Contract – Unfair Trade Practices – Damages – Filing Suit
Defendants’ expert opined that defendants lost the opportunity to sell their business for $60 million because plaintiff filed this lawsuit; therefore, the $60 million in damages are not attributable to any unfair trade practice by plaintiff. The court grants plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment as to defendants’ unfair trade practices counterclaim. The defense expert also […]
Tort/Negligence – Interference with Contract – Damages – Irreparable Harm
The South Carolina tort of intentional interference with contractual relations requires proof of damages, not merely injury. Plaintiff’s own expert says, “Since it is not possible to reliably calculate the value of [plaintiff’s] losses, monetary damages cannot adequately compensate [plaintiff] for these losses”; consequently, plaintiff has failed to make out a claim for intentional interfe[...]
Civil Practice – Damages – Settlement – Setoff – Mediation Confidentiality – Tort/Negligence – Slip & Fall
This opinion has been withdrawn. Even though mediation proceedings are confidential, a settlement agreement reached in mediation is not confidential under Rule 8, SCADR. The trial court should have considered the settlement agreement to determine whether defendant was entitled to a setoff pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 15-38-50. We reverse the trial court’s denial […]
Tort/Negligence – Unfair Trade Practices – Damages – Attorney’s Fees
SIB Development & Consulting, Inc. v. Save Mart Supermarkets (Lawyers Weekly No. 002-158-17, 7 pp.) (Patrick Michael Duffy, J.) 2:17-cv-00425; D.S.C. Holding: In support of its unfair trade practices counterclaim, defendant argues that it has suffered actual damages because it has spent time and money responding to plaintiff’s claims; however, the South Carolina Unfair Trade […]
Tort/Negligence – Auto Accident – Damages – Actual & Punitive
Benjamin v. Shaw (Lawyers Weekly No. 002-101-17, 21 pp.) (R. Bryan Harwell, J.) 4:15-cv-05110; D.S.C. Holding: Even though plaintiff presented as evidence only (1) her ward’s post-accident medical expenses ($775,431.87), (2) photos of the horrific traffic accident, and (3) her own lay testimony about the ward’s condition as she has cared for him in the […]
Contract – Buyer Alleging Fraud Can Try Damages Claim
Sharma v. USA International LLC (Lawyers Weekly No. 001-062-17, 13 pp.) (Niemeyer, J.) No. 15-2188, March 17, 2017; USDC at Alexandria, Va. (O’Grady, J.) 4th Cir. Holding: A plaintiff who sued for fraud, alleging he discovered after purchasing two franchise restaurants that the sellers had provided inflated monthly sales figures that included an owner allegedly […]
Tort/Negligence – Damages – Contract — Warranty – Civil Practice – Statute of Limitations – Faulty Windows – Wisconsin Law
Meifert v. MI Windows & Doors, Inc. In their amended complaint, plaintiffs continue to assert that their windows, which were allegedly designed, manufactured, and sold by defendant, caused direct economic loss to the windows and other property in the home and consequential economic loss. Recovery for such damages is barred by the economic loss doctrine.
Real Property – Title Insurance – Damages – Valuation Date – Ambiguity – Certified Question
Whitlock v. Stewart Title Guaranty Co. Pursuant to a question certified to this court by the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, we hold that where, as here, a title insurance contract does not clearly identify a date for measuring the diminution in value of the insured property or otherwise unambiguously provide for the method of valuation as a result of a title defec[...]
Insurance – CGL – Defective Window Claims – Bad Faith Settlement – Within Deductible – Damages
Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co. v. J.T. Walker Industries Even though there was evidence from which the jury could find that the plaintiff-insurer acted in bad faith when it settled claims that had been filed against the defendant-insured, the insured failed to prove how it was damaged by any such bad faith.
Civil Practice – Remedies – Accounting & Constructive Trust – Jury Award — Damages
Uhlig, LLC v. Shirely Plaintiff was able to ascertain and present evidence of the amount of its loss, and plaintiff has obtained an adequate remedy at law through the jury’s award of monetary damages. Because the purpose of an accounting is to determine the amount due to the aggrieved party, an accounting of assets would be improper here.
Intellectual Property – Trade Secrets – Civil Practice – Permanent Injunction – Damages
Uhlig LLC v. Shirley The misappropriated trade secrets at issue are customer preferences and pricing that plaintiff acquired when it bought defendant Shirley’s former employer four years ago. Where a jury awarded plaintiff damages for defendants’ misappropriation of those trade secrets, plaintiff is not entitled to a permanent injunction which would bar defendants from soliciting or p[...]
Tort/Negligence – Election of Remedies — Climbing Tower – Fall – Strict Liability – Negligent Design – Negligent Training – Damages
Keeter v. Alpine Towers Even though plaintiff alleged that defendant committed several torts, plaintiff only sought one remedy: damages resulting from his broken back. The trial court should not have required plaintiff to make an election among the jury’s verdicts.
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- Letter From The Editor – Working from Home
- NLRB joins FTC in taking aim at non-competes
- Supreme Court leaves key internet protection untouched