UM/UIM Coverage: What It Is and Why You Need Enough of It
August 23, 2023
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A. Charles Ellis
Personal Injury Attorney
ace@wardandsmith.com
252.215.4007 252.215.4077
Post Office Box 8088, Greenville, NC 27835-8088
The Vault @ 411 Front Street (no mail service), Beaufort, NC
Charles' practice experience encompasses federal and state court litigation in various areas, including claims for wrongful death and serious personal injury. He has also litigated numerous cases involving complex insurance coverage issues, products liability, and professional malpractice.
Charles is a frequent lecturer and has written extensively on a wide range of litigation topics, including "The Nuts and Bolts of Coverage Under the Homeowner Policy," "Depositions . . . Advanced Civil Procedure," and "Insurance Coverage for Intentional Acts and Punitive Damages."
Education
- J.D., cum laude, Campbell Law School,1983. Campbell University Law Review.
- A.B., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1980
Representative Experience
- Representation of large hospital in substantial recovery (in excess of $2 million) in medical malpractice claim for contribution
- Representation of families in $10 million recovery for wrongful deaths stemming from aircraft collision
- Representation of individual healthcare client in recovery in excess of $6 million for severe injuries received in motor vehicle collision
- Representation of family in substantial recovery (in excess of $1.7 million) in wrongful death medical malpractice claim
- Representation of hospital in recovery of substantial sum (in excess of $4 million) in claim against a professional liability insurance carrier for denial of liability coverage in multiple underlying medical malpractice claims
Honors and Distinctions*
- Legal Practice Hall of Fame Inductee, North Carolina Bar Association, Class of 2024
- The Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers®, 1995-2025
- "Super Lawyer," Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Super Lawyers, 2006-2024
- "Lawyer of the Year," Best Lawyers®, 2013, 2019
- "Legal Elite," Business North Carolina, 2003 and 2013
Professional and Community Affiliations
- American Association for Justice
- American Bar Association — Sections: Litigation; Tort Trial and Insurance Practice
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Eastern North Carolina Inn of Court
- Lenoir Community College Paralegal Program, Advisory Board of Directors
- Literacy Volunteers of America, Board of Directors: president 1999-2000
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice — Sections: Auto Torts; Professional Negligence
- North Carolina Bar Association — Sections: General Practice; Health Law; Litigation (council member)
- Pitt Community College, Board of Trustees, Chairman
- Pitt Community College Foundation, Board of Directors
- Pitt County Bar Association (past president)
- Pitt County Health Education Foundation, Board of Directors: president 1997-2000
- United Way, Board of Directors, 2016
Admitted to Practice
- North Carolina, 1983
- All state courts in North Carolina
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina
- United States Supreme Court
About Me
My personal motto is "Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."
One surprising thing people don't know about me is that I began my career as a tax attorney.
My favorite fictional character is my cousin Vinny, because of his command of the art of cross examination.
* Please see the following websites for an explanation of the membership standards for the following recognitions: www.bestlawyers.com; businessnc.com/special-sections/legal-elite/; and www.superlawyers.com/north-carolina.
