William Applegate

William Applegate

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With nearly twenty years of experience in the courtroom, William is a seasoned trial lawyer with a track record of success. He has successfully litigated complex cases involving toxic torts, electrocutions, police negligence, medical negligence, and premises liability , representing clients suffering from the most severe catastrophic injuries. Beyond having had numerous trial victories, he has also achieved two record breaking verdicts, been recognized by his peers as one of top litigators in the state, won numerous awards as a leader in the law, and has been consistently given Martindale-Hubbell’s highest ranking as an AV lawyer.

Beyond his experience and hard work, he is a passionate advocate for his clients who is defined by determination and perseverance. William understands that his clients, many of whom find themselves in desperate situations following serious trauma, such as the death of a loved one or experiencing life altering injuries, are relying on him and he takes this responsibility personally.

Proven Trial Success
In 2014, William and his team represented 28 year old paralyzed construction worker Hugo Hernandez against PEPCO (Potomac Energy and Power Company). After a two-week trial against PEPCO in Montgomery County, Maryland, the jury awarded Mr. Hernandez $35.9 million in damages in compensation for the overwhelming cost of Mr. Hernandez’s future medical care as a young, C4 paraplegic as well as for his pain and suffering and loss of income. This was the largest verdict in Montgomery County history and was one of the largest verdicts in American history for an undocumented worker.

In 2019, William represented an undocumented worker who was killed when electrocuted by a power line that was hidden by vegetation which Dominion Energy had failed to maintain and a jury returned a $21 million dollar verdict, the largest verdict in the history of Colleton County SC.

In 2021, William represented a Claflin College student who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of car crash caused by a road construction defect. After a two-week trial the jury returned a $13.1 Million dollar verdict against the road contractor Archer Western and the Department of Transportation, also awarding punitive damages against Archer Western. In all three of these cases, William refused offers of millions of dollars to ensure his clients were fully compensated by a jury.

William was born in Charleston, SC and with the exception of studying abroad to become fluent in Spanish, he has remained in SC his entire life. He is a graduate of the College of Charleston and 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 a deep commitment to South Carolina and is very involved in his community in Charleston. He serves on the board of the Historic Charleston Foundation, and actively supports numerous charitable organizations , including One80 Place, in their fight against homelessness, Communities in Schools, the Coastal Conservation League, and the Southern Environmental Law Center.

William is a regular speaker at various legal conferences, is a member of the American Bar Association and Charleston County Bar Association and is active member of the South Carolina Association for Justice. When not working, William and his wife, Lydia, are enjoying raising their two children in South Carolina.

About William
Education

University of South Carolina School of Law

College of Charleston

Memberships

American Bar Association

Charleston County Bar Association

South Carolina Association for Justice

Recent Results
Settlement
$15.75 Million

Settlement for Injured Louisiana Worker

Just days before a multi-week trial was set to begin in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, our team secured this settlement on behalf of a worker who was seriously injured on the job when she fell 20 feet from a scaffolding.

Settlement
$28.5 Million

Settlement for Missed Pediatric Brain Tumor

Yarborough Applegate secured a $28.5 million settlement for a young man whose life was forever changed when a radiologist failed to identify a malignant tumor on a brain MRI. This settlement includes critical corporate changes by the corporate defendants to help eliminate this type of error in the future.

Verdict
$13.1 Million

Verdict for Claflin University Student Involved in Deadly I-77 Wreck

We earned a $13.1 million jury verdict against Archer Western Construction Company on behalf of one of the victims of a tragic wreck on I-77 in Richland County. The suit was brought on by our plaintiff, a Claflin University student and the lone survivor of the wreck. The hard-earned verdict was the culmination of years of work and followed a nearly two-week trial.

Settlement
$6.05 Million

Motor Vehicle Accident and TBI Settlement

We recovered $6.05 million for a 68-year-old man who suffered a TBI and orthopedic injuries after an unsecured pallet of grass sod fell off a swaying flatbed trailer.

Settlement
$18.25 Million

Construction Defect Settlement

We worked as lead co-counsel to recover $18,249,000 for construction deficiencies involving a downtown Charleston condominium complex. The alleged deficiencies involved water intrusion and various other issues with the building's envelope and structural integrity.

Settlement
$1.6 Million

Settlement for Wrongful Death Suit

Our 64-year-old plaintiff, a retired social worker, was struck in a head-on car collision with a sports utility vehicle while driving her car in Mount Pleasant, SC. She initially survived and regained consciousness, but died four days later due to injuries sustained during the accident.

Settlement
$4.25 Million

$4.25 Million Traumatic Brain Injury Settlement

Construction worker diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury on the job awarded settlement.

Verdict
$35.9 Million

Verdict for Paralyzed Worker

This verdict was achieved after a two week trial for a 28-year-old construction worker who was paralyzed from the neck down after he was electrocuted and fell eight feet from scaffolding. The power company and its insurers refused to offer anything close to fair compensation to cover this young man's basic needs.

Settlement
$2.2 Million

Settlement in Suit Over Baby's Botched Delivery

Yarborough Applegate negotiated a $2.2 million settlement for a young woman whose baby was born with brain damage and later died. The doctor at the center of the case lied during her deposition, claiming she waited to deliver the baby by C-section because the 19-year-old mother withdrew her consent to have the operation.

Settlement
$3.1 Million

Construction Site Brain Damage

A construction worker was working on a condominium complex when a roofing truss crashed down onto his head, leaving him with a brain injury

Practices
Recognition and Community Involvement
Super Lawyers Yarborough Applegate
5 Yarborough Applegate Lawyers Named Super Lawyers & Rising Stars

Yarborough Applegate is once again honored to be represented in the South Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. Attorneys David B. Yarborough, Jr. and William E. Applegate, IV have both been named to the Top 10 in Charleston and Top 25 in South Carolina lists. Attorneys Douglas E. Jennings, David Lail and Christopher Bryant […]

Yarborough Applegate Supports Stall High School’s ESOL Program

Early this week, Claudia Newbern, assistant principal at North Charleston’s R.B. Stall High School, stopped by the office to present William Applegate with a plaque in appreciation of the firm’s $7,500 donation to its English as a Second Language (ESOL) program. Just about 30% of Stall students are in the ESOL program, and Yarborough Applegate’s […]

Yarborough Applegate Team Awarded 2017 Super Lawyer Distinction

Three of Yarborough Applegate’s attorneys were named 2017 South Carolina Super Lawyers. We congratulate David Yarborough, William Applegate, and David Lail for receiving a recognition that fewer than five percent of lawyers receive. We are also proud to announce that David Lail, a part of our team since 2011, was named a Super Lawyers Rising […]

Yarborough Applegate Achieved 8 of The Top 18 SC Settlements in 2016

Every year, South Carolina Lawyers Weekly compiles a list of the top million-dollar settlements in the state reported in its newspaper. Since 2011, Yarborough Applegate has appeared on this list every year, always securing at least 3 spots. In 2016, Yarborough Applegate earned 8 of the 18 spots on the list totaling $18.15 million in […]

SC Super Lawyers 2016
3 Yarborough Applegate Attorneys Named Super Lawyers for 2016

Again, Yarborough Applegate Law Firm is represented in the South Carolina Super Lawyers list. Attorneys William E. Applegate, IV,  David B. Yarborough, Jr., and David Lail all received Super Lawyers designation for 2016. Super Lawyers is a Thomas Reuters business and rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a […]

William Applegate Appointed to Historic Charleston Foundation Board of Trustees

William Applegate has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the Historic Charleston Foundation. Established in 1947, the Historic Charleston Foundation aims “to preserve and protect the unique historical, architectural, and cultural character of Charleston and the Lowcountry area that surrounds it.” Grounded in a goal of architectural preservation, HCF also strives to help […]

Mayor Joe Riley Appoints Applegate to the Board of Architectural Review

At the end of his term, Former Mayor Joe Riley appointed William Applegate to the Board of Architectural Review. “Having the opportunity to serve this historic American city is a real honor and I am hopeful I will be able to help continue our great tradition of thoughtful preservation.” The purpose of Charleston’s BAR is […]

Yarborough Applegate Verdict One of the Top 100 Verdicts of 2014

Yarborough Applegate’s $35,940,545 verdict against Pepco in Montgomery Co., Maryland Circuit Court for their client Hugo Hernandez is one of the Top 100 Verdicts of 2014, according to VerdictSearch, the leading provider of verdict and settlement research. The Hernandez verdict is ranked 58 on the VerdictSearch’s Top 100 list. The $35,940,545 verdict against Pepco in Montgomery Co., […]

Yarborough Applegate Selected As Super Lawyers

Attorneys William E. Applegate, IV and David B. Yarborough, Jr. recently received Super Lawyers designation, a Thomas Reuters business and rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Each year, only 5% of the lawyers in the state are selected to […]

William Applegate & Liam Duffy Featured on The Great Trials Podcast

Listen to how they obtained the largest jury verdict in Colleton County history for the wrongful death of 41-year-old landscaper Jose Larios.

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