James T. Johnson
Top rated Personal Injury attorney in Raleigh, North Carolina
DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall
Practice areas: Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Civil Litigation; view more
Licensed in North Carolina since: 1992
Education: University of North Carolina School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2026 DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall
333 Fayetteville StSuite 1513
Raleigh, NC 27601 Phone: 919-833-5555 Email: James T. Johnson Visit website
James T. (Jim) Johnson brings a quarter-century of litigation experience and courtroom success to his clients. Jim’s trial practice focuses on high-end civil matters, including complex injuries, medical and professional malpractice, libel and slander matters, civil rights infringement, and complex commercial issues. He is an AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer by Martindale Hubbell, is listed to North Carolina Super Lawyers, and is a Litigation Counsel of America Fellow.
His early professional service provided him with a range of courtroom experience from criminal, white-collar, and tax evasion prosecutions to insurance defense matters. In his own private practice, Jim’s deep knowledge attained in his early career on “the other side of the fence” has benefitted clients tremendously over the years. Having accumulated thousands of hours in the courtroom and negotiated hundreds of settlements with insurance companies, he can help clients maximize settlement values in a range of civil matters or fearlessly and efficiently move a matter to trial.
He is a 1992 graduate of UNC School of Law at Chapel Hill and holds his undergraduate degree from Duke. Born in Savannah but raised in Raleigh, he is a veteran Tar Heel lawyer with a passion for client service. Approachable, communicative, and friendly to his clients, tough and formidable to his opponents, Jim is a seasoned trial lawyer with the experience and perseverance to make a difference in the outcome of your case. Make sure Jim is in your corner. Call for a free consultation today.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff, Civil Litigation: Plaintiff, Workers' Compensation: ClaimantFirst Admitted: 1992, North Carolina
Professional Webpage: https://dementaskew.com/firm-overview/james-t-johnson/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Member, Wake County Bar Association, 1992
- American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 10 Best Personal Injury Lawyers Member, 2018
- Member, North Carolina Advocates for Justice
- Member, North Carolina Bar Association
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- In October, 2016, I obtained a 9 million dollar verdict against the Raleigh News & Observer on behalf of a former state firearms examiner, Beth Desmond. The trial lasted 3 and 1/2 weeks. The verdict included approximately 1.5 million in compensatory damages and 7.5 million in punitive damages. The verdict was the highest jury verdict in North Carolina in 2016. After the verdict, the punitive damages amount was statutorily reduced to 3x the compensatory damages, or 4.5 million. So, the final judgment was a little over 6 million. The lead defense attorneys were Mark Prak with Brooks Pierce and John Bussian with The Bussian Law Firm. Pre-trial litigation and discovery was extensive. We initially filed the lawsuit in 2012. Over 60 depositions were taken in the case. We went to the Court of Appeals after Summary Judgment in 2014 and won at that time. The case is currently on appeal again to the Court of Appeals. , 2016
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Member, 2018
- Our client was the estate of an elderly woman residing in a local nursing home. She was recovering from an unrelated illness and developed an ulcerous wound around her sacrum area. The nursing home staff failed to timely detect the wound, and failed to adequately inform the deceased's doctors about the severity of the wound. The wound became infected and she went into septic shock. She was eventually transferred to a local hospital where she passed away just a few days later. The nursing home initially ignored my attempts to discuss settlement. The out-of-state insurance adjuster would not return our phone calls. We secured an expert witness who opined the nursing home breached the standard of care in their treatment of our client. We filed suit, successfuly fought defendant's attempts to compel arbitration, and secured a large confidential settlement prior to trial. , 2017
- My client, who was confined to a wheelchair in a nursing home, was raped by a fellow resident. My client was embarrassed and ashamed about what happened and initially didn't report it. The assailant was eventually charged and convicted of 2nd degree rape. The nursing home initially strongly denied any liability. Our agressive investigatation, which included interviewing witnesses, prior employees of the nursing home, and the social worker for the assailant, revealed that the nursing home management was very aware of the assailant's aggressive behavior and violent tendencies. Our investigation also revealed the nursing home's management was made aware of the incident and tried to downplay it as consensual. We were able to successfully negotiate a large confidential settlement that was the limit of available insurance coverage for the nursing home. , 2015
- My client suffered a complex fracture of his left tibia and fibula. During reconstructive surgery, the doctor drove a rod through the shaft of the tibia securing the rod with one distal screw only. The screw failed, and the rod fell through the leg, crushing the lower part of his tibia. A second much more extensive surgery was performed in which all the prior hardware was removed, and new plates and screws were implanted. After two years of rehab, our client has a leg that is significantly shorter than the other, and walks with a very noticeable limp. Our expert opined the initial rod was not the proper length and should have been secured by a second screw. He also opined that the delay in the initial doctor addressing the failed hardware caused significant additional damage. After securing our expert opinions, we successfully settled the case for a confidential amount. , 2016
- My client was driving north on Capital Blvd approaching the intersection with Wake Union Church Road. The Defendant was driving south on Capital in a large SUV owned by a local landscaping company. Our client had the green light. The Defendant failed to yield the right of way and suddenly made a left turn directly in front of our client. She suffered severe injuries, including an aggravation of a pre-existing hip condition requiring additional surgery for hip replacement. Initially, the insurance carrier refused to consider the hip surgery as related to the collision. We had to file suit, and after extensive discovery, we successfully obtained a settlement of $300,000.
Pro bono / Community Service
- I strive to commit 15% of my active law practice to pro bono work, including providing free legal advice to potential clients in need when we know we will not be taking the potential client's case. We have recently committed to helping pro bono a wounded war veteran with negotiating debts incurred while he was overseas.
Educational Background
- obtained law degree from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1992, 1992
- Obtained undergraduate degree from Duke University in 1988, 1988
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, Selectee, 2023
- Since 2020, North Carolina Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2023
- Since 2020, North Carolina Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2022
- Since 2020, North Carolina Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2021
- Since 2020, North Carolina Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2020
- Since 2013, AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer, Martindale Hubbell, 2019
- Since 2013, AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer, Martindale Hubbell, 2018
- Since 2013, AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer, Martindale Hubbell, 2017
- Since 2013, AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell, 2016
- In Lawyers Weekly highest verdicts edition, my 9 million dollar libel verdict against the News and Observer was honored as the highest verdict in North Carolina in 2016., Highest Jury Verdict in NC, Lawyers Weekly, 2016
- Since 2013, AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell, 2015
- Since 2013, AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell, 2014
- Martindale Hubbell is the oldest and most well respected legal peer review entity in America., AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell, 2013
Office location for James T. Johnson
333 Fayetteville St
Suite 1513
Raleigh, NC 27601
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2026