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Jonathan E. Hall
Partner
Every client’s tolerance for risk is unique. I try to assess that tolerance early and work to put the client in a position of leverage for settlement negotiations or, where appropriate, a position of strength for trial. Regardless of the approach, a credible trial threat is usually the best foundation from which to build a defense.
Jonathan Hall is an accomplished trial attorney with a broad range of experience, who currently focuses his practice on complex commercial disputes and products liability law. He has extensive litigation experience throughout the Carolinas, Virginia and across the country. In addition to trial work, he provides risk management guidance to corporate and insurance clients, as well as pre-market advice for product manufacturers.
Recognized as one of the top product liability lawyers in the country, Jonathan has represented clients in both state and federal courts, including:
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- Colleges and universities
- Construction contractors and design professionals
- Clean energy providers
- Electric utilities
- Hazardous chemical distributors
- Health care systems and individual providers
- Product manufacturers
Experience
- Led trial team in first all-remote video bench trial conducted in federal court in North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic, in case arising out of the alleged breach of a services agreement.
- Successfully represented client through extended, multiyear litigation which culminated with a win at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Appeals court ruled that client Elizabeth LeTendre's vacation home, known as The Chesapeake, complies with North Carolina's zoning and land use laws, as retroactively amended in 2019. The win enables client to operate the home as a beach vacation rental in Currituck County, N.C. and derive substantial revenue from that business. The result overcame years of coordinated and forceful opposition from the County and an adjoining property owner.
- Secured jury verdict in federal court for substantially less than pre-suit offers and successfully challenged competence of plaintiff's expert economist in case involving a wrong-way collision on an interstate highway.
- Reached favorable settlement in breach of contract claim on behalf of international bakery distributor after federal jury failed to reach verdicts on claims from two former delivery route owners.
- Obtained defense verdict from federal jury in bad faith case against an insurance carrier involving a fire loss at a commercial building.
- Secured defense verdict after five-week jury trial for manufacturer of self-propelled electric wheelchair in wrongful death products liability action, where decedent’s family alleged electrical fault on product led to fatal fire.