Advocate's Journal
Supreme Court Alters Redistricting Landscape
By Roland Franklin and Rob Tyson A recent United States Supreme Court decision significantly impacts redistricting litigation. In Alabama Legislative Black Caucus v. Alabama, No. 13-895 (slip op.) (Mar. 25, 2015), the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus (“Caucus”) and the Alabama Democratic Conference (“Conference”) challenged the lawfulness of Alabama’s 2012 redistricting plans. According to the Caucus […]
Firm News
Texas Court of Appeals – Legal Malpractice Plaintiff May Not “Fracture” Legal Malpractice Claims Into Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims
By Will Jordan Plaintiffs sued their attorneys for legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty. Texas law recognizes a “rule against fracturing a negligence claim” which “prevents legal malpractice plaintiffs from opportunistically transforming a claim that sounds only in negligence into some other claim.” As the court noted, “[i]f the gist of the client’s complaint […]
Advocate's Journal
Young v. UPS: The Supreme Court’s Clarification of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act
By Will Jordan The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 provides that Title VII’s prohibition against sex discrimination applies to discrimination “because of or on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.” The Act requires employers to treat women affected by pregnancy the same for employment purposes “as other persons not so affected but […]
Accolades • Firm News
Sowell Gray’s Cal Watson named Lawyer of the Year by SC Lawyers Weekly
Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte, LLC, is pleased to announce that Cal Watson received the top “Lawyer of the Year” award at the seventh annual South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s 2015 Leadership in Law awards dinner held Thursday, March 12, 2015, in Charleston, SC. The Leadership in Law awards honor outstanding members of South Carolina’s legal […]
Firm News
Sowell Gray members Cundari and Watson honored at Leadership in Law awards
Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte, LLC, is pleased to announce that two of its members – Tina Cundari and Cal Watson – were honored at the South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s 2015 Leadership in Law awards dinner held Thursday, March 12, 2015, in Charleston, SC. The Leadership in Law award honors outstanding members of South Carolina’s […]
Accolades • Firm News
Sowell Gray members recognized in 2015 edition of Chambers USA
For the seventh year, law firm Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte, LLC, and four of its members have been featured in the latest edition of Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. In the publication, which has been ranking the world’s best law firms and lawyers since 1990, the Sowell Gray firm and members […]
Advocate's Journal
Effective Employment Practices: 5 Steps Employers Can Take to Avoid Liability
By Will Jordan Employers are faced with a confusing web of federal and state employment laws with which they must comply in order to avoid liability to job applicants and employees. And while it’s impossible for an employer to ensure that it will never face an employment-related lawsuit, there are some steps employers can take […]
Firm News
Lawyers serve as elected officials
President’s Day has historically been a time for us as citizens of the United States to remember and celebrate the lives and achievements of former U.S. presidents. I am proud to note that 26 (more than half) of our presidents also served their communities and clients as lawyers, bringing their unique and valuable skill sets […]
Advocate's Journal
Significant Sovereign Immunity Questions Now Answered
By Beth Richardson In a 37-page unanimous opinion, the Fourth Circuit recently answered important questions regarding sovereign immunity in the case of Hutto et al. v. South Carolina Retirement System et al., 773 F.3d 536 (2014). In Hutto, retirees of the state retirement system who returned to work for employers participating in the retirement system […]
Firm News • Accolades
Betsy Gray honored with TWIN award for corporate achievement
Betsy Gray was awarded the Palmetto Center for Women’s (PCW) Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) award at a luncheon held Thursday, February 5th. The TWIN awards honor women whose outstanding achievements mark them as leaders and role models in business and in the community. Since its inception in 1980, the TWIN awards have honored […]