This Week in South Carolina: In Session provides you with the information you need to navigate the South Carolina General Assembly during the legislative session. Each edition provides a snapshot of the legislative day with meeting schedules, agendas, news and other resources in one place.
Watch daily legislative recaps live at 7 p.m., on SCETV’s Facebook, YouTube and reporter Gavin Jackson's Twitter.
LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE
Senate
The Senate gavels in at 2 p.m. Watch live here. Calendar. Journal.
House
The House is off this week for spring recess.
Senate meeting schedule:
9:00 a.m., Judiciary Subcommittee on S.527, Gressette Room 308, agenda, watch
9:00 a.m., Finance Committee Budget Deliberations on S.828, H.4950 and H.4951, Gressette Room 105, agenda, watch
10:00 a.m., L.C.I. Commerce Subcommittee on S.797, Gressette Room 307, agenda
2:00 p.m., Senate, State House, Senate Chamber, watch
CANCELED 9:30 a.m., Finance Health and Human Services Subcommittee on S.729 and S.963, Gressette Room 207, agenda
CANCELED 9:30 a.m., Judiciary Subcommittee, Gressette Room 209, agenda
CANCELED 10:00 a.m., Education Committee, Gressette Room 308, agenda
EXECUTIVE
4:30 p.m. Gov. Henry McMaster and Mrs. McMaster will host the annual Easter egg hunt at the Governor’s Mansion, 800 Richland Street, Columbia, S.C.
SUPREME COURT
09:30 a.m.
Case Title: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Gilliam Construction Company Inc., Respondents, v. Eagle Windows & Doors, Inc., Petitioner.
Attorneys: G. Dana Sinkler, of Wadmalaw Island and Ainsley Fisher Tillman, of Charleston, for Petitioner. Jason M. Imhoff and Ginger D. Goforth, both of The Ward Law Firm, of Spartanburg, for Respondents.
Summary: The Court reviews the court of appeals' decision concerning two issues: whether Petitioner Eagle Windows & Doors, Inc., was a mere continuation of its bankrupt predecessor corporation, thereby subjecting it to liability for its predecessor's allegedly defective windows; and whether Petitioner abandoned the issue of Respondent Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company's alleged failure to prove a manufacturing or design defect.
10:00 a.m.
Case Title: Randy Horton, Petitioner, v. Jasper County School District, Respondent.
Attorneys: James Ashley Twombley, of Twenge & Twombley, LLC, of Beaufort, for Petitioner. David T. Duff and David N. Lyon, both of Duff & Childs, L.L.C., of Columbia, for Respondent.
Summary: The Court granted Randy Horton's petition for a writ of certiorari to review the court of appeals decision in Randy Horton v. Jasper County School District, Op. No. 2016-UP-151 (S.C. Ct. App. filed Mar. 30, 2016). The issue deals with whether the circuit court awarded an appropriate amount of attorney's fees after Horton won his declaratory judgment action under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.
10:30 a.m.
Case Title: Palmetto Mortuary Transport, Inc., Petitioner, v. Knight Systems, Inc. and Robert L. Knight, Respondents.
Attorneys: John J. Pringle, Jr. and Lyndey Ritz Zwingelberg, both of Adams and Reese LLP, of Columbia, for Petitioner. Reginald I. Lloyd, of the Lloyd Law Firm LLC, of Camden and James Edward Bradley, of Moore Taylor Law Firm, P.A., of West Columbia, for Respondents.
Summary: Petitioner brought suit against Respondents alleging Respondents breached an asset purchase agreement executed in connection with the sale of Respondents' mortuary transport business to Petitioner. A special referee found Respondents breached the contract by violating a non-compete covenant and violating an exclusive sales provision in the agreement. Respondents appealed, and the court of appeals reversed and remanded. Palmetto Mortuary Transp., Inc. v. Knight Sys., Inc., 416 S.C. 427, 786 S.E.2d 588 (Ct. App. 2016). Petitioner filed a petition for a writ of certiorari, which the Court granted. Petitioner argues the court of appeals erred in reversing the special referee's decision upholding a non-compete covenant on the ground that the 150-mile territorial restriction was unreasonable.
Case No: 2015-002360
Hearing Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Supreme Court Courtroom
Time Limits: 15-15-5
Case Title: The State, Respondent, v. Lamar Sequan Brown, Petitioner.
Attorneys: Appellate Defender David Alexander, of Columbia, for Petitioner. Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson and Assistant Attorney General William M. Blitch, Jr., both of Columbia and Solicitor Scarlett Anne Wilson, of Charleston, for Respondent.
Summary: The Court considers whether the circuit court properly admitted information acquired from the warrantless search of a cellphone
NEWS
1 Liquor Bill Split 6 Ways South Carolina Lede
SCE&G could cut electric rates at least 13 percent without going bankrupt, new study finds The Post and Courier
Emails: Santee Cooper lobbyists tried to thwart governor's plans to sell utility The State
Santee Cooper leaders defy S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster in fighting efforts to sell utility The Post and Courier
Does a shorter session mean fewer new laws in South Carolina? We will find out in May Greenville News
SC governor candidate Marguerite Willis chooses Sen. John Scott as running mate Greenville News
Democratic candidate for governor Marguerite Willis names state Sen. John Scott as running mate The Post and Courier
School Official Accused of Offensive Remarks on Black People Associated Press
Lindsey Graham on anti-Second Amendment Supreme Court justice: 'I am very glad he is now retired' The Post and Courier
Legislature: Bill to resolve county line error advances Coastal Observer
Episodes of This Week In South Carolina
RESOURCES
Find your representative and senator
South Carolina Judicial Department