William J. Carter

Practices

• Appellate Practice
• Complex Litigation
• Insurance Coverage

About

Bill Carter solves contract problems for clients. With an emphasis on insurance contracts, he advises clients on legal and business issues to find solutions to their problems through civil dispute resolution. He has more than 35 years’ experience representing clients in all types of civil matters before trial and appellate courts.

For several years, Bill co-chaired the Firm’s insurance practice, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the table regarding contract and insurance issues, and teams with clients to resolve contract disputes and protect their bottom line. In the area of environmental insurance coverage, Bill served as coordinating counsel for a national insurance carrier, advising and guiding attorneys and firms throughout the United States.

Bill counsels clients on third-party and first-party insurance coverage issues and contract interpretation. His third-party experience includes advising and defending insurers in disputes with insureds on claims made under comprehensive general liability, directors and officers (D&O), professional liability, and specialty policies. His first-party experience includes counseling and defending insurers in matters concerning homeowners’ policies, commercial property and jeweler’s block policies, life insurance, and other areas of coverage. Bill also assists insurance companies in reinsurance disputes.

In addition, Bill also served as a co-chair for the Firm’s appellate practice for several years, handling or supervising all appeals resulting directly from Carr Maloney’s litigation practice, as well as many cases that are referred to the firm post-trial, solely for the appeals. He has been counsel of record in more than 200 appeals of civil matters in many areas, including products liability, professional liability, insurance coverage, and contract matters.

Before joining Carr Maloney, Bill served as a criminal trial and appellate practitioner in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. While a member of the armed forces during the Ford administration, Bill served on the Presidential Clemency Board.

Representative Experience

• Won a case on appeal in DC under Maryland law on a legal issue of first impression, saving the client more than $1 million that had been awarded by the trial court.
• In a case with a high-six–figure claim, he advised the client to resolve the matter with a low-five–figure amount rather than trying to make new law on the issue.
• Submitted an amicus brief on behalf of insurer Medmarc in Riegel v. Medtronic, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2008 ruling that bars most state common-law plaintiffs’ claims for injury by FDA pre-market approved medical devices.
• Defended a restaurant and nightclub owner’s insurer, obtaining a ruling that an insurance policy’s assault-and-battery exclusion barred coverage in a wrongful-death action.

Education

College of William & Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law
JD

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
BS

Recognition

• Martindale-Hubbell® has given Bill its AV Preeminent® rating, earned by attorneys at the highest level of professional excellence.
• Recognized on Super Lawyers List, 2007, 2013 – 2020 for Insurance Coverage, Civil Litigation: Defense, Appellate

Publications

• The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance has published Claims Handling Guidelines for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Attorneys from Carr Maloney, working jointly with attorneys from another firm, drafted the Guidelines for the District of Columbia. Here is the link to those Guidelines http://wiki.theclm.org/wiki/223
• Co-author, “The Consequences of Failing to Disclose a Potential Claim to your Insurer” 2015
• Co-author, “Virginia Supreme Court Continues to Make News on Climate Change,”Legally Speaking Issue 21, March 2012
• Co-author “Employer’s Responsibilities in Providing Leave as a Reasonable Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act“. Legally Speaking Issue 21, March 2012
• Co-author, “Keep Interests in Mind in Court,” Business Insurance, October 10, 2010.
• Co-author, “Virginia Supreme Court Ruling Takes Policy Interpretation beyond ‘Eight Corners’ of the Complaint and Policy,”  Legally Speaking Issue 16, September 2010.
• Co-author, “Insurance Companies’ Exposure Resulting from Appointment of Independent Counsel,” Legally Speaking Issue 15, June 2010.
• Co-author, “Managing Multiple Coverage Claims, Part I,” Law 360, 2009.
• Co-author, “Managing Multiple Coverage Claims, Part II,” Law 360, 2009.
• Co-author, “Injuries in a Health Care Practitioner’s Office: Where Is the Insurance Coverage?” BNA’s Health Law Reporter, August 2008.
• Co-author, “Supreme Court of Virginia Finds Insurer Entitled to Refund of Settlement Amount Where Policy Does Not Provide Coverage,” Legally Speaking Issue 7, June 2005.
• Co-author, “Virginia Supreme Court Continues to Make News on Climate Change,” Legally Speaking Issue 3, November 2003.
• “Appellate Practice Handbook for Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia,” Harrison Company, 1996.
• Co-editor, “Supplement to the District of Columbia Appellate Practice Manual,” Bar Association of the District of Columbia, 1992.

Admissions

States
District of Columbia
Maryland
Virginia
Colorado

U.S. District Courts
District of Columbia
District of Maryland
Eastern District of Virginia
Western District of Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals
District of Columbia Circuit

• Eleventh Circuit
• Federal Circuit
• Fifth Circuit
• Fourth Circuit
• Sixth Circuit
• Third Circuit

U.S. Tax Courts

United States Supreme Court

Affiliations

• American Bar Association (Former Member)
• District of Columbia Bar Association
• Maryland Bar Association
• Virginia State Bar Association