James L. Ward Jr.

James L. Ward, Jr. is a member of the firm’s consumer class action team, which seeks justice for individuals, businesses, and governmental entities who have been harmed by dangerous, deceptive and illegal business practices. Ward also handles a variety of catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases.

His interest in law was evident at a young age. A native of Saluda, South Carolina, Ward’s parents owned a store across from the town’s courthouse. He spent his formative years observing legal proceedings and speaking to the attorneys and staff who worked there.

Ward began his career with two predominantly defense firms, Sinkler & Boyd in Columbia and Smith, Helms, Mulliss & Moore in Charlotte. His passion for helping people who have been wronged brought him to RPWB, which he joined shortly after the firm was founded.

Experience on both sides of the courtroom has given Ward superior insight into how defendants approach cases and the strategies they employ. He leverages this understanding with RPWB’s intellectual capital, experience with complex cases, and organizational resources in order to achieve the best possible outcome for his clients.

Ward is married with two children. Among his many professional accolades, he is five-time champion of the RPWB Cup (an office triathlon of bocce ball, corn hole, and ladder golf) and two-time champion of the RPWB College Football Fantasy League.

The Ward family supports numerous causes, including the local breast cancer charity Share Our Suzy and the Charleston Miracle League, a recreational baseball league for children and adults with physical and mental challenges.

The Board of County Commissioners of Douglas County, Kansas et al. vs. McKesson Corporation

The nation’s largest pharmaceutical wholesaler conspired with a drug-pricing data company to artificially inflate the prices of brand name drugs. Ward served as co-lead counsel of this class action, representing governmental entities with self-insured employee health plans affected by the pricing. This case settled for $82 million in 2011.

Ward is co-lead counsel in a class action against Delta Air Lines and Air Tran Airways. The two airlines are accused of colluding to implement baggage fees and other profitability measures to the detriment of consumers.

The contact lens solution ReNu with MoistureLoc was pulled from the market after it was found to cause serious eye injuries. Ward was a member of the lead counsel group in the multi-district litigation seeking compensation for people who sustained injuries from using the product.

In 2003, an Air Midwest turboprop plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Charlotte/Douglass International Airport, killing all 21 people abroad. Ward served as the plaintiff’s liaison counsel in the multi-district litigation of wrongful death lawsuits filed by surviving family members.

The Church of Christ at Azalea Drive vs. Forest River, Inc. et al.

For several years, a shuttle bus manufacturer failed to properly weigh and label its vehicles. This nationwide warranty class action led to a recall of more than 8,000 buses to improve the safety of the buses commonly used by senior centers, churches, and businesses.

In January 2014, workers at fire truck manufacturer American LaFrance learned the plant would be closing immediately and that they would not receive any severance pay, an alleged violation of the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. We negotiated a settlement that provided the workers with the equivalent of a six-week severance package.

Tobacco farmers in a half-dozen states are seeking to dissolve a cooperative that had been created to facilitate the now discontinued federal price support program. The cooperative accumulated $400 million in assets over the life of the program, which the farmers contend should be refunded to them.

Antitrust & Deceptive TradeBusiness LitigationClass ActionsConsumer LendingEmployment Class ActionsGeneral LitigationProducts LiabilityVehicle DefectsAdmissions

1997, South Carolina1997, North Carolina1997, U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina1997, U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina2001, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina2002, U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina1999, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth CircuitEducation

University of South Carolina, J.D., cum laude, 1997The Citadel, B.A., magna cum laude, 1994Professional Memberships

James L. Pettigru Inn of CourtMartindale Hubbell Rated: AVNorth Carolina Bar AssociationNorth Carolina State BarSouth Carolina Association for JusticeSouth Carolina BarThe American Association for Justice