News + Insights

A Short Refresher On Discrete Legal Issues During Natural Disasters

Written By Will Oden and Genesis E. Torres

September 20, 2024

As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In that spirit, what follows are certain pay and leave issues employers may confront during times of natural disaster – all of which are better to …

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The Effect of Immigration Status on Personal Injury Claims in North Carolina

Written By Jeremy M. Wilson

October 25, 2019

Sadly, accidents happen, and individuals are injured across our state in all sorts of different ways. When the victim is a recent immigrant to the United States, they sometimes have questions about how immigration s…

Cracked yellow construction helmet sitting on a bed of small stones

2019 Construction Conference Insights: Minimizing Liability When Accidents Happen

Written By Merrill G. Jones, II

August 21, 2019

Three Ward and Smith attorneys discussed how construction companies could reduce their risk of accidents and limit their liability—an essential consideration for an industry where the work carries inherent risks. At…

NC Attorney General Talks Opioid Epidemic at Employment Law Symposium

Written By S. McKinley Gray, III

July 31, 2019

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein identified opioid abuse and cybersecurity as top challenges businesses face, while also giving attendees at Ward and Smith’s 2019 Employment Law Symposium a look at the broa…

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From Facebook to FMLA to Furry Friends—Frequently Asked Questions in Employment Law

Written By Emily G. Massey

May 3, 2019

The questions we receive as labor and employment attorneys vary based on many factors such as organizational changes a business is experiencing, new laws or regulations that affect employer obligations, and certain trends …

Oden's "Top 4" Issues for Employers for 2018 (So Far)

Written By Will Oden

October 12, 2018

What follows are the "Top 4" issues or some variation/combination (in no particular order) that I have discussed with employers so far in 2018. Some may seem like common sense for the more seasoned Human Resource Director…

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North Carolina Cases Involving Traumatic Brain Injuries

Written By Jeremy M. Wilson

February 28, 2018

A traumatic brain injury ("TBI") results from a specific traumatic event causing some type of damage to the brain. Such trauma could be the head being struck by an object or being jolted by a collision, or even having an o…

Social Hosts Beware: "One More for the Road?" May Be a Bad Idea

Written By Grant B. Osborne

December 6, 2017

Everyone was having such a good time, too . . . The company was hosting its annual holiday party. The company had arranged to hold the event that Saturday night in a hotel ballroom. Moods were festive, especia…

How to Survive a North Carolina Department of Labor OSH Investigation

Written By Will Oden

March 14, 2017

Introduction Your business may be subject to an investigation by the North Carolina Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Division ("OSH") at any time. Investigations may occur because of an on-the-job…