“My clients always know what’s going on and where we stand because we are a team fighting together.”

- Hoyt Tessener

hoyt.tessener@farrin.com

919.328.4253

Attorney Hoyt Tessener (Shareholder)

Litigation attorney Hoyt Tessener tries the really tough cases – and he has for more than 30 years. Tough strategically. Tough emotionally. The trucking accidents whose evidence gives you chills. The personal injury cases that can bring an otherwise “impartial” jury to tears. Business disputes with millions of dollars at stake. Cases you must have the stomach to try. Confidently. Thoroughly. Compassionately.

Hoyt joined the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin in 2017 so he could try these tough cases with the resources and technology behind him to take his legendary litigation efforts to the next level. He is a Shareholder of the firm.

Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, and having tried over 100 cases in state and federal courts throughout North Carolina with multiple verdict awards of $1,000,000 or more,¹ lawyers, judges, and others know Hoyt for his confidence, tenacity, and meticulous preparation.

His clients know him as their champion.

The one who will fight tooth and nail for them. Honest. Humble.

Relatable.

“The people I represent — no matter what walk of life they come from — are often scared,” Hoyt said. “They’re not sure what to do. In some cases, they’re not sure they can do anything. They’re underdogs. I know there’s a lot they can do — and I will fight as hard as I can for them. I am well aware that I’m fighting for my clients to get the care they need or for compensation to put their lives back together. So I’d better do my best — and I do.”

The “Other Side” Advantage

Hoyt feels he is often at an advantage in the courtroom because he has been “on the other side” representing big corporations, like the very insurance companies his clients are fighting.

“Knowing the strategies the opposing lawyers might be going with is definitely an advantage,” he says. “There may be more of them – 12 or 15. But they can only talk one at a time … They can yell at me, they can do what they want, it doesn’t matter to me. The whole time, I’m thinking through what’s best for my client. My clients always know what’s going on and where we stand because we are a team fighting together.”

Finding His Passion

Hoyt was raised in the textile town of Shelby, NC. His father owned an auto body repair shop and his mother was a beautician. He eventually attended NC State University – the first in his family to ever attend college.

He chose NC State because it had a textile program. It never occurred to him then that he’d do anything other than work in the textile industry. Yet that industry was rapidly declining and jobs moved overseas. Hoyt attended Campbell University, learned the art of litigation, and met with great success. Hoyt won the Rick Edmonson mock appellate competition with the highest score possible, and 10 Book Awards – the highest number achieved at that time. It seemed meant to be.

Hoyt recalls, “Litigation just seemed to fit. I’ve been told I’m a fighter and a good storyteller. I may not be the smartest guy in the room. I may not be the best looking. But I’m a hard worker. I’m a fighter. And as the child of hardworking parents, I have a solid work ethic. I am the one who will wade through the weeds to try to get the results my clients potentially deserve.”

The Success That Followed

Hoyt’s success as a lawyer eventually landed him right back at Campbell University School of Law teaching jury selection as an adjunct professor. Something he’s done since 1999. He is also chair of Campbell’s Board of Visitors, which assists the dean, faculty, and leadership in developing and evaluating strategic planning efforts and launching initiatives.

His peers have taken note, too. Every year since 2006 he has been selected to be included on the “Super Lawyer”³ list in Super Lawyers magazine. Since 2008, his name has appeared on “The Best Lawyers in America”³ annual list for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs. That same publication designated Hoyt in 2016 as “Lawyer of the Year”³ for the Raleigh area for Product Liability Litigation. And in 2015, Business North Carolina named him among the “Legal Elite.”³

In 1997, he was invited by noted trial lawyer Gerry Spence to his nationally-acclaimed Trial Lawyers College on his 400,000-acre Wyoming ranch, and subsequently joined its college faculty. This unique and one of its kind institution is dedicated to helping lawyers and judges “obtain justice for individuals; the poor, the injured, the forgotten, the voiceless, the defenseless and the damned, and to protecting the rights of such people from corporate and government oppression.”⁴

A credo that, Hoyt says, “is just in my DNA.”

Licensed in

North Carolina
Georgia

Practice Area

Honors/Awards/
Accomplishments

“Super Lawyers”³ list by Super Lawyers magazine, 2006-2021
“Best Lawyers”³ list for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs by Best Lawyers in America, 2008-2022
“Lawyer of the Year,”³ Product Liability Litigation by Best Lawyers in America, 2016
Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” list,³ 2015
Martindale-Hubbell AV “Preeminent” Rating,³ 2021

Memberships

Admitted to the United States Supreme Court
Public Justice Foundation
Taxpayers Against Fraud
North Carolina State Bar
American Association for Justice
North Carolina Bar Association
- Former Chairman of the Litigation Section
Southern Trial Lawyers Association
Attorneys Information Exchange Group

Community & Civic Involvement

Adjunct Professor, Campbell University, 20+ years
Campbell Law School Board of Visitors, Chair
Bipartisan candidate for NC Superior Court Judge, 2016
Hoyt Q. Bailey Endowment, Inc., President
Governor’s Crime Commission
The Craven-Everett American Inn of Court

Law School

Campbell University School of Law
1988, J.D.

College

North Carolina State University
1983, B.S. in Textiles

Online Google Review

I have known Hoyt Tessener

I am an in house counsel and law professor, I have known Hoyt Tessener … he is one of the truly great trial lawyers in the State of NC. The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin is, likewise, a great team of trial lawyers. Together they make a very, very potent team who will handle your case with skill [and] aggression and care for you as a client!¹

Former Auto Accident Client, Online Google Review

I had an amazing experience with James Scott Farrin.

I had an amazing experience with James Scott Farrin. They were consistent and answered all questions and catered to all my needs. Thank you so much. If you [need] any assistance with any accidents, I highly recommend James Scott Farrin for your legal team. ¹

For legal reasons and client confidentiality, reviews have been slightly edited to remove identifying information and correct typos.

³ For more information regarding the standards for inclusion for the “Super Lawyers” list, visit www.superlawyers.com. For more information regarding the standards for inclusion for the “Best Lawyers in America” list, visit www.bestlawyers.com. For more information regarding the standards for inclusion for “Lawyer of the Year,” visit www.bestlawyers.com. For more information regarding the standards for inclusion for Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” list, visit businessnc.com. For information regarding the standards for inclusion in Martindale-Hubbell peer review ratings, visit www.martindale.com.

⁴ gerry-spence.com