The North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA) held its 40th Annual Meeting the weekend of June 15-18, 2017. New officers and directors assumed new roles within the organization at the close of the meeting.
Dayatra T. Matthews was confirmed as the 40th President of the Association. Matthews is Senior Vice President of Legal & Compliance for the Local Government Federal Credit Union in Raleigh. As SVP of the Credit Union’s Legal and Compliance Department, Matthews is in charge of ensuring all Credit Union business is conducted in compliance with relevant state and federal laws and regulations. Matthews received her J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 1997.
Lawrence M. Baker assumes the position of President-Elect. Baker practices with Willson Jones Carter & Baxley, P.A. in the firm’s Charlotte office. He has been practicing insurance defense litigation in Charlotte, NC since 1990. Larry handles both workers’ compensation and civil litigation matters at both trial and appellate levels. Baker received his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1990.
Baker served as program chair this year, and was instrumental in securing engaging and informative content and speakers for the two-day CLE program. Breakout sessions included topics relating to Construction law, Commercial law, General Liability, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability, Government Liability and Workers Compensation. The diverse group of panelists and speakers offered trial strategy and briefed members on current trends and recent decisions.
A. Todd Brown Sr. is Immediate Past President. Brown is a partner with Hunton & Williams practicing in the Charlotte office. He has handled a broad variety of complex litigation in federal and state courts over his 30 years of experience, with an emphasis on commercial disputes, business torts, catastrophic personal injuries, consumer lending, unfair competition, and trade secrets litigation. Brown received his J.D. in 1986 from the University of South Carolina. Brown was presented the “DRI Exceptional Performance Award” and the NCADA recognized him for his year of service during the conference.
F. Lach Zemp was elected to the office of Executive Vice President. Zemp, a partner with Roberts & Stevens, P.A. in Asheville, has over 25 years of experience trying cases and representing a variety of professional, outdoor-recreation, industry, and business interests in state and federal courts. actively litigate cases in a variety of areas, including professional and medical malpractice and licensure cases, commercial / business cases, and products liability cases. He obtained his J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law Center in 1990.
Allen C. Smith was elected to a 1-year term as Treasurer. Smith is a partner with Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, LLP in Charlotte. He is the leader of the Trucking and Transportation Practice Group and devotes much of his time to defending serious personal injury and wrongful death claims associated with truck accidents and motor vehicle negligence. He also defends products liability, construction defect, and premises liability claims. Smith obtained his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1992. He previously served a 3-year term on the Board of Directors and one year as Secretary.
Sara R. Lincoln was elected to a 2-year term as Secretary. Lincoln is a partner with Lincoln Derr PLLC in Charlotte. Lincoln has an active trial practice ranging from medical malpractice defense to complex business litigation. Lincoln obtained her J.D. in 1993 from the University of Akron School of Law, magna cum laude. She was elected to Secretary after serving a three-year term on the Board of Directors, and past chair of the Association’s Women Litigators Committee and the Medical Malpractice Group.
The NCADA welcomed the following NEW members to the Board of Directors to serve a 3-year term ending in 2020:
We extend our sincere thank you to retiring Directors for their service:
On June 4, 1977, a group of 35 North Carolina lawyers gathered in the center of the state at the Howard Johnson Motel off I-85 in Greensboro. Their purpose was to establish an organization that would represent the professional and educational interests of North Carolina’s civil defense trial bar.
At the urging of a former President of DRI, Edward K. Mullins of South Carolina, J. Robert Elster, then DRI State Chairman for North Carolina, enlisted the help of William K. Davis and they canvassed peers and colleagues to determine if there was interest in a statewide civil defense organization. A small working group met to construct the initial goals and purposes of the organization, prepare articles of incorporation and the first set of Bylaws, and compile a list of attorneys who would be interested in participating in this new association.
At that Saturday morning meeting in June 1977, this small group of 35 established the initial board of directors, decided upon the organizations objectives, membership qualifications and began future planning. William K. Davis agreed to serve as the first president and J. Robert Elster, Jr. as president-elect.
NCADA began its first full year with 136 charter members adding an additional 19 by year end.
The Association held its first Annual meeting in the spring of 1978 in Pinehurst, North Carolina and the first annual Fall Seminar in November again in Pinehurst. The Annual Meeting and Fall Seminar continue to be the flagship educational and networking offerings for NCADA members today.
Forty years later, NCADA has grown to almost 900 civil trial attorneys and paralegals whose practices areas range from the traditional insurance defense practice to complex commercial cases. The NCADA has established a significant presence in the state’s legal community, the judiciary, the legislature and with North Carolina’s business community.
1977-1978 Founding Board William K. Davis, Chair Henry L. Anderson, Jr. J. Robert Elster, Jr. John G. Golding Perry C. Henson, Sr. Steve P. Millikin Grady S. Patterson, Jr
List of Charter Members
Second Generation Members (2G Members)
Following in the footsteps of a parent is a tradition in many families such as when children trod the same professional path as their parents.
At NCADA, we have members who embraced that tradition by following a parent into the legal profession, the defense practice and becoming a Second Generation (2G) member. This year we recognize these current 2nd generation members. Let us know if we missed you!
by Erin Collins, Director, NCADA Board of Directors
The NCADA’s website now contains an online resource that connects the entire membership for discussion of trending issues, experts, recent case law, CLE, and any other topic of interest. These discussion forums are designed to allow NCADA members to easily engage, interact and brainstorm with each other from anywhere at any time by simply logging onto the NCADA’s website and using the forums.
What are these forums?:
The discussion forums were added to the NCADA website as a part of its recent update. The NCADA website contains forums for the following practice groups: Commercial Law, Construction, Employment Law, Government Law, General Liability, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability, and Workers’ Compensation. Additionally, the Young Lawyers Committee, the Women Litigators, and the Paralegals also have their own discussion forums. Members can choose to be a part of any or all of these forums.
The forums allow NCADA members to discuss any issue of interest with other members that are involved in the same practice groups or committees. So far NCADA members have used the forum in several different ways:
These are all important topics and it is evident that insight from other members would be helpful to the inquiring members.
How do we access these forums?:
To use these forums, follow the below easy steps.
Step 1. Easy Log In. Go to www.ncada.org. Click "Log In" at the top right hand corner. If you have not logged in yet and set your new password, go to "Forgot Password" to have a "Reset Password" email sent to you, then create your preferred password (min of 7 characters; max of 50; case sensitive). Then access the site. Email lynettepitt@ncada.org if you have problems.
Step 2. Go to Members Area/Forums. Here there will be a list of available Forums for each practice group, paralegals, women litigators and young lawyers. You may participate in any one or all!
Step 3. Subscribe. Select your Forum(s) of interest. Click the 'Subscribe to forum' link on the top right hand corner. Once subscribed, you will receive email notifications of updates to any of the topics in the Forum with links to the new or updated topics. You may even subscribe to individual topics.
Step 4. Create a Discussion Topic. Access the Forum of interest. A 'Create topic' button is at the top of this page which will take you to a template to create your message. Then 'Create' to post and replies will come directly to your mailbox.
Step 5. Manage Your Preferences. The default notification for Forums is a daily email. You may change the frequency of the email notifications from daily to weekly or immediately.
To change your Forum subscription settings, go to the Email subscriptions page within your member profile and click the Edit Profile button. Additionally, in the Forum subscriptions section, you can unsubscribe from forums and topics and change the frequency of forum update notifications. Do not forget to click 'Save' to save your changes.
How do we convert these forums to a tool that can be useful to our members?:
This answer is simple: we must use it. The goal is to maximize the amount of useful information being provided to the discussion boards. The higher volume of members using this forum will translate to more traffic, more information, and more diverse perspectives on any given topic. Please subscribe to your forums of interest and consider using the forums when searching for information. Please also consider sharing your expertise when another member needs information.
NCADA members generally have online access at almost any time of the day and regularly need expert information, case law updates, and brainstorming sessions. The NCADA discussion forums could be an extraordinarily helpful tool if regularly used by the membership. If we all commit to subscribing to discussion forums of interest, the discussion forums have an opportunity to become a valuable part of the NCADA membership.
Thank you for your assistance in this endeavor!
The terms of five current members of the NCADA Board of Directors will expire in June 2017. Nominations for the five vacant Director positions are now being accepted to serve a three year term beginning at the close of the 2017 Annual Meeting through the close of the 2020 Annual Meeting.
Director responsibilities include:
To qualify for a position on the NCADA Board of Directors, the nominee should
Leadership opportunities in the NCADA’s Practice Groups are open for nominations. Members interested in the continued growth and relevance of the NCADA through its practice groups will be considered for leadership positions in the following areas of practice: Construction, Commercial, Employment, General Liability, Government, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability and Workers’ Compensation.
The following information should be included in the nomination:
1) Member Name, Firm, contact information and a brief biographical sketch;
2) Brief statement by the nominee of his or her availability and commitment to actively serve as a member of the Board, or as a practice group leader;
3) Brief statement why nominee would like to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, or as a practice group leader.
Persons interested in submitting a nomination may E mail or write to the Nominating Committee in care of Lynette Pitt, Executive Director (E mail: lpitt@ncada.org; U.S. Mail: 3700 National Drive, Ste 212, Raleigh, NC 27612).
Nominations must be received no later than Monday, April 10, 2017, 5 p.m.
Nominations are being accepted for the 2017 J. Robert Elster Award for Professional Excellence. This Award is named in honor of the life and career of J. Robert Elster, the second president of the Association.
Please nominate a present or past member of the NCADA for consideration as a possible recipient of the Award for Professional Excellence that will be presented at the 40th Annual Meeting, June 15-18, 2017. Your letter of nomination should be addressed to J. Nicholas Ellis, Chair, NCADA Awards Committee, 4030 Wake Forest Road, Ste 203, Raleigh, NC 27609. The letter should reference the "J. Robert Elster Award for Professional Excellence," include the name and current address of your nominee, along with supporting information and any appropriate documentation you believe will help the Awards Committee in making a recommendation to the Board of Directors. Your letter must be received at the Raleigh office no later than Friday, March 24, 2017.
Criteria: The recipient shall be a present, or former, member of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. The recipient must exemplify the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethics, and conduct herself, or himself, in a civil, courteous manner with all persons. The recipient must exemplify sustained, excellent service to individual and corporate defendants in civil litigation, to the Bar, and to the community.
Other factors that may be considered are involvement in judicial or other professional educational activities; participation in activities that improve the civil justice system; and such other criteria as the Board or Awards Committee shall determine to be important to the extraordinary achievement intended to be recognized by this Award.
Nomination and Selection:
Nominations shall be by current members of the NCADA
The Awards Committee shall receive all nominations in confidence. It shall review the nominations, and if a recipient is selected, shall confidentially recommend a recipient of the Award to the Board of Directors of the NCADA. If the Award recipient is approved by the Board of Directors, the Awards Committee shall prepare an outline of the presentation to be made by the President of the NCADA at the Annual Meeting, and shall obtain the Award on behalf of the NCADA for presentation.
The Award is intended as a special recognition, and it is not necessary that an Award be given as often as annually.
PAST RECIPIENTS
2016 John S. Willardson 2015 Hon. Linda Stephens 2009 Alan W. Duncan 2014 Harvey L. Cosper, Jr. 2008 William K. Davis 2013 James W. Williams 2007 J. Donald Cowan, Jr. 2012 Richard V. Bennett 2006 James D. Blount 2011 L. P. "Tony" Hornthal, Jr. 2006 Stephen P. Milliken2010 Charles E. Burgin 2005 Richard T. Boyette
NCADA's ninth biennial Judicial Candidates' Forum was held on Friday, September 30th. The Forum featured candidates running in statewide elections for seats on the North Carolina's Appellate Courts. Each candidate briefly discussed his or her qualifications and answered a brief question regarding areas of concern for businesses, civil defense attorneys and their clients. In addition to the videos by race, candidate profiles and statements of candidacy statements are available in this special issue of The Resource. Please download and share with colleagues, clients and friends.
The N.C. Defense Fund, the political action committee of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, endorses the following candidates seeking seats on the North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals:
For Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, the N.C. Defense Fund endorses for the Edmunds Seat: Robert H. Edmunds, Jr.
For Associate Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the N.C. Defense Fund endorses:
For the Geer Seat: Margaret P. Eagles for election to the Court.
For the Stephens Seat: Linda Stephens for re-election to the Court.
For the Hunter Seat: Robert J. Hunter, Jr. for re-election to the Court.
For the Dietz Seat: Richard Dietz for election to the Court.
For the Zachary Seat: Valerie Johnson Zachary for election to the Court.
The NC Defense Fund made the decision to endorse each judicial candidate based on the following criteria:
The N.C. Defense Fund is the political action committee of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. The North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys [NCADA] is a professional association for lawyers and paralegals defending the interests of individuals and businesses in civil litigation. Current membership stands at approximately 900 attorneys and paralegals from across the State.
For more information about the N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys, please contact the Association office at 1-800-233-2858.
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The North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (“NCADA”) will hold a Judicial Candidates' Forum on Friday, September 30, 2016 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Forum will feature judicial candidates running in statewide elections for seats on the North Carolina Supreme Court and the North Carolina Court of Appeals. The appellate races are statewide races that impact all citizens of North Carolina.
Twelve candidates seek election for six open appellate level judicial seats - two candidates for North Carolina Supreme Court and six candidates for North Carolina Court of Appeals. A special appellate candidates publication providing Information about each candidate may be found on the NCADA’s website at www.ncada.org under the Judicial Candidates’ Forum page under the events link or here.
The Forum will be held at the Grandover Resort & Conference Center in Greensboro, North Carolina in conjunction with the annual Fall Seminar. More than 300 attendees are expected.
The Forum gives members of the public and the bar a rare opportunity to learn about the candidates who wish to serve the state at the appellate court level. Each candidate will have the opportunity to answer a question germane to the members of the civil defense trial bar and to briefly discuss his or her qualifications for the position.
The NCADA is a statewide association of lawyers defending the interests of individuals and businesses in North Carolina. For more information about the NCADA or the Judicial Candidates' Forum, please contact the Association office at 919-239-4463 or lpitt@ncada.org.
The North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (“NCADA”) is pleased to participate as a sponsor of the NC Institute of Political Leadership’s (IOPL)**** Hometown Debates. Partnering with local chambers of commerce, IOPL will host three debates featuring key down-ballot races for lieutenant governor, attorney general, and state treasurer.
The live debates will be held on consecutive Tuesday nights in September. Candidates for lieutenant governor, Linda Coleman and Dan Forest, will debate in Wilson at Barton College’s Kennedy Theater on September 13. Candidates for attorney general, Buck Newton and Josh Stein, in Asheboro at the Sunset Theater on September 20. The final debate will be between candidates for state treasurer, Dan Blue III and Dale Folwell, at the Statesville Civic Center on September 27. Each debates will begin at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.
The debates will air on UNC-TV’s NC Channel one day after each event at 9 p.m., and will be broadcast live on radio stations that are part of the NC News Network. The candidates will be questioned by local newspaper editors in each of the three locations.
NCIOPL is a non-partisan, non-profit organization whose mission is to educate future political and community leaders in modern campaign strategy, ethical decision making, and governance, such that its participants will have a sound grounding in ethical behavior, consensus building, and cooperative and collaborative leadership. No other program in North Carolina offers such a comprehensive curriculum in strategic, nonpartisan political leadership development.
The NCADA is a professional association for civil trial attorneys defending individuals and businesses in North Carolina. For more information about the NCADA or the Judicial Candidates' Forum, please contact the Association office at 919-239-4463 or lpitt@ncada.org.
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North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys 4441-106 Six Forks Road, #107 Raleigh, NC 27609
Phone: 919-239-4463 admin@ncada.org
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