Construction defect litigation is a complex legal arena that often arises when there are issues with the design, construction, or materials used in building projects. In South Carolina, construction defect disputes can lead to lengthy legal battles with significant financial implications for all parties involved. Understanding the intricacies of construction defect litigation in South Carolina is crucial for homeowners. In this blog, we’ll delve into the key aspects of construction defect litigation in the Palmetto State. Construction defects can manifest in various forms, including structur ..read more

In the realm of legal proceedings, each decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court holds significant weight, shaping the landscape of law and setting precedents for future cases. In the marine insurance context, a primary legal issue that has been repeatedly litigated in the last few years between policy holders and insurers has been whether insurance policy provisions unilaterally selecting the law of a jurisdiction unrelated to the parties or the risk will govern disputes arising out of the insurance policy over the laws of the forum where the policy was issued, or where the loss occurred, or ..read more

Our modern society takes sexual harassment in the workplace very seriously. As maritime professionals, most mariners understand the importance of upholding integrity and respect when it comes to interacting with their co-workers. Sexual assault and harassment sometimes still occurs however, which has led to an increase in government and employer efforts to encourage reporting of conduct that is perceived as inappropriate. While these efforts on the one hand serve the public interest in deterring unwanted interactions, they can also lead to reports, accusations, and governmental action agains ..read more

Are you imagining the beauty of the sea from a more nautical perspective?  If so, chances are you may be thinking about buying a sailboat or yacht.  One thing we are willing to bet that you haven’t considered is where was the vessel built?  Well, maybe you have, but you most likely haven’t thought about import taxes and additional documentational requirements if the vessel was built outside of the United States.  Many vessels are being built abroad in places such as England, South Africa, China, and elsewhere. If you are considering purchasing a vessel that was built anywh ..read more

Effects of construction defect litigation on CONDO LOANS Condominiums have proliferated in the Charleston area over the last two decades, both through conversions and through dedicated new construction. Some of these projects seem to be plagued by construction defects that have resulted in repair assessments to unit owners and in construction defect litigation by HOAs seeking to recover for the fallout associated with the defective work on behalf of affected owners. Outstanding and potential repair assessments are often a focus of condo sales transactions. However, an often overlooked aspec ..read more

Two days ago, the first intermodal shipping container arrived at the Port of Charleston’s newest terminal, Hugh K. Leatherman (read the full article here). This momentous occasion has been foreshadowed by the South Carolina Ports Authority’s recent accomplishments including the arrivals of 15 hybrid terminal cranes on December 11, 2020 (more here), two new ship-to-shore cranes (more here), and the biggest ship to ever visit the East Coast, the 15,072-TEU CMA CGMA BRAZIL (more here). The South Carolina Ports Authority is hitting new marks as the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project moves further ..read more

Common Issues With Buying and Selling Used Boats In other articles, notably Three Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Boat, and the companion article, The Seven Deadly Sins of Boat Buying, we have discussed some of the pitfalls of buying and selling recreational boats in South Carolina. In addition to these topics, we wanted to briefly discuss today the importance of having good legal advice regarding the provisions of your purchase contract. As the prices of new and used vessels continue to climb and the risks associated with uninformed decision making in these transactions increases, we a ..read more

PROBLEMS HOMEOWNERS HAVE WITH CONTRACTORS AND THE CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION OF RESIDENTIAL HOMES Have you paid some of your hard-earned money for a new residence or a renovation only to discover that the quality of construction work is not what you envisioned or what you paid for? Do you have water entering your home through your windows, siding, or roof? Do you have framing or foundation problems causing cracks in your floors, ceiling, or walls? Has your contractor refused to repair the damage, or stopped speaking with you altogether? If this sounds familiar, you may be one of the many f ..read more

Cooper & Bilbrey, P.C. is proud to announce its participation in Charleston’s Homeless Court program, called the Homeless Justice Project. The firm provides pro bono assistance to clients that qualify for the Court program. About two years ago, the Charleston Homeless Court, located at One80 Place, was established to provide an alternative to criminal court for an individual charged with certain minor crimes when specific qualifications are met. The program provides a helping hand in addressing the underlying issues that led to a person’s homelessness and assists them in finding a perma ..read more

We are happy to participate in several South Carolina Bar free legal assistance programs. To anyone out there who is looking for free legal assistance, below are links to two different South Carolina Bar free legal assistance programs that we are proud to be participating in: Today, May 7, 2019, we are participating once again in the SC Bar Ask-A-Lawyer program from 4:00pm to 6:30 pm. The South Carolina Bar Public Services Program will once again be sponsoring Ask-A-Lawyer (AAL) TV-phone banks and web chats in Charleston today, and if you would like to call in or chat with us on the web ..read more