Hon. Tabitha Ponder
Hon. Tabitha Ponder Neutral
See Rates Below

Overview

Hon. Tabitha Ponder

Hon. Tabitha Ponder is a mediator and arbitrator who handles cases involving automobile, insurance, personal injury, premises liability, and trucking issues, among others.

She earned a B.S. degree in psychology from Albany State University in 1996 and a J.D. from Mercer University School of Law in 1999. Tabitha began her legal career as an Insurance Defense Attorney. In 2007, she became the founder/managing attorney of the Ponder Law Group, LLC, a statewide litigation firm focusing primarily on injury law and real estate. She is now a part-time Cobb County Magistrate Court judge and a certified civil/domestic relations mediator and arbitrator. She also has experience with family law, complex litigation, business law, worker’s comp, liability, and she’s a special master for Cobb County Superior Court.

Tabitha is recognized statewide for her expertise and commitment to improving access to justice. She currently serves as the contracted staff attorney for the Georgia Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee under the leadership of Justice Charlie Bethel, and she was recently appointed to staff the Judicial Council’s new Ad Hoc Committee on Improving Community Access to Legal Resources. She was appointed to serve as special master for Cobb County Superior Court in 2017. She also previously taught as an adjunct professor for seven years at Albany State University.

She is a member of the Georgia Bar Association and Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys. She also serves as a Board Member of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers as Vice President of the Leadership Academy. Tabitha’s service also extends to the Cobb County Bar Association, Gate City Bar Association, the Cobb County Branch NAACP, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She was recently appointed to serve as Treasurer to Mercer’s BLSA Alumni Executive Board, and she resides in Marietta with her family.

 To learn more about Tabitha, read her spotlight.

Education

  • Mercer University School of Law, J.D., 1999
  • Albany State University, B.S. Psychology, 1996

Admitted to Practice

  • Georgia Supreme Court
  • Georgia Court of Appeals
  • Georgia State and Superior Courts
  • 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
S. District Court, Middle Georgia, 2002

Professional or Trade Affiliations

  • Georgia Bar Association, member
  • Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, member
  • Board Member of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers as vice president of the Leadership Academy
  • Cobb County Bar Association, member
  • Gate City Bar Association, member
  • Cobb County Branch NAACP, member
  • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., member
  • Mercer BLSA Alumni Executive Board, treasurer

 

Publications

 

Community Involvement

  • Georgia Judicial Council’s new Ad Hoc Committee on Improving Community Access to Legal Resources, Staff Member
Rates and Fees

Rates - Hon. Tabitha Ponder

If you have questions regarding our rates and fees, please contact support@milesadr.com

Atlanta Rates 4hr Min.
2 Party Case: $350 per party; per hour
3 Party Case: $300 per party; per hour
4 Party Case: $275 per party; per hour
5+ Party Case: Flat Rate Available Upon Request
Arbitration Hourly Rate: $650

Travel time and expenses, including meals and lodging, billed separately and split equally among the parties at the Neutral's hourly rate.
Pre/Post Consultation & Document Review: Hourly Mediation/Arbitration Rate

Mediation /Arbitration Admin Fees
Mediation Admin Fee - $400 per party
Arbitration Commencement And Administration Fee: $1500 per party

MEDIATION CANCELLATION POLICY

Mediations cancelled within 10 days of the mediation will be charged a cancellation fee of $1000. However, mediations cancelled, rescheduled or settled within 24 hours of the mediation will be charged 4 hrs. of the Neutral's hourly rate . Cancellation fees shall be sent to the cancelling party unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

ARBITRATION FEE PAYMENT POLICY

Arbitration Commencement and Administrative Fee is $1500.00 per party, per arbitrator. At the commencement of arbitration, each party will be invoiced $1500.00. This fee is refundable minus $500.00 per party until the initial case management order has been issued. All arbitration related invoices are due upon receipt.

ARBITRATION CANCELLATION POLICY

If a single-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 15 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate. However, if the single-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 2 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate.

If a multi-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 28 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing. However, if the multi-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 7 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing.

Issuance of the Final Arbitration Order/Award

Arbitration Awards/Orders will not be issued to either party until Miles has received full payment for all fees and expenses associated with the arbitration.