Gary S. Parsons

Gary Parsons handles trials and appeals in state and federal courts throughout North Carolina and adjoining states. He has argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He also appears regularly before all three U.S. District Courts in North Carolina and the North Carolina Business Court.

When Gary was voted the 2005 Top Litigation Attorney in North Carolina in a poll of North Carolina lawyers conducted by Business North Carolina, the then-President of the North Carolina Bar Association told the publication “If I were in trouble, he is the lawyer I would call for help.”

Gary represents businesses ranging in size from Fortune 100 to regional and local companies, as well as local governments. He has represented clients in the energy, pharmaceutical, automotive, internet information, healthcare, communications and insurance industries. He has litigated business disputes, intellectual property, antitrust, catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, mass tort, lawyer malpractice, civil rights, and insurance coverage and bad faith claims. He also has significant experience in litigating regulatory disputes and professional disciplinary hearings before state administrative agencies.

Gary has decades of experience representing companies of all sizes in a wide range of disputes. His representative experience includes:

• Represented two confidential informants for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in a lawsuit brought by a national tobacco cooperative alleging widespread fraudulent practices. Defendants’ motion to substitute the government for our clients was granted on appeal. Summary judgment in favor of our clients on all remaining claims against them was granted on remand. U.S. Tobacco Cooperative v. Big South Tobacco, 899 F.3^rd 236, 365 F.Supp. 3^rd 604
• Represented a manufacturer of industrial battery components against patent infringement claim and in asserting antitrust claims before U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
• Represented an international internet information provider against trademark infringement claim in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
• Defended an automobile manufacturer in proceeding challenging issuance of dealer’s license directly to manufacturer. Agency dismissed proceeding during discovery, leaving license in place and declining to prosecute further. N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles v. Tesla Motors
• Represented a pharmaceutical company in dispute with co-founder regarding co-founder’s sabotage of initial public offering.
• Defended a financial institution in claims alleging massive fraud by former agent in embezzling millions of dollars from his clients. Over 120 claims settled on terms favorable to client.
• Defended an insurer in claims of bad faith and unfair and deceptive trade practices arising out of handling of aviation liability claims. Case settled for less than defense costs after unfair and deceptive trade practices claim dismissed on motion.

"What makes a client want to retain any attorney in hundreds of cases over 30 years? In my situation, I retain Gary Parsons because I have confidence that he has the expertise to handle complex litigation in a timely, effective, and professional manner. I know of no one better at reducing factually intensive cases down to its basic elements and then succinctly addressing each complex issue in clear and easily understandable terms. He knows how to strengthen his argument using a better choice of words, than with more words. He is known and respected by the bench and bar, and appreciated by his clients."

-John Hester, Senior Claims Counsel, Corp Secretary, Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of North Carolina

This comment appears on the Best Lawyers website at www.bestlawyers.com, and is used with their permission.

Gary has:

• Defended an attorney against legal malpractice claims arising out of membership transfers in multiple limited liability companies. While motion for summary judgment was pending, plaintiff took a voluntary dismissal with prejudice in exchange for our client’s agreement not to pursue court costs.
• Defended an attorney in legal malpractice case arising out of a plea agreement reached on federal felony charges. Case was dismissed. Plaintiff did not appeal.
• Represented an estate planning attorney in a legal malpractice case filed by the client’s heirs while the client was still living. Motion to dismiss granted and affirmed on appeal. Plaintiffs' motions for relief from judgment were denied on remand.
• Defended a lawyer and the lawyer’s firm against federal RICO, Fair Debt Collection Practices, fraud, constructive trust, unjust enrichment, and conversion claims. Motion to dismiss all claims granted. Motion for sanctions against plaintiffs’ counsel granted and affirmed on appeal.
• Defended a lawyer against claims of breach of fiduciary duty and constructive fraud while serving as guardian of an aged ward. Summary judgment granted for lawyer and affirmed on appeal.
• Defended a law firm against claims by liquidator of insolvent insurer of negligence, fraud, constructive fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Motion to dismiss granted, and affirmed on appeal.

Gary has successfully defended a number of mass tort claims, including:

• Defended an electric utility company against contractor who suffered massive burns after contacting energized conductors with equipment. Plaintiff’s attorney dismissed case after discovery revealed damaging admissions by plaintiff while being treated by emergency medical workers. Bennett v. Progress Energy
• Defended an electrical products distributor against claims arising out of pharmaceutical plant explosion that resulted in claims for six deaths and thirty-eight injuries. Case settled on terms favorable to client.
• Defended an energy company against wrongful death claim by estate of contractor who contacted energized conductors with equipment during nighttime repair work; plaintiff dismissed energy company from case shortly after deposition of sole eyewitness. Hayes v. Progress Energy Carolinas
• Defended an energy company against wrongful death claim in South Carolina Circuit Court – matter settled on favorable terms after depositions of family and eyewitnesses.

"Gary Parsons is a southern gentleman in all aspects, but he is a warrior with class in the courtroom."

-William Little, Assistant City Attorney, City of Greenville, NC  

This comment appears on the Best Lawyers website at www.bestlawyers.com, and is used with their permission.

Gary’s representative municipal and state litigation experience includes:

• Defended a city police department and officer in wrongful death claim – summary judgment denied at trial level, reversed on appeal and summary judgment for department and officer ordered on remand. Greene v. City of Greenville, N.C. App. 736 S.E.2d 833, disc rev. denied, 747 S.E.2d 249 (2013)
• Defended emergency medical services workers against claims arising out of individual being transported to and placed in morgue after injury; later discovered to be alive – summary judgment for emergency medical workers granted and affirmed on appeal. Green v. Kearney, 217 N.C. 65, 719 S.E.2d 137 (2011)
• Defended a city police department against excessive force claims arising out of standoff with armed subject that ultimately led to shooting of subject – summary judgment granted in trial court, affirmed on appeal. Turner v. City of Greenville, 677 S.E.2d 480; 2009 N.C. App. LEXIS 732 (2009)
• Obtained summary judgment for city police department and officers in shooting following kidnapping and high speed chase – summary judgment affirmed on appeal. Estate of Rodgers v. Smith, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 16039 (4^th Cir. 2006)
• Defended a city and police officer against wrongful death claims arising out of shooting during drug buy/bust operation – obtained summary judgment for city and officer.
• Defended county commissioners against claim by hospital administrator based on contract entered into by hospital trustees. Summary judgement granted for commissioners based on revocation of contract by commissioners. Affirmed by N.C. Court of Appeals and N.C. Supreme Court, Rowe v. Franklin County, 318 N.C. 344, 349 S.E.2d 65 (1986)
• Served as special counsel for city Board of Adjustment on appeal by large mining and quarrying interest involving challenge to zoning amendment.

Gary began his career as a law clerk for Associate Justice J. William Copeland, of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Since that time, he has participated in over 125 appeals. He has argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He has also represented clients before the United States Supreme Court.

Gary’s appellate practice has included cases involving financial regulation, lawyer professional liability, professional licensing, insurance regulation, municipal liability and civil rights actions. He has frequently been retained to assist other lawyers and firms in appellate matters and to advise on appellate procedure. Gary served on the Appellate Rules Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association for fourteen years.

Gary has copious experience defending product liability lawsuits. His representative experience includes:

• Served as part of a team as national counsel for pharmaceutical company in product liability claims involving antibiotic side effects – appeared in matters in North Carolina and several other states.
• Defended a manufacturer of antibiotic from wrongful death claim based on fulminant liver failure that led to rejection of two transplants. Confidential settlement.
• Represented a manufacturer of pool products in drowning in New Jersey allegedly resulting from defective drain cover that permitted suction entrapment of bather in spa. Case settled on terms favorable to client.
• Defended a manufacturer as regional counsel for North Carolina in series of actions in multi-district litigation arising out of recall of antibiotic. All cases settled under confidential settlements.
• Defended a pharmaceutical company in claims arising out of anti-convulsant – plaintiff voluntarily dismissed matter without payment.