Areas of Practice:
Gerald H. Groon, Jr. "Gary" is a partner within the firm's Creditors' Rights section and began his employment with Smith Debnam over 20 years ago as a law clerk while attending Campbell University Law School. Concentrating his practice in the areas of debt collection and civil litigation, he represents national and local businesses in collection matters throughout North Carolina and the United States. Gary and his team of paralegals and collections professionals have over 80 years of combined experience getting results for their clients.
Gary has extensive trial experience, having tried cases before both judges and juries and in both District and Superior Court. Gary also represented the Plaintiff before the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the case of Lexis-Nexis, Division of Reed Elsevier, Inc. v. Travishan Corporation. In that case, Gary was able to convince the North Carolina Court of Appeals to adopt the general rule that a corporation involved in litigation pending in District and Superior Court must be represented by an attorney.
Gary is certified as a Creditors’ Rights Specialist by the American Board of Certification. He formally served as the North Carolina State Chair of the American Collectors Association Members’ Attorney Program, is a member of the Commercial Law League of America, and is an associate member of the International Association of Commercial Collectors, Inc. Gary speaks several times each year at seminars on collection law and enforcement of judgments. He has been featured as a speaker at educational programs sponsored by Heritage Professional Education, Lorman Education Services, and National Business Institute.
Prior to entering the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gary served in the United States Air Force. He was assigned to the 351st Missile Security Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri and to the 43rd Security Police Squadron at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. As one of the many defenders of our Nations’ nuclear arsenal, Gary is proud (and relieved) to be able to state that no nuclear weapon was ever lost on his watch.
