David D. Ward began his litigation career in 1975 and developed valuable trial experience as an Assistant District Attorney in Wake County while honing his trial skills prosecuting criminal cases. After four years in criminal court, David transferred his law practice to civil court, and for more than 25 years his practice has been exclusively devoted to the defense of medical malpractice actions.
David comes from a medical family. His father is a general surgeon and both his brother and uncle are internists. David represents physicians, nurses, large teaching hospitals, small community hospitals, outpatient surgical facilities and other healthcare providers. David handles cases in both federal and state courts.
David was elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He also maintains an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell, a peer review rating which recognizes attorneys who have reached high levels of skill and integrity. He has been listed in the publications “The Best Lawyers in America®” and “North Carolina Super Lawyers®” multiple times in the areas of medical malpractice law and personal injury litigation.
David Ward retired from private practice in May of 2019.
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.
David has obtained numerous defense verdicts in medical malpractice cases including:
- Defense Verdict – successfully defended two Emergency Department Physicians and an Emergency Department Physician Assistant in a multi-week Medical Malpractice trial in Eastern North Carolina. Plaintiff’s claims involved allegations regarding failure to diagnose acute chest syndrome, failure to interpret radiological film and failure in the development of policies, all of which the Plaintiff alleged led to the death of her husband.
- Defense Verdict – for an obstetrician in a case involving alleged delay in delivery resulting in child born with significant injuries, including a severe cerebral palsy. Damages claimed exceeded $25 million
- Defense verdict for an emergency department physician and physician’s assistant who were alleged by plaintiff’s attorney and plaintiff’s experts to have failed to diagnose an obstructed bowel resulting in multiple surgeries and injuries.
- Defense verdict for a trauma surgeon who was alleged by plaintiff’s attorneys and experts to have failed to properly diagnose and treat a bleeding spleen causing the death of a 55 year old patient.
- Defense verdict for a physician’s assistant and emergency medicine physician for allegedly failing to diagnose a small bowel obstruction.
- Defense verdict for an OB/GYN in a shoulder dystocia case.
- Defense verdict for an oncologist who was alleged by plaintiff’s attorney and plaintiff’s experts to have misdiagnosed and caused the death of a 35 year-old male.
- Defense verdict for an OB/GYN who was alleged by plaintiff’s attorney and plaintiff’s experts to have caused the death of a 52 year-old female.
- Defense verdict for an emergency medicine physician who was alleged by plaintiff’s attorney and plaintiff’s experts to have caused the death of a 42 year-old male.
- Defense verdict for an emergency medicine physician who was alleged by plaintiff’s attorney and plaintiff’s experts to have caused the death of a 44 year-old female.
- Defense verdict for an orthopaedic surgeon who was alleged to be negligent by plaintiff’s attorneys and plaintiff’s experts which caused nerve damage during hip surgery.
- Defense verdict for a neurologist who was alleged to have misdiagnosed a neurological condition causing plaintiff permanent injuries.
- Defense verdict for a general surgeon in a case wherein it was alleged he negligently repaired a paraesophageal hernia.
- Defense verdict for an internist who allegedly failed to diagnose cardiovascular disease in a 44 year-old patient.
Articles, Presentations, and Publications
- David is a frequent speaker at physician and hospital group meetings including medical society meetings on various medical malpractice issues.
Most Recent Posts
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
21 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Today Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) proudly announced that 21 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2019 North Carolina Rising Stars lists.… 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
20 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2018 N.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Star Lists
Today Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) proudly announced that 20 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2018 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2018 North Carolina Rising Stars lists.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition
Three attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently named the Best Lawyers® 2018 “Lawyer of the Year” for their respective practice areas in their local metropolitan area. (Copyright 2017 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)… 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
17 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2017 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List
Today Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) proudly announced that 17 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2017 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2017 North Carolina Rising Stars lists.… Read More
26 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2017
Twenty-six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2017 (Copyright 2016 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).… Read More
David Ward & Ginger Hunsucker Successfully Obtained Dismissal in Hospital Suit
David Ward and Ginger Hunsucker successfully obtained dismissal in a suit involving a hospital where the case was re-filed after… Read More
David Ward & Ginger Hunsucker Successfully Obtained Verdicts in Favor of Emergency Department Healthcare Providers
David Ward and Ginger Hunsucker successfully defended two Emergency Department physicians and an Emergency Department physician assistant in a multi-week… Read More
17 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2016 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH) is proud to announce that 16 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2016 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2016 North Carolina Rising Stars lists.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition
Two attorneys from the Raleigh office of Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently named the Best Lawyers® 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” for their respective practice areas in the Raleigh metropolitan area. (Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC) Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” is presented annually to one attorney in each practice area in each market.… Read More
28 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2016
Twenty-eight attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2016.… Read More
20 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2015 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Cranfill Sumner announced that 20 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2015 North Carolina Super Lawyers and North Carolina Rising Stars lists.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2014 Super Lawyers Business Edition
Cranfill Sumner is proud to announced that nine of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2014 Super Lawyers Business Edition.… Read More
24 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2015
Twenty-four attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America.… Read More
21 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2014 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List
Cranfill Sumner announced that 21 of its attorneys are selected for inclusion in the 2014 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2014 North Carolina Rising Stars lists.… Read More
25 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2014
Cranfill Sumner is proud to announce that 25 of its attorneys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America©.… Read More
24 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected as 2013 North Carolina Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
Ten Cranfill Sumner attorneys were selected as 2013 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 14 Cranfill Sumner attorneys were selected as 2013 North Carolina Rising Stars.… Read More
23 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 Edition
Twenty-three lawyers from Cranfill Sumner were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013… Read More
Ward and Shere Defend Trauma Surgeon
Ward and Shere received a defense verdict on behalf of a trauma surgeon. … Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Successfully Defend Tertiary Care Center
Ward and Hilkey-Boyatt were granted summary judgment on behalf of a tertiary care center in a case where the plaintiff had alleged he was discharged from the hospital with acute appendicitis. … Read More
Cranfill Sumner Lands 17 Attorneys in the Best Lawyers in America® 2012 Edition
Cranfill Sumner, one of the largest civil defense firms in North Carolina, announced today that 17 of its attorneys selected The Best Lawyers in America.… Read More
Ward Secures Dismissal for Hospital Affiliated Entities
Ward and Hunsucker were able to get two cases dismissed on behalf of hospital affiliated entities where they were improper parties to the case. … Read More
Ward Successfully Defends Wake County Internist
David Ward won a defense verdict for an Internist.… Read More
Ward Receives Defense Verdict on Behalf of Surgeon
Ward received a defense verdict on behalf of a surgeon facing a claim that he negligently managed plaintiff’s post-operative care.… Read More
Ward and Shere Defend Emergency Physician and PA
David Ward and Pankaj K. Shere received a defense verdict on behalf of a North Carolina emergency physician and physician’s assistant. … Read More
Hung Jury for Defense in Claim against Surgeon
Ward and Hinnant defended a North Carolina surgeon. The trial resulted in hung jury, 8 to 3 for the defense. … Read More