Shawn Voyles

Licensed in Virginia and North Carolina

P: 757-461-2500
P: 252-525-4950
F: 757-461-2341
E: savoyles@va-law.com

For 22 years, I have represented insurance carriers, businesses, and individuals in cases involving liability defense and insurance coverage. I specialize in cases involving premises liability, trucking and auto accidents, product liability, construction claims, employment discrimination, and traumatic brain injury claims. I also handle select personal injury cases and represent clients in business and real estate disputes. Virginia Business magazine has named me one of Virginia's "Legal Elite."

I handle large exposure claims in state and federal courts throughout Virginia and Eastern North Carolina. I try the cases that need to be tried, including several of the biggest cases in Virginia in recent years, including a defense verdict in a $10 million case following a seven day jury trial and a defense verdict in a $3 million case following a three day jury trial. 

I enjoy serving as a the Admiralty Law adjunct professor at Regent University School of Law, where I have taught since 2005. I have published and presented nationally on the subjects of maritime law and insurance. 

I have been married for 22 years, have four children and two Australian Labradoodles, and am an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and a long-suffering fan of the Chicago Bears. 

Representative Experience

Maritime Litigation

• Obtained exoneration from liability for national aggregate company in federal Limitation of Liability Act case filed after Jones Act seaman sought damages in state court.
• Obtained summary judgement in federal Limitation of Liability Act case significantly limiting damages recovered by severely injured deckhand. 
• Defended Jones Act case where dredge deckhand was struck by a parted line - the jury's award of damages was less than half of plaintiff's last settlement demand.
• Recovered substantial sums of money for marine insurers in cargo subrogation cases.
• Litigated and resolved general maritime law wrongful death case.
• Litigated and resolved Jones Act seaman's wrongful death case arising from tug accident. 
• Litigated and resolved recreational boating injury cases filed under general maritime law. 

Toxic Tort Litigation

• Successfully moved to strike plaintiff's evidence in $5 million FELA trial where plaintiff claimed that he had contracted silicosis during his employment with railroad company. 
• Litigation and resolved infant death case allegedly caused by lead paint poisoning. 
• Litigated and resolved numerous FELA cases where plaintiffs claimed to have contracted asbestosis or mesothelioma during their employment during their employment with railroad company.
• Litigated and resolved numerous maritime law cases where plaintiffs claimed to have contracted asbestosis or mesothelioma during their shipyard employment. 

Business and Employment Litigation

• Defense verdict for local railroad company in $2 million Title VII discrimination and retaliation case tried in federal court. 
• Negotiated settlement if $1 million claim payment from insurance company to client. 
• Achieved reversal of coverage declination based on contractual indemnification clause, saving client $1 million in direct costs and enabling client to win $26 million contract. 
• Mediated resolution of sensitive breach of employment contract and trade secrets case while avoiding significant damages and negative publicity for client. 
• Defended clients from allegations of breach of contract, civil conspiracy, fraud, and breach of employment contract claims in federal court. 
• Litigated and resolved FLSA case in federal court. 
• Represented national bank in creditor's right case.