North Carolina Lawyers Weekly

May 12, 2026

Asheville faces lawsuit after fatal sanitation truck accident

The husband of an Asheville woman who was struck and killed by a sanitation truck has filed a lawsuit accusing the city and the truck driver of negligence. The lawsuit was filed May 7 […]

May 12, 2026

‘Reckless’ response: Officer’s run to routine shoplifting call leaves man paralyzed

Action: Negligence, recklessness, willful and wanton conduct Injuries alleged: Trauma-induced stroke and paralysis Case name: Hatcher v. Rodriguez Case no.: 22 CVS 269 Amount: $4.4 million […]

May 12, 2026

NC DOT liable after pedestrian struck in Chapel Hill crosswalk

Action: Negligence Injuries alleged: Orbital, nasal, lumbar spine, shoulder, pelvis, tibula, and fibula fractures and post-concussive syndrome Case name: Huggins v. North Carolina Department of Transportation Case no.: […]

Apr 21, 2026

$12M settlement; Delayed delivery at Army medical center causes catastrophic birth injuries

Action: Medical malpractice Injuries alleged: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, and global developmental delays Case name: Minor child v. United States of America Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District […]

Apr 17, 2026

Lawsuit claims Brunswick school officials ignored sexual assault

A lawsuit alleging negligence of sexual assault and sexual abuse inside a Brunswick County middle school has been filed. The complaint filed to Brunswick County Superior Court against Brunswick County Schools claims […]

Jun 11, 2025

Landlord‑tenant status saves negligence claim from workers’ comp bar

The North Carolina Court of Appeals revived a negligence suit brought by the plaintiff, a former employee who alleges chronic illness from toxic mold in the workplace, holding that neither […]

May 1, 2025

Tort/Negligence – Common Law Negligence – Emotional Distress

Plaintiff adequately alleged a common law negligence duty existing under North Carolina law and the breach thereof. Defendant’s motion to dismiss is denied in part and dismissed as moot in […]

Mar 26, 2025

Family sues after child fatally shot

The family of a child fatally shot by her babysitter’s son has sued the son’s mother and grandfather in Cumberland County court, the NC Newsline news website reported. Jenesis Dockery, […]

Feb 18, 2025

Lawsuit against church stands over pastor’s sexual misconduct

Neutral principles of law can be applied to adjudicate claims of negligent retention and infliction of emotional distress brought against a church after a pastor engaged in sexual misconduct, the […]

Jan 24, 2025

Even good lawyers can find themselves sued by clients

In practice for 43 years, M. Dawes Cooke Jr. has defended his share of legal malpractice cases for attorneys, and he knows that simply doing everything right and maintaining proper […]

Dec 20, 2024

Circumstantial evidence can be key in malpractice cases

By Mark McGrath As we covered in our previous commentary addressing surgical malpractice cases, North Carolina courts have historically been reluctant to apply res ipsa loquitor in these cases. As […]

Dec 17, 2024

4th Circuit: District Court erred when it failed to heed remand order

Where this court previously held that school officials were entitled to public official immunity and that the claims against them must be dismissed, the District Court erred when it allowed […]