In this episode of Face the Jury, we’re joined by Jack Buckelew, a client who fought tirelessly for justice after his son, Jonathan, suffered a catastrophic brain injury due to medical negligence. Jack shares the emotional and financial toll of a years-long legal battle, resulting in a $75 million verdict—one that ensured Jonathan’s survival and care, but their fight is still ongoing.
A Father’s Fight for His Son
When Jack Bucklew’s son, Jonathan, suffered a catastrophic brain injury due to medical negligence, his world changed forever. Jonathan, once an IT professional and an active person, went from leading a vibrant life to being locked inside his own body, unable to move or speak except through his eyes. His story is not just about his family’s struggle but the right to justice for all patients harmed by medical negligence.
The Consequences of Medical Negligence
In October 2015, Jonathan sought a chiropractic adjustment to relieve neck pain. He quickly collapsed and was taken to North Fulton Regional Hospital. There, clear imaging indicated a brainstem stroke, which healthcare providers failed to treat, in result leaving him in a condition known as “locked-in syndrome.” His brain remained fully functional, but his body was completely paralyzed.
For nearly a decade, Jonathan has required around-the-clock ICU-level care at home, costing his family $750,000 a year. His survival would have been impossible without the ability to take his case to court and hold his healthcare providers accountable for falling below the standard of care. As Jack states that, without justice, Jonathan “would be dead.”
Georgia’s Proposed “Tort Reform” with Senate Bill 68
Now, Georgia lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 68, a so-called “tort reform” package that proponents claim will level the playing field in courtrooms, lower insurance costs, and protect businesses from frivolous lawsuits. In reality, this bill creates more obstacles for victims like Jonathan by making it even harder to bring medical malpractice cases to trial.
Senate Bill 68 allows defendants—often large hospitals and insurance companies—to pause a case as soon as it is filed, dragging out the legal process for years. It already took nearly five years for the Buckelew family to get to trial. If this bill had been in place, they would likely have never received their day in court.
The Unseen Costs of Delay
Medical malpractice victims don’t just fight their injuries—they fight a system designed to protect powerful institutions. In Jonathan’s case, the hospital actively withheld critical evidence, denying the existence of electronic records that ultimately proved their negligence. The hospital produced the documents only after the family’s legal counsel pressured them.
If Senate Bill 68 makes it even easier for hospitals to stall cases, how many more families will be left without answers, compensation, and the ability to afford the care their loved ones need?
Justice is Not a Luxury
The proposed “tort reform” is justified as a way to curb “frivolous lawsuits.” But Jonathan’s case was anything but that. The financial settlement his family won keeps Jonathan receiving the care he deserves and needs. Without it, there would be no government programs, insurance policies, or safety nets to cover his level of care.
As Jack points out, the proposed changes would mean even fewer options for families like his. “Any settlement will cancel Medicare and Medicaid. He will literally have no insurance coverage.”
Help Protect Georgia’s Patients
Jonathan’s case is a reminder of why the legal system must remain accessible to those who need it most. Every time lawmakers introduce barriers to justice, they don’t just target lawyers or lawsuits—they target real people with real suffering.
For Jack Buckelew and his family, justice meant survival. For future victims, Senate Bill 68 threatens to take that chance away. Senate Bill 68 is being pushed under the claim that it will “stabilize and lower insurance premiums.”
To make a difference, we urge all Georgia residents to take action and call their State Senators and Representatives to oppose Senate Bill 68 to ensure Georgians like Jonathan can continue to seek justice when harmed.
Listen to Jack Buckelew’s episode here and stay tuned for the next episode with our host, Lloyd Bell. “Face the Jury” is a podcast dedicated to confronting the issues involving medical malpractice in America– what it is, how to spot it and how to protect you and your family from medical negligence.