Melissa Cruthirds Email & Phone Number

United States

• Advises and provides legal guidance to the Mayor, City Council, boards, commissions, and department heads• Negotiates and drafts complex contracts and lease agreements generally, with an emphasis on construction contracts for the City Departments of Parks, Stormwater, and Public Service• Negotiates, drafts, and reviews deeds, easements, memoranda of agreement, and licenses relating to real property• Manages communication with departments concerning the status of contract requests and expectations concerning the contract production process• Performs comprehensive legal research in all areas of the law impacting the City’s operations• Interpret laws, rulings, regulations, court decisions, and ordinances• Drafts ordinances, policies, legal memoranda, correspondence and reports• Attends City Council meetings, City Council Committee meetings, and other meetings as needed• Represents the interests of the City in litigation or other proceedings of a legal nature

Jekyll Island, Georgia

• Advise staff and Executive Director on compliance with state law, public relations, contract provisions, business decisions, litigation strategy, and other issues• Attend and present to Board of Directors at Board meetings; guide parliamentary matters during meetings • Negotiate, draft, and review contracts ranging from festival vendors and sponsorship agreements to residential and commercial leases and capital improvements; ensure contract compliance with state law; monitors and enforce compliance with terms of contract• Manage outside counsel for litigation cases; assist in producing discovery; review and edit pleadings and discovery responses• Current and ongoing projects: Standardize contract and solicitation processes to effectuate efficiency; manage data breach matter to comply with state and federal law; manage complete code revision; oversee compliance with state law on amendment to Master Plan; summarize weekly update on legislation affecting the Authority during legislative session• Supervise Leasing Manager who ensures compliance of all residential and business leases• Review, revise, and draft ordinances and by laws • Represent the Authority in court on code enforcement matters; advise code enforcement officer and State Fire Marshall regarding code compliance and permitting• Member of Senior Management; reports directly to Executive Director• Synopsized a year of bi-weekly Executive Orders regarding COVID-19 protocols into understandable parameters for staff

Brunswick, Georgia

Paralegal Program

Brunswick, Georgia

Brunswick, Ga

• Child Advocacy: Child Attorney, Guardian Ad Litem, Attorney for Mother and Father• Divorce, Child Custody and Modification, Child Support, Contempt• Managed case load of 40-100 cases simultaneously• Draft and respond to pleadings and discovery, prepare clients and witnesses for hearings; negotiate and draft settlement agreements

Saint Simons Island, Georgia

• Child Advocacy: Child Attorney, Guardian Ad Litem, Attorney for Mother and Father• Divorce, Child Custody and Modification, Child Support, Contempt• Criminal misdemeanor defense• Business and Real Estate Litigation• Appellate Litigation• Personal Injury (motor vehicle accidents)• Estates, Wills, Trusts

Brunswick, Ga

• Personal Injury litigation• Appellate litigation• Served as Assistant City Attorney and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, City of Brunswick o Drafted ordinances and contracts, including intergovernmental agreements o Represented the City in prosecuting misdemeanor offenses and code enforcement violations o Provided City Commission with advice and guidance regarding litigation issues, employment issues, and other various municipal-related matters o Oversaw real estate and bond transactions• Served as Assistant City Attorney, City of Nahunta• Divorce, Child Custody and Modification, Child Support, Contempt• Criminal misdemeanor defense

Columbia, South Carolina Area

Document Review for a large law firm

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Area

Family Law: Drafted Marital Settlement Agreements and Custody Agreements; Drafted and Responded to Complaints, Motions, and Discovery Civil Litigation: Drafted and Responded to Complaints, Motions, and Discovery

I worked with constituents and representatives of state agencies and non-governmental organizations. I assisted with the Omnibus Crime Reduction Bill.

Analyzed Driving Under the Influence roadside videosSummarized Criminal Domestic Violence incident reportsAssisted Magistrate Court Solicitor in courtResearched and summarized case law Prepared files for entry into case management system

Researched and drafted memoranda on contract, employment, real estate, and tort law

Reviewed and summarized cases for the Chief Administrative Judge

Drafted pleadings and discoveryCreated and maintained pleading, discovery, and trial notebooksSummarized depositions and medical recordsCompleted general office tasks, e.g., drafting correspondence, tracking own and attorney billing, maintaining attorneys' calendars, checking trial rosters, transcribing dictation, and organizing and maintaining document production

Juris Doctor, Law

Activities and Societies: • Criminal Practice Clinic • Public Interest Law Society, Secretary• Mock Trial Bar, Competition Team Leader •.

Paralegal Certificate, Legal Assistant/Paralegal

Activities and Societies: High Honors

Bachelor Of Arts, Psychology

Activities and Societies: Dean's Honor List, 6 terms

H.S. Diploma

Activities and Societies: National Honor Society