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The summary following each opinion is prepared to offer lawyers and the public a general overview of what a particular opinion decides. The summary is not necessarily a full description of the issues discussed in an opinion.

5358 - Dorchester County Assessor v. Middleton Place

The Dorchester County Assessor (the Assessor) appeals the Administrative Law Court's (ALC) order affirming the Dorchester County Board of Assessment Appeals' finding that Middleton Place Equestrian Center, LLC (Middleton Place) is entitled to retain the "agricultural use" classification for eleven parcels of land that the Assessor attempted to reclassify for the 2012 tax year. The Assessor argues the ALC erred in upholding the application of the agricultural use classification to the parcels at issue because they are dedicated solely to residential use by certain restrictive covenants. The Assessor further argues the ALC erred in concluding that an agricultural use classification still applies to the parcels at issue even if they are not timberland properties. We affirm.

11-12-2015 - Opinions

5359 - Reeves v. State

Bobby Joe Reeves was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) with a minor and lewd act upon a child. He appeals from the denial and dismissal of his application for post-conviction relief (PCR), arguing the PCR court erred in finding his trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to investigate and present the testimony of a gynecological expert witness. We reverse.

5360 - McAlhany v. Carter

In this negligence action, Claude McAlhany appeals the trial court's grant of summary judgment to Respondents Kenneth A. Carter, Sr. d/b/a Carter & Son Pest Control, Carter & Son Pest Control, Inc., and Erick Cogburn. McAlhany argues the trial court erred in finding the statute of limitations barred his property damage and personal injury claims. He further asserts the trial court erred in finding there was no evidence to support his personal injury claim. We reverse the trial court's grant of summary judgment and remand for further proceedings.

11-18-2015 - Opinions

5362 - The SPUR v. Lalla

Sunil V. Lalla and Sharon W. Lalla (collectively, the Lallas), co-owners of a unit in a horizontal property regime known as The SPUR at Williams Brice Stadium (The SPUR), appeal the circuit court's order allowing The SPUR to enforce a restrictive covenant prohibiting the Lallas from renting their unit to any student currently enrolled in a two or four-year college. The Lallas argue the restriction has no reasonable basis and discriminates against a specific class of individuals. The Lallas further argue the circuit court erred in failing to hold the restrictive covenant null and void. We affirm.

5363 - Hotel and Motel Holdings v. BJC Enterprises

BJC Enterprises, LLC (BJC), Wendy Jones Bellamy, and Americana, Inc. a/k/a Americana Motel of Myrtle Beach, Inc. (Americana) (collectively, Appellants), seek appellate review of several orders, arguing the circuit court erred in (1) granting First Palmetto Savings Bank's (Palmetto) motion for summary judgment as to Appellants' third-party claims; (2) granting Hotel and Motel Holdings, LLC's (H&M) motion for summary judgment as to Appellants' counterclaims; (3) granting Jack Jones, Donald Godwin, and Bhupendra Patel's (collectively, Individual Respondents) motion to dismiss; and (4) granting H&M's motion to strike Appellants' request for a jury trial on H&M's cause of action for claim and delivery. We affirm.

11-25-2015 - Opinions

5364 - Zinn v. CFI Sales & Marketing

In this wage dispute action, Appellant/Respondent CFI Sales & Marketing, Ltd., d/b/a Westgate Resorts (CFI) appeals the circuit court's post-trial ruling that the reserve and charge back components of CFI's employment contracts with Respondents/Appellants (the Zinn Plaintiffs) violated the South Carolina Payment of Wages Act. On cross-appeal, the Zinn Plaintiffs argue the circuit court erred in (1) directing a verdict against Lynn Lanpher, Khalif Middleton, Sherry Singleton, Steven Thoni, and Michael Wills; (2) allowing the jury to consider terms of the employment contract that the circuit court subsequently determined to be illicit; (3) directing a verdict on their causes of action for breach of contract accompanied by a fraudulent act; and (4) limiting the amount of attorney's fees awarded. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.