NEWS & COMMENTARY

Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is pleased to announce that John “Jay” Jones has been selected as a “Power Player” Personal Injury attorney in the Carolinas by North Carolina & South Carolina Lawyers Weekly. To be considered a “Power Player,” an attorney is judged by a range of criteria, including leadership in his or her field; knowledge of relevant case law, statutes and regulations; experienced, with a record of success in cases and/or transactions; respected by other lawyers; and leadership in the community with a record of bar involvement and leadership.  Jay is a partner in the firm’s Charleston, South Carolina office.  He is an experienced civil litigator who defends individuals, businesses, and...

Gallivan White Boyd Welcomes Attorney Charles S. Verdin IV

Greenville, S.C. – February 15, 2024

Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is pleased to announce that Charles S. Verdin IV has joined the firm as a partner in its Greenville office. Charles S. Verdin, IV has been practicing for almost 30 years. His practice includes  estate planning and probate law, tax law, and corporate law. In addition to his law degree, Chuck is a certified public accountant.  He is also a certified specialist in taxation law and in estate planning and probate law by the South Carolina Supreme Court.  He has significant experience with estate planning and planned giving, complex trust and probate administration, corporate formation and structuring, mergers and acquisitions, and federal, state, and local tax planning and...

Gallivan White Boyd has been listed in Best Lawyers® 2024 edition of Best Law Firms®.  The firm was recognized regionally in 19 practice areas, including eleven First-Tier Rankings.  Firms included in the 2024 Best Law Firms® list are recognized for professional excellence which are based on ratings from clients and peers. Debuted in 2010, Best Law Firms® utilized a rigorous, peer-to-peer, industry-driven evaluation.  Achieving a tiered ranking in Best Law Firms® signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.  Ranked firms, presented in three tiers, are recognized on a national and metro-based scale. Gallivan White Boyd received the following Tier-1 rankings in the...

The Standard Liability Waiver: Paper Tiger or King of the Litigation Jungle?

Michael Rabb and Destini Anderson Pratt | The DefenseLine Magazine a SCDTAA Publication

On March 7, 1998, Christine McCune1 joined her husband and several friends for a paintball game at Myrtle Beach Indoor Shooting Range, Inc. Prior to the match, she received a face mask provided by the range for protection. During the game, McCune’s loose, ill-fitting mask came off after being caught in the branch of a tree. After her mask was raised off her face by the tree branch, McCune was struck in the eye by a paintball pellet that rendered her legally blind. McCune brought several causes of action against the Range based on the failure of the mask to be properly fitted and to properly protect her during play. McCune lost her case at every level of litigation due to a single piece of paper she signed just prior...

Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is pleased to announce that the firm and five of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2024 Edition of Benchmark Litigation® – United States. Benchmark Litigation® is the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys.  Rankings are based on extensive interviews with litigators, dispute resolution specialists and their clients, as well as analysis of the market’s most important cases and firm developments. Local Litigation Stars for each state reflect only those individuals who were recommended consistently as reputable and effective litigators by clients and peers. GWB is honored to announce its Litigation Stars:

  • Gray T. Culbreath
      ...

Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is thrilled to announce that partner T. David Rheney was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers at its annual meeting held in San Diego, California, on September 23, 2023. A native of Orangeburg, Rheney is located in GWB’s Greenville, South Carolina, office and is one of the firm’s most experienced trial lawyers. During his more than thirty-year career, he has tried hundreds of trials to verdict, including three of the most significant trucking/transportation cases tried in South Carolina in 2018 and 2019, obtaining very favorable results for his clients. He is also called upon to provide global legal counsel as the South Carolina representative and past president of...

Jennifer E. Johnsen Receives Leadership in Law Recognition

Greenville, S.C. – September 21, 2023

Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is pleased to announce that partner Jennifer Johnsen was named a Leadership in Law honoree by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly. Johnsen was one of 34 honorees at the SC Leadership Awards event held in Columbia, South Carolina.  Honorees are selected by a panel of judges.  Nominations, applications and letters of recommendation are evaluated based on professional accomplishments, bar leadership, community service, pro bono work and mentoring. Johnsen is not only a leader at GWB, but also in the legal profession and community at large. Within GWB, she leads the firm’s Insurance practice group. Within the broader legal community, she has held numerous leadership positions in the Federation...

Long-COVID and Long-Term Disability Benefits

Jennifer E. Johnsen | FDCC’s Friday 5 Things to Know, August 11, 2023, Issue 184

More than three years after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington has held that an employee suffering from what has been termed “long-COVID” is entitled to receive long-term disability (LTD)  under a group LTD policy. Abrams v. Unum Life Insurance Company of america, No. C21-0980 TSZ, 2022 WL 17960616 (W.D. Wash. Dec. 27, 2022). This appears to be one of the first reported decisions addressing disability based on this new condition – and, of import to this group – the case involves an LTD claim filed by a shareholder in a law firm. Background In April 2020, a trial and appellate partner at a law firm began to...

2024 edition of Best Lawyers in America© Released Twenty-three attorneys have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Best Lawyers® is a seasoned and well-respected lawyer ranking service for lawyers from around the world.  For 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar practiced areas.  Best Lawyers® awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe. Lawyers who are nominated for consideration are voted on by currently recognized Best Lawyers working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region....

2024 Best Lawyers in America© – Ones to Watch Gallivan White Boyd is pleased to announce the selection of attorneys, Matthew Covington, Jordan Crapps, Jessica W. Laffitte, Christine Ormand and Thomas Twehues, as 2024 Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers in America©. This recognition is given to attorneys who are early in their careers and provide outstanding professional excellence in private practice within the United States. Attorneys Covington, Crapps, Laffitte, and Ormand have been named to this list since 2021.  Twehues is named to the list for the second year in a row.

  • Matthew Covington (Charlotte) was named Ones to Watch for Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers.
  • Jordan Crapps (Columbia) was...

2024 Edition of Best Lawyers in America©  Gallivan White Boyd partners A. Johnston Cox, Curtis L. Ott, Gray T. Culbreath, and John T. Lay, Jr. were named 2024 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers in America© in Columbia, South Carolina. Each year, only one lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the Lawyer of the Year. These lawyers are selected based on voting averages received from peer-review assessments. A. Johnston Cox was named Lawyer of the Year for Insurance Law in the Columbia, SC area. He is listed in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© in Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. Gray T. Culbreath was named Lawyer of the Year...

GWB is pleased to share that the firm is celebrating 75 years of productive and progressive client service Today GWB announced the celebration of the law firm’s 75 years of service. With a heritage dating to 1948, attorneys and support staff at Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) have worked tirelessly to build a progressive and productive law firm focused on providing high quality client service and the preservation of justice. With over 65 attorneys representing clients across the nation, GWB strives to showcase our excellence in the legal community with the firm’s successes rooted in attorney experience and client dedication. “We are thrilled to share this landmark milestone with our community and look forward...

32 Gallivan White Boyd attorneys have been nominated and selected by their peers for inclusion in Columbia Business Monthly, Greenville Business Magazine and Charleston Business Magazine’s 2023 Legal Elite. Legal Elite winners are chosen by area attorneys that are members of the South Carolina Bar Legal Elite is the only regional awards program that gives every active attorney the opportunity to participate.  The magazine lists the top recipients in 50 categories. Five of Gallivan White Boyd’s attorneys are recognized as a Top Vote Winner in one or more of their recognized practice areas:

  • Ian Conits – Estates & Trust – Litigation
  • Johnston Cox – Personal Injury – Defendant
  • Gray Culbreath...

Three attorneys also ranked in the 2023 Chambers USA edition Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is pleased to announce its inclusion as a ranked law firm in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA. The Chambers USA guide and legal rankings cover practice areas in all 50 states, Washington, DC and at nationwide level, with hundreds of practice area-based ranking tables identifying the best practice groups and lawyers working across the US legal market. To determine its rankings, Chambers and Partners analyzes information gained via submissions and interviews that center around technical ability, client service, team depth, commercial vision and business understanding, diligence, and value for money. GWB is ranked in South Carolina...

Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is pleased to announce that John T. Lay, Jr.  has been selected for inclusion as a Global Leader in the 2023 edition of Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders – USA- Life Sciences- Product Liability, for the seventh consecutive year. Since 1996, utilizing the recommendations of clients and private practitioners, Who’s Who Legal has identified the foremost legal practitioners in multiple areas of business law. The Thought Leaders edition reflects interviews with the practitioners themselves, and its purpose is to showcase not only the practitioner’s vast experience but also their ability to innovate, inspire, and provide excellent service for their clients. John T. is one of three lawyers...

Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is pleased to announce that 14 attorneys from the firm’s Greenville, Charleston and Columbia offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2023 edition of South Carolina Super Lawyers®. Most notably, Super Lawyers recognized GWB Partner John T. Lay as one of the Top 25 Lawyers in South Carolina for the sixth consecutive year.  Super Lawyers, published by Thomson Reuters, lists the top 5% of the attorneys in the state who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers utilizes a multiphase selection process that includes peer nominations, independent third-party research, and peer reviews by other attorneys in their primary practice...

Carter Massingill Elected Partner at Gallivan White Boyd

Greenville, S.C. – January 1, 2023

Gallivan White Boyd is pleased to announce that Carter Massingill has been elected a partner in the firm.  Carter works in the firm’s Greenville, South Carolina office. Carter is a business and construction litigation attorney who has been with GWB since January 2017.  He regularly handles complex litigation involving construction, real estate, and development, including breach of contract and warranty claims, construction defect matters, product liability, payment issues and liens, restrictive covenants and catastrophic personal injury claims. Representative matters have involved:

  • Multi-million-dollar class action construction defect cases.
  • High-value delay and liquidated damages claims.
  • Wrongful...

Gallivan White Boyd has been listed in 2023 Best Law Firms by U.S. News & World Report - Best Lawyers®. The Firm was recognized regionally in 20 practice areas, including twelve First-Tier Rankings. Firms included in the 2023 Best Law Firms list are recognized for professional excellence and based on impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal proficiency. The 2023 Edition of Best Law Firms ranks law firms in 75 national practice areas and 122 metropolitan-based practice areas. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same...

Gallivan White Boyd is excited to announce that partner Jordan Crapps has been selected as one of the 61 participants for the Leadership Columbia Class of 2023 (LC23). LC23 class will kick of the 50th year of programming for Leadership Columbia. The Columbia Chamber of Commerce offers this ten-month educational program as a way to engage emerging and existing leaders in the Midlands area with an opportunity to embrace their civic knowledge and network. The program curriculum includes monthly class day sessions, a retreat, a class project, and a variety of enrichment activities around the area. Since its inception, Leadership Columbia has celebrated more than 2,000 graduates. To learn more about the program, see...

Twenty-six attorneys have been included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. With an almost 40-year history of highlighting top legal talent in America, Best Lawyers® has become an important resource for finding experienced lawyers nationwide. Peer-reviewed listings by Best Lawyers® are now published in almost 75 countries around the world. Gallivan White Boyd congratulates the following attorneys included on the 2023 Best Lawyers® list: CHARLESTON

  •  A. Grayson Smith Personal Injury Litigation
CHARLOTTE
  •  James M. Dedman IV Litigation - Insurance
  • Christopher M. Kelly Railroad Law
COLUMBIA
  •  Johnston Cox Insurance Law Personal Injury Litigation
  • Gray T....

Gallivan White Boyd is pleased to announce the selection of attorneys, Jordan Crapps, Jessica W. Laffitte and Thomas Twehues, as 2023 Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers in America©. This recognition is given to attorneys who are early in their careers and provide outstanding professional excellence in private practice within the United States. Jordan Crapps (Columbia) was named Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation and Litigation-Securities. Jessica W. Laffitte (Columbia) was named Ones to Watch for Product Liability Litigation. Thomas Twehues (Greenville) was named Ones to Watch for Workers’ Compensation Law.  About the Firm Gallivan White Boyd handles a variety of complex litigation for local, regional and...

Gallivan White Boyd partners Amity S. Edmonds and T. David Rheney were named 2023 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers in America© in Greenville, South Carolina. Each year, only one lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the Lawyer of the Year. These lawyers are selected based on voting averages received from peer-review assessments. Amity S. Edmonds was named Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation Law in the Greenville area. She is listed in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© in the Workers’ Compensation practice area. T. David Rheney was named Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation in the Greenville area. Rheney is listed in the 2023...

31 Gallivan White Boyd attorneys have been nominated and selected by their peers for inclusion in Columbia Business Monthly, Greenville Business Magazine and Charleston Business Magazine’s 2022 Legal Elite. Legal Elite winners are chosen by area attorneys that are members of the South Carolina Bar. This is the only regional awards program that gives every active attorney the opportunity to participate. The magazine lists the top recipients in 26 categories. Congratulations to the following attorneys who have been recognized:

  • Blakely Bellamy- Workers’ Compensation
  • Debbie Brown- Employment
  • Ian Conits - Business Litigation, Estate & Trust - Litigation
  • A. Johnston Cox– Personal Injury
  • Jordan...

H. Mills Gallivan Awarded Richard T. Boyette Award

Greenville, S.C. – July 15, 2022

Gallivan White Boyd is pleased to announce that Partner, H. Mills Gallivan, is the 2022 recipient of the Richard T. Boyette Award for Outstanding Contributions to the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence. The Boyette Award is the highest award bestowed by the NFJE and is presented to a person who has:

  • Demonstrated a commitment to excellence in judicial education;
  • Shown exceptional creativity and dedication in program development;
  • Excelled in fundraising activities on behalf of NFJE; and
  • Exemplified professionalism in promoting the case for a well-educated, independent judiciary.
NFJE President, Thomas Ganucheau, noted that “Mills exemplifies the commitment, dedication and professionalism...

Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is pleased to announce its inclusion as a ranked law firm in the 2022 edition of Chambers USA. Chambers USA ranks the top lawyers and law firms across the United States, including up to 79 individual practice areas in all 50 states and Washington, DC. To determine its rankings, Chambers and Partners analyzes information gained via submissions and interviews that center around technical ability, client service, team depth, commercial vision and business understanding, diligence, and value for money.GWB is ranked in South Carolina for Litigation: General Commercial.  One commenter told Chambers and Partners that GWB “is top-notch; they’re really strong and very diverse in the things...

Gray T. Culbreath receives Order of the Palmetto

Columbia, S.C. – May 11, 2022

Gallivan White Boyd is honored to announce that Partner, Gray T. Culbreath received the Order of the Palmetto on May 11, 2022. Governor Henry McMaster awarded Culbreath for his outstanding service to the South Carolina State Museum. Gray T. Culbreath has served the Museum Commission under four governors and three executive directors in his 22 years of service. Nineteen of those years, he served as Commission Chair, and his leadership was invaluable in guiding the museum through various projects. Culbreath is the Partner in Charge of the Columbia office and sits on GWB’s Executive Committee. Gray's law practice includes defending product manufacturers in product liability suits brought both individually and...

Gallivan White Boyd is pleased to announce that Christopher M. Kelly, who also serves as the Partner in Charge of GWB’s Charlotte office and on GWB’s Executive Committee, has been elected as President of The Transportation Lawyers Association ("TLA"). Founded in 1937, TLA is an independent bar association of approximately 900 members who are in-house, government, and private practice attorneys and practice primarily in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Whether in advice, litigation, or regulatory assistance, members assist providers and commercial users of domestic and international logistics and transportation services. As commercial transportation is a specialized area of the law, TLA is dedicated to...

Gallivan White Boyd is proud to announce that partner and former DRI President, John E. Cuttino has received DRI’s 2022 Sheryl J. Willert Pioneer Diversity Award. This award was presented at the DRI Diversity for Success Seminar luncheon on Thursday, May 12, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. DRI is the largest international membership organization of attorneys who defend the interests of businesses and individuals in civil litigation. www.dri.org. Named for Sheryl J. Willert, the first woman and first person of color to serve as President of DRI, the award honors and recognizes an individual’s demonstrated commitment and outstanding accomplishments in the advancement of diversity and inclusion in the legal...

Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is pleased to announce that 15 attorneys from the firm’s Greenville and Columbia offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2022 edition of South Carolina Super Lawyers®. For the fifth time, Super Lawyers recognized GWB Partner John T. Lay as one of the Top 25 Lawyers in South Carolina. Super Lawyers, published by Thomson Reuters, lists the top 5% of the attorneys in the state who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers utilizes a multiphase selection process that includes peer nominations, independent third-party research, and peer reviews by other attorneys in their primary practice area. The 12 GWB attorneys listed as...

Jordan Crapps elected Partner at Gallivan White Boyd

Columbia, S.C. – January 4, 2022

Gallivan White Boyd is pleased to announce that Jordan Crapps has been elected a partner in the firm. Jordan works in the firm’s Columbia, South Carolina office. Jordan has been with GWB since August 2016, and prior to that time, he worked in the public sector investigating and prosecuting securities related matters. He focuses his practice on the representation of clients in the business and commercial litigation, corporate and commercial transactions, and appellate practice areas. Jordan has handled a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, including those related to shareholder disputes, business torts, professional negligence, contract disputes, and governmental investigations. Jordan is a team...

Gallivan White Boyd has been listed in 2022 Best Law Firms by U.S. News & World Report - Best Lawyers®. The Firm was recognized regionally in 15 practice areas, including 11 Tier 1 Rankings in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina. Firms included in the 2022 Best Law Firms list are recognized for professional excellence with impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal proficiency. Gallivan White Boyd received the following Tier 1 rankings in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Lawyers® - Best Law Firms:

Metropolitan Tier 1

Charleston

  • Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

 Columbia

    ...

2022 Edition of Best Lawyers in America© Gallivan White Boyd partners Gray T. Culbreath, John T. Lay, Jr., Shelley S. Montague and Jennifer E. Johnsen were named 2022 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers in America©. Each year, only one lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the Lawyer of the Year. These lawyers are selected based on voting averages received from peer-review assessments. Gray T. Culbreath was named Lawyer of the Year for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants in the Columbia area. Culbreath was also listed in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© in the following practice areas: Appellate, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial...

2022 Best Lawyers in America© – Ones to Watch Gallivan White Boyd is pleased to announce the selection of attorneys, Drew Bradshaw, Jordan Crapps, Jessica W. Laffitte and Thomas Twehues, as 2022 Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers in America©. This recognition is given to attorneys who are early in their careers and provide outstanding professional excellence in private practice within the United States. Drew Bradshaw (Greenville) was named Ones to Watch for Transportation Law. Jordan Crapps (Columbia) was named Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation and Litigation-Securities. Jessica W. Laffitte (Columbia) was named Ones to Watch for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Thomas Twehues (Greenville) was named...

Gallivan White Boyd is pleased to announce that twenty-eight attorneys have been included in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. With an almost 40-year history of highlighting top legal talent in America, Best Lawyers® has become an important resource for finding experienced lawyers nationwide. Peer-reviewed listings by Best Lawyers® are now published in almost 75 countries around the world. Gallivan White Boyd congratulates the following attorneys included on the 2022 Best Lawyers® list:

CHARLESTON

 CHARLOTTE

COLUMBIA

Three attorneys also ranked in the 2021 Chambers USA edition

Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is pleased to announce its inclusion as a ranked law firm in the 2021 edition of Chambers USA. Chambers USA ranks the top lawyers and law firms across the United States, including up to 79 individual practice areas in all 50 states and Washington, DC. To determine its rankings, Chambers and Partners analyzes information gained via submissions and interviews that center around technical ability, client service, team depth, commercial vision and business understanding, diligence, and value for money. GWB is ranked in South Carolina for Litigation: General Commercial.  One commenter told Chambers and Partners that GWB “is top-notch;...

Gallivan White  Boyd (GWB) is pleased to announce that 21 attorneys from the firm’s Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2021 edition of South Carolina Super Lawyers®. Most notably, Super Lawyers recognized GWB Partner John T. Lay as one of the Top 25 Lawyers in South Carolina.  Super Lawyers, published by Thomson Reuters, lists the top 5% of the attorneys in the state who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers utilizes a multiphased selection process that includes peer nominations, independent third-party research, and peer reviews by other attorneys in their primary practice area. The 14 GWB attorneys...

Gallivan White Boyd is pleased to announce growth throughout the Carolinas. The firm welcomes associate attorneys to each of its offices in North Carolina and South Carolina. James “Brad” Cheek is an associate in the Charlotte, North Carolina, office concentrating his practice on commercial transportation and tort and personal injury. Brad is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law where he was publication editor for the North Carolina Banking Institute Journal and an executive member of the Holderness Moot Court Corporate Law Appellate Advocacy Team. Currently, Brad is an active member of the Mecklenburg County Bar. Makenzie E. Polston is a litigation attorney in the firm’s Columbia,...

The road to an inconsistent, fact-intensive, national framework for railroad regulation is paved with good intentions—or at least such has been the case in application of the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act (“ICCTA”) to condemnations of railroad property by state and local actors. Despite the best intentions of Congress, this particular intersection of transportation law, property law, and issues of federalism has often left the overlapping interests of rail carriers and the nation’s economy in conflict with local actors. This article provides a brief overview of the ICCTA, examines the prevailing regulatory analysis in this purportedly deregulated environment, and concludes with a discussion of...

Partner T. David Rheney has been AV Preeminent® Rated with Martindale-Hubbell for 15 years. The American registry recently honored David for this outstanding endorsement by both peers and the Judiciary. In existence for more than 130 years, Martindale-Hubbell was the first publication to provide attorney ratings to assist the public with information when making a decision to seek legal advice. Martindale-Hubbell is a peer-review rating system with client input that rates legal ability and ethical standards. An AV Preeminent® rating is Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer rating standard. The rating is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise,...

Partner John T. Lay Jr. has been elected Dean of the Corporate Counsel College of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) for 2022. IADC has been serving a distinguished membership of corporate and insurance defense attorneys and executives since 1920. Its activities benefit approximately 2,500 invitation-only, peer reviewed members and their clients, as well as the civil justice system and the legal profession. IADC takes a leadership role in many areas of legal reform and professional development. As Dean, John T. will continue to uphold the organization's mission to ensure equal opportunity in the legal profession, creating a pipeline of future leaders in the field that reflect the diversity of...

The Perils of Rescue: Unpacking South Carolina’s Good Samaritan Statute

Michael W. Rabb | South Carolina Young Lawyer Magazine

"Danger invites rescue. The cry of distress is the summons to relief. The law does not ignore these reactions of the mind in tracing conduct to its consequences." 1 Taking their name from a biblical parable, "Good Samaritan" statutes offer legal protection intended to encourage bystanders to help victims in distress by minimizing their fear of being sued or prosecuted for their errors or mistakes in rendering aid or treatment. 2 South Carolina's Good Samaritan statute reads as follows: [a]ny person, who in good faith gratuitously renders emergency care at the scene of an accident or emergency to the victim thereof, shall not be liable for any civil damages for any personal injury as a result of any act or...

Gray T. Culbreath has been appointed treasurer of the Southeastern American Board of Trial Advocates (SEABOTA). SEABOTA is a chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) that promotes ABOTA’s goal of preserving the Seventh Amendment, enhancing the honor of the legal profession and civility in the practice of law. Gray T. Culbreath represents corporations, individuals and insurers in trials and appeals. For over 30 years, he has handled complex trials and appeals in federal and state courts across South Carolina. His career has taken him from Army courtrooms to almost every federal and state courthouse in South Carolina. Gray principally practices in the areas of commercial and class action...

Attorney Zach Weaver has been named by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly as a Go To Lawyer in business law. The “Go To Lawyers” program identifies and recognizes top lawyers across the state in a given practice area. The first field of practice for this new program is business law. A Go To Lawyer is a lawyer who is well-versed in the nuances of case law, statutes, issues, and regulations business clients will encounter. Zach is a business and commercial litigation partner in the firm’s Greenville, South Carolina, office. He represents plaintiffs and defendants in complex issues before and during litigation, providing guidance on resolving disputes and trying them to a jury when appropriate. Some of Zach’s most...

Gallivan White Boyd has been listed in 2021 Best Law Firms by U.S. News & World Report - Best Lawyers®. The Firm was recognized regionally in 14 practice areas, including 11 Tier 1 Rankings in Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina. Firms included in the 2021 Best Law Firms list are recognized for professional excellence with impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal proficiency. The 2021 Edition of Best Law Firms ranks law firms in 75 national practice areas and 127 metropolitan-based practice areas. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and...

Gallivan White Boyd congratulates partner H. Mills Gallivan on his second term as chairman for the board of directors at Bon Secours St. Francis – Greenville. In this position, Mills will help guide local leadership toward the fulfillment of the overall mission, vision and values of Bon Secours St. Francis for the upstate of South Carolina. Mills has deep roots in the Greenville community and has long invested in its growth and development. His career as civil defense trial attorney, counselor and mediator spans more than four decades. Mills brings his skill of negotiation, leadership and execution to the Board of Bon Secours St. Francis. He has formerly served Greenville and the St. Francis communities as a...

Gallivan White Boyd is pleased to announce that Heather A. Chiovaro and Eleanor L. Jones have joined the firm as associate attorneys. Heather A. Chiovaro is an associate practicing in the firm’s Charleston, South Carolina, office. Her primary legal focus is handling construction defect litigation.  Heather’s industry knowledge and experience includes representing developers, design professionals, contractors and construction product manufacturers. Heather also has experience handling complex products liability, class action and mass torts litigation. Eleanor L. Jones has joined the firm as an associate attorney in the Columbia, South Carolina, office. Eleanor’s practice will focus on business and...

Johnston Cox has been accepted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Founded in 1958, ABOTA is an invitation only national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges. ABOTA and its members are dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. ABOTA membership consists of more than 7,600 lawyers— equally balanced between plaintiff and defense—and judges spread among 96 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Johnston is a partner in the firm’s Columbia, South Carolina, office. For the past 25 years, his practice has focused on insurance litigation, business litigation, commercial...

The firm and seven of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2021 Edition of Benchmark Litigation – United States. Benchmark Litigation is the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys. Rankings are based on extensive interviews with litigators, dispute resolution specialists and their clients, as well as analysis of the market’s most important cases and firm developments. Local Litigation Stars for each state reflect only those individuals who were recommended consistently as reputable and effective litigators by clients and peers.

  • Gray T. Culbreath - Columbia, South Carolina Appellate; Product Liability
  • John T. Lay, Jr. - Columbia, South...

Gray T. Culbreath has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. The induction ceremony at which Culbreath became a Fellow took place online before an audience of 670 Fellows during the recent Induction Ceremony at the 2020 Annual Meeting and 70th Anniversary Celebration of the College. Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds, who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by...

Twenty-five attorneys have been included in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. With an almost 40-year history of highlighting top legal talent in America, Best Lawyers has become an important resource for finding experienced lawyers nationwide. Peer-reviewed listings by Best Lawyers are now published in almost 75 countries around the world. Gallivan White Boyd congratulates the following attorneys included on the 2021 Best Lawyers list.

CHARLESTON

  • Grayson Smith Personal Injury Litigation–Defendants

CHARLOTTE

  • Christopher M. Kelly Railroad Law

COLUMBIA

  •  Johnston Cox Insurance Law Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Gray T. Culbreath Bet-the-Company...

Partners Gray T. Culbreath, T. David Rheney and Ronald K. Wray II were named 2021 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers in America. Each year, only one lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the Lawyer of the Year. These lawyers are selected based on voting averages received from peer-review assessments. Gray T. Culbreath was named Lawyer of the Year for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants in the Columbia area. Culbreath was also listed in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the following practice areas: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product...

The U.S. News & World Report released Ones to Watch in the 2021 edition of Best Lawyers in America. Gallivan White Boyd attorneys Drew Bradshaw, Jordan Crapps and Jessica W. Laffitte were recognized as Ones to Watch. This recognition is given to attorneys who are early in their careers and provide outstanding professional excellence in private practice within the United States. Drew Bradshaw (Greenville) was named Ones to Watch for Transportation Law. Jordan Crapps (Columbia) was named Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation and Litigation-Securities. Jessica W. Laffitte (Columbia) was named Ones to Watch for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.

A ‘Black Box’ for the Human Body

Michael W. Rabb | South Carolina Young Lawyer Magazine

Civil Discovery of Wearable Technology Data in Personal Injury Cases On September 13, 2018, in Santa Clara County, California, a 67-year-old woman was discovered dead in her home, slouched in a dining room chair with lacerations on her head and neck, clutching a large knife. Two weeks later, her stepfather was arrested for her murder based in part on evidence obtained from a silent observer—her Fitbit. The fitness tracker she was wearing at the time recorded a spike in her heart rate followed by a slow decline in her heart rate until it completely stopped, all during a time when her stepfather—the last person to see her alive—admitted he was at her home.1 The advent of wearable technology, expected to...

Twenty-three attorneys were nominated and voted to Greenville Business Magazine’s 2020 Legal Elite,the only regional awards program that allows every active attorney to nominate and vote for their peers across 26 categories. Duffie Powers and Phil Reeves were recognized as Top Voted recipients. Duffie Powers centers his legal practice on the areas of design and construction and creditors’ rights in the firm’s Greenville, South Carolina, office. Having previously worked in the construction industry, Duffie has a unique insight into the challenges faced by those in the industry.  Duffie routinely represents contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, equipment rental companies, architects, engineers...

Eight attorneys, Johnston Cox, Will Harbison, Amy Hill, Laura Jordan, Lindsay Joyner, John T. Lay, Shelley Montague and Breon Walker were recognized as the 2020 Legal Elite by Columbia Business Monthly. Legal Elite is the only regional awards program that allows every active attorney to nominate and vote for their peers in 26 categories. Columbia Business Monthly's list of Legal Elite includes:

  • A. Johnston Cox – Insurance, Personal Injury
  • William R. Harbison – Workers’ Compensation
  • Amy L.B. Hill – Business Litigation, Banking & Finance
  • Laura Jordan – Labor & Employment
  • Lindsay A. Joyner – Business Litigation
  • John T. Lay Jr. – Business Litigation
  • Shelley Sunderman Montague –...

Jennifer E. Johnsen has been elected senior director for the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) board of directors.  The FDCC is a professional trade association of peer-reviewed, premier defense and corporate counsel and industry executives. The organization is dedicated to leading the profession by advancing the principles of civil justice, actionable knowledge, and fostering the trust and value of fellowship. Johnsen has been an active member of the FDCC since 2008. She has chaired numerous substantive law committees, served as program chair for the 2019 winter meeting and is Convention Chair for the upcoming 2021 annual meeting. She has served on the board since 2018. Johnsen has played an active...

T. David Rheney Elected President of Insuralex

Greenville, S.C. – July 13, 2020

Gallivan White Boyd partner T. David Rheney was elected as president of Insuralex during its recent annual meeting. Insuralex is a worldwide network of independent law firms that practice insurance and reinsurance coverage, defense, litigation and related legal services. Its members work for a wide range of clients including insurance and reinsurance companies, Lloyd’s syndicates, insurance and reinsurance brokers as well as captives and self-insured companies. Each member firm of Insuralex is a leader in its national or state jurisdiction on issues related to insurance and reinsurance. Former president Neftali Garro stated:

"It has been my privilege to be at the helm of Insuralex this past year. I am in awe of...

VII Crimes of Virtual Mediation

H. Mills Gallivan | FDCC Publication

“The King is dead. Long live the King!” Over the past several years, I have seen, heard and participated in numerous discussions about the rise of online mediation. I have always believed that face to face mediation between litigants is the undisputed King of ADR. Yet I often mused whether I should be looking for a DeLorean with a flux capacitor for a trip back to the future of mediation. Little did I know that a global pandemic would force not just me, but the entire legal profession into the online world of virtual litigation and mediation. As a mediator, one of my favorite rhetorical questions is, “How’s that working out for you?” I now ask myself that question about virtual mediation and would like to...

The List of Eight: Coping with COVID-19

C. Stuart Mauney | For the Defense – June 2020

DRI for Life Does the COVID-19 pandemic have you bouncing off the walls at home? Compliance with a “stay-at- home” order. Social distancing. Inability to visit with family or friends. Restaurants closed. Yes, you do need a haircut! For me, cancellation of March Madness and postponement of The Masters golf tournament. The death, the hurt, the unemployment. We are all grieving in our own way—grieving the loss of normalcy, grieving the economic loss, grieving the loss of connection. How do we handle this discomfort, this grief? As a volunteer for the South Carolina Bar Lawyers Helping Lawyers program, and as a mental health advocate, I have read countless articles on lawyers and mental health. As a result, I...

Gallivan White Boyd is pleased to announce its inclusion as a Leading Law Firm in the 2020 edition of Chambers USA. Chambers USA ranks the top lawyers and law firms across the United States. Out of 6,695 total firm rankings, Gallivan White Boyd is ranked as a Top Tier Law Firm in South Carolina for litigation. With four offices across the Carolinas, the firm frequently represents businesses and individual clients in business and commercial disputes, insurance matters, arbitration and litigation. Additionally, partners Gray T. Culbreath, John T. Lay Jr. and Daniel B. White were chosen as leading business attorneys practicing law in commercial litigation. Combined, Culbreath, Lay, and White have more than 75 years of...

Gallivan White Boyd celebrates another achievement for partner John T. Lay Jr. Over each of the past 13 years, he has been selected for inclusion in the annual edition of Super Lawyers®. This year, Lay has been further recognized on the Top 25: 2020 South Carolina Super Lawyers List, a list on which he has been included since 2018. He is a business litigator practicing in the firm’s Columbia, South Carolina office. Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters business, rates outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. We believe John T. Lay has exceeded the expectation of superior, professional leadership. His achievements are...

SCWCC Advisory Notice

April 27, 2020

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission has extended the suspension of live in-person hearings until May 15, 2020. At this time, Commissioners’ dockets will continue to be managed in the best manner possible using Court Call, telephone, and other electronic methods on a case-by-case basis and at the Commissioners’ discretion. All pleadings, motions, settlements, and other claim-related documents which cannot be submitted electronically must be submitted to the Commission by the US Postal Service. While it is our understanding all settlement conferences will continue to be held telephonically, the Commission plans to readdress its policies regarding how these...

Twenty-one attorneys from the firm’s Greenville, Charleston and Columbia offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2020 edition of South Carolina Super Lawyers. Most notably, John T. Lay Jr., whose practice area is business litigation, has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Lawyers in South Carolina. Super Lawyers, published by Thomson Reuters, lists the top 5 percent of the attorneys in the state who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers utilizes a multiphased selection process that includes peer nominations, independent third-party research, and peer reviews by other attorneys in their primary practice area. The 14 attorneys listed as Super Lawyers...

Guide to South Carolina Liability and Property Insurance Law

by Janice Holmes | Available for purchase

The Guide is a comprehensive treatise analyzing South Carolina liability and property insurance coverage issues. It provides a balanced approach that will be helpful to lawyers for the insureds, insurers, or claimants.  The Guide provides in-depth coverage of South Carolina law related to issues regarding inception of insurance policies, analysis of issues arising in connection with property insurance policies, including issues related to insurable interest and all-risk and named perils policies and common exclusions; commercial general liability policies and common exclusions and conditions; professional liability policies and common issues; and excess insurance policies.  The Guide also provides practical and...

Understandably, our clients have questions and concerns regarding how COVID-19 would be viewed under the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act (SCWCA). We are learning more about COVID-19 on a moment-by moment basis, and our team is committed to staying abreast of the legal implications as this novel issue evolves. If you have specific COVID-19 questions, we strongly encourage you to reach out to a member of our team to discuss your claim individually. While COVID-19 is a novel and evolving issue, below are some general insights based on the information currently available.

What is Not an Occupational Disease

  • Chapter 11 of the SCWCA governs compensability as it relates to occupational diseases, as well as...

We hope that you, your colleagues and loved ones are well. If you are struggling with a legal, business, or personal problem that we can help with please let us know. Fear is the belief that the future is dismal, and faith is the belief in a bright future. Our Alternative Dispute Resolution attorneys understand that we are in uncharted and perilous waters. However, we believe that the future of ADR is bright and that our country and legal system will emerge from this crisis stronger from the lessons learned. In the meantime, we recognize that both lawyers and litigants need to have their cases resolved. We are also acutely aware of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking not only on our daily lives, but on this...

We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Over the weekend, the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission made the decision to suspend all live hearings until May 1, 2020 in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Further, in response to Governor McMaster’s Executive Order issued on March 19, 2020, the Commission will be closed to the public until further notice. The Commission will continue operating with minimal staff on-site and the remainder of the staff working from home. For your convenience, please click this Advisory Notice to be taken directly to the Commission’s latest Advisory Notice. Notably, the filing requirements outlined by the Commission will remain in place until further notice....

COVID-19 Action Plan

April 17, 2020

To Our Valued Clients & Business Partners: We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic has created questions and concerns for our colleagues and business partners around the world. We are writing today to assure you that Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is committed to providing our clients with uninterrupted, high-quality legal service in a safe environment. In response to the evolving pandemic:

  • We established a COVID-19 Response Team, which includes the firm’s Executive Committee, the partners-in-charge of each GWB office, and senior leadership from the firm’s administrative departments (Operations, Finance, HR and IT).
  • We continue to monitor the latest information and guidance from the Centers for Disease...

Partner Breon Walker will be recognized as a 2020 Honoree of the South Carolina Leadership in Law award hosted by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly. The Leadership in Law event recognizes attorneys from across the Palmetto State who have achieved success in their law practice, made contributions to society and had an impact on the legal profession. A top Lawyer of the Year award will be selected out of the class of honorees and revealed the night of the event - Friday, March 13, 2020. Walker has a diverse legal practice which includes the defense of personal injury claims, products liability defense, commercial litigation, and government relations. Breon has years of trial experience in state and appellate courts dating...

Gallivan White Boyd congratulates two partners of the firm on their selection to become Riley Fellows. Janice Holmes (Columbia, SC) and Stuart Mauney (Greenville, SC) join other leaders selected from across the state to participate in the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI). Holmes is a member of the thirteenth DLI class in the Midlands, and Mauney will be a member of the twenty-ninth DLI class in the Upstate.

“Discovering ways in which differences can strengthen our organizations is of utmost importance as we seek to grow and support a thriving economy and rich culture,” said Dr. Donald Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute.

DLI class members are identified through a rigorous...

Three Gallivan White Boyd Attorneys Elected Partner

Columbia, S.C. – January 30, 2020

Gallivan White Boyd is pleased to announce that three attorneys were chosen to become partners, Drew Bradshaw and Amity Edmonds in Greenville, South Carolina and Jessica Waller Laffitte in Columbia.

Drew Bradshaw

Bradshaw’s practice includes all aspects of civil litigation at both the state and federal level. He places a particular emphasis on transportation litigation in the railroad and trucking industries, products liability litigation, and toxic and mass torts.

Amity S. Edmonds

Edmonds focuses her practice on workers’ compensation defense. She represents employers, insurers, self-insured entities, and third-party administrators defending an array of workers’ compensation issues. Edmonds represents...

A Practical Guide to Avoiding the Pitfalls of a Rule 30(b)(6) Deposition

Christopher M. Kelly | The Transportation Lawyer

Rule 30(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure was envisioned to be a rule which empowered litigants to control the costs and time expended and litigation and messaging. Historically, the rule was developed to avoid unnecessary costs of litigation due to corporate witnesses who had some but not all information being sought. The cases which discuss the rule note that it was not uncommon for individual officers and employees to disclaim knowledge of facts “clearly” known to the corporation forcing litigants to depose a laundry list of corporate officials to obtain necessary information related to the dispute. The rule was intended to streamline the discovery process by allowing a unique and specialized form of...

Find an Attorney: