Browse recent court opinions from the South Carolina Supreme Court. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis of 30 cases. State Supreme Court.
No coverage for parked car hit by unidentified driver without physical contact
Alexis Jones v. Progressive Northern Insurance Company, decided by South Carolina Supreme Court on April 22, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether Progressive...
Court Affirms Disbarment of Attorney for Professional Misconduct
In the Matter of David J. Miller, decided by South Carolina Supreme Court on April 22, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether David J. Miller, a former attorne...
Bail Statute Upheld: Due Process Not Violated by "All-Crimes" Statute
In the Matter of MaRhonda Shatoya Smith, decided by South Carolina Supreme Court on April 22, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The case concerns whether the state's "all-crimes" bail statute...
South Carolina Supreme Court Rules Amazon's Third-Party Seller Fees Subject to Sales Tax
This case involved Amazon Services LLC and the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) regarding sales and use taxes on fees Amazon charged third-party sellers for various services. Amazon argued...
South Carolina Judge Publicly Reprimanded for Improper Arrest Warrant and Lack of Impartiality
This case involves Darrell Scott Fisher, a former Summary Court Judge in West Greenville, South Carolina, who was publicly reprimanded by the South Carolina Supreme Court for judicial misconduct. The ...
Attorney David F. Stoddard Receives Public Reprimand for Professional Misconduct in Client's Personal Injury Case
This case involves David F. Stoddard, an attorney, who was found to have engaged in professional misconduct. The Supreme Court of South Carolina reviewed the findings of the Disciplinary Panel, which ...
Former Judge James E. Crook Publicly Reprimanded for Judicial Misconduct During Bond Hearing
This case involves former Judge James E. Crook, a Spartanburg County Magistrate, who was found to have engaged in misconduct. The South Carolina Supreme Court determined that Judge Crook violated mult...
South Carolina Judge Publicly Reprimanded for Extensive Delays in Issuing Court Orders
This case involves former Judge Curtis G. Clark, who served as the Master-in-Equity for Abbeville County, South Carolina. The Supreme Court of South Carolina found that Judge Clark engaged in miscondu...
Estate of Pratt's Medical Malpractice Case Against Amisub Dismissed Due to Failure to File Expert Affidavit
This case involves the Estate of William Pratt suing Amisub of SC, Inc. The core issue revolves around the interpretation and application of a specific South Carolina statute concerning medical malpra...
Supreme Court Upholds Removal of Guardian Due to Financial Mismanagement
This case involves Tasha Jean Kotz, who was appointed as a guardian for her mother. The court later removed Ms. Kotz as guardian due to concerns about her management of her mother's finances, includin...
Supreme Court finds employee termination for gross misconduct unjustified, entitling him to severance pay.
This case involves a dispute over whether a company, "the Company," could terminate an employee, Mark Justin Josephs, for "gross misconduct." Josephs had been accused of leaking confidential informati...
Court Reverses Hazardous Waste Incinerator Permit, Citing Inadequate Environmental Review
The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) sued the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) over a permit issued to a company for a hazardous waste incinerator....
Defendant not guilty of violating no-contact order due to insufficient proof of service
This case involves a dispute over whether a defendant, Kierin M. Dennis, could be charged with a crime for allegedly violating a "no-contact" order. The core issue was whether the "no-contact" order w...
Landlord Wins Commercial Lease Dispute; Tenant's Claims Dismissed
This case involves a dispute over a commercial lease agreement. Charles Blanchard, the tenant, sued 480 King Street, LLC, the landlord, alleging that the landlord breached the lease by failing to main...
Appeals court revives lawsuit challenging demolition of historic hospital
The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) sued the City of North Charleston, South Carolina, arguing that the city's demolition of the historic Charleston Naval Hospital was illegal. NTHP cl...
South Carolina Optometric Association Wins Case Against Online Vision Test Provider
This case involves a dispute between Opternative, a company that provides an online vision test, and the South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association (SCOPA), a professional organization for optom...
City of North Charleston Wins Dispute Over Park Ownership
This case involves a dispute between the City of Charleston and the City of North Charleston over the ownership and control of a public park, "Park Name." The City of Charleston argued that it had acq...
Court rules buyer did not breach contract by terminating due to inability to secure financing.
This case involves a dispute over a real estate contract. Spring Valley Interests, LLC (the buyer) agreed to purchase property from The Best for Last, LLC (the seller). The contract included a financi...
Conviction for Aggravated Assault Upheld Despite Self-Defense Claim
This case involves a man named John Joseph Erb who was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The victim testified that Erb pointed a gun at him and threatened to shoot him. Erb claimed...
Court Rules Former Employee's Termination Was Wrongful Due to Lack of Contract Breach
This case involves a dispute over whether Kenneth Eastwood, a former employee of a company, was wrongfully terminated. The core issue was whether Eastwood's actions constituted a breach of his employm...
South Carolina Supreme Court Rules Against Former Employee in Wrongful Termination and Retaliation Lawsuit
This case involves a former employee, David Climer, who sued his former employer, Curtis M. Loftis, Jr., alleging wrongful termination and discrimination. Climer claimed he was fired because he report...
SC Supreme Court Rules Attorney General Must Justify Withholding Public Records
This case involves a public records request made by the South Carolina Public Interest Foundation (SCPIF) to the South Carolina Attorney General's office, headed by Alan Wilson. SCPIF sought access to...
Court rules on enforceability of settlement agreement in dispute between Thompson and Killian
This case involves a dispute over a settlement agreement between Mark G. Thompson and Clay Killian. Thompson sued Killian, alleging that Killian breached the settlement agreement by failing to pay the...
Confession deemed voluntary, conviction upheld
Maron Alexander Lindsey v. State, decided by South Carolina Supreme Court on November 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether the defendant's confession was ...
Zoning Ordinance Not Vague, Court Rules in Favor of County
The Gulfstream Café v. Georgetown County, decided by South Carolina Supreme Court on October 29, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Gulfstream Café sued Georgetown County over a zoning dis...
Former Ag Secretary Schafer not personally liable for "willful" ADA violation
In the Matter of Edward Joseph Schafer, decided by South Carolina Supreme Court on October 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved whether Edward Joseph Schafer, a form...
Georgia custody modification: Parent's conduct relevant to child's best interest
In the Matter of Georgia Anne Shobe, decided by South Carolina Supreme Court on September 17, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether the "best interest of the ...
Court Upholds Rejection of LWVSC Ballot Question
League of Women Voters of South Carolina v. Thomas Alexander, decided by South Carolina Supreme Court on September 17, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The League of Women Voters of South Ca...
SC Supreme Court Denies Habeas Corpus for Ineffective Counsel Claim
In the Matter of Travis W. White, decided by South Carolina Supreme Court on September 17, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of South Carolina affirmed the circuit court's d...