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Supreme Court Seal
South Carolina
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court - Roster of Cases for Hearing

   
The summary below each case is prepared to offer lawyers and the public a general overview of what issues are included in a case which will be argued. The summary is not a limit on what issues a party to a case may present at oral argument.
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Supreme Court Courtroom
 09:30 a.m. (Time Limits: 15-15-5)  
2020-000710   Jeanne Beverly, individually and on behalf of others similarly situated, Respondent, v. Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, LLC, Petitioner.

James Lynn Werner, William R. Thomas and Katon E. Dawson, Jr of Parker, Poe, Adams and Bernstein, LLP of Columbia for Petitioner. John G. Felder of McGowan, Hood & Felder of Columbia , Chad A. McGowan and Jordan C. Calloway of McGowan, Hood & Felder of Rock Hill, Roy Harmon, Sidney L. Major, Jr. of Harm & Major, PA of Greenville and Jeff C. Chandler of The Chandler Law Firm of Myrtle Beach for Respondent.

The Court granted a writ of certiorari to determine whether the court of appeals erred in reversing the trial court's dismissal of Beverly's breach of contract and unjust enrichment claims.

 10:30 a.m. (Time Limits: 15-15-5)  
2020-001283   In Re: Application of Blue Granite Water Company for Approval to Adjust Rate Schedules and Increase Rates, Appellant.

Frank R. Ellerbe, III, Samuel J. Wellborn of Robinson Gray Stepp and Laffitte, LLC of Columbia for Appellant. Andrew M. Bateman, Alexander W. Knowles, Christopher M. Huber, Steven W. Hamm, South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff and Carri Grube Lybarker, Roger P. Hall, Connor J. Parker, South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, both of Columbia, for Respondents.

This direct appeal from the Public Service Commission (PSC) involves a number of challenges to the PSC's order involving Blue Granite Water's most recent application to increase its rates.

Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Supreme Court Courtroom
 09:30 a.m. (Time Limits: 15-15-5)  
2020-000677   Lukas Stasi and Brittney L. Stasi, Plaintiffs, v. Mallory Sweigart and Matthew Kidwell, Defendants, Of whom Lukas Stasi and Brittney L. Stasi are Petitioners, and Mallory Sweigart is the Respondent. In the interest of a minor under the age of eighteen.

Thomas F. McDow and Erin K. Urquhart of McDow & Urquhart and Barrett W. Martin of Barrett W. Martin, PA of Rock Hill for Petitioners. Stephen D. Schusterman of Schusterman Law Firm, PA of Rock Hill for Respondent.

The family court in this case terminated the mother's parental rights on the basis of a willful failure to visit her child. The court of appeals reversed. Stasi v. Sweigart, No. 2018-002149 (S.C. Ct. App. filed Dec. 10, 2019). The Court granted a writ of certiorari to review the court of appeals' decision.

 10:30 a.m. (Time Limits: 15-15-5)  
2020-000445   PCS Nitrogen, Inc., Petitioner, v. Continental Casualty Company, Admiral Insurance Company, United States Fire Insurance Company, ACE Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's London, the Aviva Companies, the Winterthur Companies, Certain London Market Insurance Companies, Providence Washington Insurance Company (as Successor in Interest by way of Merger to Seaton Insurance Company, f/k/a Unigard Security Insurance, f/k/a Unigard Mutual Insurance Company), Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (f/k/a Stonewall Insurance Company), Lexington Insurance Company, Starr Indemnity & Liability Company (f/k/a Republic Insurance Company), First State Insurance Company, Century Indemnity Company (f/k/a California Union Insurance Company and Insurance Company of North America), Defendants, of whom Continental Casualty Company, Admiral Insurance Company, United States Fire Insurance Company, Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's London, the Aviva Companies, the Winterthur Companies, Certain London Market Insurance Companies, Providence Washington Insurance Company (as Successor in Interest by way of Merger to Seaton Insurance Company, f/k/a Unigard Security Insurance, f/k/a Unigard Mutual Insurance Company), Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (f/k/a Stonewall Insurance Company), Lexington Insurance Company, Starr Indemnity & Liability Company (f/k/a Republic Insurance Company) and First State Insurance Company, are Respondents.

Wm. Howell Morrison and Sarah Spruill of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA of Greenville and Michael H. Ginsberg and Matthew R. Divelbiss of Jones Day, pro hac vice of Pittsburgh, PA for Petitioner. Morgan S. Templeton, Wall Templeton & Haldrup, PA of Charleston, Christian Stegmaier, Collins & Lacy, PC of Columbia, J.R. Murphy and Wesley B. Sawyer, Murphy & Grantland, PA of Columbia, John T. Lay, Laura W. Jordan, Gallivan, White & Boyd, PA of Columbia, R. Michael Ethridge, Ethride Law Group of Mount Pleasant, Edward K. Pritchard, III, Pritchard Law Group, LLC of Charleston, Elizabeth J. Palmer, Rosen, Rosen & Hagood, LLC of Charleston, John S. Favate, pro hac vice of Springfield, New Jersey, Wayne Karbal, Paul Parker, Richard McDermott and Seth M. Jaffe, pro hac vice of Chicago, Illinois, Molly Poag, Harry Lee and Patrick F. Hofer, pro hac vice of Washington, DC,for Respondents.

The Court granted a writ of certiorari to review the court of appeals' decision in PCS Nitrogen, Inc. v. Continental Casualty Co., 429 S.C. 30, 837 S.E.2d 662 (Ct. App. 2019).

Thursday, June 17, 2021
Supreme Court Courtroom
 09:30 a.m. (Time Limits: 15-15-5)  
2020-000457   Gunjit Rick Singh, Petitioner, v. Simran P. Singh, Respondent.

Shelia McNair Robinson, of Moore Taylor Law Firm, P.A., of West Columbia, Katherine Carruth Goode, of Winnsboro and Robert N. Rosen, of Rosen Law Firm, LLC, of Charleston, for Petitioner. O. Grady Query, Michael W. Sautter, Michael H. Ellis and Alexander W. Tesoriero, all of Query Sautter & Associates, LLC, of Charleston, for Respondent.

In this domestic litigation, the parties submitted issues of child custody, visitation, and support to binding arbitration. The family court ultimately approved the agreements to arbitrate these matters, and the mother appealed. The court of appeals reversed, concluding a family court's jurisdiction to determine the best interest of a child may not be divested through any agreement or order.

 10:30 a.m. (Time Limits: 15-15-5)  
2020-000660   Shelton Lathal Butler, Jr., Petitioner, v. State of South Carolina, Respondent.

Tommy A. Thomas and Jessica E. Kinard, both of Irmo, for Petitioner. Attorney General Allan Wilson and Assistant Attorney General Chelsey F. Marto, both of Columbia, for Respondent.

In its original jurisdiction, the Court considers whether a defendant can be convicted of a crime under the concept of accomplice liability when the purported principal is not convicted of the same crime.

 

Cases to be Submitted Without Oral Argument

The State, Petitioner, v. Kenneth Taylor, Respondent.

Attorney General Alan Wilson, Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General William M. Blitch, Jr. and Solicitor Barry J. Barnette, of Columbia, for Petitioner. Kenneth Taylor, pro se Respondent. Jason Scott Luck of Bennettsville as Amicus Curiae for South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.