Attorneys

Paul D. Coates

Partner (Member)

Paul Coates has been practicing civil litigation since 1981, primarily personal injury, products liability, wrongful death, insurance matters, and commercial litigation. For many of those years he also practiced insurance defense, although his practice has now developed into one representing mainly injured claimants. He practices in both state and federal courts in North Carolina and is admitted to the United States Supreme Court. Disability insurance claims (including UNUM Disability claims) are some of the many types of claims he handles for plaintiffs and claimants. He has extensive jury verdict experience. He is a frequent speaker and lecturer at seminars for lawyers and insurance adjusters, and was the Editor of the North Carolina Insurance Law Quarterly. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Practice Areas:

Insurance Coverage
Insurance Defense
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Personal Injury
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Litigation
Wrongful Death

Bar Admissions:

North Carolina
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina

Education:

University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, NC, 1981 – J.D.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 1978 – B.S. (Magna Cum Laude)

Published Works:

The Carvel Touch, For the Defense (DRI publication), 1993
Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Consideration of Multiple Policies, The Adjusters Report, Fall 1989

Sample Reported Cases:

Hunter v. Guardian Life Insurance Co., 162 N.C. App. 477, 593 S.E.2d 595 (2004)
North Carolina Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. Allen, 146 N.C. App. 539, 553 S.E.2d 420 (2001)
Allstate Ins. Co. v. McCrae, 325 N.C. 411, 384 S.E.2d 1 (1989)
North Carolina Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. Hilliard, 90 N.C. App. 507, 369 S.E.2d 386 (1988)
North Carolina Baptist Hospitals, Inc. v. Mitchell, 88 N.C. App. 263, 362 S.E.2d 841 (1987)

Membership in Law-Related Organizations:

Greensboro Bar Association
North Carolina Bar Association
North Carolina State Bar
American Bar Association
American Association for Justice (AAJ)
North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ)

Miscellaneous:

AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell
North Carolina Super Lawyer®, 2008–2009
Best Lawyers in America®, 2008-2010