Lawyers In The News 11-21-11

Home > News > Lawyers in the News > Lawyers In The News 11-21-11

C. Thomas Steele Jr., an equity member at Charlotte’s Wishart Norris Henninger & Pittman, has had a Liberty Fund established in his name by the North Carolina Bar Association. The fund will be included in the foundation’s LANC (Legal Aid of North Carolina) Fund.

Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog said Benton Toups has been named a partner in its Wilmington office. Toups focuses his practice on representing clients in labor and employment matters.

Carolyn Johnson has been named senior deputy Charlotte city attorney, and Hope Root has been named deputy Charlotte city attorney. Both will report to incoming Charlotte city attorney Robert Hagemann.

Dixie T. Wells has been named a partner of Ellis & Winters. Wells, who is both a licensed professional engineer and an attorney, works in the firm’s Greensboro office.

Leigha Blackwell Sink has joined Gallivan, White & Boyd’s newly established Charlotte office as an associate. Prior to joining GWB, she served as an assistant attorney general for the state of South Carolina.

Blanco Tackabery & Matamoros said Dennis L. Boothe Jr. and Anna Gregory Wagoner have joined the firm as associates in its Winston-Salem office. Boothe practices in the firm’s affordable housing group, while Wagoner is in the commercial real estate and development group.

Richard S. Glaser Jr. has been inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America. Glaser is a partner in the litigation department of Parker Poe in Charlotte.

Also at Parker Poe, Cynthia L. Wittmer, a partner in the Raleigh office, was named the 2011 Joseph Branch Professionalism Award recipient by the Wake County Bar Association.

McAngus Goudelock & Courie said that David M. Galbavy has joined the Charlotte office, where he will practice workers’ compensation defense.

S. Adam Stallings has joined the North Carolina Real Estate Commission as its deputy legal counsel. Prior to joining the commission, Stallings was in private practice in Windsor.

Outside the Law

Tommy Sevier has joined Moore & Van Allen as the firm’s director of state public affairs, based in Research Triangle Park.

Poyner Spruill associate Chad Essick has been elected 2012 chairman of the board for North Carolina Big Sweep, a nonprofit organization whose mission is a litter-free environment.

The Association of Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina named Renee J. Montgomery, a partner in the Raleigh office of Parker Poe, as the recipient of the Dr. Ellen B. Winston Award, presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to home care and hospice in North Carolina.

By North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff
Published: November 18, 2011
Time posted: 2:28 pm
Tags: Lawyers in the News

< Previous Article
Next Article >

Most Important Opinions

Criminal Practice – Second-Degree Murder – High-Speed Chase – Evidence – Shoplifting Spree – Malice — Driving Without a License – Post-Accident Conduct – Jury Instructions
State v. Rollins Defendant had been shoplifting before the high-speed chase that ended in a fatal crash. Evidence of the shoplifting spree was admissible to explain why defendant was trying so aggressively to evade the officers chasing him. The voluminous and organized nature of the shoplifting expedition explained why defendant was driving in the manner that he was for purposes of the malice element of second-degree murder.
Criminal Practice – Retrial – First Trial’s Transcript – Denial – New Trial
State v. Tyson When defendant’s first trial ended in a hung jury and mistrial, the trial court ordered an immediate re-trial, rejecting defendant’s request for a transcript of the first trial. Although defendant argued he needed the transcript to effectively cross-examine the state’s witnesses, the trial court’s ruling – that the prospect of a witness changing his testimony was mere speculation – would apply to any case and makes no determination why defendant has no need for a transcript in this particular case, especially in light of the fact that the state’s case rested entirely on the victim’s identification of defendant as the perpetrator.
Real Property – Eminent Domain — Civil Practice – Class Action – Certification Denied – Winston-Salem Northern Beltway – Map Act
Beroth Oil Co. v. North Carolina Department of Transportation In preparation for a proposed northern beltway around Winston-Salem, the N.C. Department of Transportation has placed many tracts of land in regulatory limbo – the DOT is not yet buying most of the land, but it is restricting the owners’ ability to use the land. Given the uniqueness of land and the variety of uses to which the affected owners have put or may wish to put their land, the owners do not form a class within the meaning of N.C. R. Civ. P. 23.
Criminal Practice – Statutory Sex Offense – Evidence – Other Bad Acts – Second Victim
State v. Houseright Even though, when testifying about events at the Rosemont Avenue address, victim B.F. testified that she and defendant had sexual intercourse but did not specifically testify as to an act that would constitute a sex offense, B.F. also testified that, preceding each incident of sexual intercourse, defendant digitally penetrated her. This testimony was broad enough to encompass the incident at the Rosemont Avenue address. The trial court did not err by denying defendant’s motion to dismiss one of the counts of statutory sex offense.

> All Opinions...

Lawyers In The News 11-21-11

Most Important Opinions

CALENDAR