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The summary following each opinion is prepared to offer lawyers and the public a general overview of what a particular opinion decides. The summary is not necessarily a full description of the issues discussed in an opinion.

5518 - State v. Collier

Derek Vander Collier appeals his conviction for second-degree burglary, arguing the trial court improperly limited his closing argument, erred in allowing the State to play recordings of two police interviews, and should not have allowed a witness to identify him in front of the jury. We affirm.

10-25-2017 - Opinions

5519 - Robert J. Burke v. Republic Parking System, Inc.

Appellant Republic Parking System, Inc. (Republic) filed this appeal following a jury verdict in favor of Respondent Robert J. Burke. Republic claims the trial court erred by denying its motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and a new trial based on many arguments including that the trial court erred by excluding its expert witness. We agree the trial court erred by excluding Republic's expert witness and reverse for a new trial; thus, we decline to address Republic's remaining arguments.

5520 - State v. Daise

Earnest Daise appeals his convictions for murder, assault and battery with intent to kill, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and trafficking in cocaine. Daise argues the circuit court erred in (1) allowing a witness to offer hearsay violative of the Confrontation Clause, (2) permitting a witness to comment on the credibility of another witness, (3) admitting testimony that a victim feared Daise, (4) failing to require the State to produce materials that allegedly amount to a "handbook" on circumventing a Batson challenge, (5) admitting a photograph of Daise in a custodial pose, and (6) admitting two photographs in which a child victim's birthday cake is visible. Finally, Daise argues the circuit court's cumulative errors denied him a fair trial. We affirm the convictions.

5521 - Dallas Bessinger v. R-N-M Builders

This is a cross-appeal from a final decision and order of the Appellate Panel of the Workers' Compensation Commission holding the South Carolina Uninsured Employers' Fund (UEF) responsible for Dallas Bessinger's benefits. The Appellate Panel found the workers' compensation policy between J&L Construction, LLC and FirstComp a division of Markel, Inc. (FirstComp) was procured by fraud and void ab initio. This case involves an unusual procedural posture where a Single Commissioner found the policy void ab initio, the Appellate Panel vacated the decision of the Single Commissioner and remanded for a "hearing de novo," a Single Commissioner once again found the policy void ab initio, and the Appellate Panel affirmed that finding in full. UEF argues (1) the Single Commissioner erred by reconsidering evidence submitted in the first hearing without ensuring a proper foundation was laid in the second hearing; (2) the Single Commissioner erred in denying UEF's motion to exclude several depositions during the second hearing; and (3) the Appellate Panel erred in finding a workers' compensation policy can be void ab initio when statute requires a party to cancel a workers' compensation policy in accordance with the statutory framework. FirstComp appeals the Appellate Panel's initial remand arguing it exceeded and failed to comply with its statutory and regulatory authority. We affirm.