Jeffrey Ezell | Greenville Worker's Compensation Lawyer

I represented a woman, a nurse, who was injured lifting equipment at a nursing home. The nursing home was owned by a large, national corporation and they wanted to, and tried to, deny her claim on multiple grounds. We took the matter to a hearing and won a very large award for her. The employer and insurance company appealed the matter and we won again at the appellate level. The nursing home company could have settled the matter for much less money early on in the process, but they foolishly backed out of the settlement in what appeared to be an attempt to squeeze my client financially. The amount we won when we took the matter to court, and ultimately to mediation, was roughly three times what the nursing home could have settled the matter for. We took great pains to prepare and present our case at trial in the best fashion possible and the award granted at trial reflected what we believe was the true measure of what my client had lost.

I think the main thing I have to offer that perhaps not every other lawyer might offer is a sense of creativity. I try and view my cases from a legitimate, "client centered" angle. I think too many lawyers might over complicate cases when, in fact, the basis for our claim can be presented in a very simple, straight forward, and often creative fashion. I have been in practice nearly 25 years and I believe creativity is one thing that, at times, might set me apart from other lawyers.

People should look for a lawyer they can trust. They should look for a lawyer willing to meet/talk with them one on one rather than passing them off to a paralegal or younger lawyer. They should look for a lawyer they can relate to, that makes them feel comfortable no matter what type of legal challenge they might be facing. They should look for a lawyer that is willing to do his or her dead level best to understand that they know all of the possible situations/outcomes/expectations brought about by whatever legal matter brought them to the lawyer's office. People are often intimidate by lawyers and the legal system - folks should look for a lawyer that reduces that fear and intimidation as much as possible.

In South Carolina, unfortunately, politics can, at times, be part and parcel of the legal process. Knowledge of all that such a situation entails can sometimes be of critical importance to the success of any legal matter.

This can vary greatly, but I do my best, given the time constraints sometimes inherent in a phone consultation, to give the client or prospective client, an idea of not only what I feel to be my initial impressions of the options in their situation, as well as any additional information I might want them to gather in order for me to give them a more thorough and accurate assessment of their situation. If we are dealing with a family court situation, I also try and give them at least an additional idea of what type of fees the client can anticipate.

I think the fact that I spent roughly 17 years working FOR insurance companies gives me a unique perspective, and unique insight into the litigation process from BOTH sides of the equation. While it does not give me a crystal ball or any ""magic"" powers, you cannot spend 17 years dealing with insurance companies from that angle without learning a bit about how they operate and why they sometimes do what they do in the litigation arena.

By far, the greatest thing I get from doing what I do is gratitude. It probably goes without saying that in the 17 years I worked FOR insurance companies, the words ""thank you"" were quite rare and scarce. After leaving the insurance world and opening my own office, the first time a client gave me a hug at the end of a case, I realized how much more I like and appreciate working for real people rather than large companies.

Other than my kids, my greatest passion outside of the law is music. I have been a musician since I was 14 and have played professionally since I was in my early 20's, whether I was playing in church or in front of a live audience.

I now, and always, place a tremendous amount of importance on giving back to the community. I have been deeply involved in children's issues for over 20 years, and currently serve on the Board of Directors for Defenders For Children, a local child abuse prevention and awareness organization. I am also a member of the South Carolina Bar Associations Children's Law Committee. I am a Graduate of Class XXV of Leadership Greenville, a program administered by the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, and am a former United Way Loaned Executive.

• South Carolina Bar, Family Law Section | Member | 2013 - Present
  South Carolina Bar Association | Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee Member | 2013 - Present
  South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association | Executive Committee Member | 2002 - 2005
  South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association, Joint Meeting Committee | Co-chair | 2000 - 2003
  South Caroline Defense Trial Attorney's Association | Co-Chair of Workers Compensation Substantive Law Committee | 1999 - 2004
  American Bar Association | Self Insurers and Risk Managers Committee Member | 1992 - 2005
  South Carolina Bar Association Workers' Compensation Section | Member | 1992 - 2004
  American Bar Association, Litigation Section | Member, Workers Compensation Liaison | 1990 - 2005

• Business of Integrity Award | Better Business Bureau | 2016
  Top 10 Attorneys - Nationally Ranked | National Academy Of Family Law Attorneys | 2016
  Julie Valentine Award | Piedmont Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse | 1991

• Workers Compensation Seminar | Workers Compensation | 2005
  South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association Midyear Meeting | Workers Compensation | 2003
  National Workers Compensation and Occupational Medicine Conference (keynote speaker) | Workers Compensation | 2003
  The Self Insurer | Strange But Necessary Bedfellows | 2003
  GSA Business Journal | Slow Economic Times Call For Fast Action on Workers Compensation Claims | 2002
  GSA Business Journal | Ouch...Now What? | 2002
  GAPA Statewide Meeting | .Workers Compensation | 2002
  South Carolina Workers' Compensation Educational Association Medical Conference | Workers Compensation | 2001
  ABA Tort and Insurance Practice Journal | Recent Developments In Workers Compensation Law | 2001
  The Self Insurer | Partnering For Success | 2001
  GSA Business Journal | Balancing Workers Compensation and Benefits To Illegal Aliens | 2001
  South Carolina Workers' Compensation Educational Association Medical Conference (Multiple sessions) | Workers Compensation | 2000
  Risk and Insurance Managers Society Southeast Regional Conference | Workers Compensation | 2000
  The Defense Line | "The Aftermath of Hedgepath in Workers Compensation | 1998

 Evening and Weekend consultations available by appointment.

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