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Unauthorized Practice of the Law

If LegalZoom is not engaged in the unauthorized practice of law, then what does the unauthorized practice of law mean? In March, 2014, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that LegalZoom does not engage in the unauthorized practice of law through its internet sale...

SC Supreme Court Issues Game Changer Opinion in Legal Malpractice If You Think Fabian Only Applies to Trusts and Estates Lawyers Think Again

In 2009, our firm was unsuccessful in persuading our appellate court to extend the liability of trusts and estates lawyers to the intended beneficiaries of the instruments which they draft, as opposed to owing duties only to the Testator. In Rydde v. Morris, 675...

Alex Murdaugh Sent Clients to Palmetto State Bank for Costly Loans

In a February deposition, Chad Westendorf, the vice president of Palmetto State Bank, testified that his bank routinely issued something called “lawyer loans” to clients of Alex Murdaugh and Murdaugh’s former law firm, Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and...

Police Account of Zachary Hammonds Killing Ridiculous

In a statement, Hammond family lawyer Eric Bland said that when Seneca Police Lt. Mark Tiller opened fire in a Hardee’s restaurant parking lot on July 26, the teen posed no risk to the public — “other than a possible minor possession of marijuana.” “There was no...

Legal Malpractice Whats Love Got to Do with It

In nearly 50 years of combined legal experience, my partner and I have seen and heard more than our fair share of legal malpractice war stories. Most legal malpractice cases involve simple human error. For some cases, however, issues beyond simple error can add quite...

Hammond Family Release in Connection with Solicitors Decision Not to Charge

In response to the press releases issued by Solicitor Chrissy Adams and Seneca City Administrator Greg Dietterick, the Hammond family offers the following. While the family must accept Ms. Adams’ decision, they disagree completely with the conclusions she has...

Smart Phone Dumb Lawyer

Is technology a blessing or a curse to the legal profession? The obvious answer (and the consummate lawyer answer) is “yes” – it is a little of both. In the wrong hands, technology is nothing more than an opportunity for self-inflicted wounds. Here are a few “lawyer...

Merging Your Way Into Malpractice

It has been said that he who laughs last laughs the loudest. It is perhaps equally true in the law that the document that speaks last, speaks the loudest. This is most true in a contractual / transactional setting where the “deal” may be documented through a series of...

Dashboard Video Withheld Now for 6 Weeks

It has now been six weeks since 19 year old Seneca teen, Zachary Hammond, had been shot by a police officer at the Hardee’s in Seneca. The dashboard video has still not been released to the public.“We are screaming for it to be released,” said Eric Bland in an...