Rick Conner Counsel

Experience

• Defended a major financial institution sued as drawee bank and as depository bank in a $100 + million claim brought by a city government in which an employee of the city embezzled millions by causing the city to issue hundreds of bogus property tax refund checks.
• Advised a court-appointed Receiver in a Ponzi scheme case on dealing with dishonored personal checks, cashier’s checks, teller’s checks, personal money orders, and bank money orders, as well as how to investigate and resolve claims that some distribution checks issued by the Receiver to victims were misappropriated.
• Advised a bank on terminating its relationship with a troublesome vendor and defended the bank in various lawsuits arising out of that relationship.
• Defended an industrial supplier in a warranty action involving products incorporated into vehicles sold to the U.S. military.
• Defended a real estate development company against construction defect claims.
• Defended an appeal to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in a defamation action against an Internet service provider.
• Prosecuted a trademark infringement action on behalf of a specialty food business.
• Defended an alliance of hospitals and health care systems in a contract action relating to medical supplies.
• Obtained a directed verdict for a banking client in a case alleging that the bank improperly permitted plaintiff’s new business partner to deposit checks payable to a business into the account of a different company.
• Obtained summary judgment for a banking client in a lender liability lawsuit relating to a foreclosure.
• Represented a North Carolina college and a member of its faculty in civil and criminal proceedings to identify a cyber stalker.
• Represented a golf cart manufacturer in breach of warranty claims.
• Defended a specialty foods manufacturer in a software dispute involving trade secrets.
• Defended a prominent restaurant franchisor in a contract dispute.
• Represented a NASCAR driver in trademark opposition proceedings before the USPTO.
• Advised a NASCAR team on driver contract rights and obligations.
• Assisted a specialty foods manufacturer with an investigation and recovery from a vendor based on fraudulent billing practices.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of a consumer product manufacturer in a lawsuit alleging breach of implied and express warranties, negligence, fraud and unfair trade practices.
• Assisted an industrial cleaning services company with a mechanic’s lien and recovery of amounts owed.