Joe has been trying cases in the state and federal courts of North Carolina since 1984. He has served as lead counsel in trials in federal court and in 10 different counties across North Carolina including Wake County. Joe has been before juries in cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice, land condemnation, contract disputes, and real estate.

His clients are generally plaintiffs seeking damages in civil litigation and North Carolina landowners who have had real estate property taken by government and private condemnors. “Representing the underdog is the most satisfying part of my practice,” says Joe. “The courthouse truly is and should be a place where everybody is given an equal opportunity to go toe to toe with their opponent.”

Joe is also a Certified Superior Court Mediator and has mediated hundreds of cases across several North Carolina counties. His trial experiences combined with determination to bring parties to resolution have served his mediation clients well. “Parties expect a good mediator to get to the heart of a matter quickly and to be persistent about getting a case settled. I never forget that mediation probably represents the very best chance a case has to settle. Just going through the motions is unacceptable to me.”

He is a 1980 graduate of North Carolina State University in Raleigh with degrees in Economics and Business Administration. He also received his legal education at North Carolina Central University School of Law.

Joe lives in Wendell with his wife Laurie and their two children. He has raised bad golf to an art form and enjoys time with his family, swimming, biking, and church activities.