At-Will Employment in South Carolina: New Supreme Court Rulings
You may know that South Carolina is an at-will employment state. But what does that really mean? In an at-will employment state, work is presumed to be at-will unless otherwise defined by contract. In an at-will employment arrangement, both the [...]
Civil Conspiracy Claims in South Carolina After Abolishing the Todd Rule
The South Carolina Supreme Court has done away with the so-called Todd rule. This comes from the court’s 2021 decision in Paradis v Charleston County School District (find the opinion here), in which Leisel Paradis asserted a civil conspiracy claim [...]
How is Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship Created and Severed in South Carolina?
One of the key benefits of holding property with someone as joint tenants with rights of survivorship is that when one cotenant dies, his/her share in the property automatically passes to the surviving cotenant(s). The property doesn’t pass through probate [...]
What is Inverse Condemnation? How Is It Different from Eminent Domain?
Let’s say a government agency undertakes a construction project that affects your ability to fully enjoy your property and reduces its value, which constitutes a “taking” on the part of the government. If the government acknowledges this taking before beginning [...]
What Powers Does a Power of Attorney Give Me?
A power of attorney (POA) is a document that authorizes a person (the “agent” or “attorney in fact”) to act on behalf of another person (the “principal”). Different kinds of POAs grant different kinds of authority. (For more on the [...]
Employee or Independent Contractor? A Closer Look at the Four-Factor Model
How do you know whether a worker in South Carolina should be classified as an employee or an independent contractor? The decision has big consequences for both employer and worker, as that classification impacts taxes, workers’ compensation, and more. While [...]
Tenants in Common with a Right of Survivorship: A Third Alternative in South Carolina
If you’ve bought property in South Carolina with another person or multiple people, then you might be familiar with the terms “tenants in common” and “joint tenants with rights of survivorship.” These are the two standard alternatives that determine the [...]
Can You Be Bound by an Arbitration Clause You Didn’t Agree to?
In June 2016, 90-year-old Bonnie Walker moved into the Brookdale Senior Living Center, a residential care facility in Charleston, SC. Six weeks later, she wandered out of the center one evening, and the following day her body was found by [...]
Is Promissory Estoppel Subject to Statute of Limitations in South Carolina?
Thomerson v. DeVito came to the Supreme Court of South Carolina on certification from the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, as the U.S. District Court needed a matter of South Carolina law settled before it was [...]
What is Title Insurance and Why is It Important?
We’ve previously discussed the importance of a title search on this blog. A title search occurs before a real estate closing to ensure that the property in question is free of any liens, pending lawsuits, unpaid taxes, and other similar [...]
A Classic Squeeze-Out: Minority Member Oppression in Wilson v Gandis
In the previous blog, we looked at one of the risks of being in an LLC, minority member oppression. This happens when a member or members of the LLC act to reduce a minority member’s involvement in the company against [...]
Your Risks as a Minority Member in an LLC: Oppression and Squeeze-Out
A limited liability company (LLC) is a great thing for many entrepreneurs. Among other things, it provides liability protection while requiring fewer formalities than a corporation. But it’s not risk-free. One of the potential risks is minority oppression of members [...]
Get It in Writing – It’s the Law
Please be advised that the Court assumed for purposes of the Motion for Summary Judgment that all the facts the Plaintiff (Kagan) alleged were true in the light most favorable to him and without consideration of the Defendants Simchons’ version [...]
Accretion and Property Rights on Sullivan’s Island
Imagine you own beachfront property in South Carolina just steps away from the ocean. Now imagine that over time, the distance between your home and the ocean gets larger and larger as the beach grows, putting you further and further [...]
Marketability and Minority Discounts in South Carolina Courts
If you’re a part owner of a closely held corporation, it can be challenging to determine the dollar value of your interest in it. Not only do closely held corporations not make their finances public, making it difficult to know [...]
