DON MARCARI

Don first gained national attention when his exploits as a young defense attorney with the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps became the basis for the motion picture "A Few Good Men."

Don has been fighting for seriously injured people throughout North Carolina since 1985, and Virginia since 1988, concentrating on plaintiff personal injury law and civil litigation. In addition, Don handles veteran benefits claims and continues to defend select members of our military service in courts martial and administrative proceedings.

Don is a highly recognized attorney who has tried more than 200 jury trials, including cases against Ford, Firestone, American Honda, Home Depot and several national trucking companies. He represented clients whose cases became the foundation for a movie, The Paula Coughlin Story, and a book, The Story of the U.S. Navy's Tailhook Scandal.

Campbell University School of Law
Juris Doctor, 1985

Appalachian State University
Bachelor of Science, Political Science and Minor in Business Administration, 1979

Appalachian State University
Master of Arts, Public Administration, 1980

DAVID RUSSOTTO

David Russotto began his legal career as an attorney with the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps. He was stationed at Naval Base Norfolk as Defense Counsel and then as Trial Counsel and Legal Services Attorney at Naval Air Station Oceana.

After attending Staff Judge Advocate School, David went on to work as staff Judge Advocate at FCTCLANT Dam Neck in Virginia Beach, providing legal advice to the base commander. In 1991, he went into private practice and in 2000, Mr. Russotto helped found Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban P.C.

Veterans Benefits. David's long familiarity with the military and respect for the sacrifices made by U.S. veterans has been instrumental in his decision to represent disabled veterans and their families. Up until June 2007, veterans were not permitted to engage the services of an attorney to apply for benefits. Today, attorneys may be retained by applicants who have been turned down or received an unsatisfactory level of benefits and wish to appeal the VA's decision. For these reasons, David champions the interests of veterans across the United States.

He is a Department of Veteran Affairs accredited attorney and is admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims (CAVC), Court of Appeals for Federal Circuit Court and the North Carolina Bar. He is a member of the National Organization of Veterans Advocates (NOVA), Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Bar Association, North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ) and the North Carolina State Bar Association.

Personal Injury. In 2000, David helped to form Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban with a specific goal to help people seriously injured in car, truck and motorcycle accidents, and wrongful death and other cases where he fights for full compensation to help clients rebuild their lives.

Criminal Law. David concentrated on criminal defense in the U.S. Navy JAG Corps and served as a Trial Counsel and Legal Services Officer at Naval Air Station Oceana. He represented Navy service members during Courts Martial, non-judicial punishment actions, appeals and other criminal proceedings.

Real Estate Development. From 1992 to 2005, David was an award-winning real estate developer, owning several companies and developing and/or building more than 3,000 properties. He used his legal skill to present projects for approval to zoning boards in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

David's companies received three Community of the Year awards and shared another from the Tidewater Builders Association. Among his prominent award-winning projects in Virginia Beach are the Linkorn Bay Condominiums, a private swim/boating/outdoor community, and Three Ships Landing, a unique retirement community of 48 homes.

Naval Justice School | Newport, RI
Military Criminal Justice, Admiralty & International Law, 1988

Emory University
Bachelor in Art, English, 1984

Wake Forest University School of Law
Juris Doctor, 1987

DAVID SPENCER

A North Carolina native, David was born and raised in a commercial fishing family on the Outer Banks. He decided to attend law school while he was at North Carolina State University earning dual BAs in Economics and Business Management. Even then, he knew that "fighting for the little guy" was his destiny. After 20 years, he and his partners continue to stand for the same principles.

An avid Top Dragster racer (with an IHRA Class B license), David has written articles on the importance of adequate insurance coverage and appropriate legal representation for several racing industry publications.

He spent years dedicated to the Boy Scouts of America as a leader and is the proud father of two Eagles Scouts. Through his local church, David coordinates volunteer projects, including a community food program for the underprivileged and a project for rebuilding homes damaged by tornadoes in North Carolina.

David has been in private practice with Don Marcari since 1995 and is the managing partner of the firm's Raleigh office. He handles the firm's workers' compensation cases as well as other personal injury cases, including auto, truck and motorcycle accidents.

Campbell University School of Law
Juris Doctor, 1994

North Carolina State University
Bachelor in Art in Business Management & Economics, 1990

BRAD BALABAN

People turn to an attorney when they need help dealing with a problem that has become too large for them to handle on their own. Every day, I see clients in difficult situations they did not create, dealing with pain they didn't have before, trying to pay for medical expenses they can't afford. And all the while, a large corporation or auto insurance company is trying to minimize what the victim is going through.

As an attorney licensed in North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., Brad represents personal injury clients in cases throughout the Mid-Atlantic States. He began his legal career as an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of NW North Carolina (now known as Legal Aid of North Carolina), fighting for the rights of those who could not otherwise afford legal representation. Brad still volunteers his services through legal aid societies to clients on a pro bono basis.

Helping personal injury clients. As long as he can remember, the idea of being able to advocate for those unable to do it for themselves has been Brad's cause. A serious injury can completely destroy the personal, financial and emotional well-being of a client. Brad often helps clients injured through the negligence of others gain access to medical care and other resources until their cases can be settled or won at trial.

Protecting the rights of NC individuals to legal counsel. Brad's early history provided the foundation for his continuing interest in protecting the individual's rights to legal counsel in his state. Several legislative initiatives in North Carolina are threatening to limit the ways in which people can research and obtain legal representation. Backed by powerful insurance companies, these proposed laws seek to curtail an attorney's ability to reach out to prospective clients. Brad works with several professional organizations to fight these initiatives.

Practice areas. Brad's clients include those who have been seriously injured in North Carolina car, truck, and motorcycle accidents as well as from slip-and-fall, dangerous products, dog bites, and other causes.

Pennsylvania State University, The Dickinson School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2002

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bachelor of Art in Political Science & History, 1999

DAVID ALLMOND

With more than a quarter century of experience as a trial attorney, David Allmond has broad legal skills. He helps his Virginia clients with personal injury cases, such as auto accidents, medical malpractice, slip-and-fall injuries and dog bites. He defends clients charged with criminal offenses ranging from misdemeanors to DUI, drug, rape and murder charges. David also handles some family law, trusts and estates, medical license suspension, and guardian cases.

Skilled trial attorney. David bases his practice on hard work (often on nights and weekends), respect for his clients and their pocketbooks, and always putting the best interests of his clients first. He joined Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban in 2002 with powerful litigation skills and is a respected Virginia trial attorney.

Teaching by example. David's passion for making a difference does not stop with his job. He is involved with several community activities designed to help students and young men make the most of their lives. He helped found Brother to Brother, an organization composed of professional men who spend time with African American youth, providing role models and resources. David mentors a group of young lawyers just starting out in his community, sharing advice on best practices for handling clients and business challenges. He also appears regularly at elementary and high school career fairs to discuss becoming a lawyer.

Boston College School of Law
Juris Doctor, 1978

Howard University
Bachelor of Arts, 1975

FRANK F. VOLER

Frank Voler joined Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban in December of 2010. He manages the firm's North Carolina litigation department based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Frank received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1981, served on active duty as a nuclear-trained officer until 1986 and thereafter served in the Naval Reserve [CDR, USNR (ret)]. Frank was also an instructor for Virginia Power, teaching thermodynamics and various nuclear science topics (19861987).

Frank decided to pursue a legal career to help individuals fight against corporate and insurance interests and attended law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He graduated in 1990, with honors, and was a member of the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation (19891990).

Frank has over 20 years of legal experience and litigates personal injury cases, including wrongful death, drunk driver and commercial trucking cases. He has extensive trial experience and experience arbitrating UM/UIM claims.

United States Naval Academy
Bachelor of Science and Mechanical Engineering, 1981

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Juris Doctor, 1990

RYAN SPENCER

Ryan Spencer is admitted to practice law in North Carolina. He graduated from Elon University School of Law and cum laude from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science: Law and Theory. At Elon University, he was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity, Student Advocacy Board and Mock Trial Competition Team. Prior to accepting his full-time position with Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban, Ryan worked part-time with us as a law clerk during his academic breaks from Elon University.

Elon University School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2012

North Carolina State University
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science - Law & Theory, 2009

BRYAN G. NICHOLS

Raised in North Carolina, I began my legal career in Eastern North Carolina, representing individuals in many types of litigation matters. I was in court daily and I saw that those people without attorneys (or ineffective attorneys) were often not able to get the results they wanted or deserved.

This realization early on, has given me motivation to always work hard and be prepared for my clients so I can help them effectively.

As a trial attorney, I have tried dozens of cases before judges and juries alike and am not afraid to get into the court room and fight for my clients.

Brigham Young University
Bachelor of Arts, 2006

Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2010

MIKE GARLAND

Mike learned from his father that there is honor in all work. He also learned that the average person should put aside pride and ask for help especially when it comes to dealing with powerful organizations. Mike made it his mission to fight against insurance companies to help injury victims get the compensation they deserve.

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
North Carolina, 1991
NC Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Federal Court

Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
Juris Doctor, 1991

ADAM FOGGIA

Having never set foot in North Carolina prior to his orientation at Elon University, Adam sometimes describes his initial decision to relocate to the state as 'the collegiate equivalent of throwing a dart at a map.' However, he is also very quick to point out that it's his love for the state and its people that have kept him rooted here for nearly twenty years.

After obtaining two Bachelor of Arts degrees at Elon University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, a recognition of those in the top 5% of the graduating class, Adam obtained his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill. He has since focussed his legal career exclusively on areas of plaintiffs' law, including personal injury, workers' compensation, and social security disability.

With Marcari, Russotto, Spencer, & Balaban, Adam will be principally focussed on assisting clients with pre-litigation personal injury claims as he continues in his fight for the wrongfully injured and disabled.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
-North Carolina State Bar
-North Carolina Bar Association
-Wake County Bar Association
-North Carolina Advocates for Justice

University of North Carolina School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2008