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Gene A. Riddle
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Gene A. Riddle
Riddle & Brantley, LLP
601 N. Spence Ave.
Goldsboro, NC 275324
Phone: (919) 778-9700 | Fax: (919) 778-1938
http://www.justicecounts.com
When Justice Counts, Count On Us
Legal Topic
Personal Injury
Preferred New Clients
Personal injury, auto accidents, tractor trailer accidents, motorcycle accidents, serious injury, wrongful death, workers compensation or on the job injuries, dog and animal bites, and social security.
Sub-Categories
Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Slip & Fall
- Sports Injuries
- Whiplash
- Felony Auto Accident
- Defamation
- Libel
- Slander
- Dog Bites & Animal Attacks
- Airplanes
- Mass Transit - Bus, Train, Subway
- Ships & Boats
- Birth Injuries and Defects
- Elder and Nursing Home Abuse
- Surgical Errors
- Nursing Home Negligence
- Dangerous Drugs & Products
- Medical Products & Devices
- Amputation
- Birth Injury
- Burn Injury
- Head/Brain Injury
- Paralysis
Legal Topic
Employment & Labor Relations
Preferred New Clients
Personal injury, auto accidents, tractor trailer accidents, motorcycle accidents, serious injury, wrongful death, workers compensation or on the job injuries, dog and animal bites, and social security.
Sub-Categories
Employment & Labor Relations
- Workers' Compensation
- Sexual Harassment
Bar Admissions
NC, Sep 1985
Bar Number: 13085
Other Court Admissions
North Carolina State Courts and Federal Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of North Carolina.
Association Memberships
North Caroling Bar Association, North Carolina Association for Justice, American Association for Justice, Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum, and the American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Lawyers.
Continuing Education
I attend continuing legal education seminars concentrating on personal injury, tractor trailer accidents, serious injury, wrongful death and workers compensation.
Example Cases
Civil Rights case: Fordham v. Braswell - $5 million verdict in Federal Court arising from violation of civil rights, where a deputy coerced a female in the county jail to have sex with him.
Premises Liability: Carter v. Wayne County Board of Education - Jury awarded $250,000 against a school board for spectator's injury at a basketball game resulting from a bleacher accident in a high school gym. Total medical bills were $2,300 and the injured party suffered a 15% permanent rating to his lower leg as a result of the injury.
Education
Degree:
Juris Doctorate
School:
Wake Forest University
City:
Winston-Salem
State:
NC
Year:
1985
Honors:
Book Award - Property.
Focus and Accomplishments:
Campbell University Law School Law Review.
Number of Attorneys
7
State Licensed In
North Carolina
Firm Focus and History
We focus on helping those injured by the negligence of others receive justice and compensation for injuries. We offer help to everyone across the state of North Carolina, from Murphy to Manteo. We treat our clients the way that we want to be treated. We understand that it is how you handle matters when things don't go well that you define your integrity. We are up for this challenge. We strive to return phone calls to clients within 24 hours. We also understand that people are injured at times when the business world is closed and yet they want and need immediate help. This is why we offer 24 hour assistance to those who are injured and in need.
I began practicing law in 1985 in Goldsboro, North Carolina and have practiced here since, handling personal injury, wrongful death and workers compensation cases. Since that time, we have opened offices in Kinston in 1996, Jacksonville in 1998 and Raleigh in 2007, and continue to represent the injured. In 2007 we centralized our Social Security practice in the Raleigh office to better serve our clients across the state.
Previous Employment Summary
I was a summer camp counselor for kids while in college at UNC during the summers of 1978 to 1980. After graduating from college and before entering law school, I took a short time of about six months to take a job as a tennis pro at The Country Club of North Carolina, located in Southern Pines, North Carolina. While in law school, I worked part time at a department store in Southern Pines during the weeks out of school and I also clerked for a District Court Judge. In my last year at law school, I was fortunate enough to clerk with the local District Attorney's Office and actually try some District Court cases. After graduating from law school, I have only done one thing, practice law. I was offered an associate's position at a law firm in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and I remain here to this day, although I do have offices in Raleigh, Jacksonville and Kinston.
Activities and Awards
I received Old North State Award from NC Governor's Office - this award is for exemplary service and commitment to the state and their community.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I think it is smart for everyone to educate themselves regarding legal issues. Self-education can be the key to understanding and communicating. However, self-education is not a good substitute for application of the law to a certain fact situation which is always best handled by a lawyer who is knowledgeable in the specific area in issue.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
It depends on the specific issues and areas of the law in question. I would be willing to review documents in areas of my practice in personal injury and workers compensation. As a rule, my clients don't prepare their own documents. This duty is mine.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I do not recommend this practice.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I knew when I was in ninth grade that I would be a lawyer. My father was admitted to law school, but chose the public education profession. He never let me forget that he should have gone to law school. He always encouraged me to go to law school even when funds appeared short. My father had a great influence over me and I usually listened to his advice. My first day in law school, I knew that I had made the right decision. The rest is history as I found my destiny. I love what I do and I love helping my clients get the justice they deserve.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
Honestly, just being an advocate for thousands of injured people has made me a better lawyer and a better person. It is the experience from actually handling claims of the injured that has made me what I am. When I see the harm suffered by those who are injured, I become sincerely motivated to help make things right and get my clients "justice."
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
When I first began practicing law 24 years ago, not many lawyers wanted to handle injury claims because the cases took months and even years to resolve. Therefore, other lawyers referred personal injury and workers compensation cases to me. I immediately liked helping people who were injured. Most of my clients sincerely appreciate our hard work and refer family and friends to us.
What do you like best about your career?
It is not the hours. The hours are grueling but the reward of helping those in need is worth the many hours of hard work. I love what I do and love helping my clients get the justice they deserve.
Tell us about your law firm:
We have seven lawyers in our firm and we continue to grow. We have 32 support staff who provide individual attention to our clients. Several of our staff have been with me for well over ten years.
What are your strengths and style?
We sincerely care for our clients and we work very hard to win their cases. We treat our clients the way we want to be treated. We communicate timely and often with them. We listen to our clients' concerns and offer advice thru the entire course of the case.
Personal Interests:
Running, golf, tennis, basketball, but most importantly, watching my two daughters grow up.
Office Manager/Assistant
Ellen Jordan and DuWayne Gilchrist.
Fax
(919) 778-1938
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. but we offer 24 hour, 7 days a week service.
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
Iva Kimbrough, Yolando Reyes, and Laura Sagrero.
Additional Offices
Raleigh, NC
6520 Falls of Neuse Road
Suite 120
Raleigh, NC 27615
Kinston, NC
2300 N. Herritage Street
Suite A
Kinston, NC 28501
Jacksonville, NC
901 Hargett Street
P.O. Box 7070
Jacksonville, NC 28540
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
We charge a contingency fee of 1/3 of the amount of the settlement on most injury cases. We charge a contingency fee of 25% on our workers compensation cases. We charge fees as determined by the Social Security Administration on our Social Security cases. Discounted fees would be determined on a case by case basis, depending upon the nature of the case and the nature and complexity of the issues. We may consider a discount for mentioning Nolo, but whether we agreed to a discount would be determined on a case by case basis.
Hourly Rates
My rate is usually $400 when I charge hourly.
Free Initial Consultation?
Yes and usually there is no time limit.
Typical Retainer
Not unless the specific issues in the legal matter mandate that we obtain a retainer.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
