Joe Neal Jr.'s vehicle license plate probably says it best: WARRIOR.
The Augusta attorney followed his father into the legal profession, and he said he has never looked back.
After several years with the district attorney's office, Mr. Neal ventured into private practice in 1996. He now handles only civil cases and limits his number of clients.
"I want to do the Lord's work. I have a small caseload, but I have very good clients who got hurt through no fault of their own," he said.
He says he believes his work as a plaintiff's attorney is a continuation of the work he did as a prosecutor: defending victims and giving them a voice.
He refuses to accept criticism of his profession, one that allows for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
"If you don't believe in the right to trial," he said, "you don't believe in democracy."
A civil plaintiff's attorney works on a contingency fee basis. If he cannot work out a settlement in his client's favor or win at trial, he doesn't get paid. This way someone who doesn't have the money to hire an attorney can still find representation, he said.
"It opens the courthouse doors to them and provides legal counsel equal to that of corporations and government," he said.
"I sleep good at night."
He said one of his favorite cases was representing Pernanza Hill, who was riding his bicycle to work one morning in 2006 when a tractor-trailer, trying to pass a vehicle on a state road in Edgefield, S.C., ran over him.
The next year, Mr. Neal and his father took Mr. Hill's case to court and won a $3 million verdict.
What's fulfilling about civil litigation is the ability to learn about so many different things, Mr. Neal said. In Mr. Hill's case, it was about trucks. In a current case, he is learning about fire codes and regulations.
"You have to master the evidence," Mr. Neal said.
He also studies the law and learns from other lawyers, such as Gerry Spence, whom he calls a master of the courtroom.
A trial lawyer also has a professional responsibility. Recently, Mr. Neal ended a client's medical malpractice lawsuit. They had filed suit based on a baby's autopsy report, but when the pathologist changed his ruling two years later -- and another physician looked over the results, too -- Mr. Neal dropped the suit because there was no negligence, he said.
Sometimes it takes a lawsuit to change dangerous situations, Mr. Neal said. He pointed to shoddy road repair of a section of Interstate 20 in South Carolina that led to several deaths. Roads are supposed to crown in the center so water runs off, he explained, but this section was repaved without a crown and every time it rained, the water would pool up. Drivers would hit the pools and hydroplane.
Mr. Neal represented the family of a woman who was killed on the road in 2004. After his lawsuit and others were filed, the interstate was repaired properly, he said.
To keep the stress under control, Mr. Neal took up yoga and then took the classes to become a certified yoga teacher.
"It's the best stress reliever there is. It keeps me grounded and keeps me in shape," he said.
Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.
JOE NEAL JR.
AGE: 41
Family: Married with five children
EDUCATION: Graduate of Richmond Academy, University of Georgia and Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University
BACKGROUND: Licensed to practice law since 1993
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
He does the Lord's work? The apostle Paul instructed the Corinthian believers to not go to court against one another (1 Corinthians 6:1-8). For Christians not to forgive each other and reconcile their own differences is to demonstrate spiritual defeat. Why would someone want to become a Christian if Christians have just as many problems and are just as incapable of solving them? However, there are some instances when a lawsuit might be the proper course of action. If the biblical pattern for reconciliation has been followed (Matthew 18:15-17) and the offending party is still in the wrong, in some instances a lawsuit might be justified. This should only be done after much prayer for wisdom (James 1:5) and consultation with spiritual leadership. He works on contingency...meaning he takes cases he feels he will win 40% for himself to live well and could care less about his clients. Warrior must stand for Ambulance Chaser -- It is bad enough he tries to make you think he is doing good by those he represents but to bring God into this is just deplorable. And, of course his favorite case is when he won $3 millon because he TOOK 40% - He and his like are why we need tort reform.
Well, it never fails. Somebody is always willing to stand in judgement of others on this post. I'm glad the Lord is my judge and not Asitisinaug!
I cannot believe that the Chronicle would describe this practice as doing the Lord's work. And to give credit for dropping a case b/c the evidence showed that he wasn't going to win (i.e. not going to get paid). Come on!
Not all trial lawyers are ambulance chasers. Sometimes big companies knowingly or negligently hurt people, and you don't think they derserve to be compensated? Do you not think a lawyer must work hard to defeat the high prices lawyers these big companies have? I don't know what the percentage is, 40 seems a little steep, but they do deserve to be compensated well for their hard work. Also these lawyers are the ones who get laws changed to protect future victims from being injured.
As far as your statement mcqueen, reading comprehension is a good thing!!! Did you not see the part where they also have a professional responsibility, there was NO NEGLIGENCE, so the case was dropped, not because they wouldnt get paid. A true ambulance chaser would try to ride it out just to get paid by the company just to get off their back. Many big companies pay just because its cheaper than to fight it, even when the victim was not hurt or is a fraud!!!
mcqueen, what do you suggest? should he keep going and sue someone who was not negligent. people are so quick to believe lawyers will sue anybody at anytime for anything, but most of the time they do what is right.
You might want to read the passages in the bible about judging other people as well, "Asitisinaug". I don't think it is "us" who should judge what other people do? Right? Your comments read as though you are judging Mr. Neal.
Please, Ms. Hodson should be embarrassed. She failed to mention that the "vehicle" sporting the WARRIOR tag is a shiny flashy sports car that probably costs more than most of his clients' homes. I am sure that his portion of the $3 million he "won" for his client was at least 35%. I am sure he helps some people, but don't be fooled by Ms. Hodson. The person he really helps is himself. To claim to be doing the Lord's work is blasphemous and really not out of character in my experience with Mr. Neal. He thinks a lot of himself. Maybe he promised Ms. Hodson a comfy lounge chair under the palm trees at his brand new Hollywood pool. Maybe he will be hosting the church picnic at his new tropical oasis.
oh he does the lord's work..like filing suit against the makers of the cabbage patch doll/birth certificate that had a swear word on it...;i wonder what ever happened to that work of the lord??? manipulating and exploiting the child(having her picture taken and shown on the local newspaper, i bet he told her to look sad and upset trying to make a case that she was emotionally scarred)...does anyone know the outcome of that civil suit?????