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Ann-Patton Hornthal

Areas of Practice

Alternative Dispute Resolution
Appellate Law
Business Law
Civil Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Health Law
Insurance Law
Litigation
Medical Malpractice
Personal Injury/Wrongful Death
Products Liability
Real Property Litigation
Sports Law

Contact Information

Roberts & Stevens, Attorneys at Law
Attorney
BB&T Building
Suite 1100
One West Pack Square
Asheville , NC 28801
Work: 828-210-6815
Fax: 828-253-7200

Websites:

http://www.roberts-stevens.com

Licensed in these States

North Carolina

Licensed in other Jurisdictions

United States Court Of Appeals For The Fourth Circuit, United States District Court Western District Of North Carolina, United States District Court Eastern District Of North Carolina, Cherokee Tribal Court

Board Certified Specializations

Specialization	Certified by

Education:

Birmingham-Southern College, BA, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 2001
Mercer University, School of Law, JD, magna cum laude, 2006

Biography:

BIOGRAPHY**** Ann-Patton Hornthal is a litigator at Roberts & Stevens practicing regularly in both U.S. Federal and North Carolina State courts in civil litigation. Her experience covers a broad spectrum of matters, including defending claims involving professional malpractice, medical malpractice, personal injury, products liability, business torts, employment, commercial issues, and real property disputes. Ann-Patton's peers have honored her as a North Carolina Super Lawyer Rising Star in both 2011 and 2012. Ann-Patton has handled numerous appeals before the appellate courts in North Carolina. She is frequently involved in brief writing and in oral arguments before these appellate courts. Ann-Patton has successfully represented clients before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth Circuits, the United States District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of North Carolina, and all North Carolina state courts. Before joining Roberts & Stevens, Ann-Patton graduated, magna cum laude, from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. While in law school, Ann-Patton was an intern for the Honorable Hugh Lawson, Federal District Court Judge for the Middle District of Georgia, the Georgia Survey Editor of the Mercer Law Review, and a member of the National and Georgia Intrastate Moot Court teams. Before law school, Ann-Patton served as an AmeriCorps volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in Missoula, Montana. ******EXPERIENCE****** Professional liability defense, including legal malpractice defense on behalf of law firms and attorneys and negligence claims against real estate brokers Medical malpractice defense on behalf of hospitals, physicians, and nursing homes Commercial litigation and business torts, including breach of contract, fraud, unfair and deceptive trade practices, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of noncompete agreements, tortious interference with contractual or business relationships, breach of fiduciary duty, and veil piercing Personal injury, products liability, and wrongful death litigation Healthcare litigation, including representation of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in tort litigation Construction litigation Defamation actions for libel and slander Property litigation, including toxic tort, trespass, nuisance, adverse possession, quiet title actions, and easement disputes Appellate litigation, including extensive practice before the North Carolina Supreme Court and North Carolina Court of Appeals ******PROFESSIONAL******* North Carolina Super Lawyers, Civil Litigation Defense, Rising Star, 2011-2012 Western District of North Carolina Federal Bar Association North Carolina State Bar North Carolina Bar Association, Sections: Litigation, Sports & Entertainment Law, Young Lawyers Division; member of Medico-Legal Liaison Committee, 2009- present American Bar Association, Sections: Real Property and Federal North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, Young Lawyers Committee, 2009-present, Member, 2006-present Defense Research Institute, 2006-present Author, case note, 'A New Era of Dead-Beat Dads: Determining Social Security Survivor Benefits for Children Who Are Posthumously Conceived,' 56 Mercer Law Review 759, 2005 National Association of Women Lawyers, Outstanding Woman Law Graduate, 2006 Mercer Law Review, Georgia Survey Editor, 2005-2006 National Moot Court Team, 2006 ******COMMUNITY SERVICE****** Leadership Asheville Graduate, Class 29, 2011 Pisgah Legal Services, Board of Directors, 2012-present WCQS Public Radio Community Advisory Board Chairperson, 2006-2009; Board Member, 2006-2012 Pisgah Legal Services Mountain Area Volunteers Lawyer, volunteer, 2007-present Trinity Episcopal Church, Member, 2007-present AmeriCorps Volunteer Program, Alumnus, 2001-2002 ******RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS******* Successfully defended summary judgment for the defendant real estate broker and real estate company in a breach of fiduciary duty case where the owners sought damages in the form of attorneys' fees associated with defending a prior third-party suit. Swanson- Robinson v. Hope, NO. COA11-665, 2011 N.C. App. LEXIS 2290 (N.C. App. Nov. 1, 2011). Obtained reversal of trial court judgment in excess of $500,000 against client property owners in a real estate broker's lawsuit to recover his commission. Jim Lorenz, Inc. v. O'Haire, 711 S.E.2d 820 (N.C. App. 2011) Along with partner Jim Williams, represented defendant baby formula manufacturer in negligence action and obtained favorable outcome from North Carolina Supreme Court affirming revocation of pro hac vice admissions of out of state attorneys who made ex parte contact with the manufacturer's retained expert. Sisk v. Transylvania Cmty. Hosp., Inc., 364 N.C. 172, 695 S.E.2d 429 (2010). Served as trial co-counsel and obtained jury verdict enforcing terms of a land conservation easement and awarding damages in an action for trespass, protecting a 500+ acre tract abutting Shining Rock Wilderness in Western North Carolina, which was subsequently affirmed by the N C Court of Appeals. Woltz v. Taylor, 2010 N.C. App. LEXIS 1575 (N.C. App. Aug. 17, 2010). Obtained dismissal of plaintiffs' appeal relating to claims of breach of contract, tortious interference with contracts, slander, and unfair and deceptive trade practices against insurer. Atkins v. Peek, 668 S.E.2d 63 (N.C. 2008). Served as lead associate in appeal of Holloway v. Dept. of Crime Control and Public Safety, 197 N.C. App. 165 (2008), wherein the N C Court of Appeals upheld a defense verdict obtained from the Industrial Commission in a double fatality motor vehicle accident tort claim case against the North Carolina Highway Patrol. Served as lead associate in appeal where the N C Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment in our client's favor on plaintiffs' claims of adverse possession and prescriptive easement over disputed tract of land. Jones v. Miles, 189 N.C. App. 289 (N.C. App. 2008). In a medical malpractice case, successfully argued that award of expert fees to defendant doctor was proper. Greene v. Hoekstra, 189 N.C. App. 179 (N.C. App. 2008). Obtained numerous favorable settlements and dismissals for corporate and individual clients over the last five years.

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