Charles H. Rabon, Attorney

Charles ("Chet") H. Rabon, Jr., was born in Camden, South Carolina and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. He graduated Furman University, in Greenville, South Carolina, with a B.A. degree in Political Science. Following graduation, Chet worked at a ski resort in Colorado and traveled extensively abroad before entering law school at Vanderbilt University where, in 1989, he received the J.D. degree with honors and was elected to Order of the Coif. Chet was Associate Editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review while in law school, and authored "Evening the Odds in Civil Litigation: A Proposed Methodology for Using Adverse Inferences When Nonparty Witnesses Invoke the Fifth Amendment," 42 Vand. L. Rev. 507 (1989), which has been cited by the federal courts and various legal scholars. While in law school, Chet also served as a Legal Writing Instructor, interned with the Chief U.S. District Court Judge, and won several awards for highest marks in various law school classes.

Following graduation, Chet served as a law clerk to the Hon. Emmett R. Cox, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, in Mobile, Alabama. In 1990, Chet joined the firm of Petree, Stockton & Robinson, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and practiced with that firm (now known as Kilpatrick Stockton) for several years. Between 1999 and 2005, Chet practiced in the firm of Carley & Rabon. In late 2005, Chet joined with his current partners, Jamie Wells and Mike Daisley, to form the law firm of Wells Daisley Rabon, P.A. Chet has been elected to the 2006 Business North Carolina Legal Elite for Litigation.

During his career, Chet has represented a variety of clients as trial and appellate counsel in numerous significant matters, including, to highlight a few:

• Representing Charlotte's initial NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets, in broadcast pirating and intellectual property enforcement litigation, and other litigation involving contract matters.
• Representing Richard Petty Enterprises in trademark enforcement matters and anti-pirating litigation during Petty's final year as an active NASCAR driver in 1992.
• Representing First Union National Bank in various litigation.
• Representing, along with his former partner, a national defense contractor in an American Arbitration Association proceeding lasting nearly a full year, and involving multimillion dollar claims.
• Representing a small North Carolina business in an Unfair and Deceptive Business Practices Claim, tried continuously before a judge and jury for over four months, and which resulted in a multi-million dollar verdict in favor of our client.
• Representing a home building franchisee in a copyright infringement lawsuit and arbitration resulting in a substantial award and confidential settlement.
• Representing the family of a young mother killed by a falling tree on school property, resulting in a seven-figure settlement.
• Representing a family in a contentious estate/will contest tried for more than two months in state court.
• Representing the family of a disabled young girl who died due to negligent care, in a wrongful death lawsuit against the Provider Agency, resulting in a large, confidential settlement.

In addition to these matters, Chet's experience includes Commercial Litigation, Small Business Counseling, Intellectual Property Litigation (copyrights and trademarks), Eminent Domain and Zoning issues, Major Personal Injury and Wrongful Death claims, focusing on cases arising from Premises Liability and Tractor-Trailer Crashes.

On a personal level, Chet enjoys working out at the gym, cycling, hiking, photography, snow skiing, and traveling. He is actively involved in numerous community organizations and non-profits, including local arts and charitable organizations. He is a former chairman and long time board member of Second String Santas. Along with Vic Howie, a former banker and investment advisor, Chet is the founder, and a current board member, of the U.S. National Whitewater Center, Inc., a $36 million state-of-the-art outdoor adventure and recreation center, featuring the world's largest artificial recirculating river with Class III and Class IV rapids. The USNWC is an official U.S. Olympic Training site for the USA Canoe and Kayak team. In addition, Chet serves on the Mecklenburg County Zoning Board of Adjustment, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Mecklenburg County Bar.

Chet is married, lives in south Charlotte, and is the proud father of a four year old son.