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Donald W. Marcari

also known as Don Marcari
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About Donald

Don first gained national attention when his exploits as a young defense attorney with the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps became the basis for the motion picture, "A Few Good Men" in 1992.

Since 1985, Don has been fighting for seriously injured people throughout North Carolina and Virginia, concentrating on plaintiff personal injury law and civil litigation. In addition, Don handles veteran benefits claims and continues to defend select members of our military service in court martials and administrative proceedings.

Don is a highly recognized attorney who has tried more than 200 jury trials including cases against Ford, Firestone, American Honda, Home Depot and several national trucking companies. He represented clients whose cases became the foundation for a movie, The Paula Coughlin Story and a book, The Story of the U.S. Navy's Tailhook Scandal.

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Practice areas

Personal injuryCar accident
  1. Car accident: 75%

  2. Personal injury: 25%

Languages spoken

English

Photos and videos

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Contact

Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban

501 Baylor Court
Suite 200
Chesapeake, VA, 23320

    Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban

    15801 Brixham Hill Ave.
    Suite 350
    Charlotte, NC, 28277

    Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban

    2443 Lynn Road
    Suite 208
    Raleigh, NC, 27612

    Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban

    37 Haywood Street
    Suite 200
    Asheville, NC, 28801

    Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban

    200 Dick Street
    Suite B
    Fayetteville, NC, 28301

    Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban

    204 Muirs Chapel Road
    Suite 354
    Greensboro, NC, 27410

    Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban

    200 Valencia Dr
    Suite 148
    Jacksonville, NC, 28546

    Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban

    96 W. Salisbury Street
    Unit 2
    Wrightsville Beach, NC, 28480

    Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban

    900 Commonwealth Place
    Suite 200-348
    Virginia Beach, VA, 23464

    Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban

    127 Salem Ave
    Suite 313
    Roanoke, VA, 24011

    Resume

    License
    StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
    VAAuthorized to Practice Law198806/26/2021
    NCActive198509/19/2021

    Professional misconduct


    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority.

    • Reprimand
      issued in NC, 2012

      updated on 04/10/2014

      Typically in this case the lawyer's poor behavior is exposed to the public in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior.

      Donald's comment:“YellowPage Ad did not list disclaimer regarding membership in the Million Dollar Advocacy Forum.”

    • Reprimand
      issued in NC, 2008

      updated on 04/10/2014

      Typically in this case the lawyer's poor behavior is exposed to the public in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior.

      Donald's comment:“Direct Mail envelope did not have required language in accordance with North Carolina Bar.”

    Avvo Contributions
    Legal answers2
    Legal guides0
    Awards
    Award nameGrantorDate granted
    MemberMillion Dollar Advocates Forum2015
    MemberMulti-Million Dollar Advocates Forum2015
    Top 100 Trial LawyersNational Trial Lawyers2015
    AV Peer Review RatingMartindale-Hubbell2012
    Bar Register of Preeminent LawyersMartindale-Hubbell2012
    Leader in LawNC Lawyers Weekly2012
    Super LawyerVirginia Super Lawyers2011
    Top 100 Trial LawyersNational Trial Lawyers2011
    Super LawyerVirginia Super Lawyers2010
    Order of ServiceNorth Carolina Advocates for Justice2009
    Super LawyerVirginia Super Lawyers2009
    Top 100 Trial LawyersNational Trial Lawyers Association2009
    Top 100 Trial LawyersNational Trial Lawyers Association2008
    Top 100 Trial LawyersNational Trial Lawyers Association2007
    Top 100 LawyersAmerican Society of Legal AdvocatesN/A
    Work Experience
    TitleCompany nameDuration
    Managing Partner and AttorneyMarcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban2000 - Present
    PartnerJoynes & Marcari1996 - 2000
    AttorneyJoynes & Bieber1994 - 1996
    Managing PartnerKershner, Hawkins & Marcari1988 - 1994
    Senior ProsecutorU S Navy, Judge Advocate General's Corps1987 - 1988
    Sr Defense Counsel & Mobile Judge Advocate Trial Team AttyU S Navy, Judge Advocate General's Corps1985 - 1987
    Associations
    Association namePosition nameDuration
    Virginia Trial Lawyers AssociationBoard of GovernorsN/A
    Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of AmericaChairmanN/A
    Virginia Beach Bar Association, Circuit Court Liaison CommitteeMemberN/A
    Million Dollar Advocates ForumMemberN/A
    North Carolina Advocates for JusticeEducation CommitteeN/A
    Virginia Beach Bar AssociationMemberN/A
    Brain Injury Association of North CarolinaMemberN/A
    Litigation Counsel of America (LCA)MemberN/A
    Multi-Million Dollar Advocates ForumMemberN/A
    Publications
    Publication nameTitleDate
    Ten of America's leading personal injury attorneys share their wisdomInjured In An Accident?2014
    PR WebNorth Carolina Personal Injury Attorney Invited to Speak at the Pentagon2012
    Education
    School nameDegreeGraduated
    Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of LawJD - Juris Doctor1985
    Appalachian State UniversityBS - Bachelor of Science1985
    Speaking Engagements
    Conference nameTitleDate
    The Legal Studies AcademyThe Legal Studies Academy2014
    ProfessorProducts Liability2014
    The Legal Studies AcademyThe Legal Studies Academy2013
    Business Clubs of America Monthly MeetingKeynote Speaker2013
    Tidewater Community CollegePremise Liability2012
    Law Review CLELaw Review: Basics of Automobile Law2012
    First Colonial High School The Legal Studies AcademyThe Legal Studies Academy2012
    First Colonial High School & Princess Anne High SchoolDistracted Driving2012
    City of Virginia BeachWhat Leadership Means2012
    Tidewater Community CollegePremise Liability2011
    The Legal Studies AcademyThe Legal Studies Academy2011
    Georgetown UniversityIntroduction to Law2011
    North Carolina Advocates for JusticeClosing Arguments2010
    Georgetown UniversityIntroduction to Law2010
    Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of AmericaTrucking Accidents2009
    Artistic American VeteransKeynote Speaker2009
    North Carolina Advocates for JusticeExpert Witness2008
    Campbell UniversityLaw Day Speaker2007
    Virginia Trial Lawyers AssociationOpening Statements2005
    Virginia Trial Lawyers AssociationArbitrations2001

    Reviews

    (4)
    5 Star
    		50%
    4 Star
    		0%
    3 Star
    		0%
    2 Star
    		0%
    1 Star
    		50%
    Review Donald Marcari

    Experienced attorney that helped me out when no one else could

    Posted by

    Mr. Marcari took my case and helped me out tremendously. He is an excellent attorney and he staff are very friendly.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Excellent Attorney!

    Posted by

    Mr. Marcari is simply the best!
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney
    Donald Marcari's response: Thank you!

    No Communication Or Emphly For Clients

    Posted by

    If you want a lawyer to handle a case where your slammed by a semi truck breaking 7 of your ribs punctured your lung and 22 days in the hospital and this firm and spicficly Don said I promise to take care of you and hold your case for months only when your asking for updates on where my case is he decided to drop my case only for no explanation when I was not driving but the passenger well lessen learned as not only did I filed a complaint against him and others in the firm with the VA board of lawyers as he's already be disaplined by the board this will follow. DON'T USE THIS FIRM NO TIME ATTENTION COMMUNICATION AND YOUR A TICKET NUMBER
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    this place took a fee from my medpay money that was MY MONEY!

    Posted by

    They did not put in the contract or tell me that they take attorney fees out of my family's medpay money! They refused to call me or my wife back and never gave us what we had from the beginning! No other firm in NC will take a fee like they do!!! Look at the fine print before you sign they charge to come meet with you for miles, a file set up and anything! They should not be investigated

    Attorney endorsements

    (8)
    Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

    Bryan Nichols, Car accident Attorney on Nov 23, 2016
    Relationship: Co-worker

    Mr. Marcari is one of the most talented attorneys that I know! He is extremely hard-working, puts his clients first and is a very experienced trial attorney. He is a great mentor and I have learned a lot from him.

    Ryan Spencer, Personal injury Attorney on Oct 31, 2016
    Relationship: Co-worker

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Kenneth Harrell, Personal injury Attorney on Oct 31, 2016
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    Don is a lawyer's lawyer. He truly cares about the needs of his clients and he enjoys the practice of law. He aggressively advocates for the people he represents while maintaining a high level of ethics and integrity.

    Ronald Balaban, Car accident Attorney on Mar 24, 2015
    Relationship: Co-worker

    Don Marcari is a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer in North Carolina, South Carolina & Virginia. He is well respected among his peers and his community.

    Joe Adams, Personal injury Attorney on Mar 22, 2013
    Relationship: Worked for lawyer

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Michael Waddington, Personal injury Attorney on Oct 16, 2012
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse Donald. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community.

    David Spencer, Personal injury Attorney on Sep 17, 2012
    Relationship: Co-worker

    Don continuously demonstrates his legal capabilities with an honorable legal career spanning over 25 years. I am honored to be Don Marcari’s partner!

    David Russotto, Personal injury Attorney on Sep 17, 2012
    Relationship: Co-worker

    As a fellow JAG Don Marcari represented a U.S. Marine stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba which became the basis for the movie “A Few Good Men.” The story exemplifies the lengths to which Don will go in order to protect his client’s interest and obtain the justice they deserve. He truly cares about each client and case he takes on!

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