DeMayo Law Offices - From Courtroom to Community

Crishon Johnson doesn't fit the typical mold of a personal injury attorney—and that's exactly what makes her exceptional.

As a pre-litigation attorney at DeMayo Law Offices in North Carolina with nearly 16 years in personal injury law, Johnson has become an unexpected thought leader in legal AI adoption. But her philosophy is clear: the best technology doesn't replace human connection—it amplifies it.

Johnson's legal career began in Social Security disability law. "I've always said that's the area of law I felt the most needed in because my clients had nothing," she recalls. "They really needed a way to make their lives better." The work required her to be "a lawyer and a therapist," teaching her that clients facing barriers need more than legal expertise.

While she transitioned to personal injury in 2009, those lessons remained. As an African American female attorney in a field where she is a minority, Johnson brings a unique perspective to advocacy. "When you have found yourself in numerous instances where you are one of few, sometimes the only, individual that looks like you, you learn a certain level of resilience. You investigate more ways to achieve results. You think outside of the box. I believe my job requires me to use those same mechanisms to push back against arguments that are presented by insurance company to shut my clients out of the compensation they deserve," she explains. "Sometimes you’ve just got to push through a little bit more, ask the additional questions. Let's not stop at frustration."

Johnson first encountered Supio at a previous firm. When she joined DeMayo without it, the loss was acute. "Once you start using it and then you don't have it—it's a lot."

When DeMayo adopted Supio, Johnson was thrilled. But what sets her apart isn't just enthusiasm—it's philosophy. "I really use it as a thinking tool, something that helps me think outside of the box which I believe is a super power," she explains. After years of similar cases, she risked becoming "very jaded." Supio helps her "capture every possible opportunity" for clients by forcing fresh perspectives.

Her core principle? "I believe for me, Supio can work best if implementing its power from the beginning, as the case is developing versus, waiting till the end." Her goal is to continually advocate for uploading records immediately, creating a living case file. She also uses AI strategically: "I'll ask it, 'What medical documentation would help bulk up my arguments for the weaknesses in my case?' Then I make sure the notes are in there for when negotiations are coming up."

One recent case demonstrates her approach perfectly. A hairdresser client struggled with back pain limiting her work. Johnson used Supio's Deep Dive feature to generate a draft demand letter, then customized it with lifestyle impacts from her conversations—details medical records didn't capture.

The result? A polished demand package in one day instead of five. The timing mattered strategically, too--getting it in front of adjusters at year-end when they're more eager to negotiate and clear their desks.

She applies this across cases, prompting Supio to draft customized paragraphs connecting medical issues to specific professions. "It'll give me that, and now I can just copy and paste, edit a couple things, and it looks awesome."

At DeMayo, Johnson leads a team including medical personnel, two paralegals, and support staff. Through weekly meetings, she coaches strategic AI use, building confidence that empowers decisive action. Her approach ensures everyone contributes to the AI-powered workflow from intake forward.

But Johnson's commitment to advocacy extends far beyond the workday. She recently completed three years on the board of WomenNC, an organization dedicated to achieving gender equity by mentoring college students through year-long research projects addressing local problems. These students present their findings at the UN's local-to-global forum—and many have instituted solutions communities now use.

"I think the younger you can give people a voice, the farther they can go," Johnson explains. "When people understand that their voice is important, it matters."

She's also mentored law students through faith-based programs, drawing on her challenging experience at UNC-Chapel Hill. "Law school was challenging—not because of the law school part, but all the life part around it," she recalls. "Sometimes that's the difference in whether you stay and graduate—just having support. Mentoring is being the person that says, 'There's your foot, just move it in front of that next foot.'"

Currently, Johnson is stepping back from some board commitments to focus on a deeply personal project: writing a book about lessons learned from her father, who passed away in 2022. "I’m big on my family and his absence just reminds me what a gift my dad is to me, my family is to me," she says quietly. "His absence has changed my life."

When asked about feeling most honored in her career, Johnson returns to being able to serve others. One client, after years of fighting to get approved for disability and finally winning that fight, sent flowers: "Thank you so much for helping me have a means to have a life, to support myself, support my family."

"That meant so much because I felt like I was a part of her life being better. And that's a good thing."

That north star—making clients' lives better—guides everything: the AI adoption, team building, mentorship, and continuous learning.