Turner Padget Selected by Benchmark Litigation
October 24, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – October 24, 2012 – Turner Padget Graham & Laney has been named one of five highly recommended local litigation firms in South Carolina. Nine of our shareholders have been named Local Litigation Stars. They are Wayne Byrd, Kenny Carter, Eddie Laney, Steve Ouzts, Thom Salane, Duvall Spruill, Tim St. Clair, John Wilkerson and Drew Williams. Benchmark Litigation, the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys, made the following comments about the firm.
Turner Padget Graham & Laney is a well-established fixture on the local legal market. Founded in 1929 by a former attorney for the South Carolina Tax Commission, the firm has grown from a sole practitioner’s office to encompass a staff of more than 200 and five offices across the state. The firm has locations in strategic areas of the state, opines a client. This allows them to know the judges, the clerks of the court, and the sheriffs. This matters in South Carolina and federal courts. In addition to its headquarters in Columbia, Turner Padget has branch offices in Charleston, Florence, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach. A client praises the firm’s no-nonsense approach to litigation. The firm has a winning attitude, says a client. You want sound advice and if they think you need to eat it and settle, they will tell you the truth.
Wayne Byrd, based at the firm’s Myrtle Beach office, is noted by peers and clients for his securities and general commercial litigation practice. Wayne is just an amazing litigator, enthuses a client. He is brutal on the opposition because his is almost always smarter than the other lawyer and sees issues much faster. He gets out in front of things and drives the other lawyer crazy. Byrd obtained a direct verdict on behalf of his plaintiff client Hotel & Motel Holdings in a breach of contract case, seeking $6.45 million in damages in connection with loan guaranties. The judge has the attorney’s fees issue under advisement. Kenneth Carter, Jr. has successfully defended Ford Motors at the trial and appellate levels against alleged design defects in a model’s roof. A client sings the praises of Carter and fellow product liability litigator Andrew Williams: Carter and Williams are very knowledgeable, practical and cost conscious. As lawyers who have tried cases, they understand what need to be done to obtain a desired result and what is merely process.
