G-Bar News
September 2019
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PRESIDENT'S ARTICLE
Kirby Mitchell
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"There is far too much law for those who can afford it and far too little for those who cannot.”
- Derek Bok (former president of Harvard & dean of its law school), April 1983
Is this true in Greenville in 2019?
Greenville is a self-described ‘business innovation / incubation center,’ and ‘legal delivery innovation’ is no longer an oxymoron. Influenced by tech-savvy clients and changes in other professional service industry delivery models like medicine, accounting, and education, Greenville’s careful, precedent-bound legal profession is evolving. Startup companies all over Greenville brag about being "disruptive” and Upstate businesses, conferences, and universities proudly market themselves as being innovators. Greenville law firms are following this lead. But consider this question: Has any legal innovation altered the basic (and certainly not unique to Greenville) substantive ‘access to justice’ challenge? Has anyone here in Greenville successfully disrupted what Derek Bok described almost 40 years ago?
I recently interviewed three Greenville Bar legal innovators, and we thought about the Greenville legal landscape of today compared to 20 years ago, and we guessed at what it might look like 20 years from now. When I say “interview”: we sat down at Northampton and drank wine and talked, and then later wrote out the interview from vague notes. A very civil form of journalism.
First, I met with both Jennifer Olmert, executive director of Greenville’s Upstate Mediation Center (UMC), and Diane Smock, former Greenville Probate Court judge and former UMC executive director. The outstanding UMC is celebrating its 20-year anniversary next month, coinciding with 2 decades of mandatory mediation in Greenville. Mandatory mediation felt innovative 20 years ago and totally normal today. Next I met with Kate Weaver Patterson, who recently left the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office to become the first site director and managing attorney for an innovative start-up non-profit called Root & Rebound here in Greenville, an exciting community organization focused on ‘reentry legal work’ and second chances.
An unsettling legal equivalent of Uber has not arrived at the Greenville Bar’s curb just yet. But see what you think about these three savvy Greenville innovators, interviewed
HERE and
HERE. These accomplished lawyers have intentionally and directly addressed Derek Bok’s concerns of almost 40 years ago with their considerable time, talents, and drive here in our innovative city.
Note: These interviews have been lightly edited to make us seem smarter and more interesting.
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WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE GCBA EVENT?
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We are working on the 2020 calendar- let us know which event is your favorite!
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Law Week Events (Luncheon, Golf Tournament...)
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Judicial Reception- Steak & Lobster Cookout
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Fall BBQ (I like smaller, more casual events)
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WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE GETAWAY?
In the last issue of the G-Bar News, we posed the question: Where is your favorite getaway? The results show most of y'all really love South Carolina. 21% of you need to explain yourselves.
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43% - Carolina Coastline
31% - Carolina Mountains
21% - Far, Far Away
5% - There's No Place Like Home
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PRO BONO FOUNDATION: LUNCH & LEARN
Landlord Tenant Practice: Defending Eviction Actions
September 24, Noon
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd
The Greenville Bar Pro Bono Foundation, SC Young Lawyers and SC Legal Services are partnering on this training session which has been approved for 1.0 hours of CLE credit.
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YOUNG LAWYERS LUNCH & LEARN
J
oin the Greenville Bar Young Lawyers as
Judges Rochelle Conits, Aphrodite Konduros and Letitia Verdin
share their
"
Views from the Bench – Life Perspective from the Family, Circuit, and Appellate Bench"
September 26, Noon, Poinsett Club
$10 per person
1.0 hours of CLE credit
This event is open to all attorneys regardless of age but was limited to the first 60 attorneys who register. This event is full but you can be placed on a waiting list.
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JUDICIAL & VOLUNTEER RECEPTION
October 3, 5:00-8:00
Poinsett Club
You are invited along with members of the state and federal judiciary for a drop-in reception honoring the hard-working volunteers of the Greenville Bar Pro Bono Foundation.
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BBQ at FIRE FORGE
October 15, 5:30-8:30 pm
$15 per person by noon on October 11
$20 per person after noon on October 11
(includes 2 drink tickets and BBQ)
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MEMORIAL SERVICE- December 12, 4 pm
Hughes Library Conference Room
Honoring the lives of:
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Bill Bozeman
Bobby Dobson
Jeff Ezell
Billy Hagood
Dick James
Mike Johnson
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Karrah Leary
James Reid
Dianne Riley
Bob Rogers
Harvey Sanders
Melinda Powers Zietz
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FAMILY COURT LIAISON COMMITTEE REPORT
August 9, 2019
Attention Attorneys:
PACSS Reminder: Support Information Sheets must be fully filled out completely and signed. If your client is paying directly but you have a “5-day clause” to address late payments, please be sure to designate that payments will need to be made through the State Disbursement Unit. Effective 8/1/19, child support and alimony payments must be mailed to: South Carolina State Disbursement Unit, P.O. Box 100302, Columbia, SC, 29202-3302.
Requests/Reminders from Docketing: If you reach a settlement in a case which is already scheduled for
trial, please notify the Docketing Office immediately so your agreement may be scheduled to be heard expeditiously and so that the trial time you no longer need may be used for another case. Also, please be sure to include the Guardian’s name and contact information on your hearing requests and to include them in motions to avoid continuances and wasted court time.
The next Family Court Liaison meeting will be
Friday, November 15th at 12:30 p.m. in the Conference Room in the Judge’s Hallway. Anyone who is unable to attend these meetings but has issues they would like addressed may contact: Vanessa Kormylo at 864-242-1644.
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The Greenville County Bar Association's Member Benefits Program was unveiled at the "Year-End" CLE with discounts to many business including the YMCA, SportsClub, North Hills Automotive, Greenville Theater and MANY MORE!!
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2017-CP-23-6352
Rachel Gibson, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of David Herman Gibson vs. Marka Jean Fuller and Full House Sportzaria, LLC
Attorneys for Plaintiff: Wally Fayssoux, Paul Landis, Powers Price
Attorneys for Defendant Full House Sportzaria, LLC: Phil Reeves, David Rheney, William Young
Attorneys for the Defendant Marka Jean Fuller: Ryan Beasley
Type of Case: Motor Vehicle Accident
Confidential settlement reached with Full House Sportzaria prior to closings
Verdict for the Plaintiff against Marka Jean Fuller in the amount of $2,523,500 actual damages and $5,000,000 punitive damages
2017-CP-23-786
Augusta Louise Monteith vs. the Estate of Florine Hill Carter
Attorneys for Plaintiff: Russell Patrick, Doug Patrick
Attorneys for Defendant: Amanda Bradley, Chuck Turner
Type of Case: Motor Vehicle Accident
Verdict for the Plaintiff in the amount of $0
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FIRM ANNOUNCEMENTS
Clawson and Staubes, LLC announces that effective August 1,
Jeanmarie Tankersley has been named a member.
Thomas, Fisher, Sinclair & Edwards, P.A. is pleased to announce that the South Carolina Supreme Court has recognized
Matthew B. Edwards as a Certified Specialist in Taxation Law.
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LAW CLERK POSITIONS AVAILABLE
The United States District Court has an opening for both a term law clerk and a temp law clerk to the Honorable Timothy M. Cain, United States District Judge. The law clerk has full responsibility for assigned civil and criminal cases. The law clerk reviews complaints for jurisdiction, drafts proposed orders, conducts legal research, manages a civil docket, assists with and attends court proceedings, acts as a legal adviser on pending litigation, and performs other duties as assigned. Other duties may include administrative duties such as handling the chambers’ calendar, answering the phone, and greeting visitors. There is daily interaction with the Judge and the other law clerks concerning legal and court-related issues.
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PROBATE COURT HOT TIPS
Friday, October 25, 2019, 8:30 – 1:00
Suite 400 County Square, 301 University Ridge, Greenville, SC
It is time again for the annual Probate Court CLE hosted by Probate Judge Debora A. Faulkner. This annual seminar is beneficial for attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and other legal support staff who assist clients with probate administration, probate litigation, estate planning, wrongful death settlements, minor settlements, special needs trusts, etc. It is also a good review for trust officers, accountants,
appraisers, and professional fiduciaries.
The seminar this year will narrow the focus somewhat from the usual overview format. Probate Judge Debora A. Faulkner, Assoc. Judges Caroline M. Horlbeck, and Clayton L. Jennings, and the senior staff of the Court will discuss a series of Hot Tips for your Estate and/or Guardianship/Conservatorship practice(s). There may be a guest speaker or two on hand to offer practical advice on common hurdles
clients face in the transfer of probate assets. At the conclusion of the seminar, the speakers will sit as a panel to answer your questions.
If you are new to probate practice and were expecting a step by step overview of probate practice, don’t worry! The basics will be covered in the written materials. Each attendee will receive a complete notebook of step by step instructions with the corresponding forms, code references, and sample orders. The notebook will be provided either as a traditional three ring notebook; or, on a thumb
drive in searchable pdf format.
Your registration fee includes coffee and snacks at the break provided by Legal Eagle as well as a box lunch provided by Legal Staff Professionals. The SC Bar has accredited the seminar with 3.5 hours of CLE credit.
Tara Brown of the Legal Staff Professionals is coordinating registration and preparation of materials. She can be reached at
tara@davidgreeneattorney.com (864) 271-7940
Please
CLICK HERE to access the registration form.
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Greenville County Probate Court
Civil Commitments Mental Health & Chemical Dependency Division
Are you an attorney interested in getting paid to assist with commitment hearing?
Hearings are held each Wednesday at Marshall I. Pickens Hospital, Carolina Center for Behavioral Health Hospital and SpringBrook Behavioral Health Hospital, and there is a separate roster for each hospital. We are also looking for attorneys to assist with Supplemental hearings and Judicial Commitment hearings held at Greater Greenville Mental Health's three campuses (Greenville, Simpsonville, and Greer) and the Greenville County Detention Center. The attorney is paid $50 per hearing.
For more information please contact:
Hope Barton (864) 457-7172 or Tammy Douglas (864) 467-7085
We appreciate your interest and look forward to hearing from you.
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SCUPA SEMINAR
Invest in your team by sending them to the South Carolina Upstate Paralegal Association’s 24th Annual Seminar for Legal Professionals on October 4, 2019 at the Kroc Center in Greenville.
This year’s seminar offers workshops in ethics, due diligence under UCC Article 9, medical malpractice, criminal law, adoption, mediation, expert witness disclosure and a keynote presentation by the Honorable Jessica Ann Salvini.
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UPSTATE MEDIATION CENTER ANNOUNCES 2019 PEACEMAKER AWARD WINNERS
The Upstate Mediation Center (“UMC”) is pleased to announce the 2019 Peacemaker Award recipients are Victoria Chance and Mary Anne Inglis. They were nominated for their work in creating My Neighbor’s Voice, an organization with the goal of bringing diverse community members
together to share a meal and listen to one another speak about civic concerns.
Chance and Inglis were inspired to create My Neighbor’s Voice in 2016 out of a belief that lack of civil
dialogue was causing polarization in communities. By offering a safe, moderated space to respectfully
communicate, they believe community members will find common ground and this will lead to empathy
and community building. The feedback from participants has confirmed their belief in this process. The
UMC Board of Directors feel that this work exemplifies the purpose of creating the Peacemaker Award.
The Peacemaker Award is designed to recognize a member of the community who has made a
significant difference in promoting tolerance, building good will and understanding, resolving conflict,
and striving for peace.
The award will be given during National Conflict Resolution week at the UMC’s Peacemaker Celebration. The event will be held at the Rutherford on Tuesday, October 15.
For more information or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.upstatemediation.com.
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September 26: Young Lawyer Lunch & Learn- Views from the Bench
October 3: Greenville Bar Pro Bono Reception
October 9: Masters Breakfast
October 15: BBQ at Fire Forge
November 15: Family Court Liaison Meeting
December 10: Holiday Party
December 12: Memorial Service
February 7, 2020: "Year-End" CLE
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