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Joseph W. Williford
Of Counsel
With more than 40 years of litigation experience in areas including medical malpractice, worker’s compensation, and general casualty litigation, Joe now focuses his practice on mediation. Certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission to conduct mediated settlement conferences in Superior Court cases, Joe is available to conduct mediations in most North Carolina counties.
Joe is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and holds an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Joe has also served as a hiking guide for a company based out of Colorado offering biking and hiking tours.
A link to Joe’s calendar showing his availability for mediations is below. Please email Joe or his assistant, Tiffany Phillips, to hold or schedule a date.
Education & Bar Admissions
- J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law, 1981
- B.A., cum laude, Wake Forest University, 1978
Admitted in
- North Carolina, 1981
- U.S. District Courts for North Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Achievements
- Listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers® (2006, 2007, 2008, 2012-2021) in the area of Medical Malpractice Defense, Business Edition (2013 & 2016)
- Named the Best Lawyers® Medical Malpractice Law–Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” (2020) in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Listed in The Best Lawyers In America© in the field of Medical Malpractice Law–Defendants (2014–2024)
- Law review, Wake Forest University School of Law (1981)
Activities
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Publications & Presentations
- Comment, The Use of Blood Tests in Actions to Determine Paternity, 16 Wake Forest Law Rev. 591 (1980)
- Lecturer, Advanced Workers’ Compensation in North Carolina, February, 1991, National Business Institute
- Lecturer, Basic Workers’ Compensation, April, 1992, North Carolina Bar Foundation Continuing Legal Education
- Lecturer, Nursing Home Litigation, August 2003, North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association
- Presenter, “Peer Review Protection,” March 2014, local hospital staff
- Lecturer, Informed Consent, May, 2013, ASHRM (NC)
- Panel Participant, Negotiation: Finding the ‘Sweet Spot,’ May 2014, ALFA International’s 2014 International Health Care Seminar
- Lecturer, The Practice of Medicine in the Age of Social Media, May 2014, Raleigh hospital
- Presenter, “Nursing Documentation,” August 2014, local hospital staff
Milestones
- Osburn v. Maxwell, 135 N.C. App. 88, 529 S.E.2d 88 (1999), aff’d per curium 352 N.C. 143, 530 S.E.2d 54 (2000) (issue of informed consent as to FDA status of medical devices).
- Moore v Standard Mineral, 122 N.C. App. 375, 469 S.E.2d 594 (1996) (workers’ compensation issue of average weekly wage in silicosis case).
- Locklear v Scotland Memorial Hospital, Inc., 119 N.C. App. 245, 457 S.E.2d 764 (1995) (medical malpractice service of process issue).
- Hardin v Venture Construction Co., 107 N.C. App. 758, 421 S.E.2d 601 (1992) (workers’ compensation issue of average weekly wage in death case).
- Wallace v Haserick, 105 N.C. App.315, 412 S.E.2d 694 (1992) (medical malpractice affirmative defense issue).
- Huggard v Wake County Hospital System, 102 N.C. App. 772, 403 S.E.2d 568 (1991), aff’d., 330 N.C. 610, 411 S.E.2d 610 (1992) (medical malpractice involving service of process as to “John Doe” defendant).
- McKenzie v McCarter Electric Co., 86 N.C. App. 619, 359 S.E.2d 249 (1987) (workers’ compensation involving aggravation of pre-existing condition).
- Jones v Beaunit Corp., 72 N.C. 351, 424 S.E.2d 624 (1985) (workers’ compensation involving occupational disease).
- Smith v Intermedics, Inc., 767 F.2d 82 (1985) (product liability claim involving pacemaker).
Disclaimer: The above information may not necessarily reflect the attorney’s entire record, and the outcome of any particular future matter cannot be predicated on the attorney’s or law firm’s past results.