Gary Keith Shipman

Gary is Senior Partner in the Wilmington, North Carolina firm of Shipman & Wright, LLP (www.shipmanandwright.com) , where he specializes in class actions, mass torts, complex civil litigation, catastrophic injuries, business organization and reorganization, asset management, and lender liability.  He is a 1977 graduate of University of North Carolina-Wilmington and a 1980 graduate of Campbell University School of Law, where he was named their Most Outstanding trial advocacy student.  He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and has tried more than 100 jury trials to verdict.  A frequent lecturer for various continuing education organizations, he is a member of the American Bar Association, American Association for Justice, the Southern Trial Lawyers Association and the North Carolina Association for Justice.  Since 2005, he has been recognized as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” and one of North Carolina’s “Super Lawyers”.

Gary is active in numerous community organizations, including Supper Optimist Club, where he has coached and sponsored youth baseball/softball teams for more than twenty (20) years.   Gary is married to his wife, Mary Jo, who is an interior designer. Gary and Mary Jo have three (3) children – Brandon, Khale  and Bryce .

1980 – North Carolina

B.A – University of North Carolina – Wilmington

J.D. – Campbell University School of Law

• Outstanding Trial Advocacy Student, Campbell University School of Law (1980)
• Addison Hewlett Award for Pro-Bono activities – 1990; New Hanover County Bar Association
• “Ten To Watch: Attorneys that have an impact on North Carolina Business”,  Triangle Business Journal, May 4, 1998   (http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/1998/05/04/focus3.html)
• “Hero or rascal, Shipman leaves an impression in courtroom”, Wilmington Morning Star, May 8, 2000
• Listed – “Best Lawyers in America”, 2005 to present (Mass Tort; Commercial Litigation; Health Care/Medical Malpractice)
• Listed – “Super Lawyers of North Carolina”, 2005 to present – Law & Politics Magazine
• A/V Martindale-Hubbell rating; listed “Preeminent Law Firms”
• Board of Trustees, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
• Has served as lead counsel in nationwide and statewide consumer/product liability class actions
• Have tried in excess of 125 jury trials to verdict

• New Hanover County Bar Association
• North Carolina Bar Association (http://www.barlinc.org/)
• North Carolina State Bar (http://www.ncbar.com)
• North Carolina Advocates for Justice (http://www.ncaj.com)(Education Committee – 1997 to present; Professional Negligence Section; Products Liability Section (Secretary); Seminar speaker; Political Action Committee)
• The American Association for Justice (http://www.aaj.org) (Commercial Litigation Section; Products Liability Section; Professional Negligence Section)
• Southern Trial Lawyers Association
• Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy (http://www.nbtanet.org/)
• Inns of Court
• National Football League Players Association (“NFLPA”)(Agent/Certified Contract Advisor)
• National Basketball Association Players Association (Agent)

National Financial Partners Corp. v. Ray, 2014 WL 5148197

 

King v. Pender County, 2014 WL 2123396 (N.C.App., 2014)

 

King v. Orr, 761 S.E.2d 755 (2014)

 

Riggings Homeowners, Inc. v. Coastal Resources Commission, ___ N.C.App. ___, 747 S.E.2d 301 (2013)

 

Clements v. Clements ex rel Craige, ___ N.C.App. ___, 725 S.E.2d 373 (2012)

 

White v. Bald Head Island, ___ N.C.App. ___, 731 S.E.2d 720 (2012)

 

King v. Orr, ___ N.C.App. ___, 2011 WL 2448961

 

In re Estate of Militana, 2011 WL 1483549 (N.C. App., 2011)

 

Ron Medin Const. v. Harris, ___ N.C. ___, 704 S.E.2d 486 (2010)

 

Reaves v. Indistial Pump Service, 696 S.E.2d 548 (2010)

 

Wilson v. Wilson, 690 S.E.2d 710 (2010)

 

Ron Medlin Const. v. Harris, 2009 WL 2783476 (2009)

 

Reaves v. Industrial Pump Service, 671 S.E.2d 14 (2009)

 

Moody v. Sears Roebuck and Co., 191 N.C.App. 256, 664 S.E.2d 569 (2008)

 

Skinner v. Preferred Credit, 361 N.C. 114, 638 S.E.2d 203 (2006)

 

Shelton v. Duke University Health System, 179 N.C.App. 120, 633 S.E.2d 113 (2006)

 

Chambliss v. Health Sciences Foundation, 176 N.C.App. 388, 626 S.E.2d 791 (2006)

 

Coker vs. Daimler-Chrysler Corp., ____ N.C.App., ____, 617 S.E.2d 306 (2005)

 

McLamb vs. T.P., Inc., 619 S.E.2d 577 (2005).

 

Skinner vs. Preferred Credit, 616 S.E.2d 676 (2005).

 

Dosher vs. Moretz, 616 S.E.2d 28 (2005)

 

Ellen vs. A.C. Schultes of Maryland, Inc., 615 S.E.2d 729 (2005).

 

Beachcomber Properties, L.L.C. vs. Station One, Inc., 169 N.C.App. 820, 611 S.E.2d 191 (2005).

 

Beau Rivage Homeowners Ass’n vs. New Hanover County, 169 N.C.App. 266, 611 S.E.2d 900 (2005).

 

Sastorre vs. New Hanover County Bd. Of Comm’rs, 165 N.C. 173, 598 S.E.2d 142, cert. denied 359 N.C. 282, 608 S.E.2d 771 (2005).

 

Sanco of Wilmington Corp. vs. New Hanover County, 166 N.C.App. 471, 601 S.E.2d 889 (2004).

 

Coley vs. Champion Home Builders, Inc., 162 N.C.App. 80, 590 S..E.2d 20, cert. denied 358 N.C. 542, 599 S.E.2d 41 (2004).

 

Faircloth vs. Financial Asset Securities Corporation, 87 Fed.Appx. 314 (4^th Cir., 2004).

 

Belcher vs. Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., 162 N.C.App. 80, 590 S.E.2d 20 (2004).

 

Prewitt vs. Town of Wrightsville Beach, 161 N.C.App. 481, 595 S.E.2d 442 (2003).

 

In Re Will of Johnston, 157 N.C.App. 258, 578 S.E.2d 635, aff’d 357 N.C. 569, 597 S.E.2d 670 (2003).

 

Faircloth vs. National Home Loan Corp., 311 F.Supp.2d 344 (M.D.N.C., 2003).

 

Dash vs. FirstPlus Home Loan Owner Trust, 248 F.Supp. 489 (M.D.N.C., 2003).

 

Gomez vs. Atkins, 296 F.3d 253 (4^th Cir., 2002).

 

Big Red, LLC vs. Davines, SPA, 31 Fed.Appx. 216 (4^th Cir., 2002).

 

Shingleton vs. Kobacker Group, 148 N.C.App. 667, 559 S.E.2d 277 (2002).

 

Rogers vs. City of Wilmington, 352 N.C. 591, 544 S.E.2d 784 (2000).

 

McKillop vs. Onslow County, 139 N.C.App. 53, 532 S.E.2d 594 (2000).

 

Ruff vs. Parex, 131 N.C.App. 534, 508 S.E.2d 524, cert. denied 352 N.C. 149, 543 S.E.2d 894 (2000).

 

In Re Senergy, 2000 NCBC 7 (2000).

 

Gibbons vs. Cole, 132 N.C.App. 777, 513 S.E.2d 638 (1999).

 

Onslow County vs. Moore, 127 N.C.App. 546, 491 S.E.2d 670, cert denied 349 N.C. 361, 525 S.E.2d 453 (1998).

 

Shackelford vs. City of Wilmington, 127 N.C.App. 449, 490 S.E.2d 578, aff’d, 349 N.C. 381, 525 S.E.2df 457 (1998).

 

Caswell Realty Associates, LLP vs. Andrews Co., Inc., 121 N.C.App. 483, 466 S.E.2d 310 (1998).

 

Kurtzman vs. Applied Analytical, 347 N.C. 586, 502 S.E.2d 594 (1998).

 

Shackelford vs. City of Wilmington, 347 N.C. 673, 498 S.E.2d 374 (1998).

 

State ex. rel Onslow County vs. Mercer, 128 N.C.App. 371, 496 S.E.2d 585 (1998).

 

Maynor vs. Onslow County, 127 N.C.App. 192, 488 S.E.2d 289, cert. denied 347 N.C. 400, 496 S.E.2d 385 (1997).

 

Inland Greens HOA, Inc. vs. Dallas Harris Real Estate, 127 N.C.App. 610, 492 S.E.2d 359 (1997).

 

Flood vs. New Hanover County, 125 F.3d 249 (4^th Cir., 1997).

 

Baker vs. Town of Rose Hill, 126 N.C.App. 338, 485 S.E.2d 78 (1997).

 

K Hope, Inc. vs. Onslow County, 911 F.Supp. 948, aff’d , 107 F.3d 866 (4^th Cir., 1997).

 

McNamara vs. Wilmington Mall Realty Corp., 121 N.C.App. 400, 466 S.E.2d 324, cert denied 343 N.C. 307, 471 S.E.68 (1996).

 

Sullivan vs. New Hanover County, 120 N.C.App. 641, 463 S.E.2d 80 (1995).

 

Long vs. University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 129 N.C.App. 267, 461 S.E.2d 773 (1995).

 

Rauseo vs. New Hanover County, 118 N.C.App. 286, 454 S.E.2d 698 (1995).

 

Lumsden vs. Lawing, 107 N.C.App. 493, 421 S.E.2d 594 (1995).

 

Landfall Group Against Paid Transferability vs. Landfall Club, Inc., 117 N.C.App. 270, 450 S.E.2d 513 (1994).

 

Leewenburg vs. Waterway Inv. Ltd. Partnership, 115 N.C.App. 541, 445 S.E.2d 614 (1994).

 

Malone vs. Topsail Area Jaycees, 113 N.C.App. 498, 439 S.E.2d 192 (1994).

 

Matter of McCrary, 112 N.C.App. 161, 435 S.E.2d 359 (1993).

 

Winant vs. Bostic, 5 F.3d 767 (4^th Cir., 1993).

 

Gurganious vs. Integon General Ins. Co., 108 N.C.App. 163, 423 S.E.2d 317 (1993).

 

Munie vs. Tangle Oaks Corp., 109 N.C.App. 336, 427 S.E.2d 149 (1993).

 

In Re Silverman, 155 B.R. 362 (Bankr. E.D.N.C., 1993).

 

Quality Water Supply vs. City of Wilmington, 97 N.C.App. 400, 388 S.E.2d 608, aff’d 326 N.C. 597, 393 S.E.2d 881 (1990).

 

Cannon vs. Town of Long View, 887 F.2d 1078 (4^th Cir., 1989).

 

Blackwell vs. Dorosko, 95 N.C.App. 637, 383 S.E.2d 670 (1989).

 

State vs. Noll, 88 N.C.App. 753, 364 S.E.2d 726 (1988).

 

Rongotes vs. Pridemore, 88 N.C.App. 363, 363 S.E.2d 221 (1988).

 

State vs. Glidden, 317 N.C. 557, 346 S.E.2d 470 (1986).

• Chapter 75 – Still a Port in the Sea of Tort Reform” – North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Annual Convention, June, 2012.
• “Class Actions – What They Are and Aren’t and Why It Matters” – North Carolina Advocates for Justice Webinar, October, 2010.
• “Voir Dire – What Works and What Doesn’t” -Jury Selection Workshop – North Carolina Association for Justice, September, 2008
• “Consumer Fraud Statutes in Product Liability Litigation” – Law Education Institute, January, 2007
• “The Future of Class Actions under the Class Action Fairness Act” – American Bar Association, 6/04
• “North Carolina’s Unfair Trade Practices Act – An Effective Remedy Against Defective Products”, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Products Liability Seminar, April, 2004
• “Premises Liability – Is the Standard any Different for a Governmental Entity”, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, “Suing the Sovereign” Seminar, July, 2003
• “Liability of Trade Associations”, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Products Liability Seminar entitled “How Product Manufacturers Conspire”, April, 2001.
• “Litigation of an EIFS Claim”, Mealey’s Conference on Construction Defects, December 2000.
• “The Economic Loss Rule in Products Liability Cases – How Far is Too Far?”, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Trial Briefs, Fall, 2000.
• “Class Actions in North Carolina”, American Bar Association, Survey of Class Action Law in the United States (1999 to present).
• “Products Liability Update, 1999/2000”, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Annual Convention, June, 2000
• “Litigation of an EIFS Claim”, U.S. Inspect seminar, June, 1999.
• “Litigation of an EIFS Claim – Plaintiff’s Perspective,” North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, October, 1998.
• “Litigation of a Wrongful Death Case”, North Carolina Bar Association, Paralegal Section, June, 1999.
• “Use of Focus Groups”, North Carolina Bar Association, July, 1996.
• “Preparing and Responding to Discovery”, North Carolina Bar Association, Paralegal Section, June 1996.
• “North Carolina’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practice Act – A Port in the Storm of Tort Reform”, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Trial Briefs, Fall 1997.
• “Computer Technology – Winning the Old Fashioned Way Isn’t Good Enough Any More”, New Hanover County Bar Association, February, 1995.
• “Litigation of Homeowners’ Association Disputes, A Plaintiff’s Perspective”, North Carolina Bar Association, June, 1991