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Supreme Court Seal
South Carolina
Judicial Branch
Court of Appeals - Roster of Cases for Hearing

   

The summary below each case is prepared to offer lawyers and the public a general overview of what issues are included in a case which will be argued. The summary is not a limit on what issues a party to a case may present at oral argument.

Monday, June 3, 2024
Courtroom I
 10:40 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2022-001266    City of Hardeeville, Appellant, v. Jasper County, South Carolina; Jasper County Treasurer; and Jasper County Auditor, Respondents, AND Jasper County, South Carolina, Cross Co-Plaintiff, Verna Garvin, in her official capacity as Jasper County Treasurer, Cross Co-Plaintiff, and Monica Wilson, in her official capacity as Jasper County Auditor, Cross Co-Plaintiff v. City of Hardeeville, Nickel Plate Road, LLC, and Beaufort County, South Carolina, Cross Defendants.

Michael Enrico Kozlarek and John Marshall Mosser, both of King Kozlarek Law LLC, of Greenville, for Appellant. Thomas Allan Bendle, Jr., of Howell Gibson & Hughes, PA, of Beaufort, for Respondents Jasper County Treasurer and Jasper County Auditor. Walter Hammond Cartin and Jeffrey Evan Phillips, both of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP, of Columbia, for Respondent Jasper County, South Carolina.

 11:20 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2022-001510    Francine Steineman, Respondent, v. Meridian Security Insurance Company, Appellant.

M. Dawes Cooke, Jr. and John William Fletcher, both of Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms, LLC, of Charleston, for Appellant. Stephen Glenn Vicari, II, of Stewart Law Offices, LLC, of Columbia; and Bert Glenn Utsey, III, of Clawson Fargnoli Utsey, LLC, of Charleston, both for Respondent.

 12:00 p.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2020-001600    The State, Respondent, v. Ricky Bernard Brown, Appellant.

Appellate Defender David Alexander, of Columbia, for Appellant. Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson and Assistant Attorney General Mark Reynolds Farthing, both of Columbia; and Solicitor David Matthew Stumbo, of Greenwood, all for Respondent.

Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Courtroom I
 10:40 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2022-001557    Chandelle Property Owners Association, Respondent, v. James Douglas Armstrong, Jane Armstrong, Kenneth L. Galloway, Molly C. Galloway, Warren Johnson, Rhonda Johnson, John K. Payne, Ruth G. Payne, and Jane Van Wieren as Trustee of the Greer R.G. Irrevocable Property Trust, dated October 26, 2006, and also all other persons unknown, claiming any right, title, estate, interest in or lien upon the real estate described in the complaint herein, Defendants, and James Douglas Armstrong, Jane Armstrong, Warren Johnson, Rhonda Johnson, John K. Payne, Ruth G. Payne, and Jane Van Wieren as Trustee of the Greer R.G. Irrevocable Property Trust dated October 25, 2006, Third-Party Plaintiffs, v. Billy J. Israel, Bruce R. Goldberg, Cindy R. Goldberg, and George Lynn Fleming in their personal and official capacities, Third-Party Defendants, and Kenneth L. Galloway and Molly C. Galloway, Third-Party Plaintiffs, v. Billy J. Israel, Bruce R. Goldberg, Cindy R. Goldberg, and George Lynn Fleming, in their personal and official capacities, Third-Party Defendants, Of whom James Douglas Armstrong, Jane Armstrong, Warren Johnson, Rhonda Johnson, John K. Payne, Ruth G. Payne, and Jane Van Wieren as Trustee of the Greer R.G. Irrevocable Property Trust dated October 25, 2006, are the Appellants.

Wendell L. Hawkins, of Wendell L. Hawkins, PA, of Greer, for Appellants. James P. Walsh and John D. Harjehausen, both of Clarkson, Walsh & Coulter, P.A., of Greenville; and Donald Ryan McCabe, Jr., of McCabe, Trotter & Beverly, P.C., of Columbia, all for Respondent.

 11:20 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2023-000104    Paul Roy Osmundson, Appellant, v. School District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties, Respondent.

Joel W. Collins, Jr., of Collins & Lacy, PC; and Thomas Wm. McGee, III, of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP, both of Columbia, for Appellant. James Edward Bradley, of Moore Bradley Myers, PA, of West Columbia, for Respondent.

Paul Roy Osmundson appeals the dismissal of his action under the Freedom of Information Act against School District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties, arguing the circuit court erred in (1) granting a motion to dismiss and (2) denying a motion to reconsider.

 12:00 p.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2022-000805    Lonnie Hamilton, III and Zoe'Lia L. Culbreath, Appellants, v. 301 Auto Parts, LLC, Respondent.

Thomas S. Tisdale, Jr., of Law Offices of Thomas S. Tisdale, LLC, of Charleston, for Appellants. Peter Gunnar Nistad, of Charleston, for Respondent.

Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Courtroom I
 10:00 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2022-001224    Palmetto Construction Group, LLC, Respondent, v. Restoration Specialists, LLC, Reuben Mark Ward, and Lynnette Pennington Ward, Appellants.

Warren W. Ariail and A. Bright Ariail, both of Law Office of A. Bright Ariail, LLC, of Charleston, for Appellants. Jaan Gunnar Rannik, of Epting & Rannik, LLC, and Michelle N Endemann, both of Charleston, for Respondent.

 10:40 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2022-001060    Emily P. Smith and Emily P. Smith and Associates, LLC, Appellants, v. Robert T. Smith; Southern Collection, LLC; Southern Collection Brokerage, LLC; Terrance Smith and Associates, LLC; Robert B. Smith; and Sherry C. Smith, Respondents.

Desa Ballard, Harvey M. Watson, III, and Haley Alyse Hubbard, all of Ballard & Watson, Attorneys at Law, of West Columbia, for Appellants. R. Hawthorne Barrett, Mark Brandon Goddard, Lindsey Marie Behnke, and John Brian Kelchner, all of Turner Padget Graham & Laney, PA, of Columbia, for Respondents.

 2:00 p.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2019-001570    The State, Respondent, v. Devin Zachary Elijah Ruttle, Appellant.

Christopher Todd Brumback and Spencer Davis Langley, both of Brumback & Langley, LLC, of Greenville, for Appellant. Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson, Deputy Attorney General Donald J. Zelenka, Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Melody Jane Brown, and Julianna E. Battenfield, all of Columbia, for Respondent.

In this criminal proceeding, Devin Z.E. Ruttle, was convicted of murder and unlawful carrying of a handgun at the trial court. On appeal, Ruttle alleges juror bias concealment and abuse of discretion for the trial court's denial of his motion for a new trial on this basis. Ruttle also alleges that the trial court erred in its denial of immunity under the Protection of Persons and Property Act and that the implied malice charge provided to the jury was reversible error when evidence was presented Ruttle acted in self-defense.

Thursday, June 6, 2024
Courtroom I
 10:40 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2021-001275    The State, Respondent, v. Tiesh Annette Rhue, Appellant.

Elizabeth Anne Franklin-Best and Jillian Marie Lesley, both of Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C., of Columbia, for Appellant. Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson, Deputy Attorney General Donald J. Zelenka, Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Melody Jane Brown, and Julianna E. Battenfield, all of Columbia; and Solicitor Jimmy A. Richardson, II, of Conway, for Respondent.

In this criminal matter, Tiesh Rhue appeals her convictions for murder and obstruction of justice, arguing the trial court erred in (1) failing to suppress evidence obtained pursuant to a search warrant, (2) admitting autopsy photographs, and (3) denying her motion for a directed verdict.

 11:20 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2021-001306    The State, Respondent, v. Alexander Rhue, Jr., Appellant.

Appellate Defender Kathrine Haggard Hudgins, of Columbia, for Appellant. Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson, Deputy Attorney General Donald J. Zelenka, Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Melody Jane Brown, and Julianna E. Battenfield, all of Columbia; and Solicitor Jimmy A. Richardson, II, of Conway, all for Respondent.

 12:00 p.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2020-001265    Marcus Wright, Petitioner, v. State of South Carolina, Respondent.

J. Falkner Wilkes, of Oakland, MS, for Petitioner. Senior Assistant Attorney General Mark Reynolds Farthing, of Columbia, for Respondent.

Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Courtroom I
 10:40 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-10-5-5)  
2021-000272    TCC of Charleston, Inc., Appellant/Respondent, v. Concord and Cumberland, LLC, Concord & Cumberland HPR, Leo Hall, Diane Hall, Bea H. Smith, Margaret C. Pope, William D. Foster, Jr., Gene G. Foster, Mattison J. MacGillivray, Teresa MacGillivray, Pamela L. Vaughn, Nelia A. Patricio, Trustee of the Nelia A. Patricio Revocable Trust Agreement, Stuart D. Reeves, Edward T. Strom, Barbara K. Henderson, James R. Clarke, Paul A. Brim, Robert K. Seidl, Jennifer M. Seidl, Robert Kenneth Seidl, II, M. Bert Storey, Thomas R. Mather, Edward T. Strom, 304 Concord & Cumberland, LLC, Marion M. Simpson f/k/a Marion Moore McDonald Simpson, Kathy Gardner, Gregory J. Gardner, Freeman Waterfront Properties, LLC, Jo-Ann Cooper, Betty Y. Segal, Robert M. Levin, and Bonita K. Levin, Donald D. Leonard, Betty L. Beatty, Mattellen, LLC, and Thomas R. Debnam, Trustee of the Trust Agreement of Thomas R. Debnam, Respondents, Of which Concord & Cumberland HPR is the Respondent/Appellant.

Jaan Gunnar Rannik, of Epting & Rannik, LLC, and Michelle N Endemann, both of Charleston, for Appellant-Respondent. Henry E. Grimball, Robert Andrew Walden, and F. Cordes Ford, IV, all of Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, of Charleston, for Respondent-Appellant. William Cole Shannon, of Columbia; and Russell Grainger Hines, W. Siau Barr, Jr., and Edward D. Buckley, Jr., all of Clement Rivers, LLP, of Charleston, all for Respondent Betty L. Beatty. F. Cordes Ford, IV, of Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, and W. Siau Barr, Jr., of Clement Rivers, LLP, both of Charleston, for Respondent 304 Concord & Cumberland, LLC. F. Cordes Ford, IV, of Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, of Charleston, for Respondents Paul A. Brim, James R. Clarke, Concord and Cumberland, LLC, Jo-Ann Cooper, Thomas R. Debnam, William D. Foster, Jr., Gene G. Foster, Freeman Waterfront Properties, LLC, Gregory J. Gardner, Kathy Garner, Diane Hall, Leo Hall, Barbara K. Henderson, Donald D. Leonard, Bonita K. Levin, Robert M. Levin, Mattison J. MacGillivray, Teresa MacGillivray, Thomas R. Mater, Mattellen, LLC, Nelia A. Patricio, Margaret C. Pope, Stuart D. Reeves, Betty Y. Segal, Robert Kenneth Seidl, II, Jennifer M. Seidl, Robert K. Seidl, Marion M. Simpson, Bea H. Smith, M. Bert Storey, Edward T. Strom, and Pamela L. Vaughn.

 11:20 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2019-001677    Michael Orlando Brown, Petitioner, v. State of South Carolina, Respondent.

Appellate Defender Lara Mary Caudy, of Columbia, for Petitioner. Senior Assistant Attorney General Mark Reynolds Farthing, of Columbia, for Respondent.

 12:00 p.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5-5)  
2022-000545    MAC Coastal Properties, Inc., Appellant-Respondent, v. Shoestring Retreat, LLC, Respondent-Appellant.

Willard D. Hanna, Jr., of Hanna Law, PA, of Murrells Inlet; Jonathan Patrick Hanna, of Neill Law Firm, PA, of Murrells Inlet; and Tobias Gavin Ward, Jr., and James Derrick Jackson, both of Tobias G. Ward, Jr., PA, of Columbia, all for Appellant-Respondent. Robert Bruce Wallace and Mary Duncan Shahid, both of Nexsen Pruet, LLC, of Charleston, for Respondent-Appellant.

Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Courtroom I
 10:00 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5-5-5)  
2023-000287    Barbara Jones as Guardian ad Litem and South Carolina Department of Social Services, Plaintiffs, v. Jessie Walters and Lucius Blake Walters, Defendants, Of which South Carolina Department of Social Services and Jessie Walters are Respondents, Barbara Jones is Appellant-Respondent, and Lucius Blake Walters is Respondent-Appellant. In the interest of minor children under the age of eighteen.

Jennifer Lynn Mook, of Law Office of Jennifer Mook, LLC, of Aiken, for Appellant-Respondent. Bruce A. Byrholdt, of Byrholdt Drawdy, LLC, of Anderson, for Respondent-Appellant. Robert Mills Ariail, Jr., of Law Office of R. Mills Ariail, Jr., of Greenville, for Respondent Jessie Walters. Amanda Stiles, of Greenville, for Respondent SCDSS.

Lucius Blake Walters (Father) and Barbara Jones, in her capacity as guardian ad litem (GAL), cross appeal a family court order terminating Father's parental rights to his two minor children (Children). Father argues the family court erred in finding clear and convincing evidence supported terminating his parental rights on three statutory grounds: (1) that Children were harmed, and due to the severity or repetition of the abuse or neglect, it was unlikely Father's home could be made safe within twelve months; (2) that Father willfully failed to support Children; and (3) that Children were in foster care for fifteen of the previous twenty two months. He also argues the family court erred in finding termination of parental rights was in Children's best interests. The GAL argues the family court erred in finding clear and convincing evidence did not show Father failed to remedy the conditions that caused Children's removal.

 10:40 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2022-000348    Custom Performance Engineering, Inc., Respondent-Appellant, v. AM Industrial Group, LLC, Appellant-Respondent.

Carmen Vaughn Ganjehsani and Robert Wilder Harte, both of Richardson Plowden & Robinson, PA, of Columbia, for Appellant-Respondent. Adam Crittenden Bach, of Tonnsen Bach, LLC, and Emily R. Godwin, both of Greenville, for Respondent-Appellant.

 11:20 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2023-000436    Timothy J. Judy and Dana A. Judy, Respondents, v. Alice Soto, Joseph B. Rodriguez, Matthew Rodriguez, Gwen Rodriguez and Stephanie B. Wells, Appellants.

Matthew Tillman, of Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, of Charleston, for Appellants. Michael Pinckney Horger, Sr., of Michael P. Horger, LLC, of Orangeburg, for Respondents.

Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Courtroom II
 10:40 a.m. (Time Limits: 10-10-5)  
2022-001587    315 Corley CW LLC; 368 Mount Pelia LLC; Bridge Charleston Investments B LLC; Bridge Charleston Investments C LLC; Bridge Charleston Investments E LLC; Bridge Charleston Investments H LLC; Anne Bosler and Dylan Hart as Trustees of the Bosler-Hart Trust; Geoffrey J. Block; R. Jeffrey Kimball and Deborah S. Kimball; Sebrina Leigh-Jones and Chris Leigh-Jones; Jennifer Albero; Live Oak Assets LLC; Matthew N. Lynch and Barbara A. Lynch; MKM 22 West LLC; One Rumford Lane LLC; Salt Works LLC; and TTJR LLC; individually, derivatively, and as class representatives, as set forth herein, Respondents/Appellants, v. Palmetto Bluff Development, LLC; Palmetto Bluff Club, LLC; Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Company, LLC; PBLH, LLC; Montage Palmetto Bluff, LLC; Palmetto Bluff Preservation Trust, Inc.; Palmetto Bluff Preservation Trust Board of Stewards: Jordan Phillips; Mark Polites; Gray Ferguson; Henry Armistead; South Street Partners, LLC; John Does 1-25, Appellants/Respondents.

Val H. Stieglitz, III, of Maynard Nexsen LLP, of Columbia; Robert Bruce Wallace, of Maynard Nexsen, PC, of Charleston; Kirsten Elena Small, of Maynard Nexsen, PC, of Greenville; and Donald Falk, of San Francisco, CA, all for Appellants-Respondents. Ian S. Ford, Hunter H James, and Ainsley Fisher Tillman, all of Ford Wallace Thomson LLC, of Charleston, for Respondents-Appellants.