NCADA Installs New Leaders at 33rd Annual Meeting

Online, June 24, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA) held its 33rd Annual Meeting in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina during the weekend of June 17-20, 2010. Officers and board of directors for the 2010-2011 year took office at the close of the Annual Meeting on June 20, 2010.

Bonnie Refinski-Knight is the 33rd President of the Association. Refinski-Knight is a partner with Harris Creech Ward & Blackerby, P.A. in New Bern. Refinski-Knight's practice concentration is in the defense of liability claims against physicians, nurses and hospitals. Refinski-Knight received her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1990.

Patricia P. Kerner is President-elect. Kerner is a partner in the Raleigh office of Troutman Sanders, LLP practicing primarily in the areas of civil litigation and administrative law, with emphasis on the defense of attorney malpractice claims, products liability and personal injury actions, and insurance coverage disputes. Kerner received her J.D. from the University of North Carolina in 1985.

David N. Allen, a partner in the Charlotte office of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, is Immediate Past President. Allen has extensive experience in both state and federal courts. He represents clients including insurance companies, physicians and hospitals, manufacturing companies and chemical companies. Allen received his AB (1977) and his JD (1980) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and currently serves as a State Bar Councilor for the 26th Judicial District.

Christopher G. Smith has been elected Executive Vice President. Smith is a partner with the Raleigh law firm of Smith Anderson Blount Mitchell Dorsett & Jernigan, LLP. Smith has significant experience in business disputes, trade secrets, environmental and toxic tort litigation, pharmaceutical development litigation, products liability litigation, preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders, and with matters designated exceptional and complex, and assigned to the North Carolina Business Court. Smith received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992.

Edward F. Hennessey, IV has been elected to serve a two-year term as Treasurer. Hennessey is a shareholder with the Charlotte law firm of Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. Hennessey's litigation practice includes the representation of claimants and defendants in construction, corporate and other business-related litigation.

Mark C. Kurdys will serve a second term as Secretary. Kurdys is a partner with Roberts & Stevens, PA in Asheville. Kurdys' litigation practice includes commercial litigation, medical liability, professional liability, products liability and insurance litigation. Kurdys received his J.D. from the University of Toledo School of Law in 1980.

Elected to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors are: Susan H. Briggs, a shareholder in the law firm of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, PC, in the firm's Charlotte office; David W. Hood, a partner in the law firm of Patrick Harper & Dixon, LLP, Hickory; Jeffrey A. Kadis, a partner in the law firm of Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, LLP, Charlotte; Dayatra T. Matthews, a partner in the law firm of Bailey & Dixon, LLP, Raleigh; and, Robert D. Walker, Jr., a partner in the law firm of Walker Allen Grice Ammons & Foy, LLP, Goldsboro.

Elected to serve a one-year ex-officio term on the Board of Directors are: James W. Williams, Roberts & Stevens, PA, Asheville, as past president representative; and, J. Douglas Grimes, Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, LLP, Charlotte, as chair of the NCADA's Young Lawyers Committee.

Currently serving terms on the NCADA's Board of Directors are: Tricia Morven Derr, LincolnDerr, PLLC, Charlotte; Philip T. Jackson, Dameron Burgin Parker & Jackson, PA, Marion; John T. Jeffries, McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLC, Charlotte; Tracy E. Tomlin, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP, Charlotte; Heather R. Wilson, Yates McLamb & Weyher, LLP, Raleigh; Mark E. Anderson, McGuireWoods, LLP, Raleigh; Jonathan A. Berkelhammer, Smith Moore Leatherwood, LLP, Greensboro; Mary M. Dillon, Ellis & Winters, LLP, Cary; Terry D. Horne, Stiles Byrum & Horne, LLP, Charlotte; Donna R. Rutala, Young Moore & Henderson, PA, Raleigh; Shelli Simontacchi, Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Gardner, LLP , Charlotte, as chair of the NCADA's Paralegal Division; and, Leslie O'Toole, Ellis & Winters, LLP, serves as DRI State Representative.

Retiring from the Board of Directors after serving a three-year term are: J. Chad Bomar, Wilson & Coffey, LLP, Winston-Salem; Edward F. Hennessey, IV, Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, PA, Charlotte; Erica B. Lewis, Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, LLP, Wilmington; William W. Pollock, Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog, LLP, Raleigh; and S. Mujeeb Shah-Kahn, Senior Assistant Attorney, City of Charlotte. Retiring ex-officio members of the Board are: William F. Womble, Jr., Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP of Winston-Salem, as the past president representative and Roberta B. King, Bennett & Guthrie, PLLC of Winston-Salem, as chair of the NCADA's Young Lawyers Committee.

The North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys brings together civil trial attorneys to promote the exchange of information, ideas, and litigation techniques, and to strengthen the practice, improve the skills, and enhance the knowledge of lawyers defending individuals and businesses in North Carolina. The NCADA represents over 1000 civil litigation attorneys and paralegals in North Carolina. For more information about the N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys, please contact the Association office at (919) 657-1576 or visit www.ncada.org.