We work with North Carolina cities, counties, municipalities, and other public entities on a wide range of issues, including:

  • Accusations of civil rights violations
  • Employment law, workers’ compensation, and workforce management
  • Governmental torts, including motor vehicle negligence and premises liability
  • Internal grievance processes and response management
  • Police law matters, from accusations of negligence to alleged civil rights violations
  • Zoning and land use matters

Our team of attorneys has extensive experience dealing with complex immunity issues that are specific to local government, as well as managing the media and responding to requests for public records that often surround high-profile claims.

Our approach relies on proactively helping you with risk management strategies and training for employees, while efficiently and cost-effectively managing your legal budget and overall bottom line.

The group is led by chair Pat Flanagan, who has more than 25 years of experience working with municipalities and public entities in North Carolina. Our attorneys are highly skilled at handling cases in state and federal court and before administrative bodies like the Department of Labor and Office of Administrative Hearings.

The Municipalities and Public Entities Practice Group covers all of North Carolina from our offices in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Wilmington. To speak to an attorney, please contact Pat Flanagan or James Thornton.


Most Recent Posts

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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

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Elizabeth Stephens Joins Cranfill Sumner LLP

Cranfill Sumner LLP today announced that Elizabeth Stephens has joined the firm’s Raleigh office as an associate attorney. She focuses her practice on municipal law, labor and employment matters, and general civil litigation.… Read More

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James Thornton Defends NC County in Jury Trial

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James Thornton (Raleigh) and Zack Anstett (Raleigh) successfully* defended a North Carolina county and an employee for the county in a multi-day jury trial.  The Plaintiff was rear-ended in her vehicle and alleged that the car had essentially been totaled. … Read More

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Paul Gessner Joins Cranfill Sumner Raleigh Office

Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced that Paul Gessner has joined the firm’s Raleigh office as Of Counsel. Gessner will join the Municipalities and Public Entities Practice Group and the Employment Law Practice Group.… Read More

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Pat Flanagan Joins NCADA Board of Directors

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Pat Flanagan, an attorney at Cranfill Sumner LLP, has been elected to the board of directors for the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA). Pat’s term begins in June 2020 and continues for three years.… Read More

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Dan Hartzog, Jr. Named Angier Town Attorney

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Dan Hartzog, Jr., a municipal and employment law attorney with Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner), was recently named the Town Attorney for Angier, N.C.  He began serving as Town Attorney on April 1, 2018 in addition to maintaining his current practice at Cranfill Sumner.… Read More

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Dan Hartzog, Jr. to Present at UNC Law Symposium

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On Nov. 4, Dan Hartzog, Jr. will be a featured presenter at the North Carolina Law Review Symposium. The event’s topic is “Badge Cams as Data and Deterrent: Law Enforcement, the Public, and the Press in the Age of the Digital Video,” and Dan will be providing insight from his role as the town attorney for Hope Mills, N.C. Dan will speaking as part of a panel discussion on the use of body cameras by law enforcement agencies in North Carolina.… Read More

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Flanagan and Shere Present at NCADA Seminar

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Two Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) attorneys will be featured speakers at the upcoming 2017 Fall Seminar for Insurance Claims Managers & Defense Counsel. The seminar is presented by the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA).… Read More

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Meredith FitzGibbon Joins Cranfill Sumner Charlotte Office

Meredith Fitzgibbon Hamilton | Employment Law Attorney | Municipalities & Public Entities Attorney

Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced that Meredith FitzGibbon has joined its Charlotte office as an Associate Attorney. FitzGibbon focuses her practice on civil litigation, with an emphasis on employment law and defense of municipalities and public entities.… Read More

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Tips for Hiring Your Seasonal Help

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Stephanie Gaston Poley and Virginia Wooten are featured in the July 2016 edition of At Your Service, the magazine for the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association. Their article, “Tips for Hiring Your Seasonal Help,” explains the legal issues that must be considered when hiring seasonal staff. … Read More

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Dan Hartzog Jr. Named Hope Mills Town Attorney

Dan Hartzog, Jr. | Attorney Raleigh

Dan Hartzog, Jr., a municipal and employment law attorney at Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner), has been named the town attorney for Hope Mills, N.C. Hartzog will assume the town attorney duties on July 1, 2016 in addition to maintaining his current practice at Cranfill Sumner.… Read More

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No Facts to Support Hostile Work Environment Claim

Case Results for NC Law

Dan Hartzog, Jr. obtained dismissal of a federal lawsuit alleging that plaintiff was subjected to a hostile work environment in retaliation for protected speech. The majority of allegations were conclusory and not supported by proper factual allegations.… Read More

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All Claims Against City Dismissed in Lawsuit Brought by Former Police Officer

Case Results for NC Law

Dan Hartzog, Jr. obtained dismissal of all claims in a lawsuit brought by a former police officer for a City. The officer had been fired from the City for attending court for a personal matter while on duty, arriving late on three occasions, and failing to prepare proper paperwork for a warrant before submitting a statement saying the warrant had been obtained.… Read More

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Municipality Prevails in Zoning Dispute

Case Results for NC Law

Marshall Wall won summary judgment for a municipality sued as the result of a zoning dispute with a landowner. The landowner, a trust, wanted to put a church into a commercial property that it owned, but the property was not zoned for church use.… Read More

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Disability for PTSD Claim Dismissed

Case Results for NC Law

Katie Weaver Hartzog obtained dismissal of plaintiff’s claims against a Community College in which he alleged he was discriminated against based on his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder disability, which he obtained during his service in Afghanistan.… Read More

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Community College Teacher Loses on Claims of Employment Discrimination

Case Results for NC Law

Dan Hartzog, Jr. obtained dismissal in an employment discrimination claim brought by a former community college teacher. Plaintiff brought claims for gender discrimination, race discrimination, and negligent infliction of emotional distress against a community college and two individual defendants.… Read More

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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Successfully Defend Fire Department

Case Results for NC Law

Paul Derrick and Katie Weaver Hartzog successfully defended a local fire department and its chief facing claims for wrongful discharge, violations of civil rights, violations of union organizing rights, and First Amendment restraint in the US District Court for the Eastern District of NC. … Read More

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Sexual Harassment and Defamation Claims Dismissed against City

Case Results for NC Law

Katie Weaver Hartzog obtained summary judgment on behalf of a City in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of N.C. with regard to plaintiff’s claims of Title VII retaliation and constructive discharge, defamation, and interference with prospective contract. … Read More

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Derrick and Jolly Defend Fire Department in Federal Suit

Case Results for NC Law

Paul Derrick and Melody Jolly represented a local fire department and its chief in this action involving claims for sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliatory discharge, and First Amendment restraint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of NC. … Read More

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Firefighter Kept Loaded Gun in his Locker

Case Results for NC Law

Dan Hartzog, Jr. obtained summary judgment on all claims in a lawsuit brought by a firefighter against a City. The case involved a firefighter who was terminated after a loaded gun was discovered in his locker on City grounds.… Read More