Awards & Settlements
$700 Million in Federal Stimulus Funds for South Carolina Citizens
Suit to force South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford to apply for $700 million in federal stimulus money.
The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled in favor of students who brought a suit to force to force Governor Mark Sanford to accept $700 million in federal stimulus funds, part of which would be used to help schools. The Court ordered the Governor to apply for the money. Read a news article excerpt about this case:
STATE TO GET DISPUTED $700 MILLION
$31.8 Million Award in Class Action for State Retirement Workers
Class Action; Breach of Contract
The Supreme Court of South Carolina found that the State of South Carolina breached its contract with state retirement workers. The court ordered the State to refund the workers all of their retirement system contributions plus interest, totaling $31.8 million. Read news article excerpts about this case:
"State Must Return Millions to Retirees"
"State Must Pay Retirees $30 Million, Plus Interest"
$7.9 Million Award in Class Action for Breach of Contract
Class Action; Breach of contract; Insurance
A federal court awarded a class of plaintiff cancer patients $7.9 million in damages for breach of contract against two insurance companies. After the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals granted summary judgment in their favor finding that the insurance companies had breached their contract, the plaintiffs sought and obtained a summary judgment award of damages in their favor in the amount of $7.9 million. Read news article excerpts about this case.
"Judge Awards $7.8 Million in Insurance Suit"
"Courts Grants Rare Summary Judgment on Damages in Class Action"
"After Rehearing, Fourth Circuit Resolves Policy Ambiguity in Favor of Insured"
$7.5 Million Settlement in Class Action for Tax Refund
Consumer Protection; Legislative Interpretation
The State of South Carolina agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle a class action of senior citizens 85 years of age and older seeking refund of a one percent sales tax exemption required by state statute. The plaintiffs' suit claimed that the State failed to inform retailers that elderly residents qualified for the exemption. Read news article excerpts about this case:
"Class Action Lawsuit over Failure to Inform Seniors of Tax Break is Settled for $7.5 Million"
$7.25 Million Settlement for Trucking Deaths
Wrongful Deaths; Trucking Accident
A South Carolina woman received one of the largest settlements in South Carolina history as a result of a tractor-trailer collision that killed her husband and young son in a fiery collision. Mr. Harpootlian hired experts in the field of accident reconstruction, trucking safety, and sleep deprivation to establish the liability of the trucking company.
$4.75 Million Jury Verdict for Recreational Accident
Traumatic Personal Injury
A state court jury awarded $4.75 million, including $1.1 million in punitive damages, to a former high school student against the manufacturer of a climbing tower. The student was paralyzed when he fell from a climbing tower on the premises of his high school.
Read a news article excerpt about this case: Tower fall yields $4.75M verdict
$3.1 Million Jury Award for Automobile Death
Wrongful Death
A South Carolina woman killed by passing vehicle when she attempted to exit a service station and her view was obstructed by a sign erected by Amoco Oil Company, who operated the service station. Her estate received a $500,000 jury award for actual damages and a 2.6 million punitive damage jury award.
$3 Million Jury Award; $1.8 Million Actual Damages; $1.2 Million Punitive Damages
Breach of Contract; Business Dispute
A Greenville, South Carolina jury awarded the plaintiff $1.8 million actual and $1.2 million in punitive damages on his claims for breach of contract, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of fiduciary duty based on the defendant failure to pay him his share of profits generated by modifications he designed for the "Skillpins" gaming machine, which made it a legal game of skill. Read a news article excerpt about this case:
One-Time Collins Entertainment President Awarded $3 Million"
$1.7 Million Settlement for Bystander in Trucking Death
Wrongful Death
A Richland County plaintiff settled for $1.7 million in a bystander liability claim against a trucking company whose tractor trailer struck his mother on Interstate 20. Read a news article excerpt about this case:
"Plaintiff Receives $1.7m Settlement in Bystander Case"
$1.5 Million Settlement in Forklift Accident
Traumatic Personal Injury
A truck driver received $1.5 million in settlement for injuries suffered when a forklift operated by a Conner Industries employee backed over him and crushed his leg. The settlement was reached during trial shortly after the forklift operated admitted he had perjured himself on the witness stand. Read news article excerpts about this case:
"Trucker Settles for $1.5 Million after Leg Crushed by Forklift"
"Suit Settled After Witness Admits Lying"
$1 Million Jury Award for Amputation of Finger
Medical Malpractice
A state court jury awarded $1 million to a prisoner for malpractice in the amputation of the inmate's finger by a prison physician. This was the largest award ever made in South Carolina for a prisoner. Read a news article excerpt about this case:
"Inmate Gets Million for Amputation"
$910,000 Award for Pedestrian Traffic Death
Wrongful Death
In the traffic death of an 8-year old girl, a jury awarded $910,000 in damages to her parents in a wrongful death suit filed against the South Carolina Department of Education. The child was struck by a truck while attempting to cross the street to board her school bus. Earlier, the family settled for an undisclosed sum with the truck driver. Read a news article excerpt about this case:
$200,000 Jury Award for Fractured Ankle
A woman suffered a fractured ankle in an auto collision with a driver, whose liability carrier paid its limits of $15,000. She then went to trial against her underinsured motorist insurance carrier, Allstate Insurance Company. After 45 minutes of deliberation, the jury awarded her $200,000, the full amount of her underinsured motorist coverage. Read a news article excerpt about this case:
