Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Insurance in North Carolina

C. Douglas Maynard, Jr., is a member/manager at Maynard & Harris Attorneys At Law, PLLC, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His practice focuses on serious injuries, motor vehicle torts, workers' compensation, and insurance coverage litigation, including bad faith and declaratory judgment actions. A former insurance adjuster, Mr. Maynard has particular expertise in auto insurance coverage issues, including uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Mr. Maynard is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell in Personal Injury Litigation, Insurance Law and General Litigation. He frequently speaks at seminars on insurance law for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, presenting the Insurance Law update at the annual meeting since 2008. He is a past chair of the NC Advocates for Justice's Auto Torts Section and served on the NCAJ's Board of Governors. He served as primary author of the NCAJ's N.C. Supreme Court amicus brief in Williams v. Nationwide (UM/UIM selection rejection issue) and the NCAJ N.C. Court of Appeals amicus brief in Benton v. Hanford (UIM stacking issue). He recently appeared before the North Carolina Supreme Court in Wood v. Nunnery. He has held various positions with the N.C. Bar Association’s Litigation Section including Section Chair, and now serves on the Insurance Section’s council. Mr. Maynard also has served as the President of the Forsyth County Bar.

He has been happily married to his wife Jane for 23 years and is the proud father of five, Adam, Kaity, Annie, Jenny, and Lexi. He dedicates the book to his spouse and children, whose patience and understanding allow him to zealously represent injured persons and insureds, helping further the rights of the less fortunate by actively participating in the NCAJ, pro bono and civic activities, and completing projects such as this book.

Andrew L. Fitzgerald graduated from Wake Forest University in 1999 and University of Virginia School of Law in 2002. He was on the Virginia Tax Review from 2000-2002. His practice focuses primarily on insurance coverage litigation, personal injury litigation, and commercial litigation. Mr. Fitzgerald is currently recognized as one of Business North Carolina's Legal Elite for 2014. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Abby, and four children.

Hannah K. Albertson graduated from the University of Virginia in 2004 and the University of North Carolina School of law in 2009. She was a member of the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation from 2007-2009, culminating in her position as Managing Editor. She has focused her practice primarily in the areas of insurance coverage litigation, personal injury litigation and commercial litigation. (Co-authors Andrew Fitzgerald and Hannah Albertson are especially thankful to Jessica Kimble, a graduate of the Wake Forest University School of Law, for her outstanding research and analysis for this publication.)

Mr. Smyth is Of Counsel with the Raleigh law firm of Cranfill, Sumner & Hartzog LLP. His practice emphasizes insurance, tort, and commercial litigation. He has represented policyholder/insureds, insurers, and agents in insurance litigation. He writes and speaks frequently on insurance litigation topics. He was the founding chair of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Insurance Law Section. Mr. Smyth is a 1978 graduate of Colby College and a 1981 graduate of Wake Forest University School of Law.

Douglas E. Nauman is a partner with the firm of Daggett, Shuler, Koontz, Nauman & Bell, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is "AV Preeminent" rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He concentrates his practice in serious personal injury cases, insurance coverage disputes and policy issues. Mr. Nauman has worked in the areas of finance and insurance since 1984, most extensively in the area of automobile insurance and claims. He previously worked for State Farm Insurance as a claim specialist. He served on the Executive Committee of the Auto Torts Section of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice from 2009-2014. He is also a North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission Certified Superior Court mediator. Mr. Nauman has recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers from 2012-2014. He received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in 1984, graduating magna cum laude. He completed his MBA with distinction at Wake Forest University in 1995. He received his law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2008, graduating magna cum laude. Mr. Nauman is married and has one daughter. He enjoys golf, running, cycling, reading, and spending time with his family. He may be reached at dnauman@daggettshulerlaw.com.

Paul D. Coates is a partner in the Greensboro, North Carolina law firm of Pinto Coates Kyre & Brown, PLLC, where he practices in the areas of personal injury litigation, civil litigation, and insurance litigation and coverage. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, receiving his law degree in 1981. He attended the Insurance Counsel Triad Academy sponsored by the International Association of Insurance Counsel, and is a recipient of the G. Duffield Smith Outstanding Publication Award presented by the Defense Research Institute. He was Editor-in-Chief of the North Carolina Insurance Law Quarterly from 1996 to 1998. He is a member of various bar organizations, and is a frequent lecturer and writer in the areas of insurance law and coverage.

Andrew P. Cioffi has been practicing law for about 30 years, currently with Cioffi Law Firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Cioffi represents clients who have been injured or killed in highway collisions, explosions, construction accidents, product liability matters, and handles a variety of insurance matters. He is a certified mediator and a long-time supporter of alternative dispute resolution methods, especially arbitration. Mr. Cioffi has participated in well over one hundred mediations or arbitrations. He appreciates the assistance he received on this Chapter from Robert C. Ennis, a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law.

Joseph P. Tunstall, III was born in Washington, NC and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in History and Wake Forest University School of Law. Mr. Tunstall moved to Tarboro, NC in 2000 and is a partner in O'Malley Tunstall, PLLC. He has extensive personal injury trial experience including well over fifty personal injury cases to verdict. He has also handled numerous Social Security and Workers' Compensation cases and has handled cases in Federal Court and argued at every level of the State Courts including the North Carolina Supreme Court. He is also an active member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and has spoken at numerous continuing education classes.