Don is the Senior Managing Partner at Macari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban. He first gained national attention when his exploits as a young defense attorney with the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps became the basis for the motion picture “A Few Good Men.”
Don has been fighting for seriously injured people throughout North Carolina since 1985, and Virginia since 1988, concentrating on plaintiff personal injury law and civil litigation. In addition, Don handles veteran benefits claims and continues to defend select members of our military service in courts martial and administrative proceedings.
Don is a highly recognized attorney who has tried more than 200 jury trials, including cases against Ford, Firestone, American Honda, Home Depot and several national trucking companies. He represented clients whose cases became the foundation for a movie, The Paula Coughlin Story, and a book, The Story of the U.S. Navy’s Tailhook Scandal.
Admitted to Practice
North Carolina, 1985
Virginia, 1988
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 1986
U.S. Supreme Court, 1988
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 1988
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), 2012
Admitted pro hac vice in several states and federal courts throughout the United States.
Education
Campbell University School of Law, 1985. Juris Doctor
Appalachian State University, 1980. Master of Arts, Public Administration
Appalachian State University, 1979. Bachelor of Science, Political Science and Minor in Business Administration
Honors & Awards
Best Attorneys of America
Virginia Super Lawyer
North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Leader in Law
North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ), Order of Service Award
Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Virginia by the National Trial Lawyers Association (NTLA)
Top 100 Litigation Lawyer in Virginia and North Carolina by the American Society of Legal Advocates (ASLA)
Navy Achievement Award, U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corp
“People ask why I like being a lawyer. I get the opportunity to help somebody every day. What could be better than that?”
– Don Marcari
