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Cases or matters referenced do not represent the law firm’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results.

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Ferondo Moore was about to sign a permanent utility easement contract giving the state permission to run some utility lines on portion of his business property – a Church’s Chicken drive thru. This Church’s Chicken, incidentally, was going to be Mr. Moore’s retirement nest egg. Although the NCDOT assured Ferondo the easement would not affect his day to day operations, something made him hesitate, and he didn’t sign the contract. Instead, he called a friend for...

Waiting in limbo for 20 years

"It was a long drawn out experience not knowing when or what." For many years, Herbert and Joanne Corey ran their restaurant equipment business in the older section of downtown Greenville, out of a building that sat on nearly an acre of land. They had been thinking about closing the business and selling the building. Then, in 1991, the Coreys and their downtown neighbors began hearing rumors that the state was optioning property in that area...

Taking grandma’s house

It wasn't too long ago that a professional musician named Ron Norwood had to say goodbye. It was a hard goodbye. He hasn't written a song about it, but he might one day. "My grandma's house in Durham," he said. "The state was taking it. I had to let it go." The house was "back in the boondocks," Ron said, off Carr Road. The NCDOT was finally doing some serious highway work near the old neighborhood,...

Taking daycare playground from low-income children

"We were very fortunate to be in a position to help them out." Melvin and Sandra McLawhorn owned and ran a daycare for about 18 years. "Lots of Love Daycare" was a labor of love - catering to low-income families in the surrounding area. Sandra McLawhorn did what she could to help out working parents and make sure their children were cared for. "You had people who came in," Melvin said, "who just didn't have the...

Some of the best tobacco land in North Carolina1

"Here in this area, you don't buy farm land. It goes down through the children." If you were to ask Carl Fischer* where he was born, you wouldn't hear the name of a town or hospital. All he would have to do is point over at the old farm house that sits some yards away from the home he lives in now. "The old house that I was raised up in..." began Carl, "in 1942 when...

Just like that, the Smiths were out of the cattle business

"They put a bypass through the middle of it." About 40 years ago, Grover Smith and his wife, Katherine, bought a farm and began raising cattle. The land had once belonged to Grover's grandfather. When the Smiths learned the state had their eye on the farm for a potential project, the idea didn't really gel until a North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) official showed up at their house with the final plans for a four-lane...