Blake A. McKie and J. Rutledge Young III, both of Duffy & Young, LLC, of Charleston, for Plaintiff. Everett A. Kendall II, and Richard E. McLawhorn, both of Sweeny Wingate & Barrow, P.A., of Columbia, for Defendant.

The United States District Court for the District of South Carolina asks this Court to address whether 2005 South Carolina Laws Act 27 (H.B. 3008) amended South Carolina Code § 15-3-640 so that, in an action for damages based upon a defective improvement to new-construction real property, the date of "substantial completion of the improvement" is measured from the date of the certificate of occupancy (unless the parties establish a different date by written agreement), superseding this Court's decision in Ocean Winds Corp. of Johns Island v. Lane, 556 S.E.2d 377 (2001)?

Teresa L. Norris, of Charleston; and E. Charles Grose, Jr., of the Grose Law Firm, of Greenwood, both for Petitioner. Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson, Deputy Attorney General Donald J. Zelenka and Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Melody Jane Brown, all of Columbia, for Respondent.

This Court reviews the court of appeals' decision in Adams v. State, Op. No. 2016-UP-515 (S.C. Ct. App. filed December 14, 2016), affirming the circuit court's denial of post-conviction relief. The Court is asked whether trial counsel was ineffective for failing to rebut a statement introduced at trial or for failing to take action regarding a communication between court staff and a juror during deliberations.

Appellate Defender David Alexander, of Columbia, for Petitioner. Attorney General Alan Wilson, Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General John Benjamin Aplin, both of Columbia and Solicitor Kevin S. Brackett, of York, for Respondent.

The Court issued a writ of certiorari to review the court of appeals' decision in State v. Williams, Op. No. 2016-UP-448 (S.C. Ct. App. filed Nov. 2, 2016).