Housekeeper’s death arose from motel employment
The death of a motel housekeeper who was required to live at the motel and was murdered in an armed robbery was compensable under South Carolina’s Workers’ Compensation Act because her murder arose from her employment there, the state’s Court of Appeals has ruled in a case of first impression. Hansaben Patel was employed […]
Man injured while lifting scale settles workers’ comp suit for $3.2M
A hotel maintenance supervisor who became paraplegic after he lifted a laundry scale while at work has confidentially settled a workers’ compensation lawsuit against his employer’s insurance carrier for $3.2 million, the man’s attorneys report. Thomas White of Steinberg Law Firm in Charleston and Peter Brown of Mt. Pleasant said that their client and his […]
Family of man killed in wreck settles workers’ comp claim for $265K
The family of a real estate executive who was killed in a car wreck while checking on a housing development property has confidentially settled a worker’s compensation claim for $265,000, the family’s attorneys report. Kelly Alfreds and David Pearlman of Steinberg Law Firm in Summerville and Charleston, respectively, said that workers on a housing […]
Girlfriend can’t collect workers’ comp death benefits
A woman whose on-again, off-again boyfriend died in an accident won’t be able to collect death benefits under the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act because she wasn’t reliant on him financially, the South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled in a decision that significantly refines the definition of who qualifies as a dependent under the workers’ […]
New imaging technology crucial to $550K workers’ comp settlement
A man who suffered permanent brain damage in a workplace accident has reached a $550,000 confidential workers’ compensation settlement after using some advanced technology to challenge the evaluation made by the neurologist assigned by the defendant, his attorney reports. David Pearlman of Steinberg Law Firm in Charleston said his client, whose name was withheld, […]
Surgery complications drive $1.6M workers’ comp settlement
A Charleston man who suffered a stroke after undergoing surgery to repair a shoulder injury he suffered while on the job has received $1.6 million in a confidential workers’ compensation settlement, his attorney reports. David Pearlman of the Steinberg Law Firm in Charleston reports that his 56-year-old client injured his shoulder at work in […]
Justices blast workers’ comp commission for delays
After years of litigation over whether a woman is entitled to an extension of workers’ compensation benefits, the South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission unreasonably caused delays and has ordered an appellate panel to make a final decision on the matter. Justice John Few, writing for a unanimous […]
Workers’ comp case nets $3.8M after pot evidence blunted
A South Carolina worker who was severely injured after crashing an employer-owned truck is fortunate he was at least one toke under line–he’s now settled his workers’ compensation suit for $3.8 million after his attorneys argued that marijuana use wasn’t the cause of the crash, the attorneys report. Catie Meehan of the Steinberg Law […]
Labor & Employment – Retaliatory Discharge Claim – Workers’ Compensation – Lifting Restriction
Even though defendant terminated plaintiff’s employment after plaintiff filed a workers’ compensation action, plaintiff has shown no causal relationship between his termination and the filing of his claim 12 months earlier. The record supports defendant’s assertion that it fired plaintiff because his 35-pound lifting restriction prevented him from doing his warehouse job, which required lift[...]
Govt. contractor’s icy fall settles for $1M
A government contractor who developed a chronic pain condition after a slip and fall has agreed to settle his workers’ compensation case for more than $1 million, according to his attorney. Attorney Gary Christmas of Howell & Christmas Injury Lawyers in Charleston said that his client, Jason Williamson, was working in Afghanistan as a program […]
Trusts & Estates – Derivative Action – Sufficient Demand – Workers’ Compensation – Mutual Fund
After the petitioner-members of the South Carolina Home Builders’ Self Insurance Fund learned of actions by the fund’s trustees that petitioners believed were in violation of the “Agreement and Declaration of Trust” that established the fund, petitioners sent the trustees’ counsel a letter detailing the steps petitioners believed needed to be taken. This letter was […]
Workers comp filing fees to increase in August
Beginning Aug. 1, worker’s compensation filing fees in South Carolina will increase to $50. The General Assembly authorized the $25 increase as part of their 2018-2019 budget in an effort to fund the development of the IT Legacy Modernization Project, according to a news release from the Worker’s Compensation Commission. The release said the program […]
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