Erickson v. Winner

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR. THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA In The Supreme Court Linda Erickson, Plaintiff, Karen Winner, The Justice Seekers, Inc., Domestic Court Reform Movement, John Hill, Natalie Short n/k/a Natalie Brabant, Patricia Beal, Carl Beal, Kayla Keenan, Ernie Weaver, and Terry Wheatley, Individually and on behalf of the State of South Carolina Guardian Ad Litem Program, Defendants. and Alvin C. Biggs, Plaintiff v. Karen Winner, The Justice Seekers, Inc., Domestic Court Reform Movement, Patricia Beal, Carl Beal, and Natalie Short, Defendants, Of whom Linda Erickson is Respondent/Appellant, Alvin C. Biggs is Appellant, Patricia Beal, Carl Beal, Ernie Weaver, and John Hill are Appellants/Respondents, and Natalie Short n/k/a Natalie Brabant is Respondent. Appeal from Charleston County J. C. Nicholson, Jr., Circuit Court Judge Memorandum Opinion No. 2010-MO-006 Heard February 3, 2010 – Filed March 1, 2010 AFFIRMED IN PART; VACATED IN PART Russell S. Stemke, of Island Law Offices, of Isle of Palms, for Appellant Biggs and Respondent/Appellant Erickson. Eugene P. Corrigan, III and Laura C. Waring, both Grimball & Cabaniss, of Charleston; Chalmers Carey Johnson, of Tacoma, Washington, John K. Blincow, Jr., of Turner, Padget, Graham & Laney, Stephanie Pendarvis McDonald, of Senn, McDonald & Leinbach, and William Jackson Cook, all of Charleston, for Appellants/Respondents. Eugene P. Corrigan, III, Laura C. Waring, both of Grimball & Cabaniss, and William Jackson Cook, all of Charleston, for Respondent. PER CURIAM: We affirm the trial court's decision to reform the verdict and award Erickson $243,540.82 in actual damages. K & A Acquis. Group, LLC v. Islande Pointe, LLC, 383 S.C. 563, 682 S.E.2d 252 (2009) (issue must be raised and ruled on below to be preserved for appeal). After reviewing the record, we vacate the punitive damages award in its entirety. Mitchell v. Fortis Ins. Co., ____ S.C. ____, 686 S.E.2d 176 (2009) (de novo review). All remaining issues are affirmed. Rule 220(b)(1), SCACR. The parties shall bear their own appellate attorneys' fees and costs. Rule 222, SCACR. AFFIRMED IN PART; VACATED IN PART. TOAL, C.J., PLEICONES, BEATTY, KITTREDGE and HEARN, JJ., concur.