Parker Poe

• Williams v. Brevard College, et. al. – This was a will caveat action on behalf of Brevard College and other beneficiaries of a 2010 will and trust of a wealthy lifelong resident of Transylvania County. The decedent had bequeathed more than $16 million to three nonprofits in the county, including our client, Brevard College, as residual beneficiary. The family of the decedent alleged that the will had been procured through undue influence by several of the beneficiaries, including representatives of the college. The family also alleged that the decedent’s mental capacity made him vulnerable to undue influence. The matter was tried over six weeks in the fall of 2014 with dozens of witnesses called by both sides. After approximately four hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the college and the other beneficiaries. Thereafter, the matter was successfully defended and upheld before the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

Decisions of Note

• DC Custom Freight, LLC v. Tammy A. Ross & Associates, Inc., 848 S.E.2d 552 (N.C. App. 2020). Obtained summary judgment on behalf of defendant insurance agency on all of plaintiff’s claims against it, including negligence, breach of contract, and unfair and deceptive trade practices, arising out of the alleged failure to procure automobile physical damage coverage. Summary judgment was affirmed by the Court of Appeals after briefing.
• Stricklin v. Stefani, et al, 2018 WL 6606078 (W.D.N.C. Dec. 17, 2018). Obtained summary judgment for global concert promoter/operator on all of plaintiff’s claims against it arising out of injuries incurred during a crowd surge at a music concert.
• Talley v. City of Charlotte, 2016 WL 8679235 (W.D.N.C. July 22, 2016). Obtained summary judgment for municipality in this police liability case on the plaintiff’s claims of negligent failure to train and establish policies, § 1983 violation of 14th Amendment rights, and violations under the Americans with Disabilities Act arising out of the injured plaintiff’s attempted suicide while in custody.

• Business North Carolina magazine’s “Legal Elite” in Litigation, 2024
• North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2016-2017
• Graduate of Bar Leadership Institute, 2016
• Phi Beta Kappa
• Order of the Coif