Starting a new business? Feeling overwhelmed? Below, we’ve put together a checklist for starting a new business in SC that may help… Most new businesses fail within the first year of opening, especially small businesses. Why? The reasons vary from business to...
Can you trust the breathalyzer? Every day in South Carolina and across the country, law enforcement stops motorists on the highway for suspicion of drunk driving. Maybe you crossed the centerline, swerved within your lane, or made a too-wide turn at an intersection....
Are SC roads worst in the nation? A study released by Consumer Affairs this year has ranked SC roads the worst in the nation. How does that compare to SC’s rankings in past years? And what exactly are these studies measuring? These studies may feel a bit misleading...
What is a lesser included offense? Sometimes, a person will plead guilty to a lesser included offense, or a jury will find a person guilty of a lesser included offense instead of the more serious offenses presented at trial. But what qualifies as a lesser included...
Last week, a North Dakota jury awarded a greater than one billion dollar verdict to a survivor and the families of two drunk driving accident victims. That sounds like a record verdict – it’s not, but it’s close. Have there been other billion-dollar verdicts in the...
Is social media evidence admissible in SC courts? If you have a civil or criminal case pending in SC courts, your social media posts, pictures, and comments might come back to haunt you… Your Facebook, Twitter, or other social media account may be filled with happy...
What is a DUI Per Se in SC? Another name for DUI per se in SC is “driving under an unlawful alcohol concentration,” or DUAC. DUI per se means that, if your blood alcohol content is greater than .08, you can be found guilty of DUAC. The penalties are the same as...
Is a motorcycle case different than an auto accident case? Both types of cases are based on negligence, and the issues will include proof of liability, proof of damages, and whether there is comparative negligence that would reduce your recovery. But there are some...
Possession of paraphernalia in SC is not a criminal offense – it is a civil violation only and the conviction should not go on a person’s criminal record. Although it is not a criminal offense, it is often charged along with drug crimes like possession or...
What is civil asset forfeiture in SC? Ask a law enforcement officer or prosecutor and they will tell you that it is an invaluable tool in the war on drugs. Take a drug dealer’s money, vehicles, and stash houses, and you put them out of business. Confiscate 1) the...