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Civil Litigation

Civil litigation involves disputes between individuals, businesses, and other organizations. It’s a broad branch of the law that covers several avenues and typically includes any issue that is not criminal in nature. The experienced NC lawyers at HSC practice in state and federal courts in a broad range of construction-related disputes, contract disputes of all types, business disputes, non-compete agreement disputes, creditors’ rights in bankruptcy and secured transaction cases and can help you achieve the best outcome for your case.

District and Superior Courts

State and federal trial courts comprise the forum where most civil legal disputes are addressed and resolved. Whether the issue relates to a contract dispute, tort claim (e.g., trespass, conversion, etc.), fraudulent transfer scheme, or construction project gone awry, the experienced HSC lawyers take pride in zealously protecting your legal rights.

The U.S. civil legal system is complex. In state court, there are trial and appellate courts. Trial courts hear civil cases such as divorces and contract disputes, while appellate courts hear appeals from district and superior courts. In federal court, there are federal trial courts, appellate courts, and the Supreme Court.

Our lawyers practice in trial court divisions, including small claims court, district court, and superior court. We also practice before the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court.

We file pleadings, argue motions, conduct depositions, tender written discovery, attend mediated settlement conferences, draft legal memorandums, litigate matters at trial and execute upon judgments. We strongly pursue settlement of civil disputes so you may enjoy the benefits of placing the dispute behind you.

Appellate Practice

Appellate practice is the specialized discipline of reviewing trial court procedures and decisions for fairness and accurate application of the law. It requires precision, and attention to detail, as well as written and oral advocacy skills. We handle appeals for cases our firm handled at the trial court level and for clients seeking new counsel for an appeal.

The lawyers at HSC are experienced in handling appeals throughout the layers of the North Carolina State Courts. In the federal court system, our attorneys handle appeals from the bankruptcy court to the United States District Court and from the United States District Court to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Under certain circumstances, we also handle appeals from the North Carolina Court of Appeals to the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Nan Hannah is admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court.

Appellate Courts

  • NC Court of Appeals
  • NC Supreme Court
  • Federal District Courts in North Carolina (Eastern, Middle, Western)
  • Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Supreme Court of the United States

Administrative Law

Within the administrative and regulatory areas of law, the experienced attorneys of HSC can assist individuals and entities in understanding and complying with these legal requirements, and under more limited circumstances, our practice includes assisting clients in challenging a government action.

Federal, state, and local agencies are granted certain judicial powers through the Constitution or statutes. These agencies declare complex rules and regulations to execute this delegated authority. Administrative rules and regulations are created to protect the public interest rather than vindicate private rights.

Our attorneys have experience with many different agencies, including but not limited to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality; the North Carolina Department of Justice; the North Carolina Industrial Commission; licensing boards such as the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors, the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors, the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, the North Carolina Department of Insurance, and county, city, and municipal planning departments.

Dispute Resolution

Resolve a legal dispute outside of the courtroom through alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Alternative dispute resolution procedures such as negotiation, mediation, or arbitration can often resolve a complex legal dispute more quickly, and more cost-effectively than traditional litigation.

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is a process that allows a dispute to be resolved without going through a time-consuming and costly formal judicial process. There are several reasons people choose to use alternative dispute resolution rather than go to court, including: simpler process, cost savings, time savings, and achieving a resolution.

Through the years, our attorneys have successfully settled multiple complex legal disputes utilizing ADR methods. Furthermore, partner Nan Hannah is certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission in its Superior Court Mediated Settlement Conference Program and has served as an arbitrator in the North Carolina court system’s district court dispute arbitration program.

Federal Court

North Carolina is home to the trial court level of the federal court system. It has Eastern, Middle, and Western federal judicial districts. Federal district court judges are appointed for life, nominated by the President, and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges hear district civil and criminal matters.

The Eastern District, housed in Raleigh, maintains courthouses in Elizabeth City, New Bern, Wilmington, Wilson, Fayetteville, and Raleigh. The Middle District, housed in Greensboro, maintains courthouses in Durham, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. The Western District, housed in Charlotte, maintains courthouses in Asheville, Statesville, Shelby, and Charlotte. Each district court has a bankruptcy court—a subset of the district court.

HSC’s lawyers practice in all NC federal courts. Civil jurisdiction in federal court is determined by statute, starting with a determination of whether there’s an issue of federal law (no monetary minimum) or diversity of citizenship (where parties are residents of different states) ($75,000 minimum to qualify for diversity jurisdiction).

We handle creditors’ rights in bankruptcy, employment discrimination, whistle-blower actions, and “Big Miller Act” matters, as well as contract disputes in federal courts.

In the federal court system, HSC’s attorneys are admitted to practice in the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina – the trial court divisions. Partners Paul Sheridan and Nan Hannah are admitted to practice before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition, Nan Hannah is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Our attorneys also routinely appear in federal bankruptcy courts across North Carolina representing creditors.

Civil litigation also includes practice before administrative agencies and bodies such as licensing boards, state agencies and city/county governing bodies. Our lawyers represent clients in cases involving zoning, trade licensing disputes and permitting.

The attorneys at Hannah Sheridan frequently participate in various means of alternative dispute resolution by representing parties in mediated settlement conferences and arbitrations. Nan Hannah is a North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission Certified Superior Court Mediator. Nan has been called upon to serve as a mediator in the United States Bankruptcy Courts in North Carolina. For two years, HSC partner Nan Hannah served as research assistant for Justice John Webb on the North Carolina Supreme Court.

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