North Carolina Lawyers Weekly

In the biggest influx since specialization was launched in 1987, 50 lawyers were certified last week by the State Bar. Sixty-two lawyers sat for specialization exams in November, with 80 percent passing. The Bar now has 292 specialists, or about ...

In the latest trial court look at Johnson v. Ruark Obst-etrics, a judge has ruled that a hospital’s medical malpractice insurance policy covers both an infant’s claim for childbirth injuries and his mother’s action for emotional distress. The two claims ...

A New Bern motorist who hit a truck on a highway obscured by smoke has won $1 million in damages from a landowner burning off a field a mile away. The Superior Court award was the largest verdict ever handed ...

Parents who pay child support would be required to continue those payments for any children who turn 18 while they’re in high school, under a bill now before the General Assembly. Currently, trial judges have the discretion to order continued ...

A bill that would simplify the rule against perpetuities has been introduced in the N.C. General Assembly. If enacted, the Uniform Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities (USRAP) would replace the common law rule that has vexed generations of law students and ...

B.E. ‘Bobby’ James, the State Bar’s director for 31 years, has surrendered his license, ending one of the most painful periods in the Bar’s history. James was disbarred at the April 16 council meeting. There was no discussion among the ...

A Chilean-born worker who failed to prove discrimination under Title VII is also barred from suing for wrongful discharge, a federal judge has ruled. Since the discharge action was based on the Title VII violation, the two claims must rise ...

Does North Carolina law favor cohabitation over legal marriages? That question is raised by Kuder v. Schroeder (North Carolina Court of Appeals No. 3-07-0726, 16 pages). There, the Appeals Court refused to enforce a husband’s agreement to repay his wife ...

A Charlotte man who says he was trapped in his burning apartment when a smoke detector malfunctioned has settled a premises liability suit against his landlord for $1.25 million. The tenant, who suffered disabling burns over 55 percent of his ...

Even though discovery rules were abused by one party, a trial judge erred in dismissing a case under Rule 37 without first considering less severe sanctions, the Court of Appeals ruled July 20. Rule 37 provides a list of sanctions ...