Martin Ramey zealously represents plaintiffs in complex litigation, including institutional child sex abuse, personal injury, products liability, construction defects and wrongful death cases.
Born and raised in a “mill village” in north Georgia, he was the first in his family to ever attend college – working long hours during the day and attending class at night in Atlanta. During that time, Martin discovered that he had a passion for helping others. He found a job working for a local food bank and later a national nonprofit anti-hunger organization, where he assisted in efforts to promote and pass a national Good Samaritan Law, under then-U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman. The legislation was designed to assist nonprofit, community feeding programs in collecting excess food from restaurants and caterers throughout the United States without the worry of liability from such donations.
After college, Martin went on to law school in San Diego, and began his advocacy for plaintiffs in the firms of Thorsnes, Bartolotta & McGuire and Rockwood & Noziska. In 2005, he moved to North Carolina where he later received awards and recognitions for his work by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (presently NCAJ) and Super Lawyers Magazine.
Martin’s practice is exclusively devoted to litigation. In his spare time, though, he enjoys spending time with his spouse, their twins, and dog.
Bar and Court Admissions
State Bar of North Carolina, 2005
State Bar of California, 2002
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Eastern District of North Carolina
Middle District of North Carolina
Western District of North Carolina
Southern District of Indiana
Central District of California
Southern District of California
Education
LL.M., Health Law, Policy & Bioethics – Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
J.D., University of San Diego School of Law
B.A., Spanish, Arizona State University
Publications & Honors
2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers, Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, Super Lawyers Magazine
2011 North Carolina Rising Star for Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury: Products Liability, Super Lawyers Magazine
Conte v. Wyeth: Caveat Innovator and the Case for Perpetual Liability in Drug Labeling, 4 PITT J. ENVTL. & PUB. HEALTH L. 73 (Spring 2010).
Prenatal Care for Illegal Immigrants Saves Money, Wilmington Star News, Nov. 13, 2009.
Treating Symptoms, Not Problems, San Diego Union-Tribune, Feb. 7, 2003.
Putting the Cart Before the Horse: The Need to Re-Examine Damage Caps in California’s Elder Abuse Act, 39 SAN DIEGO L. REV. 599 (2002)
Recent Case Results
$140,148,497.08 default judgement against teacher for sexual abuse of 14 students (after 4 years of litigation)
$5.75 million settlement against 12th largest school district in state for sex abuse by teacher of 14 students
$3 million settlement against 3rd largest school district (72nd in US) in state for sex abuse of 2 students by teacher’s assistant
$750,000 verdict, plus interest of more than $200,000, as second chair in Vacation Rental Act case against rental landlord (2nd highest verdict recorded in Brunswick County)
$385,100.26 verdict in bench trial on former franchisee’s non-compete in favor of large real estate brokerage
Selected Media Coverage
More victims file in New Hanover schools’ Kelly sex abuse case
LL1885, Dec. 9, 2023
‘It was devastating’: Three more students of former teacher Michael Kelly accuse him of sexual abuse, file lawsuit against NHC Board of Education
WECT, Dec. 7, 2023
Judge awards $140M damages to victims in Michael Kelly case
Port City Daily, Nov. 8, 2023
Dozens of people file lawsuits alleging abuse in Maryland’s juvenile detention centers
WJZ News (CBS News Baltimore), Oct. 5, 2023
UNCW: Dempsey leaving as dean of Watson College of Education; attorneys release statement WECT, June 26, 2023
New Hanover County school board reaches $5.75 million settlement in Kelly case, pledges ‘programmatic changes’ WHQR, June 9, 2023
‘Going to war’: Attorneys of former New Hanover students prep for sex abuse lawsuit trial
Star News Online, May 25, 2022
