2024 SCAJ Annual Convention Schedule
The team at the South Carolina Association for Justice is lining up a variety of CLE seminars covering a range of timely and relevant topics for legal professionals. These are the topics currently in place. We will update the schedule here as topics and speakers are finalized.
Wednesday, July 31
3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
SCAJ Board of Governors Meeting
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Registration
Thursday, August 1
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
Computer Technology Seminar -
Kenneth E. Berger, Esq., Chairperson
(J & West Hall)
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Digital Advocacy: Tech-Savvy Tips for Improving Case Value & Enhancing Evidence Presentations
Liam D. Duffy, Esq., Charleston, SC
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Artificial Intelligence
Jakob K. Norman, Esq., Trial Lawyers for Justice
9:00 a.m.
Coffee
Employment Law Seminar
J. Paul Porter, Esq., Chairperson
(DEF)
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
What is My Case Worth? A Case Valuation Study
James Paul Porter, Esq.,
Columbia, SC
9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
The Facts and The Furious: Navigating McDonald Douglas Frameworks
Samantha Albrecht, Esq.,
Goose Creek, SC
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the Client Assistance Program
Amanda Hess, Esq., Disability Rights South Carolina, Inc.,
Columbia, SC
10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
SC ELL Case Law Update
Elizabeth Millender, Esq., and Aaron Wallace, Esq., Columbia, SC
9:45 a.m.
Coffee
Consumer Securities and Real Estate and Construction Seminar
Graham L. Newman, Esq., John C. Hayes, IV, Esq., Chairpersons
(J & West Hall)
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Panel Discussion
John C. Hayes, IV, Esq. Charleston, SC
James T. H. Buxton, Esq. Mt. Pleasant, SC
The Honorable William A. McKinnon, S.C. Circuit Court,
Rock Hill, SC
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
The Bad Actors of Bitcoin: Consumer Fraud in the Digital Age
Graham L. Newman, Esq. and Dave A. Maxfield, Esq.,
Columbia, SC
Social Security Seminar
Stacy E. Thompson, Esq., Chairperson
(GHI)
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
TDIU – Where Social Security and VA Disability Intertwine
Tim Mercer, Esq.,
Columbia, SC
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Code of Conduct & Incapacitated Claimants – Ethical Issues for the Social Security representative
Stacy Elizabeth Thompson, Esq.,
Columbia, SC
Criminal Law Seminar
Patrick McLaughlin, Esq., Chairperson
(A, B, C, & East Hall)
11:00 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.
Weaponizing Prosecution:
Prosecutorial Misconduct Mistake or Malice
Catherine Anderson Wyse, Esq.,
Seneca, SC
11:35 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.
Discovery, Duties, and Defending Sloppy Investigations
Aimee Zmroczek,
Columbia, SC
12:10 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Ethics: Doing the Right Thing Even When No One is Working
Susan Williams, Esq.,
Summerville, SC
10:00 a.m.
Coffee
12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Lunch On Your Own
Medical Negligence Seminar
Lee D. Cope, Esq., Chairperson
(GHI)
1:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Hiding in Plain Sight: How to Spot Mass and Class Cases in Your Med Malpractice
James L. Ward, Jr., Esq.,
Mt. Pleasant, SC
and Julia Flumian, Esq., Mt. Pleasant, SC
2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
How to Determine Staff Numbers and Use That to Your Advantage in Nursing Home Litigation
Stefan B. Feidler, Esq.,
Charleston, SC
2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Chiropractic Malpractice: Snap, Crackle, Pop
John Eric Fulda, Esq.,
Columbia, SC
3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
How to Prove Liability in Unwitnessed Fall Cases Involving Elder Abuse and Neglect
Bradley H. Banyas, Esq.,
Mt. Pleasant, SC
3:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect – Evaluation of Potential Claims
Jennifer S. Burnett, Esq.,
Anderson, SC
Family Law Seminar
Ashby Lawton Jones, Esq., Chairperson
(A, B,C, & East Hall)
1:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
How Do You Know When to Hire a Forensic Accountant? And What Do You Do NEXT?
Lauren McCarthy, CPA, ABV,
Charleston, SC
2:15 p.m.
Refreshments
2:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Concerns About the State of Foster Care, from a Plaintiff’s Lawyer’s Perspective
Heather Hite Stone, Esq.,
Abbeville, SC
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Protecting Your Client in the Event of an Appeal
Scarlet Bell Moore, Esq.,
Greenville, SC
3:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.
New and Persisting Challenges Facing Guardians Ad Litem
Stephen Schaeffer Meyer, Esq.,
Bluffton, SC
3:50 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
What Great Lawyers do Best: The Court’s Top 10 Practices of Every Family Court Lawyer
The Honorable Ernest Joseph Jarrett, Kingstree, SC
Workers’ Compensation Seminar
Gerald E. Reardon, Esq., Chairperson
(J & West Hall)
1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Multistate Jurisdiction—Where Should a Claimant File --SC, NC, or GA?
Vernon R. Sumwalt, Jr., Esq., Charlotte, NC; Richard J. Smith, Esq., Greenville, SC; Leland M. Malchow, Esq., Augusta, GA
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Third Party Liens—How to Protect Your Client and Save Your Settlement
James C. Sproat, Esq., Greer, SC; Peter P. Leventis, IV, Esq., Columbia, SC
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Claim or No Claim? Winner or Loser?
Ramie S. Shalabi, Esq., Columbia, SC; Gerald E. Reardon, Esq., Columbia, SC
3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Commissioner Roundtable
Workers’ Compensation Commissioners
2:45 p.m.
Refreshments
4:00 p.m.
Refreshments
Young Lawyers Seminar -
Liam D. Duffy, Esq., Chairperson
(GHI)
4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Why This Work Matters: How Trial Lawyers Serve the Greater Good
Robert G. Rikard, Esq., Columbia, SC
4:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Striking Out on Your Own Without Striking Out: Starting a New Firm
Scott Christopher Evans, Esq. and
James B. Moore, III, Georgetown, 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
Thomas A. Killoren Jr., Esq., President
Sydney J. Lynn, Esq., President Elect
Friday, August 2
8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Registration
8:00 a.m.
Coffee and Danish – Compliments of The Hilton
9:00 a.m.
Coffee Break
Litigation at Sunrise – A One Day Seminar in One Hour -
Justin S. Kahn, Esq., Moderator
(G,H,I,J, & West Hall)
7:45 a.m. - 7:55 a.m.
Amazon - Delivering Justice
Alex Heaton, Esq., Charleston, SC
7:55 a.m. - 8:05 a.m.
EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF RULE 30(b)(6) DEPOSITIONS
Ellis I. Kahn, Esq., Charleston, SC
8:05 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
Lessons Learned
Kenneth E. Berger, Esq., Columbia, SC
8:15 a.m. - 8:25 a.m.
Guarding the Gate: Navigating Lawyer Confidentiality in
Online Legal Communities
Thomas A. Pendarvis, Esq., Beaufort, SC
8:25 a.m. - 8:35 a.m.
Keep the Talent Happy: Tips for Helping Your Expert
Witness Shine
Wes B. Allison, Esq., Charleston, SC
8:35 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Rules Update
Justin S. Kahn, Esq., Charleston, SC
10:00 a.m.
Coffee
Torts & Negligence Seminar -
Mark J. Bringardner, Esq., Chairperson
(G, H, I,J, & West Hall)
8:50 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.
The Baseball Rule
Tom A. Killoren, Jr., Esq., Spartanburg, SC
9:20 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.
Strategies for Maximizing UIM Recoveries
Richard A. Hricik, Esq., Charleston, SC
9:50 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
Civil Hacks: Simple Hiccups to Avoid that will Make a BIG Impact!
The Honorable Diane S. Goodstein, St. George, SC
10:20 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.
Branding (and Rebranding) of a Client and Hot Takes from a Former Trucking Insurance Defense Attorney
Megan M. Early-Soppa, Esq., Greenville, SC
10:50 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Representing Boeing Whistleblowers and Navigating a Media Firestorm
Robert M. Turkewitz, Esq., Charleston, SC
11:20 a.m.
Coffee
Ethics Seminar:
Peter Protopapas, Esq., Chairperson
(G, H, I,J, & West Hall)
11:30 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.
Why Did You Post That?
Legal Ethics and Social Media
Robert T. Bonds, Esq; and John T. Mobley, Esq., Columbia, SC
12:10 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.
The Landscape of "Access to Justice" Initiatives: How SCAJ Can be a Part of the Solution while Maintaining Professional Independence in South Carolina
Kenneth E. Berger, Esq., Columbia, SC and Mark Bringardner, Esq. Charleston, SC
12:50 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
When Overwhelm is the Norm: How Can Lawyers Stay Healthy and Reasonably Happy?
Beth Padgett, Columbia, SC
BAND PARTY - J. Edward “Punky” Holler Band Party – Featuring Men of Distinction
Saturday, August 3
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, The Honorable Donald C. Coggins, Jr.
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
7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Burgers and Brew – Compliments of Knie and Shealy
A special “thank you” to Frank L. Eppes, Convention Chair and Pamela R. Mullis CLE Chair, for all of their hard work.
QUALIFYING FOR 12 CLE CREDITS • INCLUDING 2 ETHIC HOUR