Home / News

News

  • Matthew O. Riddle and Gaillard T. Dotterer, III recently obtained summary judgment on behalf of their clients, a residential real estate agent and brokerage. The Plaintiff home buyers alleged that the sellers’ agent and brokerage knew or should have known of latent defective conditions on the property, and did not disclose these conditions to the Plaintiffs before closing. The sellers had originally purchased the property out of foreclosure. They made certain repairs, renovations, and upgrades with the assistance of a building contractor. The sellers then listed the property and sold it to the Plaintiffs. The same agent represented the sellers in their original purchase of the home and when they listed it, but the agent was not involved at all in the sellers’ renovations to the home.

    The court found that there was no evidence to support the Plaintiffs’ claims against the listing agent for negligent misrepresentation and violation of the South Carolina Residential Property Condition Disclosure Act. Specifically, the court concluded that the Plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the agent made a false representation or breached any duty owed to the Plaintiffs, and as to whether the Plaintiffs justifiably relied on any alleged representation of the listing agent. The court also concluded that, because the Plaintiffs’ negligent misrepresentation claim failed, their claim under the Residential Property Condition Disclosure Act also failed as a matter of law, despite alleged inaccuracies in a condition disclosure statement completed by the sellers.  The Plaintiffs were seeking damages in excess of $400,000.00.

  • Clement Rivers, LLP is honored to announce that our law firm has received a Tier 1 Ranking in the 2022 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”. This Tier 1 ranking was determined from the firm’s overall evaluation, which was derived from a combination of factors including clients’ feedback and the high regard that lawyers in other firms in the same practice areas have for the firm.

  • Clement Rivers, LLP is pleased to announce that Wilbur E. Johnson was recognized as the 2022 Charleston, South Carolina Labor Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year.” Only a single lawyer in each practice area in the community is honored with the “Lawyer of the Year” award.

  • The following Clement Rivers, LLP attorneys have been selected as part of the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©:
    • C. Michael Branham: Trusts and Estates
    • Stephen L. Brown: Litigation – Construction & Litigation – Insurance
    • D. Jay Davis, Jr: Commercial Litigation
    • Carol B. Ervin: Employment Law – Management & Litigation – Labor and Employment
    • Duke R. Highfield: Litigation – Insurance & Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
    • Wallace G. Holland: Workers Compensation Law – Employers
    • Wilbur E. Johnson: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, & Litigation – Labor and Employment
    • Michael A. Molony: Administrative, Insurance & Regulatory Law
    • F. Drake Rogers III: Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers

    The following Clement Rivers, LLP attorneys have been selected as part of the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch©:
    • Stephen A. Griffith: Insurance Law & Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

  • The following Clement Rivers, LLP attorneys have been selected as part of the 2021 edition of Super Lawyers©:

  • D. Jay Davis, Jr. and James D. Gandy successfully defended a long term care facility in a premises liability matter during the week of April 26, 2021.  This was one of the early post COVID-19 civil jury trials since the South Carolina Supreme Court restarted civil jury trials on April 5, 2021.  The jury was selected in an open air gymnasium and the jury heard the case with COVID-19 protections in place.

  • Clement Rivers, LLP is pleased to announce Stephen A. Griffith, Jr. has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney.  Prior to joining Clement Rivers, LLP, Stephen practiced with a civil litigation firm in Charleston, South Carolina.  He has broad mediation and trial experience.  He’s listed in Best Lawyer’s One’s to Watch in 2021.  He will practice with the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Appellate Practice Group.

  • (January 6, 2021) – The Partnership of Clement Rivers, LLP is pleased to announce its new name:  Clement Rivers, LLP.  The name honors the memory and legacy of two of the law firm’s founding partners, the late Robert L. Clement, Jr. and the late G. L. Buist Rivers, Jr.

    “Bob” Clement and “Buist” Rivers both played pivotal roles in the founding of the modern version of the law firm.  “Their approach to the practice of law, and the notion of the law firm as a member of the broader community, still resonates with us today and continues to serve as guiding principles for the members of the firm,” said Wilbur E. Johnson, Clement Rivers’ Managing Partner.

    With a history that dates back to the 1850s, Clement Rivers has taken great pride in delivering quality legal services, with integrity.  Although the name of the firm is changing, the dedication of its attorneys and staff will certainly remain the same.  Clients and friends of the firm have counted on Clement Rivers for its legal services and public service contributions throughout the years, and those commitments on the part of the firm will not change.

    “Our relationships with the citizens of the greater Charleston area have sustained us through the good times and times of challenge,” Johnson added.  “We want to celebrate our history, as well as our pride in where we live and work.  We look forward to the opportunity, as Clement Rivers, to continue to share time, talent and treasure with the community.”

    About Clement Rivers

    Clement Rivers, LLP has more than 40 attorneys based in Charleston, South Carolina, who also provide services out of a Columbia, SC location. With roots dating back to the 1850s, Clement Rivers provides a full range of legal services to businesses and individuals in Charleston, the tri-county area, and across the state and region. The firm is a proud member of ALFA International, the global legal network.

  • Clement Rivers, LLP is pleased to announce that Kara S. Grevey has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney. Prior to joining Clement Rivers, LLP, Kara practiced with a civil litigation firm in Charleston, South Carolina, where she primarily handled business disputes, medical malpractice, personal injury, class action, and other complex litigation matters.  She has broad mediation and trial experience, and she was honored to be selected to the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyer’s Division Leadership Academy, Class of 2020.  She primarily will practice with the Professional Liability Practice Group.

  • Clement Rivers, LLP is proud to announce that Stephanie N. Ramia and W. Siau Barr, Jr. were recently promoted to the position of partner. Stephanie practices primarily with the firm’s Employment and Labor Law practice group. Siau practices primarily in the areas of Commercial Transactions, Business Law, and Real Estate Litigation.  Join us in congratulating both Stephanie and Siau!