Verdict . News

3w ago•4 min read

•South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed lower court ruling granting Dominion Energy water quality certification for natural gas pipeline near Great Pee Dee River

SC Supreme Court Affirms Pipeline Permit for Dominion Energy

The South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed an administrative law court decision allowing Dominion Energy to obtain federal permits for a natural gas pipeline project near the Great Pee Dee River in Florence County. The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League had challenged the water quality certification required for the pipeline construction.

•Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League's appeal was rejected, allowing the energy company to proceed with federal permitting process

3w ago•4 min read

•Supreme Court unanimously ruled defendants cannot seek second immunity hearings after mistrials under Protection of Persons and Property Act

SC Supreme Court Bars Second Immunity Hearings After Mistrials

The South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously reversed a Court of Appeals decision that would have allowed defendants to seek a second immunity hearing under the state's Protection of Persons and Property Act following a mistrial. The ruling clarifies that defendants receive only one opportunity for pre-trial immunity under South Carolina's stand-your-ground law.

•Court held immunity hearings are independent proceedings separate from trial proceedings

Jan 21, 2026•4 min read

•South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the case as 'improvidently granted'

SC Supreme Court Dismisses Charleston Municipal Boundary Dispute

The South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously dismissed a municipal dispute between Charleston and North Charleston involving Millbrook Plantation, LLC. The court declined to provide a substantive ruling, dismissing the case as 'improvidently granted' and leaving the 2023 Court of Appeals decision intact.

•Dispute involved Charleston, North Charleston, and Millbrook Plantation, LLC over municipal boundaries

Jan 21, 2026•4 min read

•South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed lower court ruling upholding Eye Care Consumer Protection Law

South Carolina Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Automated Eye Exams

The South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling that upholds the state's Eye Care Consumer Protection Law, which prohibits eye doctors from prescribing glasses or contact lenses based solely on automated equipment testing. The decision represents a setback for Opternative, Inc., a telehealth company that challenged the law as violating constitutional rights.

•Law prohibits prescribing glasses or contact lenses based solely on automated equipment testing

Jan 21, 2026•2 min read

•South Carolina Supreme Court issued mixed ruling affirming in part, reversing in part appeals court decision in construction dispute

SC Supreme Court Issues Mixed Ruling in Construction Negligence Case

The South Carolina Supreme Court issued a split decision in a complex construction dispute involving Charles Blanchard Construction Corp., 480 King Street LLC, and engineering firm Glick/Boehm & Associates. The high court affirmed parts of the court of appeals decision while reversing others in the case that centers on professional negligence claims and the state's Frivolous Civil Proceedings Sanctions Act.

•Case involves interpretation of state's Frivolous Civil Proceedings Sanctions Act and professional negligence filing requirements

Jan 21, 2026•4 min read

•South Carolina Supreme Court grants standing to National Trust for Historic Preservation and City of Charleston to challenge municipal annexation

SC Supreme Court Reverses Lower Courts in Historic Preservation Annexation Case

The South Carolina Supreme Court partially reversed lower court rulings Tuesday, finding that the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the City of Charleston have standing to challenge North Charleston's attempted annexation of property near Highway 61 and the Ashley River. The court also affirmed that the annexation was unlawful because the property is not adjacent to North Charleston's existing city limits.

•Court affirms circuit court ruling that North Charleston's annexation was invalid due to property not being adjacent to city limits

Jan 7, 2026•4 min read

•South Carolina Supreme Court reversed circuit court ruling in property dispute involving perpetual real estate option

SC Supreme Court Reverses Ruling in Property Rights Case

The South Carolina Supreme Court reversed and remanded a lower court decision in Spring Valley Interests, LLC v. The Best for Last, LLC, addressing whether state law abolished the common law rule against perpetuities for certain property interests. The case involves a perpetual option to purchase real estate.

•Case addresses whether 1987 state law abolished common law rule against perpetuities for commercial property transactions

Dec 18, 2025•4 min read

•South Carolina Supreme Court reinstated automatic stay on 27-home coastal development project by Pulte Home Company

SC Supreme Court Halts Pulte Homes Coastal Development Project

The South Carolina Supreme Court granted relief to Friends of Coastal South Carolina, reinstating an automatic stay on a 27-home development project by Pulte Home Company that would fill nearly two acres of wetlands. The court vacated a lower court order that had lifted the stay pending resolution of the environmental challenge.

•Project would fill 1.94 acres of wetlands on 63.23 acres of coastal property with required environmental permits

Nov 26, 2025•4 min read

•South Carolina Supreme Court ruled double jeopardy bars retrial of John Joseph Erb for murder and voluntary manslaughter

SC Supreme Court Bars Retrial After Jury Polling Issues in Murder Case

The South Carolina Supreme Court reversed a Charleston County trial court decision and ruled that double jeopardy bars the retrial of John Joseph Erb for murder and voluntary manslaughter after issues arose during jury polling at the conclusion of his initial trial.

•Court reversed Charleston County Circuit Court decision after issues arose during jury polling at conclusion of original trial