Jonathan Dunlap

Jonathan Dunlap is a principal with the firm and he handles complex litigation matters in a variety of areas including healthcare, patent, construction, and employment law. He has handled appeals before the North and South Carolina appellate courts, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and has served as a consulting attorney on appeals before the Cherokee Supreme Court. He has trial experience in state, federal, and administrative venues. Jonathan is also experienced in representing medical practitioners before their various licensing boards.

Originally from Florence, South Carolina, Jonathan began his practice in a leading Charleston, South Carolina defense firm. He then gained national experience handling claims in over 15 different jurisdictions as an in-house attorney for United Educators insurance company. Just prior to joining the Van Winkle Law Firm, Jonathan practiced at a nationally recognized medical malpractice defense firm in Raleigh, N.C. Jonathan is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association Appellate Rules Committee and is on the Buncombe County Bar’s Executive Committee.  He is licensed to practice in the state and federal courts of North and South Carolina, the courts of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Fourth Circuit.

Awards & Honors

• USC School of Law Moot Court Bar, Chief Justice
• Robert T. Bockman Award (USC Moot Court Bar Award), Recipient
• Southeastern Environmental Law Journal, Staff Editor

Practice Highlights and Representative Cases

• Visible Props., LLC v. Vill. of Clemmons, 284 N.C. App. 743, 876 S.E.2d 804 (2022).  Successfully argued that a local zoning ordinance was too ambiguous to prohibit electronic billboards.
• Springs v. Lake Toxaway Cmty. Ass’n, 282 N.C. App. 401, 870 S.E.2d 313 (2022), disc. review denied, 881 S.E.2d 300 (N.C. 2022).  Successfully defended the validity of a property owners’ association’s assessments.
• Armento v. Asheville Buncombe Cmty. Christian Ministry, Inc., 856 F. App’x 445 (4th Cir. 2021). Successfully argued that a participant in a work rehabilitation program was not an “employee” for purposes of the North Carolina Wage and Hour Act.
• Rozumiei v. Uhnyuk, 273 N.C. App. 710, 848 S.E.2d 314 (2020). Successfully argued that an award of attorney’s fees from England’s High Court of Justice was not a fine or penalty for purposes of the North Carolina Foreign-Country Money Judgements Recognition Act.
• Estate of Baldwin v. RHA Health Servs., Inc., 246 N.C. App. 58, 782 S.E.2d 554 (2016). Successfully argued that laypersons providing treatment “at the direction” of a nurse should be considered “health care providers” for purposes of medical malpractice statutes.
• Finch v. BASF Catalysts LLC, No. 1:16-CV-1077, 2018 WL 4101828 (M.D.N.C. Aug. 22, 2018). Summary judgment granted on behalf of client in complex asbestos case where verdict against remaining defendant was $32.7 million.
• Manion v. Nitelines Kuhana JV LLC, No. 7:12-CV-247-BO, 2014 WL 1800318 (E.D.N.C. May 6, 2014). Summary judgment granted in favor of client in federal whistleblower action based on argument that the defendant’s conduct was not actionable under the statute.