Tireless And Tenacious

About Our Firm
Yarborough Applegate was founded when David Yarborough and William Applegate, fellow Charleston attorneys and friends, decided to join forces to combine the strengths and talents they developed while practicing law with two well known and successful Charleston based law firms. With a passion for the practice of law and the talent and desire to make real differences for the clients they represent, Yarborough and Applegate dedicate themselves to providing quality representation to both the individuals and businesses they represent.

The attorneys of Yarborough Applegate have a history of obtaining outstanding recoveries for their clients in complex cases involving serious injuries, wrongful death, medical negligence, bad faith, property damage, consumer fraud, and more. Our attorneys have helped achieve significant results throughout our home state of South Carolina and have also served as lead trial counsel or co-counsel on cases in many other states including North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and California.

We pride ourselves on our willingness to take on challenging cases, to give every case our full level of attention, and to always work to achieve the results that are in the best interests of our clients. In this endeavor, we advocate zealously for our clients so that we can provide them with every legal remedy available.

With more than 20 years of combined experience in courtrooms throughout the country, Yarborough Applegate is a litigation firm that represents both civil and criminal litigants. Whether you are faced with a complex or catastrophic personal injury, a wrongful death, a commercial dispute, or a construction defect case, we have the experience to handle your case from the initial investigation through your trial.

David B. Yarborough, Jr.


Charleston, South Carolina native David Yarborough has more than 10 years of experience successfully representing severely injured individuals in complex personal injury, wrongful death and products liability actions.

His practice today focuses on representing people who have suffered severe personal injuries or death and personal or commercial financial losses. He has received significant recoveries in the form of verdicts and settlements for individuals in many cases, including: bad faith against insurance companies; products liability against large companies dangerous products; SUV and Van rollovers against automobile manufacturers; toxic chemical spills by railroad companies; medical negligence; dental negligence; nursing home negligence and abuse; dog attacks; assaults; negligence at daycare centers; air and water borne bacteria exposure causing Legionnaire's Disease; negligence by bars and restaurants for violating alcohol liability laws; negligence by individuals who caused injuries while DUI; failure to pay wages and commissions; and negligence by retail stores, landlords, apartment complexes, hotels, developers and construction contractors for jobsite, balcony collapse and premises injuries.

Prior to founding Yarborough Applegate, David was a Partner at the Charleston, South Carolina-based law firm of Pierce, Herns, Sloan & McLeod where he practiced for 9 years handling cases for both Plaintiffs and Defendants. Early in his career, David had the privilege of serving as a defense trial lawyer for businesses, select insurance companies, and individuals sued in cases relating to products liability, construction defects, employment, and personal injury issues. He represented several companies routinely sued in the asbestos litigation and was part of a national trial defense team for these clients, involving him in numerous trials across the U.S. His experience with jury and non-jury trials in both state and federal courts, mediations and pre-trial practice both from a defense and plaintiff's perspective provides him an advantage in discovery strategy, negotiations, and case management.

David is a Lifetime Member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and has received the highest available peer review rating (AV) through Martindale-Hubbell. He also has been rated Preeminent for Legal Ability and for Ethical Standards by his peers. He is also a member of the South Carolina Association of Justice and the American Association for Justice.

David and his wife Jessica live in Mount Pleasant and have 3 children.

William E. Applegate, IV


William is a Charleston, South Carolina native with strong ties to the local and state-wide community. Having a broad range of legal experience, he has successfully litigated cases from securities fraud to wrongful death.

William is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law. As a law student, he received the Public Interest Law Society Grant to work in Washington, D.C., served as vice-president of the Pro Bono Board, and was a student member of the John Belton O'Neal Inn of Court. Following law school, he served as law clerk to the Honorable James R. Barber, III, of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of South Carolina, before starting private practice with Motley Rice, one of the largest plaintiff's firms in the country.

William has represented individuals and companies as plaintiffs throughout South Carolina and the U.S. and has achieved significant recoveries on their behalf. He has experience in a variety of different legal areas and has litigated cases covering a broad spectrum, ranging from Federal Employer's Liability Act relating to occupational disease and catastrophic injuries; Jones Act personal injury; Oil Pollution Act cases relating to oil spills from container ships and oil refineries; products liability relating to unsafe products and unsafe drugs; toxic spills from railroad companies; consumer fraud class actions; commercial litigation, as well as securities fraud, derivative, deal, and misrepresentation cases under the Securities and Exchange Act.

While the majority of William's practice has focused on representing plaintiffs and prosecuting cases, he has been retained as settlement counsel to represent defendants in the consumer class action arena. In addition, he has represented multiple individual defendants in criminal matters.

During William's tenure at Motley Rice, he became a part of Motley Rice's Securities and Consumer Fraud practice group where he focused on litigating securities derivative and shareholder cases. He represented public pension funds and other institutional investors in litigation matters involving shareholder value, legal aspects of fiduciary responsibilities of corporate executives, and mergers and acquisitions such as deal cases. He was involved with In re Dell, Inc., Sec. Litig., No. A-06-CA726-SS (W.D. Tex.); In re Witness Systems Inc. Sec. Litig., No. 1:06-CV-1894 (N.D. Ga.); Baker v. MBNA Corp., No. 05-272 (D. Del.); and South Ferry LP #2 v. Killinger, No. C04-1599C (W.D. Wash.).

As a former small business owner, William gained firsthand experience with the issues that face small businesses and individuals in the Charleston area. William has spoken at various legal conferences regarding environmental torts and securities litigation. He is a member of the American Bar Association and Charleston County Bar Association, and serves as the Environmental Law Section Chair and on the Legislative Steering Committee for the South Carolina Association for Justice. He is fluent in Spanish and is active participant in various local community organizations. William and his wife Lydia live in Charleston with their two young children.

Douglas E. Jennings
Douglas has helped clients achieve successful results in a number of important cases while at Yarborough Applegate.

Douglas grew up in the Pee Dee Region of South Carolina in the city of Bennettsville. After graduating with honors and receiving a B.A. in Political Science from Clemson University, Douglas attended law school at the Charleston School of Law.

While a law student, Douglas served as Vice-President of the Student Trial Lawyers Organization and gained a wide range of legal experiences. He worked for the First Circuit Solicitor's Office where he was able to gain valuable experience in both Family Court and General Sessions Court. While at the Solicitor's Office, he worked on a death penalty case, assisted in and observed many jury trials, and worked diligently with the Department of Juvenile Justice to find alternative placement for troublesome juveniles.

Prior to joining Yarborough Applegate, Douglas worked with his father at the Douglas Jennings Law Firm, LLC in Bennettsville, SC. Working in a small firm environment with his father allowed him to gain a broad range of legal experience in the areas of: parole cases, dram shop (bar and alcohol) liability, insurance and bad faith litigation, motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, as well as many serious criminal offenses including murder and manslaughter.

During this time, Douglas worked on numerous civil litigation cases that were decided by a jury, one of which was a week-long trial in his hometown of Bennettsville, SC where the jury reached an award in favor of the Plaintiff, awarding actual and punitive damages totalling $10.6 million. Just before the verdict was reached, however, the parties reached a confidential settlement which has been reported to be the largest award of civil damages in any case in Marlboro County history.

While at Yarborough Applegate, Douglas has helped clients achieve successful results in dog bite cases, bad faith litigation, motor vehicle accidents, products liability (bad drug) cases, wrongful death lawsuits, medical malpractice, commercial/business litigation, DUI, and ATV rollover cases. He enjoys being based out of Mt. Pleasant but still maintains strong ties to his local community where he currently serves as co-counsel in many cases vigorously representing individuals in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina in addition to representing a diverse group of South Carolinians in venues throughout the state.

Prior to attending law school, Douglas worked for Senator Lindsey Graham on Capitol Hill and with South Carolina's largest full-service marketing/advertising firm, Erwin-Penland, Inc. in Greenville. Douglas is a member of the South Carolina Association for Justice, formerly known as South Carolina Trial Lawyers, and the Charleston County Bar Association.

David Lail
David Lail is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses primarily on personal injury and business litigation.

David earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the Charleston School of Law and was an Associate Articles Editor of the Charleston Law Review, a member of the Charleston School of Law Moot Court Board, and a Teaching Fellow in the Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing Department.

During law school, David worked for one of Charleston's most prestigious personal injury and business litigation firms and one of South Carolina's largest defense firms. David gained experience in cases ranging from personal injury to securities and investment fraud. In addition, he served as a Legal Extern at the City of Charleston, Office of the Corporation Counsel and participated in the Judicial Observation and Experience Program with Judge Judy L. McMahon in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Prior to joining Yarborough Applegate, David established a law office focused on providing legal strategies designed to protect and grow the business interests of companies, entrepreneurs and investors. With a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Kentucky, an M.B.A. from The Citadel, and over six years of marketing, sales, and finance experience with a Fortune 500 company, David brings a unique perspective to the practice of law - one focused on strategy, action, and measurable results. Because of David's business background, he is well-positioned in handling commercial disputes, evaluating personal injury cases, and developing creative solutions to complex legal problems.

David is a member of the South Carolina Bar, the Charleston County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

David and his wife Lauren live in downtown Charleston with their daughter Everett.

Laura Butler Peirano
Charleston, South Carolina native Laura Butler Peirano has more than 6 years of experience in the legal field.

Laura is a legal assistant and the office manager for Yarborough Applegate and assists with every aspect of the firm's cases. Laura opened the firm with David and William in January 2010 and previously was a legal assistant with Pierce, Herns, Sloan & McLeod, where her primary focus was on asbestos litigation and insurance defense.

Her cases include catastrophic injury, auto accidents, premises liability, construction defect, condemnation, medical/dental malpractice, product liability, contract dispute, foreclosure, complex business litigation, negligence, toxic tort, class action, and criminal defense.

Her professional responsibilities include opening and maintaining files, working to provide comfort and information to our clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries or losses, discovery and document preparation and management, managing accounts receivable/payable, and general firm management.

Laura graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice and is currently working on a Master's Degree in Psychology at The Citadel. In her spare time, Laura enjoys volunteering, spending time with her family, and a variety of outdoor activities. Laura lives with her husband Chris on her family's farm in Mount Pleasant.

Amy Temkin
Amy Temkin is a seasoned paralegal with more than 10 years of experience assisting clients who have suffered severe personal injury, medical and pharmacy errors, and wrongful death of a loved one.

Amy combines attention to detail and efficiency with compassion for every client's situation. She is knowledgeable about the cases and provides essential support in preparing the cases for mediation and trial. Amy has earned national recognition for her approach to reviewing medical records for litigation purposes, and has presented over twenty times to national audiences on this and other law-related topics. She has mentored many local paralegals and young associate attorneys, and also served as a preceptor for the University of Massachusetts-Lowell's paralegal program. She is a past-President of the Charleston Association of Legal Assistants, past-President of the South Carolina Alliance of Paralegal Associations, and currently serves as the National Association of Legal Assistants liaison for the Charleston area. At Yarborough Applegate, we rely on Amy for her judgment and analytical abilities as well as her ability to interact with clients, attorneys, and the court staff.

Amy earned her Bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Before joining Yarborough Applegate, Amy worked as a claims adjuster for Nationwide Insurance and then as a paralegal for another prominent Charleston attorney also in the arena of complex litigation. She has extensive experience in medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injury, business litigation, and products liability cases. Amy works hard to obtain good results for our clients and she truly enjoys working in the paralegal field. It is this type of dedication and commitment that she will bring to your case.

Amy and her husband Jeff live in West Ashley and have three children - Callie, Max, and Cody.

Michelle Holder
Michelle Holder has worked with hundreds of individuals and families and assisted in multiple successful jury trials as a premier trial paralegal.

Michelle has acted as lead trial paralegal in catastrophic injury trials in South Carolina, New Jersey, and Mississippi in cases involving complex issues including lifelong paralysis, traumatic brain injury and the need for lifelong medical care. She also was the lead paralegal in a successful year-long arbitration in a North Carolina construction defect case in which she was responsible for managing thousands of documents as exhibits. Michelle's dedication to assisting trial attorneys in reaching the best possible outcome for her clients has been a major asset in reaching the verdicts in her cases.

Michelle is known for her ability to empathize with her clients and she always keeps the client's best interests in mind while assisting in a case. Through her experience and dedication, Michelle has been an asset in getting injured individual's compensated as well as obtaining peace of mind in numerous catastrophic injury cases.

Michelle obtained her Bachelor's degree from East Carolina University. Prior to joining Yarborough Applegate, Michelle was the head Plaintiff's paralegal at another prominent Charleston law firm. Michelle is extremely experienced in Plaintiff's litigation, this experience includes, catastrophic personal injury, products liability, medical malpractice, wrongful death and traumatic brain injury. While Michelle enjoys the litigation process, she thrives on providing our clients with happier lives.