2026 - SCAJ Convention Schedule
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
SCAJ Board of Governors Meeting
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Registration
Thursday, August 6, 2026
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Registration
8:00 a.m.
Coffee Break
9:00 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
CONCURRENT SEMINARS
Legal Tech Seminar
Liam D. Duffy, Esq., Chairperson
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Netradyne & Fleet Management Technology: How Advanced Driver Surveillance Can Reveal Basic System Failures
Alexandra N. Heaton, Esq., Charleston, SC
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
AI Masterclass for Lawyers
S. Randall Hood, Esq., Rock Hill, SC
9:00 a.m.
Coffee Break
Employment Law Seminar
Julius W Babb, IV, Esq., Chairperson
11:00 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.
Clock In, Cash Out: Successful Intake and Issue-Spotting in Wage & Hour Cases
Ashley L. Falls, Esq., Charleston, SC
Joseph S. Falls, Esq., Charleston, SC
11:35 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.
Teacher Employment and Dismissal Act (TEDA)
Emmanuel J. Ferguson, Esq., Charleston, SC
12:05 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Lessons from an Employment Trial
Shannon Polvi, Esq., Columbia, SC
Chance Sturup, Esq., Columbia, SC
9:45 a.m.
Coffee Break
Social Security Seminar
Stacy E. Thompson, Esq., Chairperson
11:00 a.m. - 12:45 a.m.
Coming Soon
Criminal Law Seminar
Judah N. VanSyckel, Esq., Chairperson
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Statehouse Update
Rep. Micajah Pickett Caskey, IV, West Columbia, SC
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Case Law Update
The Honorable Frank R. Addy, Jr., S.C. Circuit Court, Greenwood, SC
12:00 p.m. - 12:20 p.m.
Interplay Between State and Federal Sentencing
The Honorable Christopher Dolan Taylor, Columbia, SC
12:20 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
It’s Not Like Riding a Bicycle – A Refresher on Evidence for Practitioners
Judge Joseph Anderson
10:00 a.m.
Coffee Break
12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Lunch On Your Own
Medical Negligence Seminar
William C. Lewis, Esq., Chairperson
1:45 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.
Lessons from Recent Med Mal Trials (Panel Discussion)
The Honorable Daniel M. Coble, Columbia, SC
James B. “Boo” Moore III, Esq., Georgetown, SC
Francis M. “Brink” Hinson IV, Esq., Columbia, SC
2:35 p.m. - 3:25 p.m.
The FTCA: What Is There Not to Love About Federal Court, No Juries and Government Lawyers?
Brewster Rawls, Esq., Richmond, VA
3:25 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Med Mal Mediations -- Persuade, Don't Regurgitate
William B. “Kip” Darwin Jr., Esq., Spartanburg, SC
Karl A. Folkens, Esq., Florence, SC
Darren K. Sanders, Esq., Mt. Pleasant, SC
1:45 p.m.
Refreshment Break
Family Law Seminar
Bryan W. Braddock, Esq., Chairperson
1:45 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.
Is the Tide Changing with Respect to Alimony?
The Honorable C. Vance Stricklin, Jr., S.C. Family Court, Columbia, SC
Pete Currence, Esq., Columbia, SC
2:20 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.
Case Law Update
Greg R. Steele, Esq., Anderson, SC
2:35 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.
Parental Alienation in Family Court: Warning Signs and Evidence-Informed Interventions
Davis Henderson, PhD, Mt Pleasant, SC
3:10 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Family Law Issued Under the Copper Dome
Representative Cody T. Mitchell, Hartsville, SC
3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Family Court Update: Where We Are and Where We Are Heading
The Honorable Letitia H. Verdin, SC Supreme Court, Columbia, SC
2:15 p.m.
Refreshment Break
Workers’ Compensation Seminar
Gerald E. Reardon, Esq., Chairperson
1:45 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.
3rd Party Cases and Lien Evaluations
William Thomas "Tom" Bacon IV, Esq., Beaufort, SC
2:10 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.
Dependency Investigations-When are They Needed and How to Help
Andrew N. Poliakoff, Esq., Spartanburg, SC
2:35 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
SC Motions Practice- Change is Here!
Peter P. Leventis IV, Esq., Columbia, SC
3:00 p.m. - 3:25 p.m.
IMES--Pros, Cons, and How to Persuade the Commission
Nicholas Skorzewski, Esq., Columbia, SC
3:25 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.
Insider Tips From the Dark Side
Kelly Morrow, Esq., Columbia, SC
3:50 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Workers' Compensation Commissioners Roundtable
2:45 p.m.
Refreshment Break
Young Lawyers Seminar
Jamie Rutkoski, Esq., Chairperson
4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Tobacco to TikTok: Designed to Addict
Jade Haileselassie, Esq., Charleston, SC
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
SCAJ Annual Business Meeting
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Women’s and Minority Caucus Reception
9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Welcoming Reception
Ashley W. Creech, Esq., President
Kevin R. Dean, Esq., President Elect
Friday, August 7, 2026
8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Registration
8:00 a.m.
Coffee and Danish - Compliments of The Hilton
Litigation at Sunrise – A One Day Seminar in One Hour
Justin S. Kahn, Esq., Moderator
7:45 a.m. - 7:55 a.m.
TBD
Tom A. Killoren, Jr., Esq., Spartanburg, SC
7:55 a.m. - 8:05 a.m.
TBD
Robert V. Phillips, Esq., Rock Hill, SC
8:05 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
Don’t Get Burned on the Way Out: Ethical Withdrawal and Post-Withdrawal Disclosure Duties
Thomas A. Pendarvis, Esq., Beaufort, SC
8:15 a.m. - 8:25 a.m.
TBD
Wes B. Allison, Esq, Charleston, SC
8:25 a.m. - 8:35 a.m.
Serving Justice, Not Power
Ellis I. Kahn, Esq., Charleston SC
8:35 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Rules Update
Justin S. Kahn, Esq., Charleston, SC
10:00 a.m.
Coffee Break
Torts & Negligence Seminar
Mark J. Bringardner, Esq., Chairperson
8:50 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.
Credibility Wins: Authenticity, Connection, and What Tik Tok Teaches About Persuasion
Ashley W. Creech, Esq., Rock Hill, SC
9:20 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.
Trial Ready Systems and Processes
Kyle J. White, Esq., Anderson, SC
9:50 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
TBD
TBD
10:20 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.
Tying Bad Conduct to Big Damages
Kenneth E. Berger, Esq., Columbia, SC
10:50 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Effective Ways to Obtain and Present Vehicle Data at Trial
Ronnie L. Crosby, Esq., Hampton, SC
11:20 a.m.
Coffee Break
Ethics Seminar
Brian M. Barnwell, Esq., Chairperson
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
AI in the Courtroom
The Honorable Daniel M. Coble, Columbia, SC
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Advertising
Robert F. Goings, Esq., Columbia, SC
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Mental Health/Drug and Alcohol CLE Talk
TBD
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Beach Games
8:30 p.m. - Midnight
BAND PARTY - Live Band - Finesse Band
Saturday, August 8, 2026
8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Coffee with the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Commissioners, South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commissioners
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
SCAJ Gala Breakfast – Enjoy the camaraderie of fellow attendees at this casual hearty breakfast that has become a true highlight of the Annual Convention. Compliments of our Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver Sponsors
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Awards and Portrait Presentation
1:30 p.m.
Pickleball Tournament – Compliments of KD Trial Lawyers
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
The Judicial Reception honoring all members of the Judiciary