Introduction
Introducing William S. Mills ... Concentrating his practice in serious Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice
“…. A brilliant straight shooter with an excellent track record. Bill gave me an honest and comprehensive assessment of my situation and answered all of my questions thoroughly and clearly. He struck me as genuine and very knowledgeable from the outset, which continued to be true as we worked together on my case. One of the things that impressed me about Bill is how well connected he is to various experts in the area. When it came time to identify experts and witnesses, Bill reached out to the best people in their field and ensured we drew on the most relevant experience and expertise. This was a critical factor in our success. He also drew upon the wisdom of his partners at GMFM and I always felt that they brought the full weight of the firm to bear on my case.”
Past Client [Avvo]
Bill is a highly respected Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice attorney in Durham, N.C.
He is a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, which is a preeminent, invitation only honorary society of trial lawyers, and is comprised of less than one-half of one percent of the country’s lawyers. He has also been selected, based on merit and experience, by the American Trial Lawyers Association for inclusion in the Top 100 Trial Attorneys for North Carolina. Furthermore, Bill has held numerous leadership positions in some of the country’s most esteemed legal organizations such as Past President of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Eastern North Carolina Division and Past President of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.
He is a frequent speaker at legal events, has written many notable articles on the law, particularly on Contributory Negligence in North Carolina, and has been an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy, at the University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Duke Law School, since 1988.
Bio/CV
EMPLOYMENT
Partner, GLENN, MILLS, FISHER & MAHONEY, P.A., in Durham, North Carolina. The firm limits its practice to civil litigation, with emphasis in personal injury, wrongful death, professional negligence and insurance litigation.
- Senior Law Lecturer in Trial Advocacy at Duke University School of Law since 2003.
- Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at the University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, since 1988.
EDUCATION
- University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D. with Honors 1979
- University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, A.B. 1975
PROFESSIONAL HONORS AND ASSOCIATIONS
- 2015 Recipient of Leaders in the Law award. This award is bestowed by the North Carolina Lawyers Weekly publication to only twenty five attorneys from across North Carolina. The award is intended to honor attorneys who go above and beyond in their profession and their community.
- Elected in December 2012 by the attorneys of the Durham Judicial District to serve as their Bar Councilor at the North Carolina State Bar.
- Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell Publications, the highest rating given.
- Named to “The Best Lawyers in America”, 2003 - 2015
- Selected to North Carolina’s Legal Elite by Business North Carolina.
- Inducted as a Fellow with the Litigation Counsel of America in October, 2010, an honor that is by invitation only to less than ½ percent of American Lawyers. www.litcounsel.org.
- Selected by The American Trial Lawyers Association for inclusion in their “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” for 2010 in North Carolina. www.theatla.com
- Selected by North Carolina Super Lawyers as one of North Carolina’s for inclusion in their Super Lawyers designation in 2015 and many prior years.
- President of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers: (now known as North Carolina Advocates for Justice) 1999-2000.
National Board of Trial Advocacy:
Board Certified in Civil Litigation by the National Board of Trial Advocacy on June 4, 1997. Certification is awarded after a lengthy process of certification of trials and litigation experience and passage of a six hour written exam.
American Board of Trial Advocates:
President - North Carolina Eastern Division 2006-2007.
Inducted on November 8, 1997 to this national organization of trial attorneys dedicated to the preservation of the right to trial by jury and professionalism.
North Carolina State Bar:
Member of 1991 Redbook Rewrite Committee charged with the responsibility of completely revising the entire Redbook regarding the procedures for attorney discipline.
Fourteenth Judicial District - Durham County Bar Association: President, 1987-88:
Founding Chairman of the Local Grievance Committee which was a sub division of the State Bar and charged with investigating grievances filed against lawyers in the Fourteenth Judicial District or violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 1989-91.
National Institute of Trial Advocacy:
Became certified as a Faculty Member in May of 1985 after training at the Harvard Law School Nita training program. Thereafter have participated in numerous Southeast Regional NITA Program.
MEMBERSHIPS
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
- North Carolina Bar Association
- North Carolina State Bar
EDUCATIONAL HONORS
- Member of North Carolina Law Review 1978-79.
- Member of UNC Law School Moot Court Bench - National Mock Trial Team, 1978-79. Participated in two day trial competition in Jackson Mississippi on behalf of UNC Law School.
- Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, inducted April, 1975.
- Recipient of the James M. Johnston Scholarship during Undergraduate Study
- Member of Honors Program
- Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, inducted 1971.
- Recipient of the Phillips Travel Fellowship in 1975 which funded three months of independent travel throughout Europe.
- Lieutenant Governor of Morrison Residence College, 1972.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND APPOINTED POSITIONS
- Member of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Board of Visitors since 2014.
- Member of the Durham City Board of Adjustment from July 1987 through February 1988.
- Raleigh Durham International Airport Authority Member. Appointed by the City of Durham in 1991 for a two year term. Chairman of the Airport Noise and Abatement Committee; Member of the Law, Finance and Personnel Committee and Public Relations Committee.
- Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Triangle Land Conservancy, 1994 - 1996
- Soccer Coach in Durham’s WoodCroft Athletic Association for twelve years.
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
- "Summation", presented at a Continuing Legal Education program sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers January, 1986. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- Faculty member of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers Trial Advocacy Clinic each year since 1987. This is a 5 day program of limited registration designed to have the participants learn to try cases by actually performing trial advocacy exercises and then being critiqued by faculty.
- "The Week Before Trial", presented at a Continuing Legal Education program sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Raleigh, North Carolina. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- "Hot Issues: Personal Injury Cases", presented at a Continuing Legal Education program sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Durham, North Carolina. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- "Proving Causation in Professional Negligence", presented at a Continuing Legal Education program sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Greensboro, North Carolina. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- "Trial Techniques for proving Damages", presented at a Continuing Legal Education Program sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Raleigh, North Carolina. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- "Overcoming the Work Product Privilege Objection", presented at a Continuing Legal Education Program sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in North Myrtle Beach, North Carolina, at the Annual Convention. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- Panel member at the summer Conference of the Association of Municipal Attorneys for a discussion of ethics for Municipal Lawyers. I was invited as a representative of the plaintiff's bar in disputes with cities.
- "Malpractice Avoidance and Repair", presented at a Continuing legal education program sponsored by the Wake Forest School of Law in Greensboro, N.C. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- Chairman of Continuing Legal Education program: "The Art of Persuasion", a one day program sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, in Greensboro, N.C.
- "Causation", manuscript and paper published by North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers and presented at "Personal Injury Seminar", in Raleigh, North Carolina.
- "Appellate Procedure; How, What and When", manuscript published by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers and presented to the Summer Conference of the NCATL Legal Assistants program, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
- "Initial Intake, Investigation and Evaluation of a Civil Case". A spoken presentation at the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers' CLE program entitled "Practical Trial Skills" in Raleigh.
- Program Chairman of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers' CLE program entitled "Practical Trial Skills" in Raleigh.
- Program Chairman of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers' CLE program entitled "Trial Evidence" in Raleigh.
- Section Leader at "Depositions" program sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Greensboro.
- Speaker at continuing legal education program entitled "Alternative Dispute Resolution" sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Raleigh, N.C.
- Speaker on Opening Statement at continuing legal education program entitled "Inadequate Offer, Try that Personal Injury case" sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Greensboro, N.C. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- Speaker at the Annual Convention of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, in New York, New York. Spoke to the Professional Negligence Section on how to obtain witness statements from the office of Risk Management in medical negligence actions against Hospitals. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- Speaker at continuing legal education program entitled "Personal Injury Law" on the topic of Alternative Dispute Resolution sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Greensboro, N.C. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- Speaker at continuing legal education program entitled "Trial Evidence" on the topic of "Making and Meeting Objections at Trial" sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Greensboro, N.C. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- Speaker at continuing legal education program entitled "Examining Expert Witnesses” on the topic of "Direct examination of economist on Loss of Future Income” sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Greensboro, N.C. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- Chair, faculty member and speaker at the 1997 Annual Trial Advocacy Program sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Raleigh, N.C.
- Chairman of first teleconferenced continuing legal education program entitled "Opt in - Opt out, which will you do” on the topic of whether to opt out of the pending class action pertaining to owners of EIFS homes, sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers.
- Faculty member and speaker at the 1998 Annual Trial Advocacy Program sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers at Wake Forest University School of Law.
- Speaker at continuing legal education program entitled "Brain Injury Litigation” on the topic of "Legal Ethics and Legal issues unique to Severe Brain Injury cases” sponsored by the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association in Richmond, VA..
- Speaker at continuing legal education program entitled "The Nuts and Bolts of Dollars and Cents” on the topic of "Settlement of claims involving Minors and Incompetents” sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Raleigh, N.C. on January 19, 2001. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- Speaker at continuing legal education program entitled "Evidence during all Phases of Litigation” on the topic of "Asserting and Overcoming Privileges During Discovery” sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Raleigh, N.C. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- Speaker at continuing legal education program entitled "PreTrial Practice” on the topic of "Problems Unique to Medical Negligence litigation” sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Raleigh, N.C.
- Article in “Trial Briefs”, the publication of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, entitled “Contributory Negligence”. The article articulates why North Carolina should abandon the outdated doctrine of contributory negligence and adopt comparative negligence, as has been done in forty-six other states.
- Speaker at continuing legal education program entitled "Medical Negligence: Preparing to Win” on the topic of "Preparing Your Experts for Deposition” sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in Raleigh, N.C. Manuscript prepared and published on topic.
- Program Chairman of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers' CLE program entitled "Winning Strategies in Negotiation and Settlement” in Raleigh, North Carolina
General Articles
1.Contributory Negligence In North Carolina
Click on the image below to read the full article on BBLS ... Download PDF here ...
Case Articles
Coming Soon - Jones v. City of Durham
