Filing A Negligent Security Lawsuit If Injured On Someone’s Property In NC
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Filing A Negligent Security Lawsuit If Injured On Someone’s Property In NC

When you go to a business in North Carolina (e.g. a store, restaurant, hotel), or when you live in an apartment building, a college dorm, or any other housing complex, you probably take for granted that the property owner has an obligation to provide a reasonably safe environment. You may be thinking “reasonably safe” means…

Injured At Someone’s Home, Business In North Carolina?
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Injured At Someone’s Home, Business In North Carolina?

As you were leaving your neighbor’s porch last month, you slipped and fell, badly injuring your hip and leg. This painful experience immediately changed your near future: first, an ambulance ride, followed by time in the ER getting surgery, followed by extensive rehabilitation. As if this hasn’t been challenging enough, you are also out of…

What To Do After An Injury
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What To Do After An Injury

WHAT TO DO AFTER AN INJURY:  The days, weeks, months and even years after an injury can be an especially stressful time. You should not go it alone. Insurance companies have one primary goal which is to compensate you as little as possible, assuming they do not deny your claim altogether. There are certain steps you should take to…

Preparing For A Successful Trial Or Settlement (part 2)
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Preparing For A Successful Trial Or Settlement (part 2)

In Part I, I discussed the importance of case selection to prepare your case for a successful trial or settlement.  In this blog post, I discuss your investigative responsibilities and provide various examples. A. Your Investigative Responsibilities Attorneys have an obligation to investigate the case prior to filing pleadings. For the plaintiff’s attorney, he or…

Is Your Child’s “School Bus” Injury Barred By Sovereign Immunity?
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Is Your Child’s “School Bus” Injury Barred By Sovereign Immunity?

It is every parent’s worst nightmare.  They get a call from a school official notifying them that their child has been seriously injured while riding a school-owned vehicle.  The child has permanent injuries and faces a lifetime of pain and suffering.  The parents face mounting medical bills that threaten to bankrupt them.  The parents learn…

Can North Carolina’s New Bifurcation Statute Actually Benefit Plaintiffs?
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Can North Carolina’s New Bifurcation Statute Actually Benefit Plaintiffs?

SHOULD PLAINTIFFS BIFURCATE LIABILITY AND DAMAGES IN NORTH CAROLINA? The General Assembly, in its infinite wisdom, inserted a provision in S.L. 2011-400 (SB 33) which will change our basic strategy in how we try civil cases.  Specifically, Section 2 of S.L. 2011-400 provides that any party may move for bifurcation on the issues of liability and…

Tracy Morgan Crash Highlights Tractor Trailer Safety Issues
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Tracy Morgan Crash Highlights Tractor Trailer Safety Issues

Much of the public is now aware of the recent wreck involving comedian and actor Tracy Morgan and a tractor-trailer driver which failed to notice slowing or stopped vehicles immediately prior to crashing into a line of cars, injuring Mr. Morgan and killing one of his good friends.  There are allegations that the tractor-trailer driver may have exceeded…

Maximizing The Use Of Your Experts In Litigation (Part 4)
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Maximizing The Use Of Your Experts In Litigation (Part 4)

My last post discussed the effective use of experts at trial.  This post continues in the same vein, but with a focus on damage experts. Effective Use of Damages Experts Remember the goal set forth by David Ball – spend half your time on harm and half on money. Among other things, this means you…

Maximizing The Use Of Your Experts In Litigation (Part 3)
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Maximizing The Use Of Your Experts In Litigation (Part 3)

EFFECTIVE USE OF EXPERTS AT TRIAL One of the most important weapons of any trial lawyer is a reputation of willingness to bring appropriate cases to trial. Of course, a lawyer must develop a reputation for handling cases in the courtroom with skill and ability. Your effective use of expert witnesses at trial is a…

Maximizing The Use Of Your Experts In Litigation (Part 2)
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Maximizing The Use Of Your Experts In Litigation (Part 2)

MAXIMIZING THE VALUE OF YOUR EXPERTS DURING LITIGATION Now that you have determined you have a good case and have built a solid foundation through extensive pre-suit investigation including consultation with your expert(s), you are ready to file your case. For plaintiffs, to maximize the value of your case, make good use of written discovery…