SOUTH CAROLINA’S LARGEST LAW FIRMS 2012

• A New World Order 
  A new world order arrived in 2011 as growth in Charleston and elsewhere attracted national and international practices to the state’s legal community.
• A note from the editor 

MORE COMMENTARY

• Recognize the rich value of an apology 

  There were lots of options I could have taken, but this was not one I would have ever considered at the time. But I would come to see it was really the best option. And the teacher of this lesson was the last person I would have imagined.

• How social media drove the Trayvon Martin case 
• It’s outrageous to jail jurors for using social media 

2012 LEADERSHIP IN LAW AWARDS

• From the SCLW Publisher, Liz Irwin 
  As I perused the profiles of this year’s Leadership in Law honorees, I found myself grateful for two things: First, that such talented and capable individuals have devoted themselves to the pursuit of legal careers. Second, that I was spared the difficult task of judging these honors.

1. Criminal Practice – Jury & Jurors – Misconduct – No Prejudice – Discussion with Mother 

   State v. Elgin Even though, during defendant’s trial, a juror engaged in misconduct by talking to her mother about the trial, (1) the juror did not tell other members of the jury that she discussed the case with her mother; (2) the trial court instructed the jury to determine defendant’s guilt or innocence based on the evidence presented at trial; and...

2. Civil Practice – Appeals – Interlocutory Order – Substitute Defendants – Immediately Appealable 

   Neeltec Enterprises, Inc. v. Long Where the special referee ordered plaintiff to name two corporations as defendants in place of the individual that the plaintiff named as a defendant in its complaint, the special referee’s order affects a substantial right – the right of a plaintiff to choose its defendant – and it effectively discontinues plaintiff’s suit against the individual defendant, thus making it immediately appealable under S.C. Code Ann. § 14-3-330(2)(a).

3. Landlord/Tenant – Commercial Lease – Appeals – Preservation of Issues – Security Deposit 

   Atlantic Coast Builders & Contractors, LLC v. Lewis The master in equity found for the plaintiff-tenant on three causes of action – negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment – but the defendant-landlord appealed only the findings of liability for negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract and not the finding of liability for unjust enrichment.