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Steve handles a wide variety of litigation in state and federal court in eastern North Carolina. His practice ranges from personal injury, wrongful death, real property litigation, contract disputes to admiralty and maritime claims.
Steve has extensive experience in the admiralty and maritime area including vessel collisions, personal injuries to seamen and non seamen, maritime liens, preferred ship mortgages, salvage as well as treasure salvage. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2001, has held an AV peer review rating since 1992 and has been selected to appear in the 2009 edition of North Carolina Super Lawyers.
Areas of Practice:
Auto Accidents
Personal Injury
Wrongful Death
Admiralty & Maritime
Boating Accidents
Insurance Law
Education:
Campbell University School of Law, J.D. 1980
East Carolina University, B.A. 1976
Bar Admissions:
North Carolina State Bar, 1980
United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, 1982
United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, 1983
United States Supreme Court, 1984
Outstanding Professional Achievements:
Life Member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Multi-MillionDollar Advocate's Forum
Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated (since 1992);
AV® Peer Review Rating — An AV® certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence. A lawyer must be admitted to the bar for 10 years or more to receive an AV® rating.
Listed in Best Lawyers in America (since 2001);
Selected to appear in the 2009 edition of North Carolina Superlawyers.
Bar/Professional Activity:
United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina – Magistrate Judge Selection Committee, 2003;
North Carolina Bar Foundation – Second Biennial Admiralty Law Seminars – Course Planner, 1989;
North Carolina Bar Foundation – First Biennial Admiralty Law Seminars – Course Planner, 1988;
Carteret County Bar Association;
American Association for Justice;
Southeast Admiralty Law Institute;
North Carolina Inns of Court;
North Carolina Advocates for Justice;
North Carolina Bar Association;
United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina – Admiralty Local Rules Committee, 1996-1997, 2007;
United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina – Local Rules Committee, 2006-2008;
Board of Law Examiners for the State of North Carolina – Bar Candidate Committee for the Third Judicial District, 2007-2008;
Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute – Port Director for North Carolina, 1992, 2009.
Community Service:
Board of Directors, Maritime Research Institute;
Archeological Advisory Board, Queen Anne’s Revenge Shipwreck Project (Blackbeard’s flagship) North Carolina Department of Cultural Resourses;
Town of Beaufort, North Carolina, Board of Adjustment.