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The attorneys are supported by a highly capable staff of experienced legal assistants.
About Our North Carolina Real Estate Law and Personal Injury Firm
Partners:
Associates:
As personal injury attorneys near Asheville, we pride ourselves on the aggressive and tireless manner in which we represent our clients in their pursuit of justice. In our North Carolina real estate law and personal injury practice, we combine 70 years of trial experience with wide-ranging legal expertise, and are entirely devoted to achieving the best possible outcome in each case we handle. Our attorneys have a commitment to our personal injury clients, a commitment that we have consistently and successfully honored during our years of service.
Our attorneys are located in Western North Carolina between Asheville and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although our location is rural, our personal injury attorneys practice in both state and federal courts throughout North Carolina.
We handle wrongful death lawsuits and personal injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning you do not pay attorneys' fees unless you recover damages. At our Asheville, North Carolina practice, our fees for criminal defense and other civil litigation that cannot be handled on a contingency basis are competitive and reasonable.
In addition, we operate an efficient and highly successful North Carolina real estate law practice serving the surrounding local counties: Jackson, Haywood, Swain, Macon, and Graham. North Carolina real estate law can be complex, but we give our clients the legal expertise they need to facilitate and organize their real estate transactions. Contact Melrose, Seago & Lay today for legal counsel on North Carolina real estate law.
About the Attorneys near Asheville at Melrose, Seago & Lay
You can be assured that at Melrose, Seago & Lay, P.A., our attorneys in the Asheville area understand exactly how vital each individual case is. We are innovative and accomplished professionals who are extremely knowledgeable of even the finest points of North Carolina personal injury and real estate law. We are relentless in the pursuit of justice for those victims of personal injury who place their confidence in the ability of our attorneys.
The three partners of Melrose, Seago & Lay, P.A., set the standard of excellence to which all of our firm's attorneys are held:
MARK MELROSE
Mark Melrose devotes all of his professional attention to trial work and has been actively trying a wide variety of serious cases during the past 17 years. His areas of practice include personal injury, medical malpractice, criminal defense, professional liability, insurance bad faith, and Constitutional law. His zealous commitment to protecting the rights of his clients has earned him and the cases in which he has been involved regular media attention. Mr. Melrose also donates a considerable amount of time each year to various pro bono cases, as well as to actively participating in the North Carolina High School Mock Trial competition sponsored by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers. His affiliation with the Academy further extends to serving on both its Educational Committee and its Editorial Board.
Mr. Melrose began his education at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1985. He completed his education at the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill in 1989, earning a Juris Doctor degree. Since being admitted to the bar by North Carolina in 1990, he has twice been honored with the Pro Bono Service Award for the 30th Judicial District, once in 1992 and again in 1998. He has served as chairman of the District's Pro Bono Committee since 1993. He is a member of Lawyer Pilot Bar Association as well is an Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association Legal Panel referral attorney. Mr. Melrose was recently honored by his election to the Board of Governors for the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers in June, 2007. He was also elected president of the Jackson/Swain County Bar Association in 2006.
In addition to his trial work, Mr. Melrose has conducted numerous highly acclaimed seminars and presentations on a variety of topics, including "Case Selection and Management - How to Sleep Better, Retire Earlier and Live Longer," "Attorney's Fees," "The Trial Process and Jury Selection," "Defending Your Client against Efforts to Get His Mental Health Records," "Risk Management for Outdoor Educators," "Advanced Directives for Health Care Professionals," and on "October seventh, 2006 at Haywood Community College for Medical Technicians: Malpractice and risk management in the Physician’s Office."
Mr. Melrose has also been honored to be appointed to the Jackson County Recreation and Parks Department Advisory Board. He is actively engaged in coaching youth soccer teams. Mr. Melrose is also a member of the Haywood County Citizens Advisory Committee, 2006.
A consummate, highly respected professional, Mr. Melrose is also a published author. He has recently written and published his first novel for young adult readers entitled "Take A Chance"
Click on any of the following links to read some of Mr. Melrose's earlier work:
Summary of Recent Cases Affecting Criminal Law by Mark Melrose
Western North Carolina Juries and Closing Arguments by Mark R. Melrose, presented at a North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers seminar on North Carolina Trial Advocacy in February, 2004.
Case Selection and Management--How to Sleep Better, Retire Earlier and Live Longer by Mark R. Melrose, Continuing Legal Education Presentation and Professional Manuscript, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, March, 2003.
Attorney's Fees by Mark R. Melrose, Wake Forest University School of Law Continuing Legal Education Presentation and Professional Paper, October 2002.
Trial by Error by Mark R. Melrose, Trial Briefs Magazine of North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, July, 2001. A collection of true hits and misses in the courtroom with exhibits.
Closing the Courthouse Doors: Rule 9(j) and Rule 702 by Mark R. Melrose, Trial Briefs of North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, October 2000. A thorough review of special pleading requirements for North Carolina medical malpractice cases.
Surviving a Solo Practice by Mark R. Melrose, North Carolina State Bar Journal, Winter 1996. A lighthearted look at starting and operating a solo law practice.
To learn more about our attorneys serving Asheville, Sylva, and other areas of North Carolina, contact Melrose, Seago & Lay.
RANDAL SEAGO
Randal Seago has extensive trial experience encompassing everything from wrongful death cases to capital murder trials. He has been involved in many high-profile cases in his career, including appellate work that resulted in a significant interpretation of the law in favor of his clients. His entire practice is devoted to litigation, with particular expertise in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice, criminal defense, estate disputes, inheritance litigation, professional liability, insurance bad faith, real estate litigation, and eminent domain.
Mr. Seago graduated with a Bachelor's Degree from Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, in 1979. From there, he continued his education at the University of Louisville School of Law in Louisville, Kentucky, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 1985. He was admitted to the North Carolina Bar Association in 1988, the same year that he began his affiliation with the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers. In his years of service, Mr. Seago has earned a reputation as an attorney wholly devoted to and passionate about defending the rights of his clients.
Contact Melrose, Seago & Lay for a case evaluation with Randal Seago or one of the other attorneys at our Asheville area firm in Sylva, North Carolina. We are skilled in real estate law, personal injury, and other areas of litigation.
KIMBERLY CARPENTER LAY
Kimberly Carpenter Lay has been practicing in North Carolina since being admitted to the bar in 1996. She is currently directing the firm's real estate practice as well as continuing to do trial work, specializing in the areas of personal injury, worker's compensation, real estate, civil litigation, wills and estates, contracts, corporate law, medical malpractice, criminal defense. She also serves as the attorney for Swain County, representing the county in a variety of litigation, personnel, and contract matters. In addition, she represents local banks in collection cases.
Ms. Lay graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Western Carolina University in 1993. She continued her studies at the North Carolina Central University School of Law in Durham, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 1996. In 1998, Ms. Lay was honored by the 30th Judicial District's Volunteer Lawyers' Program with an Outstanding Service Award, acknowledging her pro bono casework. Since 1999, she has served on the Board of Directors for both Western North Carolina Legal Services and Swain/Quall SAFE, a battered women's shelter. In addition to her work as an attorney, she also taught as an adjunct professor at Southwest Community College in 1999.
Befitting her role as a leader and active participant in the community, Ms. Lay has been a member of the Bryson City Women's Club (part of the General Federation of Women's Clubs) since 1997.
If you would like a case review with the attorneys at the Asheville, North Carolina area real estate and personal injury law firm of Melrose, Seago & Lay, contact us today.
NATHAN EARWOOD
Nathan Earwood, a native of Western North Carolina, joined the Melrose, Seago & Lay's staff in 2003. After earning a Bachelor's Degree from Western Carolina University, he went on to study at the Regent University School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree. During his time at law school, Mr. Earwood clerked with the District Attorney's Office as well as one of the largest personal injury firms in Virginia Beach. He now focuses on criminal defense, traffic, and driving while impaired matters. He is a member of numerous legal organizations, including Young Trial Lawyers of America, the North Carolina Bar Association, and the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is also active in his community through his church and such civic organizations as the Rotary club. Mr. Earwood's goal is to provide each client with individual attention in a professional and courteous manner. He is dedicated to zealously representing the rights of his clients.
Contact our attorneys near Asheville at Melrose, Seago & Lay. Serving residents throughout North Carolina, our real estate and personal injury law firm is dedicated to bringing our clients justice.
JAMIE WHITLOCK
Jamie Whitlock is a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History, With Honors. Upon completion of college, Jamie went to Vermont Law School, where he graduated from the law school’s joint degree program, earning a Juris Doctor and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Law. His areas of practice include civil litigation, real estate and land use matters, personal injury, medical malpractice, appellate litigation, and criminal defense. He is a member of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Jamie also has a specialized knowledge and particular interest in environmental law. To that end, he is a syndicated columnist with Community Newspapers, Inc., where he has had articles relating to environmental issues published in several local and regional newspapers. Jamie also serves on the State Board of North Carolina Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
If you would like a case review or learn more about the attorneys, contact Melrose, Seago & Lay today.
DAVID STEINBICKER
David is a graduate of Western Carolina University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. He previously was in a general law practice in Jackson County from 1990-1998. He served as the Director of Financial and Personnel Services for the Jackson County Board of Education from 1999 until this year. Steinbicker is also licensed as a CPA in North Carolina. His practice area interests are trusts and estates, probate, real estate, civil litigation, property law and contracts. He lives in Sylva with his wife, Gina, and two children, Natalie and Seth.
If you have a personal injury or real estate case, contact our attorneys near Asheville, North Carolina, at Melrose, Seago & Lay for a free consultation.
- Melrose, Seago & Lay, P.A.
- 576 Dellwood Road
- Waynesville, North Carolina 28786
- Located on Dellwood Road between Russ Avenue and Frog Level.
- P.O. Box 1011,
- 2775 Highway 74 East,
- Sylva, North Carolina 28779
- Just East of Exit 85
- Click Here for Directions
- ph: (866) 277-3807
- fx: (828) 586-8320