Top Rated Employee Benefits Attorney in Charlotte, NC

Honors/Awards:

• North Carolina Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters (2012, 2013)
• Campbell University Distinguished Political Science Alumnus, 2013-14
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated Distinguished
• North Carolina Legal Elite, Employment Law, Business NC, 2019
• National Business Edition Super Lawyers, ERISA/Employee Benefits, Thomson Reuters, 2015
• North Carolina Legal Elite, Construction Law, Business NC, 2010-2011
• National Order of the Barristers
• The Best Lawyers in America, Employee Benefits, U.S. News and World Report (2018, 2019, 2020)
• The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – ERISA, U.S. News and World Report (2018, 2019, 2020)
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated Preeminent (2015-present)
• Business Edition Super Lawyers, ERISA/Employee Benefits, Thomson Reuters (2015)
• North Carolina Legal Elite, Young Guns/Best Under 40, Business NC, 2011-2013
• Campbell University Distinguished Political Science Alumnus (2013-14)
• North Carolina Super Lawyers, ERISA/Employee Benefits, Thomson Reuters, 2014-2020

Bar/Professional Activity:

• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of North Carolina, 2006
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, 2006
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of North Carolina, 2006
• U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit, 2008
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, 2006
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina, 2006
• U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina, 2004
• North Carolina, 2004
• American Bar Association
• United States Court of Federal Claims, 2019
• Mecklenburg County Trial Lawyers Association
• Justice Bobbitt Inn of Court
• Mecklenburg County Bar Association
• North Carolina Bar Association
• North Carolina Advocates for Justice

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

• Scholarly Lectures: North Carolina Advocates for Justice Annual Conference: Managing Client Expectations, My Greatest Successes, Sunset Beach, North Carolina (June 19, 2017); Mecklenburg County Bar, Appellate Advocacy: Winning Your Case through Persuasive Writing, Charlotte, North Carolina (March 15, 2016); American Conference Institute’s 18th National Advanced Forum on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims (Contractual Limitations Periods in the Post-Heimeshoff Era), Philadelphia, PA (January 21-22, 2016). American Conference Institute’s 17th National Advanced Forum on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims (Vocational Issues in Disability Claims), Philadelphia, PA (January 22-23, 2015). American Conference Institute’s 7th National Forum on ERISA Litigation (Selected Issues in Benefit Claims Litigation), Chicago, IL (April 28-29, 2014). North Carolina Advocates for Justice, "Disbursements 2014: Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Just the Messenger (ERISA Liens)," Greensboro, NC (February 28, 2014). North Carolina Advocates for Justice, "Disbursements 2014: Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Just the Messenger (ERISA Liens)," Raleigh, NC (January 24, 2014). American Conference Institute’s 6th National Forum on ERISA Litigation (Accidental Death & Dismemberment Claims), New York, NY (October 25-26, 2013). American Conference Institute’s 5th National Forum on ERISA Litigation (Plaintiff's Perspective on ERISA Benefit Claim Issues), New York, NY (October 29-30, 2012). 
•  New Supreme Court Ruling Affects Statute of Limitations in ERISA Employee Benefits Claims, NCAJ Practice Alert (December 19, 2013)
• Supreme Court Ruling Limits Lawsuits Over Benefits, Charlotte Business Journal (May 23, 2014)
• Scholarly Writings: Contractual Limitations Periods in the Post-Heimeshoff Era: Case Law Update 2014-2016, ACI 18th National Advanced Forum on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims (January 21, 2016); "Inside the Minds: Protecting Retirees Health Care Benefits: Leading Lawyers on Negotiating Costs, Preventing Discrimination, and Ensuring Quality Medical Coverage," Thompson Reuters Aspatore Books (published Aug. 2015). "Vocational Issues in Disability Claims: Case Law Update 2014-15," ACI 17th National Advanced Forum on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims, Philadelphia, PA (Jan. 22-23, 2015). Lawyers Mutual Risk Perspective, January 22, 2014 "New Supreme Court Ruling Affects Statute of Limitations in ERISA Employee Benefit Claims." North Carolina Advocates for Justice Practice Alert, December 19, 2013: "New Supreme Court Ruling Affects Statute of Limitations in ERISA Employee Benefits Claims." "Accidental Death & Dismemberment Policies: Case Law update 2012-13,” ACI 6th National Forum on ERISA Litigation, New York, NY (Oct 25-26, 2013). "Challenging the Reliability and Import of Independent Medical Reviews in the Wake of Glenn v. MetLife," American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Health & Disability Insurance Law Committee Newsletter (Fall 2009). "Hang Up and Drive, Or Pay the Price," (Vicarious Liability Implications), Charlotte Observer (February 19, 2009). "Are dependent Social Security benefits exempt from offset under the terms of your client's plan?" Essex Richards, P.A. ERISA Newsletter (Summer 2008). "Does 407(a) of the Social Security Act bar insurers from successfully counterclaiming for repayment of claimed offsets for Social Security benefits?" Essex Richards, P.A. ERISA Newsletter (Winter 2008).

Verdicts/Settlements:

• Warren v. N.C. Dep’t of Crime Control & Pub. Safety, No. COA 18-532 (N.C. Ct. App. Sept. 17, 2019).
• Wetherington v. N.C. Dep’t of Crime Control & Pub. Safety, No. 18-1018 (N.C. Ct. App. Feb. 13, 2019).
• Mole’ v. City of Durham, No. COA 19-683 (N.C. Ct. App. Nov. 14, 2019).
• Fourth Circuit ERISA decisions Carroll v. Continental Automotive, Inc., et al., No. 16-1152, 685 Fed. Appx. 272, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 7119, 2017 WL 1437212 (4th Cir. Apr. 24, 2017). Wilkinson v. Sun Life Health and Ins. Co.,15-2105, 674 Fed. Appx. 294, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 201, 2017 WL 56721 (4th Cir. Jan. 5, 2017). Cosey v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., et al., No. 12-2360, 735 F.3d 161, 56 Employee Benefits Cas. (BNA 2997), 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 22833, 2013 WL 5977151 (4th Cir. Nov. 12, 2013). Vincent v. Lucent Technologies, Inc., et al., No. 11-1048, 440 Fed. Appx. 227, 52 Empl. & L. Rel. Law 1927, 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 15601 (4th Cir. July 26, 2011), reh’g denied Aug. 23, 2011. U.S. District Court ERISA decisions E.W., et al. v. IBM Medical and Dental Benefit Plans for Regular Full-Time and Part-Time Employees, No. 5:15-cv-504, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28381 (E.D.N.C. Jan. 18, 2018). Washington v. Hartford Life & Accid. Ins. Co., No. 5:16-cv-173, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 104741 (E.D.N.C. July 6, 2017). E.W., et al. v. IBM Medical and Dental Benefit Plans for Regular Full-Time and Part-Time Employees, No. 5:15-cv-504, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 46377 (E.D.N.C. Mar. 29, 2017). E.W., et al. v. IBM Medical and Dental Benefit Plans for Regular Full-Time and Part-Time Employees, No. 5:15-cv-504, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51946 (E.D.N.C. Feb. 15, 2017). West, et al. v. Continental Automotive, Inc., et al., 3:16-cv-502, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 152000 (W.D.N.C. Nov. 11, 2016). Carroll v. Continental Automotive, Inc., et al., No. 3:13-cv-693, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10214 (W.D.N.C. Jan. 28, 2016). Wilkinson v. Sun Life Health and Ins. Co., 5:13-cv-87, 127 F.Supp.3d 545 (W.D.N.C. Sept. 1, 2015). Carroll v. Continental Automotive, Inc., et al., 3:13-cv-693, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175565 (W.D.N.C. Aug. 31, 2015). Patterson v. BB&T Corp. Health Care Plan, et al., No. 1:14-cv-641, ECF Doc. No. 20 (M.D.N.C. Aug. 13, 2014). Sizer v. Continental Automotive, Inc., et al., No. 3:10-cv-496, ECF Doc. No. 41 (W.D.N.C. Feb. 4, 2013). Cosey v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., et al., No. 1:11-cv-121, 900 F.Supp.2d 640 (M.D.N.C. Sept. 30, 2012). Vincent v. Lucent Technologies, Inc., et al., No. 3:07-cv-240, 733 F.Supp.2d 729 (W.D.N.C. Aug. 24, 2010). Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., et al. v. Brooks Food Group, Inc., et al., No. 3:07-cv-14, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5030 (W.D.N.C. Jan. 18, 2008). ERISA Class Actions West, et al. v. Continental Automotive, Inc., et al., 3:16-cv-502, ECF Doc. No. 45, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26404 (W.D.N.C February 5, 2018) (final approval). West, et al. v. Continental Automotive, Inc., et al., 3:16-cv-502, ECF Doc. No. 45, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 87382 (W.D.N.C June 7, 2017) (class certification). Edwards v. Phoebe Putney Health System, Inc., et al, 1:15-cv-75, ECF Doc. No. 34 (M.D. Ga. Aug. 31, 2016) (final approval). Cecil, et al. v. Hinshaw, et al., No. 1:15-cv-409, ECF Doc. No. 26 (M.D.N.C. Nov. 25, 2015) (final approval). Other Sorted State, Federal, and Appellate Decisions W., et al. v. IBM Medical and Dental Benefit Plans for Regular Full-Time and Part-Time Employees, No. 5:15-cv-504, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107956 (E.D.N.C. July 11, 2017) (fees). Securities and Exchange Commission v. Rex Venture Group, LLC, et al., No. 3:12-cv-519, ECF Doc. No. 462 (W.D.N.C. Dec. 16, 2015) (representing third party NxSystems, Inc.). In re Harris Teeter Merger Litig., 2014 N.C.B.C. LEXIS 47 (Sept. 24, 2014) (class action). Hatley v. City of Charlotte, No. 3:10-cv-423, ECF Doc. No. 46 (W.D.N.C. July 30, 2012) (fees). Hatley v. the City of Charlotte, No. 3:10-cv-423, 826 F.Supp.2d 890 (W.D.N.C. Nov. 28, 2011) (summary judgment). Vincent v. Lucent Technologies, Inc., et al., No. 3:07-cv-240, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 123780 (W.D.N.C. Oct. 25, 2011) (fees). Ross, et al. v. Flo Foods, Inc., et al., No. 3:10-cv-356, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 86382 (W.D.N.C. Aug. 4, 2011) (summary judgment). Premier Plastic Surgery Center, et al., v. of Adjust. for the Town of Matthews, et al., No. COA 10-863, 213 N.C. App. 364, 713 S.E.2d 511 (N.C. Ct. App. July 19, 2011) (state appellate). Eckstein v. Lowe’s Companies, Inc., et al., No. 5:09-cv-95, ECF Doc. No. 128 (W.D.N.C. Dec. 15, 2010) (class action). Marsh v. CBS Media Corp., et al., No. 09-2159, 397 Fed. Appx. 904 (4th Cir. Oct. 7, 2010) (representing third party University Psychological Associates). Sloop, et al. v. City of Charlotte, No. 3:10-cv-144, ECF Doc. No. 13 (W.D.N.C. June 10, 2010) (collective action). Kaiser-Flores v. Lowe’s Companies, Inc., et al., No. 5:08-cv-45, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28300 (W.D.N.C. Dec. 2, 2009) (class action). Amicus Harris v. N.C. Dep’t of Pub. Safety, et al., No. 110A17, 803 S.E.2d 142 (N.C. Sup. Ct. Dec. 22, 2017). Brewington v. N.C. Dep’t of Pub. Safety, et al., No. COA 16-913, 802 S.E.2d 115 (N.C. Ct. App. June 20, 2017). C. Dep’t of Pub. Safety v. Ledford, No. 223PA16, 369 N.C. 567, 797 S.E.2d 514 (N.C. Sup. Ct. April 4, 2017). Tully v. City of Wilmington, No. 348A16, 794 S.E.2d 806 (N.C. Sup. Ct. Jan. 19, 2017)., 1900

Educational Background:

•  Campbell University, B.A., Double Major: Government & History; Magna Cum Laude; Sarah Virginia Hackney Award of Excellence (Top Government & History Student); Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) All-Conference Academic Team (men's tennis); Phi Kappa Phi; Epsilon Pi Eta Honor Society (Character, Leadership, & Scholarship); Alpha Phi Sigma (National Honor Society for Criminal Justice); Pi Gamma Mu (International Honor Society in the Social Sciences); Alpha Iota Alpha chapter of Phi Alpha Theta (International History Honor Society); Presidential Scholars Honor Society., 2001