David A. Rhoades has been handling matters in the Workers’ Compensation Practice Group for employers and workers’ compensation carriers since 1989 in the Raleigh office of Cranfill Sumner LLP. David received his B.A. in Economics and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1985 and received his JD/MBA degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and Wake Forest Babcock Graduate School of Management in 1989. He has extensive experience at all levels of workers’ compensation litigation, including mediations, hearings, full commission oral arguments as well as appeals before both the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court and with cases involving injury by accident claims, occupational disease claims, chemical exposure, return to work/vocational issues, medical treatment issues, psychological/psychiatric issues, total disability claims and death claims. Some of David’s clients include trucking companies, manufacturers, builders, hospitals, medical providers, restaurants, retail stores and their workers’ compensation carriers.
David is a Certified Superior Court Mediator.
David maintains an AV Preeminent rating with Martindale Hubbell, a prestigious peer review rating that recognizes attorneys who have reached high levels of skill and integrity, and has been listed in the publication The Best Lawyers in America since 2013. David has presented on a wide variety of workers’ compensation topics to employers and carriers of all sizes.
David has been married to wife Mary Beth since 1990, and together they have two children, Sarah Ann and Harrison.
ARTICLES, PRESENTATIONS, AND PUBLICATIONS
•2024 - Workers’ Compensation Insitute Conference, Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute, Panel Speaker, “Mission to M.A.R.S.” in Orlando, FL
•2022 - Workers’ Compensation Insitute Conference, Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute, Panel Speaker, “CSI: Orlando Special Claims Investigation” in Orlando, FL
•2021 - Workers’ Compensation Institute Conference, Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute Multi-State Breakout Day, Panel Speaker
•2021 - Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute (WCDI) Webinar, Presentation “Tips from the Trenches.”
Accomplishments
•Lawyer of the Year for 2020 by Best Lawyers in the field of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
•Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated
•Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in the field of Workers’ Compensation Law - Employers (2013 - 2026)
Most Recent Posts
News
33 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2026
Thirty-three attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2026....
News
Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Participate in WCI 2025
Members of the Cranfill Sumner LLP team participated in various events during the WCI 2025 Conference in Orlando, Fl. from Aug. 17-20....
News
Cranfill Sumner Hosts 2025 Risk Management & Workers’ Compensation Legal Summit
On April 30, Cranfill Sumner LLP hosted its 2025 Risk Management & Workers’ Compensation Legal Summit....
News
CSH Law Attorneys Participate in WCI 2024 Conference
Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys participated in various events throughout the 78th Annual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference & 35th Safety & Health Conference which was held Aug. 18-21 in Orlando, FL....
News
32 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2025
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2025....
News
Cranfill Sumner Staff Honored as 2023 “Unsung Legal Heroes”
Dora Kripapuri and Heather Diaz, members of the Cranfill Sumner LLP staff, have been recognized as 2023 Unsung Legal Heroes by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly (pages 18-19) . This award recognizes the staff members of law firms statewide who show dedication to their careers....
News
CSH Law Attorneys Participate in 2023 WCI Conference
Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys participated in the recent 2023 Workers’ Compensation Institute Conference....
News
32 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2024
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2024....
News
CSH Law Attorneys Lead WCDI Breakout Sessions
Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys attended and participated in the recent Multi-State Breakout Sessions for the Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute during the 2022 WCI Annual Conference. The theme for the breakout sessions was “CSI: Orlando Special Claims Investigation” and focused on navigating a workers’ compensation injury investigation. ...
News
25 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2023
Twenty-five attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2023....
News
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Lead WCDI Breakout Sessions for NC
Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys Jennifer Morris Jones, Matt Covington, Jerri Simmons and David Rhoades represented the state of North Carolina during the Dec. 15 WCDI Multi-State Breakout at the WCI 2021 Conference....
News
26 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2022
Twenty-six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022....
News
CSH Law Attorneys Present at WCDI Webinar
Attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP participated in the April 30 Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute (WCDI) webinar entitled, “Tips From the Trenches.” David Rhoades presented at the webinar, and Jennifer Morris Jones served as moderator....
News
27 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2021
Twenty-seven attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2021 (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)....
News
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers “Lawyers of the Year” Recognition
Four attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently named the Best Lawyers 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” for their respective practice areas in their local metropolitan area. (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)...
News
31 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2020
Thirty-one attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2020(Copyright 2019 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)....
News
32 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2019
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2019 (Copyright 2018 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)....
News
33 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2018
Thirty-three attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2018 (Copyright 2017 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC). Eight attorneys were selected for inclusion in the list for the first time....
Result
Denial of Plaintiff’s Claim as IBA or Occupational Disease Upheld in Hearing
David Rhoades and Walter Dennis (both from Raleigh) prevailed at a recent hearing where plaintiff, a mechanic, alleged that he...
Result
Defendants Permitted to Terminate Plaintiff’s Indemnity & Medical Benefits
David Rhoades and Walter Dennis (both from Raleigh) recently prevailed in a case before a deputy commissioner and as a...
Result
Rhoades and Dennis Defend Alleged Injury by Accident Claim
David Rhoades and Walter Dennis (Raleigh) prevailed in a case in which plaintiff suffered a biceps/shoulder injury at work while...
Result
Rhoades and Myatt Prevail at Deputy Commission Level in Finger Infection Claim
David Rhoades and Tracy Myatt (Raleigh) prevailed at the Deputy Commission level in a case involving a plaintiff who was...
News
26 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2017
Twenty-six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2017 (Copyright 2016 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)....
News
28 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2016
Twenty-eight attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2016....
News
24 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2015
Twenty-four attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America....
News
25 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2014
Cranfill Sumner is proud to announce that 25 of its attorneys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America ....
News
23 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2013 Edition
Twenty-three lawyers from Cranfill Sumner were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2013...
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
