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Separate firings, separate claims
With few exceptions, municipalities enjoy governmental immunity from common-law tort claims that arise out of their performance of governmental functions. But the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held recently that the town of Mocksville, North Carolina, is liable for the improper firing of three police officers, and that its per-claim insurance limit applies to […]
Police in SC city opt for body cams over dashcams
GREENVILLE (AP) Police in one South Carolina city are phasing out in-car dashboard cameras in favor of body cameras. The Greenville News reported June 25 that the Greenville Police Department’s change could impact agency transparency, as unlike dashboard cameras, body cameras aren’t subject to the state’s Freedom of Information Act. Police Chief Ken Miller says the change [&hel[...]
SC officer fired after DWI arrest in North Carolina
FORT MILL (AP) A South Carolina police officer who was arrested in North Carolina has been fired. Fort Mill Police Chief Jeff Helms said that 55-year-old Tanya Moore Ervin-Leonhardt was fired June 3, a day after her arrest on charges including driving while impaired, drug possession and illegally carrying a gun. Cherryville Police Chief Cam Jenks […]
Groups say South Carolina county needs hundreds of officers
MYRTLE BEACH (AP) Groups representing police officers and firefighters say a swiftly growing South Carolina county needs more than 400 additional members of both professions. Chuck Canterbury is national president of the Fraternal Order of Police. The retired Horry County officer told local media outlets May 1 that the department needs 200 more officers based on […]
In-house protection
Becoming a cop is tough. There’s the extended application, background checks, polygraphs, psychiatrists, academy training…it’s a process, for sure. But with officers allegedly held to a higher standard, losing that job could be much easier than getting canned from your standard nine-to-five. For instance, while getting rowdy and cursing at a customer service representative [&helli[...]
Hold your fire
Last year, a South Carolina lawmaker told Lawyers Weekly that he wanted to make it illegal for police officers to open fire into vehicles, except in extreme circumstances. This comes after several national and local occurrences of officers using self-defense as justification for shooting passengers and drivers who arguably posed a bigger threat of getting […]
Ex-officer to plead guilty in fleeing black motorist’s death
A fired white police officer planned to plead guilty Tuesday to violating the civil rights of an unarmed black motorist who was running away from him when he shot him down, according to a copy of the plea agreement obtained by The Associated Press. The 13-page document also notes that as part of the deal, […]
PD’s defamation suit against ex-staffer goes forward
A federal judge has issued an order allowing Charleston’s top public defender to forge ahead with a federal defamation and slander suit against an employee he fired. Ashley Pennington showed assistant public defender Beattie Butler the door in 2014, shortly after Butler was diagnosed with cancer. Butler sued for wrongful termination, alleging that he was […]
Firefighters vs. Police
It’s unclear whether the beef between Chester County firefighters and deputies is over, but a lawsuit filed after a roadside spat between the first responders apparently is. West Chester firefighters and brothers Andy and Tommy Martin sued the Chester County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Alex Underwood in 2015 after a brouhaha regarding road closure turned […]
Good initiative, bad judgment
It’s unclear whether a couple of Lowcountry cops were really trying to do the right thing or just dry snitching on their boss, but the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that a police chief is immune from their civil rights suit because it’s unclear whether they were speaking as officers or citizens when […]
Civil Rights – Police Chief Immune from Officers’ Suit
Crouse v. Town of Moncks Corner (Lawyers Weekly No. 001-045-17, 24 pp.) (Wilkinson, J.) No. 16-1039, Feb. 15, 2017; USDC at Charleston, S.C. (Houck, J.) 4th Cir. Holding: A police chief has qualified immunity from this civil rights suit filed by two police officers who claim their First Amendment rights were violated when they allegedly […]
Small-town trouble
This Sidebar reporter has to imagine that there are better things to do with one’s time — even in small-town America — than peeing on police cars. We’ll get to that in a second. Recently the Clemson Police Department took to Facebook to talk about Clemson University’s narrow gridiron win over North Carolina State, a […]
Business Law
- Economy forces attorneys to get down to business
- Business Court judges trawl for customers
- Va. company's Web site did not subject business to personal jurisdiction in S.C., appeals panel rules
- Former running back from S.C. wins courtroom victory in contract dispute
- Contract – Government Contract – Qui Tam – False Claims Act
- Tort – Business Tort – Va. Computer Crimes Act – Trade Secrets
- Consumer Protection – FCRA – Auto Loan – Bank Accounting Errors
- Licenses & Permits – Beer & Wine Permit – Restrictive Covenant – Suitable Location
- Licenses & Permits – Veterinarian – Vaccine Maintenance
- State regulators look at car dealer accused of lying to customers
- Textile firm, railroad settle Graniteville train wreck lawsuit
- Subprime mortgage meltdown hits securities law
Commentary
- Virginia Tech student got due process in hearing
- High court justices cross the line of propriety
- High court’s term was rough on big business
- The flip side of generative AI in law and how to address it
- The fight for equal educational opportunity continues
- Letter From The Editor – Working from Home
- NLRB joins FTC in taking aim at non-competes
- Supreme Court leaves key internet protection untouched
- US Supreme Court bites back at parody’s use of the First Amendment
- My goal: Provide the information that you need now
- Case study: North Carolina courts provide guidance on scope, limitations of attorney-client privilege
- A Different Ode to Pro Bono Work
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