Mediator Resume

Experienced litigator in employment areas and personal injury. Full-time mediator requested as a neutral over a wide range of cases. An attorney since 1994 and mediator since 1998, selected by attorneys, parties, businesses, and pro se individuals for virtually every area of law to mediate.

Prior, Criner & Edwards, P.L.L.C. d/b/a ADR of the Carolinas - Partner

Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator

Partner, Priorr, Criner & Edwards, P.L.L.C. d/b/a Alternative Dispute Resolution of North Carolina & The Workers' Compensation Law Firm, 2006-Present; Partner, The Criner Law Firm, P.C. d/b/a The Workers' Compensation Law Firm, 2003-2006; Partner, Hedrick, Blackwell & Criner, L.L.P., 1994-2002; Agency Legal Specialist, North Carolina Industrial Commission, 1994; Claims Adjudicator, N.C. Employment Security Commission, 1993-1994.

As an attorney, has represented insurance companies, insured-employers, non-insured employers and individuals in well over 200 mediations. Represented defendants where nominal sums to hundreds of thousands of dollars have been negotiated. Represented injured plaintiffs in several cases where the matters resolved in excess of one million dollars. These cases have involved workers' compensation, personal injury and premises liability cases. Many of these cases also involved multiple parties, employers, insurance carriers and attorneys. In the employment arena, routinely mediates issues involving work place injuries and the attendant complex medical causation issues involving all nature of injuries from open and closed head, orthopedic, soft tissue, musculoskeletal, pain management, rehabilitation therapies, prosthesis, dental, blunt trauma, etc. Routinely mediates issues relating to causation of occupational diseases including carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive overuse type injuries, toxic torts due to chemical, radioactive and other hazardous exposure involving MSDS sheets, EPA studies, and OSHA reports. Over the years this area has increasingly seen issues involving EEOC issues, discrimination, retaliatory discharge claims, short-term and long-term disability, group health benefits, ERISA liens and health plans, pension plans, Social Security Disability Insurance claims including offset issues and Medicare Set-Asides. North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Workers' Compensation Specialist 2000-present. In the personal injury arena, many of the same medical causation issues apply and the attendant short term, long term, group health, liens, government programs and Medicare Set-Asides. These cases also involve complex legal causation issues depending on the various, local state and federal laws that may apply to the jurisdiction, most notably the difference between contributory negligence and comparative negligence.

Mediator since 1998 and have conducted over 4000 mediations. Conduct mediations and arbitrations in a wide range of areas, including personal injury, consumer issues, family law, contract disputes, insurance coverage disputes, long shoreman cases, Jones Act case, fire cases, medical malpractice, business disputes, church disputes, farm and livestock insurance issues, workers' compensation, employment law, and many other areas of law. Serve as a single-panel arbitrator, or typically as the referee on a 3-arbitrator panel. Served as a neutral evaluator in a couple of requests. Appointed a special master in a case by a U.S. federal judge. Conducted over 50 disaster mediations as a result of hurricane damage. Serve as an umpire in construction cases.

Contract disputes, employment law, tort claims, disputes over insurance, medical malpractice, construction disputes, farm and crop insurance, usury laws, general business law, workers' compensation, family law, alleged fraud and unfair business practices, and consumer protection laws.

Overriding principles as a mediator are; 1) to be efficient as the entire goal in ADR is to avoid the costs and time associated with litigation; and 2) for parties to feel they have been heard and have had an opportunity to work through their issues whether they be factual, legal, emotional or whatever they need to discuss, to reach a settlement.

Techie. Familiar with multiple online communication platforms, devices, and electronic document management, including drafting and signatures. Keeps up with the evolving different AI applications.

Campbell University (JD - 1993); Campbell University (MBA - 1993); North Carolina State University (BA, Political Science / Criminal Justice - 1984).

Admitted to the Bar: North Carolina (1994), South Carolina (2001); U.S. District Court: Eastern District of North Carolina (1995); U.S. Court of Appeals: Fourth Circuit (1998); U.S. Supreme Court (1998). NC State Bar Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist (2000); NC Dispute Resolution Commission Certified Superior Court Mediator (1998); NC District Court Certified Arbitrator (1999); NC Dispute Resolution Certified Equitable Distribution and Other Family Financial Cases Mediator (2001); NC Clerk Mediation Program Certified Mediator (2007); Supreme Court of South Carolina Certified Mediator.

National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (2008); National Arbitration and Mediation Panelist (2019); North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission (2002-2008); North Carolina Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Counsel (2000-2003, 2008-2011, 2017-2020, 2024-2027); American Bar Association, NC Bar Association; New Hanover County Bar Association; Martindale Hubbell AV Rated; Million Dollar Advocates Forum Member; Super Lawyers (2012).

• February 3-4, 2022, Course planner A Medley of Workers’ Compensation Law • February 4-5, 2021, Course planner, Covid Covid Go Away, Workers’ Compensation is Here to Stay, 2021 • December 4, 2019, Course planner Course and Scope: The Fundamentals of Working Within Chapter 97, NCBA. • November 30, 2018, Course planner The Assembly Line of Workers’ Compensation, NCBA. • multiple CLE presentations between 2010-2018 • February 12, 2010, Presenter on Effective Mediation at NCBA CLE Meeting • October 2, 2009, Presenter on Ethics at NCBA CLE • October 17, 2008, Presenter on Ethics at NCBA CLE • February 16, 2008, Presenter on Workers’ Compensation Mediation NCBA • May 11. 2006, Presenter on Ethics When Mediators Listen NCBA Dispute Resolution Section. • February 18, 2006, Presenter on Ethic NCBA • March 18, 2005, Presenter on Ethics at Mediators – More Than Messengers, NCBA • October 29, 2004, Presenter for Morris York Williams Surles & Barringer, L.L.P. on Mediation • June 3, 2004, Course planner on Workers’ Compensation for Mediators: Training forThe Commission Certified Neutral, NCBA. • March 19, 2004, Presenter on Mediation in Workers’ Compensation, NCBA Dispute Resolution Section Annual Meeting.

Hourly Rate: $300.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $300.00/hr Cancellation: $1,200.00/Day Cancellation Period: 14 Days Comment: Compensation rates, established by the AAA, are set forth in the applicable Consumer Mediation Procedures.

English

United States of America

Wilmington, North Carolina