MEMBERSHIP
The Rewards of Helping Others through Atlanta
SCOTT A. FARROW Conley Griggs Partin LLP scott @ farrowfirm. com
I can still remember the call as if it were yesterday. Martina( pseudonym) had just been sued by an insurance company and desperately needed a lawyer. She had been referred to me by the Atlanta Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service( LRIS). The dispute was about the beneficiaries of a life insurance policy issued to her ex-husband, Jack. At first it seemed to be a simple case with a single issue: who did Jack designate as the beneficiary? It turned out to be far more complicated. Jack and Martina had married while Jack was in the military. They had a son together and Jack assumed the role as father for Martina’ s son from a previous relationship. Jack was a loving father to both children. For several years, they seemed to have a happy marriage.
When Jack’ s enlistment ended, he left the army and they moved back to Georgia. Jack got a job and his transition to civilian life appeared to be going well. The tranquility in their household abruptly changed when Jack falsely accused Martina of infidelity. He became paranoid and claimed Martina was talking with men behind his back. Jack also began hearing voices and seeing people who were not there. Martina knew Jack was no longer the person she had married but did not understand why. When Jack showed up at their son’ s daycare one morning and berated the staff for no reason, Martina decided, for the sake of her children, she had to leave the marriage.
After the divorce was finalized, Martina received a call one day – Jack had suffered a mental breakdown and was hospitalized at the VA Hospital. When she visited him, she realized he was suicidal. After an extended evaluation, Jack was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Martina began reading about the illness and realized the condition explained the changes in Jack during
20 MARCH APRIL 2026