Karl Gwaltney

Raleigh, NC

Consumer Protection

Wage and Hour

Karl Gwaltney

Raleigh, NC

Consumer Protection

Wage & Hour

Background

A native of New Bern, Karl S. Gwaltney attended the University of North Carolina School of Law. Prior to law school, Karl graduated with honors from Appalachian State University. While in law school, Karl was one of two students in his class to complete over 450 hours of pro bono service. He continues his commitment to public service by volunteering at, among others, the Wake County Food Bank, as a Guardian ad Litem, and through the Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Pro Bono program.

Karl practices extensively in consumer protection and class action litigation, including unfair debt collection claims arising under the North Carolina Debt Collection Act, North Carolina Collection Agency Act, Federal Fair Debt Collection Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Utilizing his extensive working experience and undergraduate studies in employment issues, Karl also represents individual employees in recovering unpaid wages and penalties in state and federal wage and hour claims as well as other employment issues, including Fair Labor Standards Act and North Carolina Wage and Hour Act compliance.

Karl has served as lead counsel and class counsel in numerous matters where substantial settlements or arbitration awards were secured for North Carolina consumers. He practices in state and federal courts in North Carolina, in arbitrations, and before state and federal administrative agencies, including the Department of Labor.

Karl gains the most satisfaction in the time he spends building relationships and solving the problems of his clients, through litigation or alternate methods. He takes great pride in standing up to the largest corporations and law firms in the world on behalf of his clients.

Karl is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, and the North Carolina Bar Association. Karl was named to the Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list as one of the top up-and-coming attorneys in North Carolina from 2017-2021. He was selected a Super Lawyer from 2022-2024. Karl has presented several CLE topics on various topics, including mass arbitrations. He is currently serving as Vice-Chair of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice Products Liability, Class Action and Mass Torts section.

When not practicing law, Karl can generally be found in the woods or lounging on a beach with his wife, Angela, and their three children, Claire, Lena, and Bennett. Karl and his family love sailing, hiking and camping, traveling, fishing, listening to live music, and are active members of their church.

Representative Matters

Bar Admissions

Education

Professional Affiliations

North Carolina State Bar
North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Employment Law Section
North Carolina Bar Association
American Bar Association
Tenth Judicial District Bar Association
North Carolina Guardian ad Litem Program
Susie L. Sharp Inn of Court

Case Results

$7,029,343 settlement where tenants were unlawfully assessed eviction related fees by apartment complex.
$7,000,000 FDCPA Class Action settlement on behalf of homeowners who illegally received default warning letters from their mortgage servicer.
$5,269,396.00 in monetary relief arising from apartment communities allegedly assessing improper eviction fees.
$1,200,000 FDCPA class action bankruptcy discharge settlement.
$4,750,000 settlement of class claims arising from apartment communities allegedly assessing improper eviction fees.
$460,823.61 judgement obtained for a failed multi-level marketing venture.
$425,000 class action settlement on behalf of North Carolina tenants unlawfully charged eviction related fees by apartment complex.
$156,000 class action settlement on behalf of employees who were owed paid-time-off when they were terminated.
$150,000 litigation TCPA settlement on behalf of North Carolina consumer with unpaid debt obligation.
$110,000 mediated settlement on behalf of a North Carolina resident for violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and unfair attempts to collect owed consumer credit card debt.
$100,000 litigation settlement for a North Carolina employee for owed sales commissions.
Confidential six-figure settlement on behalf of a group of mortgage loan officers for unpaid overtime wages.
$80,000 litigated settlement for harassing robo-calls arising from owed credit card accounts.
$72,000.00 resolution in arbitration against an automobile finance company that unlawfully attempted to collect debt from a customer, including failing to account for a monthly payment.
$70,000 litigation settlement on behalf of a cosigner for student loan debt after receiving harassing telephone calls from a robo-dialer in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and North Carolina Debt Collection Act.
After significant litigation, including six depositions, obtained a $65,000.00 settlement on behalf of an employee who was not paid vacation pay after he was lawfully terminated.
After 2 years of litigation, obtained a $50,041.10 judgment following a disputed Motion for Summary Judgment on behalf of a local business owner for damages resulting from a denied breach of contract.
After significant litigation, including extensive discovery, recovered $45,000.00 on behalf of a tenant of an apartment complex who had attorneys’ fees and court costs unlawfully assessed on their account following an eviction action.
Obtained a $45,000.00 mediated settlement amount for violations of the North Carolina Unfair Debt Collection Act arising from unlawful attempts by a servicing agency to collect lease payments on a vehicle.
$45,000 mediated settlement on behalf of a tenant of a North Carolina apartment complex charging unlawful amounts for court costs and attorneys’ fees after filing an eviction lawsuit
$25,000.00 claim settlement for a local business owner related to a lease provision violation comprising lost revenue and consequential damages.
$22,500.00 for a mother and young daughter for exposure to stachybotrys mold in their leased home despite denied insurance coverage.
$19,000.00 settlement arising under the North Carolina Unfair Debt Collection Act in connection with a client’s tenancy in a local apartment complex.
$18,000.00 mediated settlement agreement for unpaid sales commissions.
$9,500.00 settlement for unpaid tips and wages for an employee of a local restaurant.
Negotiated a settlement for a construction worker injured on a job whose hiring employer failed to acquire workers’ compensation insurance.
Participated in drafting an appellate brief and preparing for oral arguments before the North Carolina Supreme Court in a felony death by motor vehicle case.
Confidential settlement for un-owed medical debt.
Successfully defended multiple clients prosecuted for domestic violence pursuant to North Carolina’s 50B statute.
Organized a North Carolina Advocates for Justice Continuing Legal Education Seminar entitled: “Practicing Family Law in the Triangle: What you need to know NOW.” (2014)

Karl Gwaltney

Karl Gwaltney

Table of Contents

Background

Representative Matters

Bar Admissions

Education

Professional Affiliations

Case Results

Locations

Practice Areas

Attorneys

Attorneys

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