Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney in Raleigh, NC

Honors/Awards:

• Order of Service Award - North Carolina Advocates for Justice
• Education Achievement Award- NC Advocates for Justice, 2012 - 2015

Special Licenses/Certifications:

• Racial Equity Institute (REI), OAR, Phase 1 Training, Durham, 2015North Carolina Superior Court Mediation Training course completed, 40 hours, Jan. 2012Mediations completed as party participant: approximately 200+Arbitrations completed as arbitrator: approximately 100+ Collaborative Law training and certification with emphasis on medical disputes, 2012 Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, Leadership Development Program, 1990

Bar/Professional Activity:

• North Carolina Bar Association, Litigation Section Chair, June 15, 2014 - June 15, 2015
• North Carolina Advocates for Justice, President, June 13, 2015 - June 13, 2016
• East Henderson High School Mock Trial Team, 1995 - 2000
• Salem Academy Mock Trial Team, Attorney Advisor, 1992 - 1993
• Pisgah Legal Services, Volunteer Attorney, 1994 - 1995
• Henderson County Dispute Settlement Center, Board of Directors, 1995 - 1999
• North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Board of Governors, 1999 - 2000
• Mainstay Women's Shelter, Board of Directors, 1997 - Present
• South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, Member, 1998 - Present
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member, 1994 - Present
• North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Professional Negligence Section, Member, 2002 - Present
• North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Member, 1993
• North Carolina State Bar, 1994, U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina, 1994

Pro bono/Community Service:

• National High Mock Trial Championship Steering Committee, 2013 - 2015
• Legal Aid volunteer attorney for two years helping callers with landlord tenant issues, 2015
• Attorney Coach, Ligon Middle School Mock Trial Team, 2014-2015, Lawyer on the Line, Lawyer Volunteer, NC Legal Aid, 2013-present, Lawyer Coach, Broughton High School, Raleigh, Mock Trial, 2004, Board of Directors, Mainstay Women's Shelter, 1997-1999, Attorney Coach, East Henderson High School Mock Trial Team, 1995-2000, President, Henderson County Bar Association, 1998, Board of Directors, Henderson County Dispute Settlement Center, 1995-1999, Pisgah Legal Services, Volunteer Attorney, 1994-1995, Attorney Adviser, Salem Academy Mock Trial Team, 1992-1993
• High School Mock Trial Coach, Broughton High School, Raleigh, since 2015, 2020

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

• Presenter, Rule 411: Liability Insurance as Evidence at Trial, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2001
• Mediation Strategies, Wake Forest School of Law, April 22, 2015
• Learning the Ropes: How to Try a Soft Tissue Injury Case, Program Chair, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1997
• Learning the Ropes: The Basics of Civil Procedure, a Practical Approach, Program Chair, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1998
• Presenter, Ethics 101: The New Rules, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1998
• Presenter, So You Want to Open a Law Firm, North Carolina Bar Association and Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company, 1998
• Learning the Ropes: Basics of Family Law, Program Chair, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1999
• Learning the Ropes-Getting the Most out of your Personal Injury Case: Winning, Collecting and Keeping Your Damages, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1999
• Presenter, Medicaid, Medicare and Health Care Provider Liens: Putting Money in Your Client's Pocket and Keeping Yourself Out of Trouble, Practical Trial Skills Seminar, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2001
• Common Ethical Issues in Medical Malpractice Actions (with Patrick Balestrieri), N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers, November, 2003
• The Masters of Insurance Law: ABC's and 123's, Seminar Co-Chair, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2001
• Presenter, Demonstrative Evidence: Exhibits on the Cheap for Smaller Cases, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2001
• Presenter, Voir Dire: Pushing the Limits Within the Rules, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2002
• Reading Their Minds: Defense Themes in Personal Injury Cases, Mountain Magic Seminar, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2002
• Presenter, Strategies for Arbitrating UM/UIM Cases, The Masters of Insurance Law Seminar, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2002
• Faculty Member, Civil Trial Advocacy Clinic, N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2003
• Seminar, Chair and Speaker, Live! the Trial of a Connective Tissue Injury Case, N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2003
• Pre-Suit Mediation: The New Law, N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2003
• Faculty, Depositions: Hands-On Training, N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers
• A Humorous Look at Trial Preparation, Trial Briefs, N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers, March, 2003
• Pre-Suit Mediation: The New Law, N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers, October, 2003
• Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursement from the Plaintiff's Lawyer's Perspective, N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers
• Sykes v. Vixamar and Progressive Univ. Ins. Co., 830 S.E.2d 669, 673, 830 S.E.2d 669 (2019), Co-Author of Amicus for NC Advocates for Justice. Ezell v. Grace Hospital, Inc., 175 N.C.App. 56, 623 S.E.2d 79 (2005), rev'd per curiam, 360 N.C. 529, 631 S.E.2d 131, reh'g denied, 361 N.C. 180, 641 S.E.2d 4 (2006), Author of Amicus for NC Advocates for Justice Wos v. EMA Ex Rel. Johnson, 133 S. Ct. 1391 (2013), contributed to Respondents' amicus brief. As a result of this United States Supreme Court win helped re-write Medicaid subrogation law for North Carolina. See, House Bill 982 (2013) “An Act to modify the Medicaid subrogation statute in response to the United States Supreme Court Decision in Wos v EMA” which became law as NCGS 108A-57, Writer, Amicus Briefs, various
• The Fight to Get Arbitration in an Automobile Case, and What to do When You Get There (with Joe Adams), N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers, February 2004
• The North Carolina Prima Facie Tort Manual is a quick reference guide to the elements and case law of every recognized tort in North Carolina, including Automobile Negligence, Fraud, Medical Malpractice, and Wrongful Death claims. This bestselling resource shares valuable information on parties including agency, piercing the corporate veil, conspiracy, compensatory and punitive damages, and the statutes of limitations on all torts, Writer, North Carolina Prima Facie Tort Manual, 3rd Edition, “Chapter 13: Infliction of Emotional Distress.”, LexisNexis, Government, Insurance, Legal, 2006
• Personal Injury Practice in North Carolina is a practical guide that covers the most common questions in personal injury law, including practical tips on how to analyze and investigate these cases. The 2017 supplement includes updates about client interviews, locating and preserving evidence, insurance coverage, soft tissue injury cases, punitive damages, UM/UIM arbitration, premises liability and disbursement of settlement funds, Chapter writer, Chapter 8, Arbitration, Personal Injury Practice in North Carolina, 2nd Ed.,, LexisNexis, Government, Insurance, Legal, 2013
• In this Fourth Edition of the North Carolina Personal Injury Liens Manual, readers will find several original chapters completely re-written to reflect new state laws, including the ERISA and Medicare chapters. This 700+ page manual provides fingertip access to more than 35 sample forms, letters, and complaints, and includes dozens of practice tips and pointers. It also contains the text of relevant state and federal statutes, regulations, and case law.  Edited by Christopher R. Nichols, a leading personal injury attorney and NCAJ member, this comprehensive and user-friendly fourth edition is a bestselling publication that is intended to help simplify the complexity that characterizes personal injury liens, and to provide information you need to secure maximum net recovery for your clients. Nichols has been the editor and a contributor since the publication if the First Edition in 2009, Editor and Writer, North Carolina Personal Injury Liens Manual, 4th Ed., LexisNexis, Government, Insurance, Legal, 2018

Verdicts/Settlements:

• Six figure settlement for adult who was childhood victim of sexual abuse by neighbor. Defendant paid from non-insurance proceeds, 2020
• 1 Million + settlement. Settled sexual abuse case for child client against corporate defendant and corporate officers who failed to follow state safety and legal requirements to properly screen employees of business for past criminal convictions. Employee with previous sex crime conviction was allowed to work near children. Settlement included tender of insurance policy limits as well as sale and liquidation of all corporate assets which were placed in a specialized trust for the minor's benefit, 2019
• $750,000 + Represented victim of corporate and employee negligence. Defendant owned business where client was a customer. Customer was burned by equipment which was not properly safeguarded. Further, injured customer was not discovered for considerable amount of time due to negligent safety systems and employee conduct, contributing to the extent of customer's injuries. Case was defended on contributory negligence as well as denial of negligence. Case settled one month before trial, 2018
• Policy limits of $100,000. Husband and wife were hit by drunk driver who had just caused another crash and was attempting to leave scene of the first crash. The impact to the client's care was at a speed of less than 10 miles per hour but expert testimony established that the angle of the impact caused worse medical damages than expected. Medical treatment was limited to physical therapy and medical costs were less than $5,000. Through extensive discovery and and investigation, proved that Defendant was lying about them amount of alcohol consumed before the wreck and prost wreck rehabilitation efforts, 2017

Representative Clients:

• Represented adult who was childhood victim of sexual assault by neighbor. Overcame statute of limitations challenge through use of new North Carolina sexual abuse statute allowing a new window of filing opportunity if defendant is convicted of sex crime, regardless of when crime was committed. Case settled during negotiations for confidential six figure amount paid exclusively with non-insurance monies, 2020
• 1 Million + settlement. Settled sexual abuse case for child client against corporate defendant and corporate officers who failed to follow state safety and legal requirements to properly screen employees of business for past criminal convictions. Employee with previous sex crime conviction was allowed to work near children. Settlement included tender of insurance policy limits as well as sale and liquidation of all corporate assets which were placed in a specialized trust for the minor's benefit, 2019
• Represented customer of gym who was severely burned (3rd degree burns requiring hospitalization and skin grafts) by equipment which was not up to code or manufacturer's requirements for safety mechanisms. Through investigation and discovery found same equipment at different locations protected by required safeguards. Case settled for high six figure amount after mediation and extensive depositions, 2018
• Represented child abused in church day care setting. Case settled for confidential seven figure amount during mediation and included sale of Defendant's corporate assets as well as tender of insurance policy limits, 2018
• Represented adult who was a victim of childhood sexual abuse. Challenged statute of limitations defense with discovered memory exception. Case settled fat mediation for confidential six figure amount which involved substantial liquidation of personal assets of defendant, 2015

Other Outstanding Achievements:

• Elected President of the NC Advocates for Justice formerly the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, June 2015-June 2016 Selected by lawyer peers as President of the largest trial lawyer organization in the state and one of the largest in the United States. As President acted as spokesperson for organization during legislative assault on labor laws in the state of NC. Successfully deflected laws that would rob workers of rights, including the right to ask for legal determination of wrongful termination and workplace discrimination.North Carolina Advocates for Justice, since 1993 (formerly Academy of Trial Lawyers), President, 2015-2016, President Elect, 2014-2015, Chair of CEO Succession Planning Committee, 2014-2015, Legislative Vice President, 2013-2014, Communications Vice President, 2012-2013, Education Vice President, 2011-2012 CV, Christopher R. Nichols, page 3 of 10, Board of Governors, 2007-2011, 2004-2005, Legal Affairs Committee, 2008-2015, Nominating Committee, 2009, Membership Committee, 2005-2009, 2015
• Chair of Litigation Section, North Carolina Bar Association, Chair, Litigation Section (largest section of NCBA), 2014-2015, Vice Chair, Litigation Section, 2013-2014, Chair, Pro Bono Committee of Litigation Section, 2013-2015, Secretary, Litigation Section, 2012-2013, Treasurer, Litigation Section, 2011-2012, Litigation Section, Council member, since 2003, 2015
• Lawyer Mentoring Award- awarded by New Lawyers Division of NC Advocates for Justice, June 1, 2014, 2014
• Ebbie Award- Citation of Excellence 2007 NC Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2007, 2007

Educational Background:

• Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, May 1991, B.A., with honors, Honors: cum laude, Air Force Officers' Association Scholarship, Member, Student Government Association, Old Gold and Black, Student Newspaper, Food Reporter, Student Defenders Association, Chairman, Majors: Political Science & Sociology
• Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston Salem, North Carolina, 1994, J.D. Honors: Order of the Barristers Litigation Honor Society, Honors: Wake Forest Moot Court Board, 1992-1994, Honors: Chief Justice Joseph Branch American Inn of Court, Honors: Student Bar Association, 1992-1994, Honors: Student Trial Bar Association, 1991-1994, Honors: Litigation Honor Society