Bunch v. USC — Court rejects COVID-19 tuition refund claims
The South Carolina Court of Appeals held that USC did not promise face-to-face instruction and that students showed no recoverable damages from the spring 2020 move online.
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Civil Procedure
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McConnell v. McConnell — Discovery dispute in contempt case is not immediately appealable
The Court of Appeals dismissed for lack of appellate jurisdiction. Orders granting or denying discovery are interlocutory and do not become immediately appealable merely because they arise in a post-divorce contempt proceeding. The panel expressly recognized the force of the husband’s argument and concern about inconsistent family-court practices, but precedent required review to wait until a final appealable order. A concurrence emphasized the need for eventual guidance on discovery in complex contempt matters.
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Hasian v. Queen — Probate fee award and conversion finding affirmed as modified
The Court of Appeals affirmed the probate and circuit court orders with a modification to the fee award. The record supported rejection of the purported will, a finding that Hasian converted estate assets, and an award of litigation expenses under the Probate Code’s authority to allocate costs as justice and equity require. The court clarified the proper legal basis and scope of recoverable fees rather than treating every requested theory as interchangeable.
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Estate of Barringer — Constructive-trust claim survives summary judgment
The South Carolina Court of Appeals revived a constructive-trust theory based on an alleged promise not to use a testamentary power of appointment to alter a family company’s voting control.
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Glassmeyer v. Lottery Commission — Court limits sweeping FOIA demands
The South Carolina Court of Appeals upheld lottery-winner privacy protections, signature redactions, and relief from FOIA requests requiring millions of dollars and thousands of staff hours.