It’s that time of year again to sign up for a committee with the South Carolina Bar.
Serving on a committee introduces you to new colleagues and helps you grow in the legal profession. SC Bar committees—which are composed of Bar members from throughout the state—develop, implement and oversee many goals and programs for our organization.
All members are invited to volunteer their expertise, time and talents to benefit the SC Bar, the legal profession and the communities we serve. One of the best ways to enhance your professional growth and keep your practice on the cutting edge is by participating in committee activities. Time commitments vary with each activity or committee depending upon its function and meeting schedule. Meetings typically are held both in-person and via virtual platforms or conference calls.
Unlock the next step in your career and sign up to serve in 2021-22 by visitingwww.scbar.org/getinvolved.
Save the date for the 19th Amendment program with SC Bar, ABA + UofSC
Mark your calendar now for an exciting day-long program that will delve into the history and impact of the 19th Amendment. The South Carolina Bar, American Bar Association Judicial Division and University of South Carolina School of Law will present “The Complex and Courageous Campaign for Women's Suffrage and Parity in Our Democracy: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment,” from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 16. The event will be in the Karen Williams Courtroom at the UofSC School of Law. CLE credit will be available (exact credit hours are pending). This program will be available in person and via live webcast. More details and registration information will be out soon. Stay tuned to eBlast and the SC Bar’s social media.
Bob Jones Academy places in top 5
The 2021 South Carolina State Mock Trial champion Bob Jones Academy of Greenville finished 5th at virtual nationals last weekend. The students competed against 46 teams from across the globe including Guam, South Korea, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and state champion teams from across the country. Congratulations, team. Way to represent the Palmetto State! The team is pictured here receiving its state awards and the Westbrook Traveling cup.
Saturday Shoutouts
The SC Bar Communications team wants to hear about your accomplishments within the community! Have you given a speech at graduation or received an award or honorary degree? Are you in a new leadership position or making a difference in the community? Send us your achievements to be featured in our new "Saturday Shoutouts" on social media. Check out the Bar Facebook and Twitter pages to see Kimberly Witherspoon'sspotlight for her new leadership position within the Junior League andXavier Starke'sspotlight for receiving an honorary degree from The Citadel. Send your achievement and photos or brag on your friends and colleagues by sending a message to Jamie Metz.
Your Bar: Your Voice Survey reminder
There's only a few days left to complete the Your Bar: Your Voice – SC Bar Member Survey. Please take time to access the survey and answer the questions so we can better understand our membership and your experiences in the legal profession. If you have not received the personalized email and link, email surveyassist@springitl.com.
The survey also is available athttps://mysurveytree.com/SCBar.Note if you access the survey from this link, you will have to enter your Bar number without leading zeros. The survey will be open through May 24 and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Feedback is confidential.
Time is running out!
The Young Lawyers Division will host a virtual 5K/10K race Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-31. All Bar members are invited to take part. Participants will commit to running or walking a 5K or 10K while practicing social distancing! There is an entry donation request of $15 to go toward one of the following organizations: the South Carolina Bar Foundation, the Special Olympics or the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Time is running out! Sign uphereby May 25 to join in the fun. Prior to the race, participants will receive a link to record times and are asked to share their times and photos on social media tagging the @SCBarYLD and #YLDStayAway5K10K. ContactShauna Gibsonwith questions.
The race also offers a great opportunity to download theStrava appand join the SC Bar Wellness Committee's "SC Bar Wellness Club" to keep up with what your peers are doing, encourage each other and challenge yourself. Strava is available in the Apple and Google Play app stores.
Spring into summer CLEs
The SC Bar CLE Division has you covered with practical legal information to wrap up your spring and dive into summer with these exceptional CLEs! Mark your calendars for these opportunities:
Need tech tips? Dave Stasaitis of Stasmayer Inc is back for the 2021 live webcast 30 Tech Tips in 30 Minuteson May 26. Designed for the busy lawyer, this fast-paced practical half-hour program provides advice on some of the latest and greatest technology gadgets and insights that can make your life and practice more efficient, productive, and profitable.Register hereby 5 p.m. May 25. Cost: $40 / Credit: 0.50 MCLE
Cybersecurity Ethics working from home
Discover more on this topic in the June 9Ethics of Law Firm Cybersecurity in a Work-From-Home Worldlive webcast. Gain insight on current stats related to cybersecurity since the Covid-19 pandemic began, discuss in depth ethics rules involved in cybersecurity in a work-from-home environment plus practical and budget-friendly tips for making this new environment secure.Register hereby 5 p.m. June 8. Cost: $70 / Credit: 1.0 MCLE
Adolescent Medicine
Join Dr. Alexandra Perry forConfidentiality, Assent & Consent-Navigating Ethical Terrain of Adolescent Medicine, a program dedicated to the legal and ethical challenges faced in adolescent medicine on June 24. This presentation will explore ethical elements relating to the law around adolescent consent, assent, and confidentiality as well as ethical issues in the provision of care for adolescent patients.Register hereby 5 p.m. June 23. Cost: $70 / Credit: 1.0 MCLE
Planning ahead
Before all of your summer plans are in place, remember to pencil in these exceptional CLE opportunities on your July calendar! Programs are tentatively scheduled to be in-person with limited seating.
Join us at the Hyatt Place + Hyatt House Charleston/Historic District for the 2021 Family Law Intensiveprogram, October 22-24. Hotel reservations can be madeonline here. If you need additional assistance in making your hotel reservation, please call 877-803-7534.Register herefor the program and stay tuned to the CLE Seminar's email and eBlast for more program details.
On-demand at your fingertips
Head over to theon-demand CLE tabon the CLE website to see what new programs are in store! Programs initially populate in date order, so you’ll find upcoming programing with one click. Explore these new programs below:
A jury convicted Terrance Edward Stewart of distribution of heroin and two crimes based on his knowing possession of illegal drugs: trafficking in heroin and "simple possession" of oxycodone. The Court held the trial court's jury instruction regarding the definition of constructive possession and the explanation of an inference of "knowledge and possession" was erroneous. The Court reversed the trafficking and simple possession convictions and remanded those charges for a new trial. However, because the erroneous jury instruction did not prejudice Stewart on the distribution charge, the Court affirmed the distribution conviction.
State v. Stewart, Op. No. 28029 (S.C. Sup. Ct. filed May 19, 2021) (Shearouse Adv. Sh. No. 17 at 9) is available online. In this appeal, the Court granted a petition for a writ of certiorari to consider whether to abolish the Todd rule, which requires the pleading of special damages to support a claim of civil conspiracy. The Court overruled precedent that requires the pleading of special damages and returned to the traditional definition of civil conspiracy in this state. Consequently, the Court reversed the decision of the court of appeals and remanded the matter to the circuit court for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Paradis v. Charleston County School District, Op. No. 28030 (S.C. Sup. Ct. filed May 19, 2021) (Shearouse Adv. Sh. No. 17 at 18) is available online.
Justice Kittredge concurred in result only in a separate opinion. Justice Few concurred in part and dissented in part in a separate opinion.
May 19, 2021
Court of Appeals Opinions
In this appeal arising from a defense verdict in a case about whether police officers violated the civil rights of "Jane Doe," a vulnerable adult, the court affirmed the trial court’s judgment. The court held the trial court's grant of a directed verdict was correct, as the evidence did not rise to the level necessary for a claim that the police violated the constitution when they left Jane Doe at her house. On the jury charges, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it repeated its earlier jury charges on liability and declined to repeat its instructions on damages.
The Estate of Jane Doe 202 v. City of North Charleston, Op. No. 5821 (S.C. Ct. App. filed May 19, 2021) (Shearouse Adv. Sh. No. 17 at 38) is available online.
Judge Geathers dissented in a separate opinion. In this appeal arising from an order of the Appellate Panel of the South Carolina Workers' Compensation denying Appellant’s claim for aggravation of a preexisting psychological condition, the court affirmed the order of the Appellate Panel. Substantial evidence in the record supports the Commission's decision. Claimant's medical experts' opinions were substantially weakened in light of the credibility findings of the Appellate Panel as the opinions rely, at least in part, on an unexaggerated presentation of symptoms. The medical evidence presented by Respondents established Claimant had long-standing significant psychological issues prior to her workplace fall and the fall itself may not have been the source for any deterioration in her condition.
Rummage v. BGF Industries, Op. No. 5822 (S.C. Ct. App. filed May 19, 2021) (Shearouse Adv. Sh. No. 17 at 49) is available online.
Judge McDonald concurred in result only.
Announcements
Firm & hiring announcements
Butler & College, LLC announces that David M. Collins has joined the law firm as an Associate Attorney in the firm’s Myrtle Beach office located at 606 16th Avenue North, Myrtle Beach 29577.
The Law Office of Sara A. Turner, LLC has relocated to 142 Williman Street, Unit A, Charleston, 29403.
Lueder, Larkin & Hunter, LLC announces that C. M. Plocica has joined its Charleston office as an associate in the firm’s Workers’ Compensation & Longshore practice group located at 1671 Belle Isle Drive, Suite 120, Mt. Pleasant, 29464.
Willson Jones Carter & Baxley is pleased to announce that John Patrick (Jack) Riordan has joined the firm in the Greenville office located at 325 Rocky Slope Rd., Suite 201, Greenville, 29607.
In memoriam
Everett Posey "Bill" Godfrey, 68, of Greenville died May 14. His obituary is availableonline.
Upcoming Events
May 21
Ethics Advisory Committee Meeting May 21
Professional Responsibility Committee Meeting May 26
Workers Compensation Section Council
Got an Announcement? Email Jamie Metz at jamie.metz@scbar.org
You are receiving this email because you have elected to receive the E-Blast from the SC Bar. To change your email address, you must log on to the Attorney Information System at www.sccourts.org/ais. This mailing list is updated weekly.
