"You hear it a lot in the legal profession: “I’ve handled hundreds of cases just like yours.” The truth isn’t that simple though. Every case is different. Every client has their own story, and it is our job to tell it right. That’s why I’m so happy to be practicing at a firm that gives each client the dignity they deserve. At the end of the day, we are working for justice. You can only do that by treating each case as unique."
Hardison Wood was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He graduated from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland with a BA in Philosophy & the History of Mathematics and Science. Prior to attending law school, Hardison worked in the government relations group of a large Washington, D.C. based law firm. He later moved to the New York area to work at then tech start-up, Priceline.com.
Hardison earned his legal degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York, New York, focusing his studies on alternative dispute resolution. While in law school, Hardison worked for New York City’s Administrative Trials division, where he assisted with the city’s first-ever mandatory mediation program for its employees. His work was later published in the Ohio State Journal of Dispute Resolution. Hardison’s very first case out of law school was a 15-passenger van rollover involving fatalities and serious injuries. The case took years to bring to a conclusion, and it gave Hardison deep insights into catastrophic injury litigation early on in his career.
Hardison’s research interests include alternative dispute resolution theory, autonomous vehicles, and legislative apportionment. His advocacy interests include the products liability statute of repose, collateral source reform, expert witness evidentiary changes, and judicial selection reform.
Hardison currently lives in Wake County where he and his wife remain busy with their five children. He also serves on the Board of the St. John’s College Alumni Association, where he is presently the Alumni Giving Council liaison.
Education
- St. John’s College, Annapolis, Maryland, B.A. (1998)
- Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, New York, J.D. (2005)
Admissions & Memberships
- United States District Court, Eastern, Middle, & Western Districts of North Carolina
- State of North Carolina (all state courts)
- American Association of Justice
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Wake County Bar Association
Awards
- Martindale Hubble AV Preeminent (since 2009)
- Outstanding Service Award (NCAJ, 2010)
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum (since 2011)
- Best Lawyers in America (since 2014)
- National Trial Lawyer’s Top 100 (since 2014)
- Trial Lawyer Board of Regents Litigator Award (since 2014)
- Super Lawyers (since 2015)
Book Chapters & Publications
- Wood DH (Ed.). Products Liability. In: RM Elliot (Ed.), North Carolina: Prima Facie Tort Manual. North Carolina Advocates for Justice Foundation & LexisNexis, Raleigh, NC 2014; 455-506.
- Wood DH (Ed.). Woodson Claims: Employer’s Intentional Tort Exception to Exclusive Remedy Provisions of the Worker’s Compensation Act. In: RM Elliot (Ed.), North Carolina: Prima Facie Tort Manual. North Carolina Advocates for Justice Foundation & LexisNexis, Raleigh, NC 2014; 581-600.
- Ceccareli, B, Shovlin, J, Wood, DH. Autonomous vehicles will force authorities to reassess yellow-light formulas. Traffic Technology Today. (2015).
- Wood, DH. Spotting Product Failures and Emerging Defects in Motor Vehicle Industry. Trial Briefs Magazine, June 2011, 13-17.
- Wood, DH. Motorcycle Accidents & Products Liability. Trial Briefs Magazine, June 2011, 23-26.
- Wood, DH, Leon, DM. Measuring Value in Mediation. 21 Ohio St. J. on Disp. Resol. 383 (2006).
Lectures & Speaking Engagements
- “Statute of Repose Update.” North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Raleigh, North Carolina 2016 CLE.
- “Daubert as Sword & Shield: Expert Testimony Post-McGrady.” North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Raleigh, North Carolina, 2014 CLE.
- “Button Cell Battery Litigation & Other Consumer Products.” North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Asheville, North Carolina, 2013 Fall Convention.
- “Plaintiff’s Personal Injury from Start to Finish.” National Business Institute, 2013 CLE.
- “Expert Testimony: The Changing Landscape.” North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Raleigh, North Carolina, 2012 CLE.
- “Recent Changes to Rule 702 of NC Rules of Evidence.” North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Raleigh, North Carolina, 2012 CLE.
- “Overlooked Products Claims in Auto Torts, Medmal, and Worker’s Comp.” North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Summer Convention, Wilmington, North Carolina, 2010.
- “Electronic Defects in Motor Vehicle Litigation.” North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Paralegal Seminar, Charlotte, North Carolina, 2010.
- “Preemption & Motor Vehicle Defect Litigation.” North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Fall Convention, Asheville, North Carolina, 2009.
