John has engaged in an active trial practice for over 40 years.  He has tried cases to a verdict in courtrooms all across Texas; from Spartanburg to Florence and the Low Country of South Carolina; from Charlotte to the North Carolina coast including most of the major cities and many rural counties in between; and in 2021 he tried his first case in the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond.

John is married with three children and four grandchildren.  When not working he enjoys spending time with friends and family, boating at Kerr Lake and traveling.   

EDUCATION

J.D., Wake Forest University

B.A., cum laude, Bowling Green State University

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

Maupin, Taylor & Ellis, Raleigh, NC

Crain Caton James & Womble, Houston, TX

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ADMISSIONS

North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia

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United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuits 

United States District Courts sitting in North Carolina and South Carolina

United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas

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PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel

Past Vice President, Southeast Region

Member, Executive Committee

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Transportation Research Board 

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American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association

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Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)

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Defense Research Institute

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North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys

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Federal Bar Association

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North Carolina Bar Association

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Wake County Bar Association

PUBLISHED OPINIONS
Williams v. Advance Auto Parts, Inc., 795 S.E.2d 647 (N.C. Ct. App. 2017), disc. rev. denied, 2017 N.C. LEXIS 325 (N.C. May 3, 2017) 

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Carson v. CSX Transp., Inc., 400 S.C. 221, 734 S.E.2d 148 (Ct. App. 2012)

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RBC Bank (USA) v. Gwin Law Office, LLC, 827 F.Supp. 2d 525 (E.D.N.C. 2011)

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Bean v. S.C. Cent. R.R. Co., 392 S.C. 532, 709 S.E.2d 99 (Ct. App. 2011)

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Wilkins v. CSX Transp., Inc., 194 N.C. App. 338, 669 S.E.2d 784 (2008)

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Atl. Coast Mech., Inc. v. Caterpillar Inc., 175 N.C. App. 339, 623 S.E.2d 334 (2006)

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Baggerly v. Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp., 370 S.C. 362, 635 S.E.2d 97 (2006)

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Peterson v. Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp., 365 S.C. 391, 618 S.E.2d 903 (2005)

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Wilkerson v. Norfolk Southern Ry. Co., 167 N.C. App. 607, 606 S.E.2d 187 (2004)

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Sharp v. CSX Transp., Inc., 160 N.C. App. 241, 584 S.E.2d 888 (2003)

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Jackson v. Assoc. Scaffolders and Equip. Co., Inc., 152 N.C. App. 687, 568 S.E.2d 666 (2002)

Turner v. Norfolk Southern Corp., 137 N.C. App. 138, 526 S.E.2d 666 (2000)

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McNair v. Lend Lease Trucks, Inc., 95 F.3d 325, reversing en banc, 62 F.3d 651 (4th Cir. 1995)

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Click here for a complete listing of John's published opinions.