Labor & Employment — Tort/Negligence – Wrongful Discharge – Public Policy – Reporting a Crime – Certified Question
Taghivand v. Rite Aid Corp. (Lawyers Weekly No. 010-016-15, 8 pp.) (Kaye Hearn, J.) (Costa Pleicones, J., concurring) On certification from the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. S.C. S. Ct. Holding: Firing an employee for reporting a crime does not violate the public policy of South Carolina. Plaintiff was the manager […]
Insurance – Auto – Family Step-Down Provision – Void – Public Policy
Williams v. Government Employees Insurance Co. (Lawyers Weekly No. 010-096-14, 19 pp.) (Donald Beatty, J.) (Costa Pleicones, J., joined by John Kittredge, J., concurring in part & dissenting in part) Appealed from Richland County Circuit Court (George James Jr., J.) S.C. S. Ct. Holding: An auto insurance policy’s “exclusion,” which reduces coverage from the amount […]
Fired prison guard struggles with ‘public policy’ case to get her job back
South Carolina law is generally rather unfavorable to employees who have been fired: the state’s “at will” doctrine allows an employer to fire an employee for any reason, or no reason at all. But the state recognizes one exception to the rule, the “public policy exception,” when a firing would violate a clear mandate of public policy. Since it is the only concession recognized by law, it[...]
Insurance – Auto – UIM – Portability – Resident Relatives – Public Policy
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. v. Rhoden When a mother (who had underinsured motorist coverage on her own vehicles) and one of her daughters were injured in an accident while riding with another daughter (who did not have UIM coverage on her vehicle that was involved in the accident), the mother and the non-owner daughter are entitled to UIM benefits from the mother’s policy; however, [...]
Labor & Employment – Tort/Negligence – Wrongful Termination Claim – Public Policy – Unpaid Wages – No DOL Claim
Barron v. Labor Finders of South Carolina Even though plaintiff was fired the day after she complained to her employer that she had not been paid all the commissions due her, since she never filed a complaint with the Department of Labor as required by Payment of Wages Act, nor did she ever indicate to the defendant-employer that she had filed or intended to file a complaint, plaintiff ca[...]
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
- Licenses & Permits – Beer & Wine Permit – Restrictive Covenant – Suitable Location
- Consumer Protection – FCRA – Auto Loan – Bank Accounting Errors
- Licenses & Permits – Veterinarian – Vaccine Maintenance
- Tort – Business Tort – Va. Computer Crimes Act – Trade Secrets
- Textile firm, railroad settle Graniteville train wreck lawsuit
- State regulators look at car dealer accused of lying to customers
- Subprime mortgage meltdown hits securities law
Commentary
- Stericycle decision forces evaluation of policies, practices
- Are workplace DEI policies still legal after SCOTUS decisions?
- Court cases add new twists to legal language
- It’s all business, especially the busyness
- 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