Previous Law Firm Name

• Branch W. Vincent, 2005

Law Firm Overview

I have been practicing law since 1986. The first case I handled was a worker's compensation case. I have spent the last 20 years representing injured and disabled clients in cases involving worker's compensation, personal injury, social security disability, wrongful death, sexual harassment, race and age discrimination, excessive force by law enforcement and lawsuits involving insurance companies.

I am one of 68 lawyers in North Carolina who has been certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a Specialist in Workers Compensation Law.

I formed a new law firm in January 2005 to continue practicing law in these areas. We will use our experience with medical issues and the medical community and our history of negotiations and trials with the insurance industry to benefit you in your injury case.

In addition to appearing in the trial courts of North Carolina, I have also appeared in numerous cases before United States District Court, the North Carolina Industrial Commission, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Education:

• Golf Team, Hampden-Sydney College
• Greensville County High School, Emporia, Virginia, 1979
• Baseball Team

Areas of Practice

• Admiralty & Maritime Law
• Discrimination
• Social Security -- Disability
• Litigation & Appeals
• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
• Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
• Trusts
• Wills
• Products Liability Law
• Professional Malpractice Law
• Medical Malpractice
• Real Estate Law
• Workers' Compensation Law
• Auto Accident
• Wrongful Death

Classes and Seminars

• Workers Compensation, Lorman Educational Services, 2002
• Banking and Law, College of the Albemarle

Pro Bono Activities

• Assistant Soccer Coach, First Flight Middle School Seahawks
• Coach, OBX Riptides AAU Baseball
• Gateway Bank & Trust Advisory Board of Directors for Dare and Currituck County
• Past President, Outer Banks Babe Ruth Baseball, Inc.
• Past Director, Outer Banks Babe Ruth Baseball, Inc.
• Chairman, Board of Trustees, Elizabeth City District, United Methodist Church
• Trustee, United Methodist Church, North Carolina Annual Conference
• Umpire, Babe Ruth Baseball
• Coach, Babe Ruth Baseball
• Coach, Dare County Parks and Recreation, Basketball and Soccer
• Drummer, Praise Band, "Nameless", Duck United Methodist Church
• Relay for Life Team Captain, "Quacking for a Cure", Duck United Methodist Church
• Past Chairman, Administrative Council, Duck United Methodist Church
• Past Youth Coordinator, Duck United Methodist Church
• Past President, Elizabeth City Kiwanis Club
• Former Instructor, Banking and Law, College of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City Campus
• Former Director, Boys and Girls Club
• Former Director, SKILLS, Inc.

Representative Cases

• Saunders v. Edenton OBGYN Center, 530 SE2d 62 (NC Supreme Court 2000)
• Glynn v. Pepcom Industries, 469 SE2d 588 (NC Court of Appeals 1996)
• Vivian M. Berscak, Plaintiff, v. United States Postal Service, 1998 WL 35259569 (1998)
• Sonya Constance Dowdy, Plaintiff, v. George J. Mcclease, Jr. and State of North Carolina, North Carolina Department of Corrections, Department of Adult Probationa Dn Parole, Defendants, 2001 WL 34764039 (2001)
• Candle Factory, Inc. and Cheryl Hannant, Plaintiffs, v. Two's Company, Inc., Defendant, 1999 WL 34871964 (1999)
• Candle Factory, Inc. and Cheryl Hannant, Plaintiffs, v. Two's Company, Inc., Defendant, 1999 WL 34871965 (1999)
• Pertricee Hollington, Plaintiff, v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC; Defendant, 2007 WL 4713212 (2007)
• Madeline Becker, John Yahn, David Becker, and John Becker, v. Nx. Department of Motor Vehicles, 2006 WL 1745690 (2006)
• Sylvia U, Cqqk, Widow, Emily L. Cook, Daughter, and Ryand. Cook, Son, of Roscoe D. Cook, Employee, v. Watson El.Eijtklcal Construction Com Pany, Employer and Cna Insurance Company, Carrier, 2004 WL 2476981 (2004)
• Roscoe Dean Cook, Jr., Employee-Plaintiff, v. Watson Electrical Construction, Employer-Defendant. Transcontinental Insurance Company, Carrier-Defendants, 2003 WL 23336997 (N.C. App. 2003)
• Richard Russell, Jr. Employee-Plaintiff, v. Food Lion, Inc., Employer-Defendant, Risk Management Services, Inc., Claims Administrator, 2002 WL 32394244 (N.C. App. 2002)
• Leland Midgett, Employee-Plaintiff, v. N.C. Department Of Transportation, Employer-Defendant, Self-Insured, 2001 WL 34401037 (N.C. App. 2001)
• David Jones, Employee-Appellant, v. Jim Walter Homes, Inc. Employer-Appellee, Lumbermen's Under Writing Alliance, Carrier-Appellee, 2001 WL 34456078 (N.C. App. 2001)
• Richard A. Janney, Jr., Employee-Appellee, v. J.W. Jones Lumber-Company, Employer-Appellant EBI Companies, Carrier-Appellant, 2000 WL 34249963 (N.C. App. 2000)
• Rich, Rich & Nance, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Carolina Construction Corp., Defendant-Appellant, 2000 WL 34250864 (N.C. App. 2000)
• Patricia Hunter, Employee, Appellant, v. Per-Quimans County Board of Education, Employer Self Insured. Ncsba Insurance Trust Agency, Servicing Agent Appellees, 1999 WL 33759048 (N.C. App. 1999)
• Gratz v. Hill, 658 S.E.2d 523 (N.C. App. 2008)
• Ingersoll v. Smith, 647 S.E.2d 141 (N.C. App. 2007)
• Becker v. N.C. Dept. of Motor Vehicles, 639 S.E.2d 648 (N.C. 2006)
• Becker v. N.C. Dept. of Motor Vehicles, 628 S.E.2d 446 (N.C. 2006)
• Cook v. Watson ELec. Const. Co., 611 S.E.2d 171 (N.C. 2005)
• Becker v. Pierce, 608 S.E.2d 825 (N.C. App. 2005)
• Cook v. Watson Elec. Const. Co., 603 S.E.2d 167 (N.C. App. 2004)
• Olkowski v. Carrwright, 579 S.E.2d 522 (N.C. App. 2003)
• Phillips v. Don Herr Const. Co., 579 S.E.2d 520 (N.C. App. 2003)
• Russell v. Food Lion, Inc., 572 S.E.2d 442 (N.C. App. 2002)
• Midgett v. North Carolina Dept. of Transp., 568 S.E.2d 643 (N.C. App. 2002)
• Berscak v. U.S. Postal Service, 40 Fed. Appx. 771 (4th Cir. (N.C.) 2002)
• Jones v. Jim Walter Homes, 565 S.E.2d 279 (N.C. App. 2002)
• Rich, Rich & Nance v. Carolina Const. Corp., 558 S.E.2d 77 (N.C. 2002)
• Dowdy v. North Carolina, 23 Fed. Appx. 121 (4th Cir. (N.C.) 2001)
• Rich, Rich & Nance v. Carolina Const. Corp., 553 S.E.2d 683 (N.C. 2001)
• Janney v. J.W. Jones Lumber Co., Inc., 550 S.E.2d 543 (N.C. App. 2001)
• Rich, Rich & Nance v. Carolina Const. Corp., 548 S.E.2d 541 (N.C. App. 2001)
• Hunter v. Pcrquimans County Bd. of Educ., 545 S.E.2d 424 (N.C. 2000)
• Hunter v. Pcrquimans County Bd. of Educ., 533 S.E.2d 562 (N.C. App. 2000)
• Saunders v. Edenton Ob/Gyn Center, 530 S.E.2d 62 (N.C. 2000)
• Dowdy v. State of N.C. Dept. of Correction, 205 F.3d 1332 (4th Cir. (N.C.) 2000)
• Saunders v. Edenton OB/GYN Center, 541 S.E.2d 717 (N.C. 1999)
• Hamby v. Sherwinn Williams Co., 539 S.E.2d 284 (N.C. 1999)
• Brinkley v. Pell Paper Box Co., Inc., 526 S.E.2d 173 (N.C. 1998)
• Sawyer v. Apfel, 166 F.3d 1210 (4th Cir. (N.C.) 1998)
• Williams v. Hunter, 511 S.E.2d 657 (N.C. 1998)
• Goodman v. Apfel, 139 F.3d 889 (4th Cir. (N.C.) 1998)
• Lloyd v. Jones, 500 S.E.2d 88 (N.C. 1998)
• State v. Clark, 493 S.E.2d 652 (N.C. 1997)
• State v. Clark, 493 S.E.2d 653 (N.C. 1997)
• Glynn v. Pepcom Industries, Inc., 469 S.E.2d 588 (N.C. App. 1996)
• Hughes v. Cole, 465 S.E.2d 820 (Va. 1996)
• Miller v. Miller, 450 S.E.2d 15 (N.C. App. 1994)
• Lister v. Hampton, 447 S.E.2d 394 (N.C. 1994)
• Reber v. Booth, 435 S.E.2d 769 (N.C. 1993)
• Brickhouse v. Brickhouse, 430 S.E.2d 446 (N.C. App. 1993)
• Reber v. Booth, 429 S.E.2d 572 (N.C. 1993)
• Standing v. Midgett, 850 F.Supp. 396 (E.D.N.C. 1993)
• Reber v. Booth, 425 S.F.2d 450 (N.C. App. 1993)
• Lilley v. Cape Hatteras Elec. Membership Corp.; Lilley v. Cape Hatteras Elec. Membership Corp., 960 F.2d 146 (4th Cir. (N.C.) 1992)
• Brickhouse v. Brickhouse, 407 S.E.2d 607 (N.C. App. 1991)
• Holling Ton v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC, KNOS 340.40; NOS 480 (E.D.N.C. 2007)
• Mumkord, et al v. Apple Polishing, et al, KNOS 430.77.15 (C.A. 4 2007)
• Mumford et al v. Apple Polishing System of Tidewater, Inc. et al, KNOS 430.77.15; NOS 385 (E.D.N.C. 2005)
• Diaz v. Town of Kill Devil Hills, KNOS 110.25; NOS 442 (E.D.N.C. 2005)
• Coote v. Beach Mortgage Co., et al, KNOS 110.25; NOS 442 (E.D.N.C. 2005)
• Eure v. International Paper, KNOS 110.25; NOS 442 (E.D.N.C. 2005)
• Norman v. Barnhart, KNOS 420.25; NOS 864 (E.D.N.C. 2005)
• Mumford, et al v. Ford Pile Foundation, KNOS 430.77.10; NOS 380 (E.D.N.C. 2005)
• Dungan, et al v. Resinall Corporation, KNOS 430.75.25; NOS 360 (E.D.N.C. 2005)
• Jones v. Barnhart, KNOS 420.25; NOS 864 (E.D.N.C. 2005)
• Burgess v. Barnhart, KNOS 420.25; NOS 864 (E.D.N.C. 2005)
• McNair v. United States, KNOS 430.75.25; NOS 360 (E.D.N.C. 2004)
• White v. US Dept. of Agricult, KNOS 220.05; NOS 610 (E.D.N.C. 2004)
• McCaskill v. Barnhart, KNOS 420.25; NOS 864 (E.D.N.C. 2003)
• Jones v. Barnhart, KNOS 420.25; NOS 864 (E.D.N.C. 2003)
• Atkins, et al v. Mccombs, et al, KNOS 110.25, NOS 442 (E.D.N.C. 2002)
• Agrlcrbdit Accept, v. Dickens, et al, KNOS 130.55; NOS 190 (E.D.N.C. 2002)
• Berscak v. US Postal Service, KNOS 110.25 (C.A. 4 2001)
• Welzant, et al v. Robb, et al, KNOS 430.67; NOS 340 (E.D.N.C. 2001)
• Jarvis v. Massanari, KNOS 420.25; NOS 864 (E.D.N.C. 2001)
• Dowdy v. McClease, et al, KNOS 430.75.25 (C.A. 4 2001)
• Candle Factory, Inc., et al v. Oddity, Inc., KNOS 260.05; NOS 820 (E.D.N.C. 2001)
• Wilkins v. US Postal Service, et al, KNOS 430.75.25; NOS 360 (E.D.N.C. 2000)
• Schalck v. Massanari, KNOS 420.20; NOS 865 (E.D.N.C. 2000)
• Copeland v. Cigna Group Ins., et al, KNOS 190.15; NOS 791 (E.D.N.C. 2000)
• Vaught v. Apfel, et al, KNOS 420.25: NOS 864 (E.D.N.C. 2000)
• Candle Factory, Inc., et al v. Trade Associates Gro., et al, KNOS 260.05; NOS 820 (E.D.N.C. 2000)
• Billingsley-Hansen v. Duvic, et al, KNOS 430.67; NOS 340 (E.D.N.C. 2000)
• Ballance v. Town of Edenton, et al, KNQS 110.45 (C.A. 4 1999)
• Dowdy v. State of NC, et al, KNOS 430.75.25 (C.A. 4 1999)
• Sawyer v. Apfel, Commissioner, KNOS 420.25 (C.A. 4 1998)
• Dail v. Weyerhaeuser Company, KNOS 110.25; NOS 442 (E.D.N.C. 1997)
• Dowdy v. McClease, et al, KNOS 430.75.25 (C.A. 4 1997)
• Ballance v. Woodmen of the World, et al, KNOS 130.55; NOS 190 (E.D.N.C. 1997)
• Goodman v. Apfel, Commissioner, KNOS 420.25 (C.A. 4 1997)

West Practice Categories

Admiralty & Maritime Law, Discrimination, Trusts, Wills, Social Security -- Disability, Litigation & Appeals, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Defense, Wrongful Death -- Defense, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff, Products Liability Law, Professional Malpractice Law, Medical Malpractice, Real Estate Law, Workers' Compensation Law