COVID-19 Updates

DRI for Life Does the COVID-19 pandemic have you bouncing off the walls at home? Compliance with a “stay-at- home” order. Social distancing. Inability to visit with family or friends. Restaurants closed. Yes, you do need a haircut! For me, cancellation of March Madness and postponement of The Masters golf tournament. The death, the hurt, the unemployment. We are all grieving in our own way—grieving the loss of normalcy, grieving the economic loss, grieving the loss of connection. How do we handle this discomfort, this grief? As a volunteer for the South Carolina Bar Lawyers Helping Lawyers program, and as a mental health advocate, I have read countless articles on lawyers and mental health. As a result, I...

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission has extended the suspension of live in-person hearings until May 15, 2020. At this time, Commissioners’ dockets will continue to be managed in the best manner possible using Court Call, telephone, and other electronic methods on a case-by-case basis and at the Commissioners’ discretion. All pleadings, motions, settlements, and other claim-related documents which cannot be submitted electronically must be submitted to the Commission by the US Postal Service. While it is our understanding all settlement conferences will continue to be held telephonically, the Commission plans to readdress its policies regarding how these...

Understandably, our clients have questions and concerns regarding how COVID-19 would be viewed under the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act (SCWCA). We are learning more about COVID-19 on a moment-by moment basis, and our team is committed to staying abreast of the legal implications as this novel issue evolves. If you have specific COVID-19 questions, we strongly encourage you to reach out to a member of our team to discuss your claim individually. While COVID-19 is a novel and evolving issue, below are some general insights based on the information currently available.

What is Not an Occupational Disease

• Chapter 11 of the SCWCA governs compensability as it relates to occupational diseases, as well as...

We hope that you, your colleagues and loved ones are well. If you are struggling with a legal, business, or personal problem that we can help with please let us know. Fear is the belief that the future is dismal, and faith is the belief in a bright future. Our Alternative Dispute Resolution attorneys understand that we are in uncharted and perilous waters. However, we believe that the future of ADR is bright and that our country and legal system will emerge from this crisis stronger from the lessons learned. In the meantime, we recognize that both lawyers and litigants need to have their cases resolved. We are also acutely aware of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking not only on our daily lives, but on this...

We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Over the weekend, the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission made the decision to suspend all live hearings until May 1, 2020 in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Further, in response to Governor McMaster’s Executive Order issued on March 19, 2020, the Commission will be closed to the public until further notice. The Commission will continue operating with minimal staff on-site and the remainder of the staff working from home. For your convenience, please click this Advisory Notice to be taken directly to the Commission’s latest Advisory Notice. Notably, the filing requirements outlined by the Commission will remain in place until further notice....

To Our Valued Clients & Business Partners: We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic has created questions and concerns for our colleagues and business partners around the world. We are writing today to assure you that Gallivan White Boyd (GWB) is committed to providing our clients with uninterrupted, high-quality legal service in a safe environment. In response to the evolving pandemic:

• We established a COVID-19 Response Team, which includes the firm’s Executive Committee, the partners-in-charge of each GWB office, and senior leadership from the firm’s administrative departments (Operations, Finance, HR and IT).
• We continue to monitor the latest information and guidance from the Centers for Disease...