LUCAS - Key Persons
Amy joined LDE in 2002. She supports our attorneys in criminal law proceedings. Her day-to-day activities include drafting correspondences, complaints and motions, performing legal research and working directly with clients.
In addition, she assists our clients with seeing their case through to completion including file preparation, legal document filings and obtaining updated information from the court house.
Hard work equals good results. That's the motto of our criminal defense and civil litigation attorney, Bob Denning. Bob, who has been practicing law for nearly 25 years, leads our criminal defense and civil litigation team.
In 2008, Bob was named one of North Carolina's Legal Elite by Business North Carolina magazine. The Legal Elite are lawyers who have been recognized by their peer members of the North Carolina Bar Association as the best in their field.
Bob received his law degree from the Campbell University School of Law in 1983. He is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
A lifelong resident of Johnston county, Bob enjoys playing golf, watching sports and traveling with his wife Michelle.
Catherine's natural curiosity about the legal system and how it functions led her to join Lucas, Denning and Ellerbe, P.A. (LDE) as a paralegal in 1996.
Catherine currently works with our civil litigation and criminal law legal teams. She is responsible for drafting documents including correspondence, complaints and motions, reviewing and analyzing discovery, legal research and working directly with our clients on day-to-day communication.
Catherine is an honors graduate of Johnston Community College where she received her associate's degree in paralegal technology. She received the Student Government Association Award and Outstanding Paralegal Award for the Class of 1996 while in school.
A legal assistant for our legal team for the past 14 years, Daneen assists our attorneys with pre-litigation activities for personal injury cases.
Daneen grew up in Tarboro, N.C., and has been a resident of Johnston County for the past 15 years.
Outside of the office, Daneen enjoys spending time with her husband and son and riding motorcycles.
As a litigation paralegal, Debra assists our attorneys with filings and schedulings once cases are sent to litigation.
Debra received her Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and her associate's degree in paralegal technology from Johnston Community College.
She is a lifelong resident of Johnston County who enjoys reading, traveling and walking her Schnauzer.
Job Titles:
- Office Assistant
- Office Assistant and Courier
In addition to studying Human Resources Management at Mt. Olive College, Jenna works as our office assistant and courier. She serves as the courier for legal documents, is responsible for office assistant duties and works as our receptionist.
Jenna's past experience includes working at a sporting goods store .
Jenna grew up in Pine Level, N.C., with her family including her twin brother. Jenna enjoys playing soccer, singing, shopping and hunting. She is active in her local church and volunteer fire department ladies auxiliary.
Jennifer coordinates communication between various parties in legal cases and assists our attorneys in obtaining benefits for injured workers. A North Carolina Certified Paralegal, she has worked with LDE for the past five years.
Jennifer joined LDE to become more directly involved in helping injured workers.
Jennifer holds a diploma in paralegal science.
Outside of the office, Jennifer spends her time with her family and is involved with the Pine Level F.W.B. Church and a community Bible study with more than 300 other women and children. Her favorite hobbies include taking road trips to study architecture of old homes, playing the piano and organizing interior spaces.
Linda has been employed at LDE for 18 years and works at the center of the firm as our office manager and bookkeeper.
Linda manages the day-to-day operations of the office to ensure that everything runs smoothly. She manages general office administration, financial accounting and serves as our receptionist. She received an associate's degree in applied science and accounting from Johnston Community College.
A lifelong resident of Johnston County, Linda enjoys reading, cross-stitching, kickboxing, traveling and spending time with her family.
Lydia Strickland joined the firm more than 21 years ago and currently assists our personal injury legal team as a legal assistant and secretary.
You'll meet Lydia if you seek our personal injury legal services. Lydia meets with new personal injury clients, obtains information needed for their claims including their medical records, coordinates communication with insurance adjusters and assists our personal injury legal team inobtaining settlements for clients.
Prior to joining LDE, Lydia worked at Boyce, Mitchell, Burns and Smith in Raleigh, N.C., where she served as receptionist and legal secretary for 12 years.
Lydia is a lifelong resident of Johnson County who grew up near Kenly, N.C., Outside the office, she can be found enjoying one of her many hobbies including reading, shopping, doing yardwork or relaxing at Topsail Island. She has one daughter, LeeAnna, who is completing her graduate studies at East Carolina University.
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- President
As president and managing attorney of Lucas, Denning and Ellerbe, P.A. (LDE), Bob Lucas manages the day-to-day operations of the firm as well as leading our legal team for personal injury and workers' compensation cases.
Bob has led numerous personal injury and workers' compensation cases in his 30-year career, many of which have been high profile. He is a leader in the legal profession who has served as president of the Johnston County Bar Association and is a member of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, the North Carolina Bar Association and the American Bar Association. In addition, he served as mayor of the town of Selma from 1989 to 1991.
Bob founded LDE in 1979 after completing his J.D. of Law from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He received his Bachelor of Arts in political science from East Carolina University. He has served on the East Carolina University Board of Trustees since 2006.
A native of Raleigh, N.C., Bob has lived in Johnston County for the past 30 years and has been active in his community and in state and local Democratic politics. Outside of the office, you'll find him spending time with his family and enjoying his favorite hobby of off-shore fishing at the beach or at his home in Costa Rica. A consummate fisherman, he has served as the chairman of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission and has been recognized as the North Carolina Conservationist of the Year.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Partner
- Professor at Johnston Community College
Sarah joined LDE 13 years ago after completing her bachelor's degree in music performance from Salem College and her J.D. at the Campbell University School of Law. As one of the firm's partners and leading attorneys, she oversees workers' compensation, personal injury and social security disability cases.
In addition to her work at the firm, Sarah has worked as a professor at Johnston Community College and in the College Paralegal Program.
Sarah grew up in Lake Wales, Florida, and has been a resident of Johnston County for the past 14 years. Outside of the office you'll find her enjoying one of her many hobbies including snow skiing, exercising, spending time with her husband and daughter and playing the harp.
Sarah is an active member in her community having served as president of the Smithfield Jaycees, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and a member of the First Baptist Church of Clayton.
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Legal Assistant
Talitha works as the firm's bilingual legal assistant helping to serve our Spanish-speaking clients. For the past year, Talitha has assisted our attorneys with interpretation for Spanish-speaking clients in personal injury and workers' compensation cases.
Talitha also assists with oral and written communications, case management and ordering medical records for our clients.
She received her certificate in Massage Therapy from Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, N.C.
A new resident to Johnston county, Talitha grew up in Peru and Ecuador, South America, where her parents served as missionaries. Through their missionary work, the family performed as a Christian gospel group for hospitals, retirement centers, orphanages and churches.
Talitha has lived in Johnston County for one year with her two children and enjoys dancing and spending time with her children.