Daniel G. Katzenbach (Dan) is a Partner in the Raleigh office of Cranfill Sumner and Chair of the firm’s Construction Law practice group. Since joining the firm in 1997, Dan has concentrated his practice in the areas of construction law, environmental and toxic torts, architects and engineers professional liability, premises liability, and other complex litigation matters. Dan’s clients include general contractors, developers, architects, engineers, product manufacturers, trucking companies, and insurance and surety companies and agencies.
Dan practices before federal and state courts in North Carolina and has litigated a wide variety of cases to favorable verdicts.
Dan has represented numerous landowners and property management companies in lead paint lawsuits since the litigation first made its way to North Carolina.
Representative Matters
Cases or matters referenced do not represent the lawyer’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or a law firm’s past results.
- Obtained defense verdict at arbitration hearing for roofing contractor who had been sued with regard to a large residential development project with allegations of faulty work and water damage.
- Represented an Engineer and Land Surveyor before the Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors upon charges of negligent misconduct in connection with expert testimony given in an arbitration proceeding, and successfully persuaded the Board to dismiss all charges against the client.
- Obtained dismissal for North Carolina Home Inspector in lawsuit where plaintiff alleged over $200,000 of damages from termite infestation discovered after closing on house. Plaintiff subsequently appealed the decision to the N.C. Court of Appeals, where we prevailed again, with the Court affirming the trial court’s ruling of dismissal.
- Obtained very favorable verdict at trial for general contractor sued by a homeowner alleging differential settlement of his home due to unsuitable soils from improper installation of foundation. Plaintiff alleged over $100,000 in repair costs for installation of helical piers beneath home. Jury rejected the plaintiff’s arguments and concluded that the home had not settled as alleged.
- Obtained favorable verdict for large regional energy company at trial in lawsuit brought by homeowner alleging almost $1 million in damages for property damage and personal injury from mold associated with water heater flooding.
- Obtained dismissal of construction personal injury lawsuit for general contractor on plaintiff’s allegations of injury from fall from temporary guardrails on job site.
- Obtained favorable verdict for roofing subcontractor at trial on general contractor’s claim for indemnity relating to alleged water intrusion into residence.
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Obtained a defense verdict for a roofing contractor client in a week long bench trial in Charlotte, NC. The roofing contractor was a defendant in an action initiated by a townhome owners’ association, alleging 1.5 million dollars of construction defects at a residential townhome development. The plaintiff alleged that all of the roofs at the 29 unit development needed to be removed and replaced at a cost of over $500,000. The case was tried to a Judge, who ruled in favor of our roofing contractor, awarding the plaintiff $1.00 on the roofing issues.
Articles, Presentations, and Publications
- “Bare the Risk,” Construction Claims (Spring 2017 edition)
- “Limitation of Liability Clauses,” 2014 Construction Seminar, The Harmonie Group (July, 2014)
- Construction Contractor Forum for minority and small-to-medium sized General Contractors, Charlotte, NC (September 30, 2013)
- “Liability of General Contractor for Injuries Caused by Negligent Subcontractor,” North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, September, 2006.
Most Recent Posts
CSH Law Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition
Six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently named among the Best Lawyers® 2024 “Lawyers of the Year.”… Read More
32 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2024
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024.… Read More
Dan Katzenbach Presents at PLAN Meeting
Dan Katzenbach, an attorney with Cranfill Sumner LLP, served as a presenter at the May 10 PLAN Regional Meeting in Atlanta.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Listed Among 2023 Legal Elite
Twelve Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program. … Read More
Our Top 10 Resources of 2022
Throughout the year, Cranfill Sumner LLP’s attorneys work diligently to bring the most up-to-date information on North Carolina legal updates… Read More
25 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2023
Twenty-five attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023.… Read More
Rebecca Knudson Named Vice Chair of Cranfill Sumner Construction Law Practice Group
Rebecca Knudson, an attorney with Cranfill Sumner LLP, has been named the Vice Chair of the firm’s Construction Law Practice Group.… Read More
The Three Cases Shaking Up NC Construction Law
Three cases have come out in the last year that will significantly impact construction law in North Carolina. The Court… Read More
Dan Katzenbach Featured by National Association of Surety Bond Producers
“The Three Cases Shaking Up NC Construction Law,” an article by Dan Katzenbach, is featured on the National Association of Surety Bond Producers’ website. … Read More
Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Listed Among 2022 Legal Elite
Eight Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program. … Read More
CSH Law Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition
Six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently named among the Best Lawyers® 2022 “Lawyers of the Year.”… Read More
26 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2022
Twenty-six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022.… Read More
Dan Katzenbach Discusses Construction Law at NCADA Conference
Dan Katzenbach, a Partner at Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law), presented at a construction breakout session during the 44th Annual Meeting and Spring Program of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. Dan’s presentation was held on June 4, the first day of the three-day virtual conference.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Listed Among 2021 Legal Elite
Five Cranfill Sumner attorneys were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program. … Read More
Resumption of Civil Trials in NC
At a recent seminar put on by the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, members of the N.C. task force… Read More
27 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2021
Twenty-seven attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Listed Among 2020 Legal Elite
Seven Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) attorneys were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program.… Read More
31 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2020
Thirty-one attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020(Copyright 2019 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Listed Among 2019 Legal Elite
Six Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) attorneys were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program.… Read More
32 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2019
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019 (Copyright 2018 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Listed Among 2018 Legal Elite
Seven Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) attorneys were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys to Lead PLAN Webinar
On Sept. 21, Dan Katzenbach and Melody Jolly will present the PLAN Webinar “Win, Lose, or Draw: Building Your Way Out of a Complex Construction Case As the Design Professional.” The webinar is presented by PLAN, the Professional Liability Attorney Network.… Read More
33 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2018
Thirty-three attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018 (Copyright 2017 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC). Eight attorneys were selected for inclusion in the list for the first time.… Read More
“Bare the Risk” Published in Construction Claims Magazine
“Bare the Risk,” an article by Dan Katzenbach, was published in the Spring 2017 edition of Construction Claims. The article discusses the importance of language in liability and risk assessment in construction contracts.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys to Present at Harmonie Conference
Stephanie Gaston Poley and Dan Katzenbach will appear as featured speakers at the Construction & Cutting Edge Litigation Topics Seminar presented by the Harmonie Group. The event is scheduled for Aug. 3 at the Embassy Suites Atlanta-Perimeter.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Listed Among 2016 Legal Elite
Two Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) attorneys in its Raleigh and Wilmington offices were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program. Daniel Katzenbach, an attorney in the Raleigh office, was recognized for Construction Law, and John Martin of the Wilmington office was recognized for Litigation.… Read More
Dan Katzenbach Offers “Point of View” to NCADA Annual Meeting
Dan Katzenbach, Chair of the Construction Law Practice Group at Cranfill Sumner, participated in a panel discussion at the 38th NCADA Annual Meeting on June 13.… Read More
Five Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Listed Among 2015 Legal Elite
Five Cranfill Sumner attorneys in its Raleigh, Charlotte and Wilmington offices were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as Legal Elite… Read More
Katzenbach to Speak at NCBA Construction Section Meeting
Dan Katzenbach of Cranfill Sumner addresses North Carolina Bar Association’s Construction Section Annual Meeting in Pinehurst. … Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Listed Among 2014 Legal Elite
Cranfill Sumner attorneys in its Raleigh and Wilmington offices were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program.… Read More
Three Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Recognized as Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite
Attorneys Michelle Connell, Family Law; Dan Hartzog, Litigation; and Dan Katzenbach, Construction Law – recognized as Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite.… Read More