Commercial Litigation
 Everett, Gaskins, Hancock & Stevens’ attorneys frequently represent individuals and organizations in business-related litigation in both state and federal courts throughout North Carolina. We frequently act as local counsel for national clients involved in North Carolina litigation – often in association with the clients’ regular out-of-state attorneys.
We use technology extensively in our litigation practice, including electronic storage and retrieval of depositions and exhibits; the creation of graphic illustrations to make information more understandable and persuasive; and the presentation of information in the courtroom using television monitors in order to hold the attention of jurors. Our attorneys frequently work with local and national consultants to conduct focus groups and mock trials in order to present our clients’ positions in the most effective manner.
Ed Gaskins, the firm’s managing
partner and senior litigator, has tried business related cases in state
and federal courts for more than 30 years. He is a charter member
of the Commercial Litigation Section of the Association of Trial Lawyers
of America. Mr. Gaskins represented the plaintiff in a partnership
dispute in what is believed to be the first federal civil RICO trial in
the Eastern District of North Carolina. Mr. Gaskins also served as North
Carolina co-counsel in defending a national automobile distributor in
three North Carolina lawsuits alleging violations of North Carolina’s
Unfair Trade Practice Act.
In addition to his First Amendment and media practice, Hugh Stevens has extensive experience in business litigation, especially in connection with insurance, reinsurance, trademark law and unfair competition. Since the mid 1970s he has represented insurance and reinsurance companies, brokers, agents and insured parties in numerous cases involving virtually every facet of insurance law and regulation, including fraudulent misrepresentation by insureds, violations of anti-competitive covenants by insurance agents, trade secrets and unfair competition, broker negligence, interpretation and coverage of insurance policies, and bad faith refusal to pay claims.
top of page
Louis Wooten draws on his vast experience
in representing clients on a wide variety of substantive business issues
to bring a unique perspective to business litigation and dispute resolution
process. Mr. Wooten will typically collaborate with one of the firm’s
full time litigators in order to provide the client with both experienced
trial counsel and counsel who have practiced in the substantive areas
at issue and who understands the applicable body of law from a perspective
not had by most commercial litigators. Mr. Wooten also maintains an active
tax litigation and tax controversy practice. For more information on that
practice section, please see Tax Controversy.
Matt Vaughn regularly oversees our
representation of clients who are caught up in commercial disputes involving
contracts, intellectual property ownership and misuse, covenants not to
compete and nondisclosure agreements, professional liability, construction
and lien enforcement, and management and control of corporations and other
business entities. Mr. Vaughn has also represented numerous clients in
insurance related disputes, including disputes involving coverage issues
and issues of failure to procure coverage. Mr. Vaughn also regularly represents
creditors in contested bankruptcy matters.
Mike Tadych is an integral member of the EGHS litigation and trial team. Mike handles a variety of commercial and business-related disputes. For example, Mike and Hugh successfully pursued crop insurance claims for more than 45 North Carolina farmers whose crops suffered hail damage related to the passage of a major hurricane. Mike represents an automotive inventory lender protecting its interests across the state. Mike also represents the interests of businesses and individuals who find themselves in the middle of disputes concerning joint ventures, partnership dissolution, financing disputes, international private equity investment and large construction projects. Complex commercial disputes are a staple of Mike’s practice.
top of page |
