Supreme Court Published Opinions -
November 2017
Note: Beginning in June 2012, opinions will be posted as Adobe PDFs. You can download a free copy of Adobe Reader here.
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.
11-8-2017 - Opinions
The Court affirms as modified the court of appeals' decision.
The Court affirms the court of appeals' decision that the bond estreatment was proper and that the amount of forfeiture remitted was not arbitrary or capricious. We hold that the circuit court may consider the willfulness of a bondsperson's actions, in addition to the willfulness of a defendant's actions, when determining whether, and to what extent, to remit a bond forfeiture.
27748 - Jacquelin S. Bennett v. T. Heyward Carter, Jr.
We affirm as modified the court of appeals' decision reversing in part a circuit court order which granted Petitioners summary judgment on Respondents' individual cause of action for aiding and abetting a breach of fiduciary duty. We hold there is sufficient evidence to allow the aiding and abetting claim to survive summary judgment, but we hold Petitioners were prohibited by 26 U.S.C. § 7216 from disclosing to Respondents. We also hold the aiding and abetting claim survives the mother's death.11-15-2017 - Opinions
27750 - In the Matter of Henry H. Taylor
This is a disciplinary opinion in which the Court publicly reprimands an attorney.
27751 - In the Matter of Ray A. Lord
This is a disciplinary opinion in which the Court publicly reprimands an attorney.11-17-2017 - Opinions
The Court granted Jane Doe's petition for original jurisdiction to consider whether the definition of "household member" in S.C. Code Ann. § 16-25-10(3) (Supp. 2017) of the Domestic Violence Reform Act and S.C. Code Ann. § 20-4-20(b) (2014) of the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act is unconstitutional under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. In order to remain within the confines of our jurisdiction and preserve the validity of the Acts, we declare sections 16-25-10(3) and 20-4-20(b) unconstitutional as applied to Doe.11-22-2017 - Opinions
The Court dismisses the writ of certiorari as improvidently granted.
27753 - In the Matter of Bennett Joseph Schiller, III
This is a disciplinary opinion in which the Court publicly reprimands an attorney.