officers and Brethren of Gate City II will be on hand at Fernbank Science Center in order to process as many as one hundred and fifty children for child identification packets. PM Doug Hrabe, President of Fernbank Science Center, and Minh Van, networking guru and our future Junior Deacon, have managed this event from the start and have done so brilliantly. As you can tell from the number of brethren that will be in attendance, there were no shortage of volunteers as well.

Fernbank Science Center is located at 156 Heaton Park Drive. Atlanta, GA 30307. A CHIP training seminar is at 10:00AM. Identification packets are processed from 11:00AM - 3PM.

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

World's Busiest Airport Named After Gate City II's William Hartsfield

Excerpt from Fred Williams Jr and Fred Williams III, History of Gate City II: "The Secretary for 1922 was a hard-working, active young man named William B. Hartsfield. A lawyer by education, he entered politics and served several terms as a city Councilman. Becoming disillusioned, he dropped out of the political arena, but was eventually persuaded to run for Mayor as a "reform" candidate. His campaign was successful, and he became one of Atlanta's most popular and progressive chief executives, serving, with one short hiatus, from 1937 until 1961. He saw aviation as a key to the future, and is credited with pushing Atlanta to the front as a regional air center. It is fitting that the city airport, one of the world's busiest, is named for him. (For many years, Bill Hartsfield's Executive Secretary at City Hall was Joseph Gregg, Jr., Master in 1914). "

"William B. Hartsfield served as mayor for six terms (1937-41, 1942-61), longer than any other person in Atlanta's history. He held office during a critical period when the color line separating the races began to change and the city grew from more than 100,000 inhabitants to a metropolitan population of one million. He is credited with developing Atlanta into the aviation powerhouse that it is today and with building its image as "the City Too Busy to hate."

If having an airport named after him wasn't impressive enough, Willie B., yes, the Gorilla, was named after Hartsfield as well. Top that.

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Sickness, Distress...Luck and Family

David Johnston's daughter Lauren is having emergency surgery on Friday morning to have a cyst removed. She just happened to be in town. Her sister, Taylor, aslo just happens to be coming into town tomorrow following midterms. Beth, David's wife, who just recently retired from her V.P. position with Delta, will be able to devote 100% care. For a family that is usually streched out across the country, or world, to have everyone together at a time like this is a beautiful thing.

From David's Email:

"Lauren came home Friday night from NYC, planning a short visit – she complained of a sharp pain in her abdomen on the right side when in a certain position – thinking it could be appendicitis we took her to the Emory ER Sat morning first thing – the tests showed a large cyst – Al Blackwelder put us in touch with the Chief Medical Officer for Emory, who is also their Chief of Gynocogical Oncology Surgery, who met with us yesterday morning – he will be operating on Lauren Friday morning at 8am – he/we will know more then, but he is very optimistic that Lauren will have a full recovery – we see God’s helping hand in this in many ways, including: Lauren had no symptoms whatsoever, running several miles for exercise last Mon and dancing this past Thursday evening, and just happened to be here with us Fri night rather than in NYC; Beth, having retired and taken a sabbatical is able to focus 100% of her time and energy on Lauren; Taylor finishes her midterms tomorrow and comes home tomorrow night to spend the next 10 days on her spring break with us – we are very confident that we have the best medical team, all that remains is prayer, which is always appreciated."

David, we will be praying.

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Demolay to Visit GCII

The Executive Officer of Georgia Demolay and Past Master of Gate City II, Mark Bohn, and reprentatives of Georgia Demolay will be our guests at our regular communication on March 10, 2009. The Demolay will provide our program that evening by demonstrating their proficiency in their various lectures. W.B. Bohn will give us an update on Georgia Demolay which is experiencing real growth.

This is open to the public. For anyone wishing to enroll their children in Demolay or Rainbow girls, the meal is at 6:30PM, the presentation should be around 7:45PM. Children are welcome. The presentation will be at The Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple), 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA, 30309.

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Don't Forget: GCII GACHIP event March 14th!!!

On Saturday, March 14, 2009, Gate City will hold a Georgia CHIP event for The Fernbank Science Center which is part of the DeKalb County School System. Past Master Doug Hrabe, who is President of The Fernbank Science Center, and, one of our newest Gate City II members, Minh Van, will be heading up this event.

Gate City II is a Regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Royal Order of Scotland to Assist GCII at Highland Games

Rick Conn of the Gerogia Highland Clan Royal Order of Scotland has confirmed the participation of that most exalted body of Freemason's in our Scottish Highland Games CHIP event. The Royal Order of Scotland is an honorary society within the craft and is by invitation only. Our own David Herman, DDGM, is a member. Another notable Royal Order of Scotland Mason that the brethren of GCII might see on a regular basis is Carl Hyde, Chamblee Sardis 444, Temple Manager.

Well Done Rick!!!

Gate City II is a Regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309