Paul D. Coates

Paul Coates has over 40 years of experience practicing civil litigation, 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 and is admitted to the U. S. Supreme Court Bar. He has extensive jury verdict experience. He is a frequent speaker and lecturer at seminars for lawyers and insurance adjusters. He was the Editor of the North Carolina Insurance Law Quarterly, and he is the author of Chapter 2, “Automobile Insurance,” in the 2022 edition of New Appleman North Carolina Insurance Litigation, a LexisNexis Practice Guide. Paul is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.


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Articles

Bar Admissions

  • North Carolina
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th 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 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)

Memberships

  • 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)
  • National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP)

Miscellaneous

  • North Carolina Super Lawyer® in Insurance Coverage, 2008–2023
  • AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers in America®, 2008-2013
  • Author, “Automobile Insurance,” Chapter 2 of New Appleman North Carolina Insurance Litigation (a LexisNexis Practice Guide) (2023 Edition)