Thomas W. Dickinson, Attorney

Thomas W. Dickinson focuses his practice in the area of personal injury and civil litigation. In his 30 years of practice he has tried a wide variety of cases from death penalty defense to medical malpractice prosecution. He represents injured parties in cases involving personal injury and wrongful death including products liability, medical negligence and automobile torts. He is a frequent speaker at CLE seminars. He has a special interest in helping to improve the quality of life of fellow lawyers and has been the long standing chair of the Lawyer Support Committee for the Mecklenburg County Bar. For each of the past eleven years, Tom has been awarded the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory's highest accolade: an AV lawyer, signifying the very highest legal ability and ethical conduct.

Professional
Tom attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill receiving his law degree in 1975. After early success in criminal trial work, he was recruited to a position as an assistant public defender in Charlotte, and from there to a position with Bailey, Brackett and Brackett in 1982 where he applied his wealth of criminal trial experience to the civil prosecution of those responsible for seriously injuring others. Since 1985, Tom has practiced law with his current partner, Eben Rawls, III. He has successfully resolved and tried to verdict a wide range of personal injury cases from automobile accidents involving drunk drivers to medical malpractice and product liability cases. He has earned the wide respect of judges and his fellow attorneys.

A regular lecturer at continuing legal education (CLE) programs in North Carolina, he has spoken on topics including How to Value a Personal Injury Case, Direct Examination of the Plaintiff in a Personal Injury Case, Focus Groups Working with Jury Consultants, Alternative Dispute Resolutions Summary Jury Trials, and Law Office Technology.

Tom served as the chairman of the Mecklenburg County Bar's Lawyer Support Committee for many years. The Committee provides front-line assistance for lawyers in need of assistance as the result of mental health and substance abuse problems and develops programs to educate members of the local Bar about stress and encourage them to implement healthy lifestyle practices. His work over the years with local lawyers in need of assistance led the president of the Mecklenburg County Bar in 2002 to recognize Tom as the conscience of our bar.

Tom has also been an avid supporter of Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD). He has spoken at meetings and assisted with training sessions for volunteers who counsel those who have been the victim of a drunk driver.

Personal
In 1967 while still in high school, Tom was seriously injured by a drunk driver. His struggle to a successful recovery from three fractured vertebrae, rib and hand fractures, and sternal separation propelled him to pursue a legal career as an advocate for people seriously injured by the carelessness of others.

He and his wife Kathy have two children in college. In his free time, Tom enjoys gardening, golf and meditation.

Areas of Practice:

Products Liability
Wrongful Death
Civil Litigation
Personal Injury
Medical Negligence
Automobile Torts
Bar Admissions:
North Carolina, 1975

Education:

University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 1975

University of North Carolina, 1971
B.A.

Professional Associations and Memberships:

26th Judicial District State Bar
North Carolina State Bar
North Carolina Bar Association
North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
American Association for Justice
Lawyers Support Committee

Past Employment Positions:

Private Practice, Durham, N.C., 1975 - 1978
Assistant Public Defender, Charlotte, N.C., 1978 - 1982
Bailey, Brackett and Brackett, Charlotte, N.C., 1982 - 1985
Private Practice, Charlotte, N.C., 1985 - Present