Personal Injury

C. Randy Emory was born and raised in the small, rural town of Wilson NC. Throughout his childhood, Mr. Emory displayed many leadership qualities. In High School, Randy was President of the Student Body, also finding time to excel and letter in three sports. Ultimately, Mr. Emory decided to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for his collegiate studies. While there, he continued his involvement in student government, serving on a multitude of committees. Randy also mentored children in the Big Brother Big Sister Program. He is a very proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. After graduating from UNC in 1985, Mr. Emory enrolled in law school at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. While in his studies, he also interned with State Farm Insurance company. There he was able to really grasp how Insurance Companies handled their many claims that they received on a daily basis. After completing Law School, Randy worked in the claims department at State Farm Insurance for three years. While there, he handled over three thousand auto claims, gaining valuable knowledge. In 1991, Mr. Emory was able to transfer that knowledge to an established personal injury firm in Charlotte where he worked for ten years. In 2001, Randy started the Emory Law Firm, and it has been successfully operating ever since. He has handled over 16,000 auto claims during his career. Randy remains a very active member in his community, having served as Vice Chairman of the Citizen Review Board for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. He also has taken the responsibility of helping at risk youth in his area. Mr. Emory is also a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. He currently resides with his wife Tammy and two boys.​

Attorney Josue Ruiz is an experienced advocate practicing immigration law across the United States and Puerto Rico and personal injury law in Puerto Rico. He can provide assistance with family preference visas, immediate relative visas, fiancé (K) visas, green cards, professional work visas, green cards through employer, waivers of inadmissability, VAWA & U visas, DACA & special immigrant juvenile law, and asylum. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law in 2011 and has been a member of the Puerto Rico Bar since 2012. Josue is also an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Fluent in both English and Spanish, he is dedicated to providing personalized legal representation and effective advocacy for a diverse range of clients. Call 571-441-2233 to speak to Mr. Ruiz at Immigration Legal Advisors, PLLC.

Jonathan grew up in Lexington, Virginia. After finishing his law degree at Washington & Lee University School of Law, Jonathan worked as a Contract Negotiations Specialist and as a Financial Planner for a Fortune 500 company before starting Tarris Law in 2016. Since starting Tarris Law, Jonathan has litigated thousands of matters throughout Virginia from fatal trucking accidents to farm partitions among dozens of heirs. and has successfully appealed trial court rulings, even garnishing published opinions in the Virginia Court of Appeals. Many times Jonathan is able to avoid litigation altogether with proper planning and negotiations. He has formed dozens of trusts, LLCs and other business entities, providing them with the proper legal paperwork to avoid disputes among all stakeholders. His testimonials below demonstrate his exceptional care for his clients. For clients who did not have the proper paperwork and planning in place before contacting Tarris Law he has achieved successful settlements to avoid unnecessary and costly litigation in cases ranging from complex estates and divorces to personal injuries and contract disputes. Read about some of our cases under the respective practice area. In his spare time Jonathan enjoys spending time outdoors on family outings, doing home improvement projects and volunteering on a variety of community boards and commissions.

David Mize is a dedicated attorney with a robust background in civil litigation and criminal defense. Graduating from Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law, David was admitted to the bar in August 2013 and has since built a reputation for professionalism, extensive legal knowledge, and successful case outcomes. In the realm of civil litigation, David has actively participated in both State and Federal courts, handling a diverse array of cases ranging from personal injury matters to complex business disputes. His experience includes navigating business-to-business contract disputes and consumer versus business contractual conflicts with precision and a focus on achieving favorable resolutions for clients. In the criminal defense sphere, David has demonstrated proficiency in handling felony cases of various complexities, including juvenile matters, homicides, financial crimes, and drug offenses. His strategic approach and courtroom acumen have consistently yielded positive results for clients facing serious legal challenges. Moreover, David has extensive experience in family law, having successfully managed dissolutions of marriage, custody disputes, and high-stakes litigation involving spousal maintenance, child support, and high net worth divorce cases. His ability to navigate emotionally charged family law matters with sensitivity while advocating vigorously for his clients’ interests sets him apart in his field. Throughout his career, David has established a track record of achieving favorable outcomes through meticulous preparation, strong advocacy, and a commitment to delivering personalized legal solutions tailored to each client’s unique circumstances. He is known for their integrity, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to securing the best possible results for those he represents.

Joseph Savan Gatlin III is a lawyer practicing nursing home abuse and neglect, wrongful death, medical malpractice and 1 other area of law. Joseph received a B.A. degree from Mississippi State University in 1993, and has been licensed for 29 years. Joseph practices in Jackson, MS.

Richard Pena is president and CEO of the firm. He was elected by his peers to serve as the President of the State Bar of Texas from 1998-1999. He served as President of the American Bar Foundation and was on the Board of Governors for the American Bar Association. He is also past president of the Travis County Bar Association, former Chair of the Texas Bar Foundation, and former Chair of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. He was a director to the State Bar of Texas and a State Delegate to the ABA. Richard has received three Presidential Citations from the State Bar of Texas for his meritorious service to the profession and has been selected a member of the prestigious American Inns of Court as well as receiving the Distinguished Lawyer Award presented by the Austin Bar Association in 2007. The Texas Bar Journal recognized him as 1 of 20 "trailblazers" in the February 2014 issue. He also was the recipient of the 2010 Difference Makers Award presented by the ABA General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division. Richard is a national leader in the legal field, and is active in the American Bar Association, where he led the Texas Delegation to the ABA. He has also been active in the American Bar Foundation, where he was previously on the Board of Directors. Recently he served as Chair of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, which is the preeminent attorney group in the country with membership limited to one third of one percent (1/3 of 1%) of the lawyers in America. Richard has been on the Advisory Board of People to People Ambassadors Program and has led Delegations of Texas and U.S. Lawyers to numerous countries including, Turkey, South Africa, China, Tibet, Cuba, Vietnam, Cambodia, Egypt, India, Israel, and Brazil. He was also Chair of a U.S.-Russian Joint Conference on the Rule of Law in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2006 he received the Eisenhower Achievement Award from the program. Richard's trip to Egypt was featured in an article in the Austin American-Statesman as well as in the Austin Business Journal. He is currently Special Assistant for Legal Program Travel to Academic Travel Abroad.

Phil is an AV-rated® trial lawyer. He has tried multiple jury and bench trials and has argued cases in the Colorado Supreme Court, the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Illinois Appellate Court, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, and the state trial courts of Colorado, Georgia and Illinois. Phil is licensed to practice before all state courts of Colorado and Georgia as well as the United States District Courts for the District of Colorado and the Northern District of Georgia. Phil focuses his practice on complex family law matters, and also has extensive experience in probate/estate litigation, real estate litigation, commercial litigation, and appellate practice. Phil is rated AV-Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest attorney rating available. The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings system is based on the confidential opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary regarding their colleague’s legal ability and general ethical standards. An AV® Peer Review Rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. It “shows that a lawyer has reached the height of professional excellence. He or she has usually practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.” Phil is included in The Best Lawyers in America© for Family Law. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Best Lawyers employs a methodology designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. Only approximately 6% of attorneys nationwide are recognized as Best Lawyers in America. The National Trial Lawyers selected Phil as a “Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer.” Membership into The National Trial Lawyers is by invitation only and extended to those attorneys who exemplify superior qualifications, trial results, and leadership in their respective state based upon objective and uniformly applied criteria. Avvo rated Phil 10.0 “Superb” which is the highest Avvo rating. Phil serves on the Professionalism Coordinating Council of the Colorado Bar Association which works to implement the Principles of Professionalism among members of the Bar and improve the professional conduct of lawyers and judges. Phil served on the PCC subcommittee that drafted the formal definition of professionalism applicable to all Colorado attorneys. Phil served on the American Bar Association Advisory Panel and the ABA Trial Practice and Techniques Committee. Phil is a Master of the Bench in the Rhone Brackett Inn of Court. Phil was a U.S. Army Scholarship recipient. Upon graduation from VMI, Phil was named Distinguished Military Graduate “on the basis of high scholarship, evidence of high moral character, military aptitude, and demonstrated leadership ability.” Phil served as an Army officer for eight years. He received the National Defense Service Medal (Desert Shield/Desert Storm) for his active duty service during the Persian Gulf War.

Cary Powell Moseley graduated with a degree in English and Mathematics from the University of Virginia in 1988. While at UVA, Mr. Moseley was an Echols Scholar and Washington Scholar. Mr. Moseley received his law degree from the Washington & Lee University School of Law in 1991. Mr. Moseley was a member of the National Moot Court Team at W&L, and was a Quarterfinalist at Oral Argument and Best Brief Runner-up in the Davis Moot Court Competition. From 1991-1992, he was Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Norman K. Moon, then a judge on the Virginia Court of Appeals, now a Federal United States District Court judge. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Moseley was a litigation associate at James, McElroy & Diehl, P.A. in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mr. Moseley then became an associate and then a partner in the law firm of Davidson, Sakolosky & Moseley, P.C., from 1995 until 2005, having made partner in the firm in 1997. Mr. Moseley was counsel for the plaintiff in the landmark lemon law case, Subaru of America, Inc. v. Debora Peters, 256 Va. 43 (1998), the first lemon law case decided by the Virginia Supreme Court. Mr. Moseley has been recognized as an expert in consumer law and consumer rights litigation and has testified as an expert witness in the Virginia Circuit Courts on various consumer issues as well as attorney fee issues. Mr. Moseley’s testimony has led a number of judges to award the plaintiff 100% of his or her litigation expenses. Mr. Moseley has obtained numerous six-figure settlements and jury verdicts against car dealers and insurance companies in Virginia and North Carolina, and Mr. Moseley was counsel for the plaintiff in a number of cases where the jury or judge found the car dealer or mobile home dealer committed actual fraud. Mr. Moseley is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States of America, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, and state and federal courts. Mr. Moseley is a member of the Virginia and North Carolina bars. An active member of the community, Mr. Moseley was voted Big Brother of the Year in Central Virginia in 1997, by Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of Central Virginia. He has served as a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, Special Olympics, Daily Bread (kitchen cleanup help and cook), and the Boonsboro Volunteer Fire & Rescue Squad. In 2006, Mr. Moseley became certified to drive ambulances and fire trucks of all shapes and sizes. Mr. Moseley has given generously of his time and money to numerous churches and charitable organizations, including the Robert Frascino AIDS Foundation, The Miller Home for Girls, United Way, Salvation Army and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and their fundraisers. Mr. Moseley is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Lynchburg, and in his youth, he was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Danville, Virginia. On June 25, 2013, the Lynchburg City Council appointed Mr. Moseley to serve a 3-year term on the City Appeals Board.

Evan Barat is an experienced family law attorney who represents clients in various family law matters, including divorce, custody modifications, child support modifications, adoptions, and Child Protective Services (CPS) removal cases. Recognized as a “Rising Star” by Texas Super Lawyers in 2021, 2022, and 2023, Evan is known for her personalized approach, straightforward counsel, and dedicated advocacy. Evan graduated with honors from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law. She has dedicated her legal career to serving clients in East Texas, building her reputation through consistent and committed legal representation. An active member of the Texas legal community, Evan is involved with the Texas Bar Foundation, the State Bar of Texas, the Smith County Bar Association, and several sections dedicated to family law. She resides in Tyler, Texas, with her husband and children and is actively involved in her community through St. Francis Episcopal Church.