The Supreme Court of South Carolina

O R D E R

Pursuant to the provisions of Article V, Section 4 of the South Carolina Constitution,

IT IS ORDERED that the Honorable Jean Hoefer Toal, retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, is hereby appointed to serve as the Chief Judge for Administrative Purposes over all asbestosis and asbestos litigation filed within the state court system.

Justice Toal is authorized, on a statewide basis, to monitor the progress of the asbestosis and asbestos litigation docket, conduct pretrial hearings including motions hearings, issue scheduling orders, grant continuances when requested by counsel for good and sufficient legal cause, resolve scheduling conflicts, and address additional administrative matters as necessary.  This authority also includes the ability to assign individual cases to the Honorable Carmen T. Mullen and the Honorable William H. Seals, Jr., and to perform such other duties as appropriate in her role as Chief Judge for Administrative Purposes over these matters.

In addition to their other duties as circuit court judges, Judges Carmen T. Mullen and William H. Seals, Jr. shall preside over asbestosis and asbestos litigation as assigned by Justice Toal, and shall retain jurisdiction over any assigned cases regardless of where they are assigned to hold court and may schedule such hearings as may be necessary at any time without regard as to whether there is a term of court scheduled.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that for administrative purposes and convenience, upon the fling of a new action involving asbestosis and asbestos litigation, the clerk of court shall notify Justice Toal, via email, of such filing within five business days.  This notification shall include case caption and docket number, as well as the name of the attorney or party signing the pleadings.  Justice Toal shall then direct the clerk of court as to the preferred method for transmitting the pleadings and additional filings.

This order shall remain in effect until amended or rescinded by the Chief Justice.

Columbia, South Carolina
May 28, 2019