Richard C. Detwiler

Richard C. Detwiler

Member

1812 Lincoln Street
Columbia, South Carolina

Biography

Rick Detwiler was born in Columbia, South Carolina. He attended Clemson University, then the University of South Carolina, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. After receiving his undergraduate degree in 1977, Rick worked for Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation of Richmond, Virginia.  He held positions as the State Sales Manager in Atlanta, Georgia and the National Sales Supervisor in Richmond, Virginia, where he analyzed and developed sales and marketing plans for Lawyers Title’s operations throughout the United States.
Rick graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in December of 1985 (Class of ‘86).  He was a member of the Law School’s Moot Court Bar and ABA Moot Court Team.  He is also a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy program conducted in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  

Rick’s practice focuses on civil trials in all state and federal courts in South Carolina, with special emphasis on complex business disputes, including shareholder disputes; judicial dissolution and accounting actions involving corporations, partnerships, and family businesses; securities litigation, representing investors in cases against registered and unregistered investment advisers and broker/dealers; and probate litigation including cases involving complex estates and trust.
 
Rick has also appeared regularly before the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission for almost 25 years, where he has handled many cases involving catastrophic work injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, on behalf of both employers and injured workers.  

Rick merged his practice with Callison Tighe in 1991 and has been a member since 1992.  He is a member of the firm’s Management Committee.  

Representative Cases:

Disclaimer: The following examples are intended only to be representative of Mr. Detwiler’s practice. Mr. Detwiler is solely responsible for this content. These examples are not intended, and cannot be relied upon, to predict the results in any other case.

  • Lloyd & Rings Wholesale Nursery, Inc. v. Long & Woodley Landscaping & Garden Center, Inc., 315 S.C. 88, 431 S.E.2d 632 (1993).  (Defended at the trial and appellate level a claim by a Florida plaintiff to domesticate a Florida judgment against a South Carolina resident, based upon lack of personal jurisdiction.)
  • CompTrust AGC, etc. v. Whitaker’s, Inc. of Sumter and Whitaker’s Trust, etc., 2007-UP-199 (2007).  (Defended an appeal challenging a jury award of actual and punitive damages in a case involving misrepresentations by an insured of business/worker classifications.  Rick was lead trial and appellate counsel.) 
  • Gregory Electric Company, Inc. v. American Express Financial Advisors, n/k/a Ameriprise Financial Services, et al., NASD/FINRA Case No. 04-04413.  (Prosecuted a securities arbitration claim on behalf of an investor involving claims of unsuitability, fraud, churning, violation of SEC Rule 10b-5, among other claims, resulting in a substantial arbitration award against Ameriprise Financial Services.
  • Gregory Electric Company, Inc. v. Seaboard Securities, Inc.  (Handled a securities arbitration claim on behalf of an investor involving claims of unsuitability, fraud, churning, violation of SEC Rule 10b-5, among other claims.)
  • Wallace v. Dixie Narco, Inc., a/k/a Maytag and Fidelity & Guaranty Insurance Co., WCC File No. 0526479, Civil Action No. 2007-CO-06-229.  (Prosecuted a mental-mental injury claim against employer, resulting in an award of total disability benefits, after appeal to the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas, reversing the South Carolina Workers Compensation Commission.)
  • Creative Communication Services, Inc. v. Travelers Property Casualty Company of America and PAD Able, Inc., d/b/a Harold R. Beard Agency, Civil Action No. 2006-CP-40-6758.  (Prosecuted civil claim against an insurance carrier and agent for allegedly overbilling workers’ compensation premiums.)
  • Moffitt v. South Carolina Department of Transportation, Civil Action No. 99-CP-27-122.  (As lead trial counsel, obtained jury award, plus award of attorneys' fees, in a condemnation case involving a taking of only one-third of an acre but substantial damages to the remainder of the landowner’s property; appeal by SCDOT withdrawn.) 
  • Litigated and resolved dispute over a family business involving oppression and mismanagement by majority shareholders, resulting in a buyout of client's shares for a figure in excess of market value.
  • Litigated and resolved dispute against a real estate broker which aided in seller’s breach of $1.3 million real estate contract.
  • Defended a minority shareholder derivative suit against a family-owned real estate development company, which alleged fraud and mismanagement by the controlling directors, resulting in no settlement or award to the disaffected shareholder and payment of clients' attorneys fees.
  • Defended claims by remainder beneficiaries against the primary income beneficiary and trustee of a trust, and prosecuted related claims against the successor trustee for mismanagement and partiality in the Trust’s administration. 
  • Handled hundreds of workers compensation cases for commercial and residential general contractors and subcontractors.
  • Handled many workers’ compensation injury claims for injured workers involving awards or settlement for permanent and total disability. 
  • Handled numerous lifetime benefits cases for injured workers involving traumatic brain injuries under S.C. Code § 42-9-10.

    Practice Areas
    Admissions
    • South Carolina, 1986
    • U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina, 1986
    • U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit, 2000
    Education
    • The University of South Carolina School of Law (J.D. 1985/Class of ‘86)
    • The University of South Carolina (B.S. 1977,  Business Administration)
    • Clemson University (1973 - 1974)
    Associations
    • South Carolina Bar
      • Trial and Appellate Advocacy Section
      • Family Law Section
      • Torts and Insurance Practice Section
      • Workers’ Compensation Section
    • South Carolina Coastal Conservation League
    • Nature Conservancy
    • Sierra Club