Nick has been trying cases in the state and federal courts of North Carolina since 1987. He has served as lead counsel in jury trials in federal court and in 13 different counties in eastern North Carolina. Nick has been before juries in cases involving negligence, federal migrant labor issues, contract disputes, wills/trusts and real estate. His clients are generally businesses and individuals being sued, but he also represents plaintiffs in negligence and commercial cases.
Representative Experience
Waterway Drive POA v. Town of Cedar Point (Carteret County Superior Court, 2012) – Represented 20+ landowners and POA in dispute with municipality over whether a road depicted on a 1936 plat was public or private. The road fronted the Intercoastal Waterway and so potential diminution of value to the clients’ property was substantial if the road was declared to be public. After extensive discovery of city officials and landowners, the trial court granted summary judgment to the POA and declared the road was private. North Carolina Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment.
James Garrett v. Randy Parton, et al (2009 - NC Business Court) - We represented country music entertainer Randy Parton in a taxpayer derivative action in which Plaintiff sought to recover more than $15 million for an alleged fraud and conspiracy surrounding the construction and operation of "The Randy Parton Theatre", a Branson, MO-style theater in Roanoke Rapids, NC. The case was filed by the NC Institute for Constitutional Law. We were able to get the case dismissed in its entirety by establishing the plaintiff did not have standing to bring these claims as an individual taxpayer or through a taxpayer derivative theory.
USA vs. Moorman Pine Plantations, L.L.C. (US District Court, July 2008)
State of North Carolina v. Trevally, Inc. (NC Ct. of Apps.; 655 S.E.2d 446, 2008) - Client, an AZ corporation, was sued by NC to recover $250,000 transferred to it by a NC corporation. Trial court dismissed complaint because client was not within the NC's court's jurisdiction. Court of Appeals affirmed in holding that addressed corporate "alter ego" issues and minimum contacts requirement of NC's "long-arm" statute.
Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education vs. Life United Pentecostal Church
(Nash County Superior Court, Oct. 2007)
Depalma(No. 03 CVS 7487, NC Court of Appeals, Dec. 2004) - Represented Catholic Diocese and high school in suit alleging student injured in football game due to school's negligence. Suit dismissed by trial court for statute of limitations defense. Affirmed by Court of Appeals.
Currituck Associates v. Hollowell (NO. COA03-1082, NC Court of Appeals, Sept. 2004) - Parties’ settlement agreement based on emails enforced by trial court. Court of Appeals affirmed ruling in a case of first impression.
Greene, Admin. for Medlin v. Garner (NO. COA03-196, NC Court of Appeals, March 2004) - Represented landlocked property owner in obtaining a permanent cart way through summary judgment. Court of Appeals affirmed ruling and noted clear establishment of facts by client.
Carroll v. Strickland (No. 01 CVS 1482, NC Court of Appeals, Aug. 2004) - In representing defendant sued for emotion distress cause by workplace "fake pipe-bomb", we had case dismissed at summary judgment because plaintiff’s expert could not link emotional distress to incident. Court of Appeals affirmed trial court’s ruling. v . Cardinal Gibbons High School
Wood v. BD&A Construction (2004 - NC Court of Appeals) - Action for defective construction of million dollar beach home at the Outer Banks was dismissed when we established the statute of limitations and statute of repose barred the claim.
- "Civil Litigation Study Commission Recommendations Adopted by the General Assembly", an article written for NC Political Review
- "US Supreme Court Clamps Down on Punitive Damages", The Litigator, NCBA Litigation Section, Vol.24, No. 2, March 2004
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Prior Legal Experience
Prior to joining Poyner Spruill, Nick practiced with Ward and Smith in New Bern from 1987 to 1991. Beforehand, he served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Thomas M. Moore, US Bankruptcy Court for Eastern District of NC from 1986 to 1987.