Opinion
2018-MO-040
12-12-2018
Ex Parte: John Hughes Cooper, Appellant, v. Bessie Huckabee, Kay Passailaigue Slade, and Sandra Byrd, Respondents. In Re: Betty Fisher and Lisa Fisher, Plaintiffs, Appellate Case No. 2018-000662
Barbara Marie Seymour, of Clawson & Staubes, LLC, of Columbia, for Appellant. Warren W. Wills III, of the Law Office of W. Westbrook II, of Folly Beach, and Jessica Lynn Crowley, of Crowley Law Firm, LLC, of Charleston, for Respondents.
THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.
Heard November 28, 2018
Appeal From Charleston County Thomas L. Hughston, Jr., Circuit Court Judge
Barbara Marie Seymour, of Clawson & Staubes, LLC, of Columbia, for Appellant.
Warren W. Wills III, of the Law Office of W. Westbrook II, of Folly Beach, and Jessica Lynn Crowley, of Crowley Law Firm, LLC, of Charleston, for Respondents.
PER CURIAM
John Hughes Cooper was held jointly and severally liable for a sanctions award in the amount of $170, 623.68 in attorneys' fees under the South Carolina Frivolous Civil Proceedings Sanctions Act (FCPSA) and Rule 11, SCACR, in connection with his representation of Lisa and Betty Fisher in cases involving the estate of Alice Shaw-Baker. We have painstakingly reviewed the record and find there is no evidence to support an award of sanctions or a finding of misconduct against Cooper. We therefore reverse all judgments against Cooper pursuant to Rule 220(b)(1), SCACR. This case is concluded.
See S.C. Code Ann. §§ 15-36-10 to -100 (Supp. 2018).
REVERSED.
BEATTY, C.J., KITTREDGE, HEARN, FEW and JAMES, JJ., concur.