Philip A. Collins

Phil Collins practices primarily in the areas of employment law, state and federal personnel law, civil rights, constitutional law, personal injury, and insurance coverage.  He is an experienced trial attorney who has represented a diverse array of individuals including state employees, law enforcement officers, teachers, healthcare professionals, lawyers, and business owners, among others.

Phil has tried multiple jury and bench trials across the state of North Carolina and has successfully represented clients before the North Carolina Supreme Court, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  He has also appeared for clients in the United States District Court for all three federal districts in North Carolina.

Phil graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law where he served as a staff member on the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commerce. He has authored numerous publications from the National Business Institute in the area of insurance coverage.

In his spare time, Phil likes to do nothing in particular with his wife, Grace, and two daughters, Lucy and Julia. He also writes songs on occasion and makes the rest of the world suffer for his art by playing them in public.

Education

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 1986
• North Carolina State University, M.A., 1996
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., honors, 2000

Jurisdictions Licensed

• All North Carolina State and Federal District Courts
• United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

Reported Cases

• Carolina Chirocare & Rehab, Inc. v. Nationwide Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 2021 N.C. App. LEXIS 523, 862 S.E.2d 436 (September 21, 2021) (summary judgment dismissal of unfair and deceptive trade practices and bad faith/punitive damages claims affirmed).
• Morgan v. Brittany Woods Homeower’s Ass’n, 777 Fed. Appx. 676 (4th Cir. 2019) (dismissal on the pleadings for alleged violations of FHA)
• Taylor v. Bettis, 693 Fed. Appx. 190 (4th Cir. 2017) (dismissal of fraud, RICO and other claims against attorneys representing RICO defendants)
• Utley v. Smith 2016 N.C. App. Lexis 1210 (N.C. Ct. App. 2016) (summary judgment dismissal affirmed in premise liability lawsuit against client)
• Glenn v. Johnson 787 S.E.2d 65, 2016 N.C. App. Lexis 611 (N.C. Ct. App. 2016) (summary judgment dismissal affirmed for defamation and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims against church)
• Nationwide Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Brinley’s Grading Serv. No. COA 12-276, 737 S.E.2d 192, 2013 N.C. App. LEXIS 149 (N.C. Ct. App. 2013) (applicability of CGL policy “leased employee” exclusion in wrongful death action)
• Cullen v. Emanuel & Dunn, PLLC COA11-921, 731 S.E.2d 274, 2012 N.C. App. LEXIS 1039 (N.C. Ct. App. 2012) (dismissal of negligent supervision, tortious interference, statutory attorney fraud, and NC RICO claims against attorneys representing RICO defendants)
• Great Divide Ins. Co. v. Midnight Rodeo, Inc. No. 5:08-CV-204 –F, 2010 U.S. Dist LEXIS 51598 (E.D.N.C. May 24, 2010) (applicability of assault and battery exclusion in liability policy)
• Westerhold v. Designer’s Way, Inc. 167 N.C. App. 657, 605 S.E.2d 743 (2004) (summary judgment dismissal affirmed for negligent hiring, supervision, and retention claim)

Professional Affiliations

• Wake County Bar Association