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1 W i n d o w s Spring/Summer 2012

2 W i n d o w s Spring/Summer 2012 Elizabeth Owen Promoted to In January, Elizabeth Owen was named a partner of Morton & Gettys. Elizabeth joined the firm in August 2006 as an associate practicing family law and criminal defense. She is a former president of the York County Bar Association and was appointed as a part-time Municipal Judge for the City of York in October 2008, a position she holds to this day. Prior to joining the firm, she was a law clerk to the Honorable Lee S. Alford, Circuit Court Judge for the Elizabeth Owen Sixteenth Judicial Circuit. She received her bachelor s degree from the College of Charleston and her law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Elizabeth manages Morton & Gettys York office and lives in York with her husband and two daughters, Mary Alice (3 years old) and Lettie (8 months). Spotlight on Personal Injury The personal injury team at Morton & Gettys represents clients in various accident cases, workers compensation, wrongful death, nursing home negligence, hit and run accidents, and other matters involving injury or death. These types of cases can be extremely difficult for those involved, but we have the experience necessary to achieve the best possible outcome in your case. Recently, Morton & Gettys successfully represented an individual who was given an incorrect dosage of Coumadin, a popular blood thinner medication, from a local pharmacy and was hospitalized for seven weeks. We were ultimately able to secure a substantial six-figure confidential settlement for this client. Cases involving car accidents are more complicated than they may appear, and most people are not fully aware of the various forms of coverage available to them after an accident, especially when insurance carriers are reluctant to advise claimants of all benefits to which they may be entitled. Our personal injury attorneys place a strong emphasis on identifying all forms of insurance coverage available in each case and, in doing so, have been able to provide significant additional compensation for many clients. We are committed to delivering thorough and effective legal services that lead to fast action, while respecting our client s privacy and grievances. If you or your clients have a personal injury matter, please let us know if we can help. *Results in one case do not necessarily indicate the results of another case. Windows, an inside look at the people and accomplishments of Morton & Gettys

She is a former president of the York County Bar Association and was appointed as a part-time Municipal Judge for the City of York in October 2008, a position she holds to this day.

3 Notable Acts and Milestones Walter Dusky is currently serving as president of the York County Bar Association Desiree Eatmon, a real estate paralegal in the Indian Land office, gave birth to Jayden Isaiah Eatmon in February Vickey Edwards, also a real estate paralegal in the Indian Land office, gave birth to Mason Lawrence Conner in March Michael Hatch has been selected to serve on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Rock Hill Leah Anderson joined Morton & Gettys as a paralegal for Michael Hatch in the York office Joshua Vann successfully represented the developer in development and financing of Academy Sports & Outdoor Store, as well as provided legal counsel in the acquisition of a Wal-Mart Supercenter, both in Rock Hill Jim Morton helped organize the Symposium on Prosecutorial Ethics and Duties, presented by the University of South Carolina School of Law. Billy Wayne Cope Case Goes to SC Supreme Court In the last Windows newsletter, we included an article on the high profile Billy Wayne Cope case and attorneys Jim Morton and Michael Smith s roles as Cope s defense counsel. In 2004, Cope was convicted of the 2001 rape and murder of his 12-year-old daughter along with a recently released felon, James Sanders. A connection was never established between the two men and DNA found on the victim s body was linked to Sanders. The sole evidence used to convict Cope was his confession, which was coerced. This case has received much national attention as a wrongful conviction from legal experts on false confessions and DNA evidence. It was also the subject of a two-hour Dateline NBC special. In 2009, the SC Court of Appeals overturned the jury finding of conspiracy between Cope and Sanders, only to reverse the decision later that year. The SC Supreme Court agreed this past March to review the case as early as Fall This review could grant Cope a new trial, which is what Morton and Smith have been working tirelessly for the past eight years to achieve. The University of South Carolina Law School, in conjunction with South Carolina Bar, held the Symposium on Prosecutorial Ethics and Duties on March 16, which focused on the Cope case and other wrongful conviction cases. The Honorable G. Thomas Cooper, Jr., and Diana L. Holt, Esq.

directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Rock Hill Leah Anderson joined Morton & Gettys as a paralegal for Michael Hatch in the York office Joshua Vann successfully represented the developer in

4 Directory Tear Here Rock Hill Office 334 Oakland Avenue, PO Box 707, Rock Hill, SC office fax ATTORNEYS James M. Morton Criminal Defense John P. Gettys Michael B. Smith Joshua B. Vann Residential Real Estate,Title Insurance, Personal Injury, Homeowner s Association Representation, and Probate, Wills and Estates john.gettys@mortongettys.com Family Law, Family Mediation and Criminal Defense michael.smith@mortongettys.com Commercial Real Estate, Leasing and Development, Finance and Lending, Title Insurance, Business and Corporate, and Land Use and Zoning joshua.vann@mortongettys.com J. Richards McCrae Personal Injury/Worker s Compensation and Civil Litigation richards.mccrae@mortongettys.com Indian Land Office 7580 Highway 521, Suite 700, Fort Mill, SC office fax ATTORNEY Walter G. Dusky Residential Real Estate, Probate, Wills and Estates, Business and Corporate, and Civil Litigation walter.dusky@mortongettys.com York Office 616 E Liberty Street, PO Box 176, York, SC office fax Tear Here ATTORNEYS Elizabeth Smith Owen Michael K. Hatch Family Law and Criminal Defense elizabeth.owen@mortongettys.com Finance and Lending, Creditor s Rights, Business and Corporate, and Civil Litigation michael.hatch@mortongettys.com

Vann Residential Real Estate,Title Insurance, Personal Injury, Homeowner s Association Representation, and Probate, Wills and Estates 803.366.3388 john.gettys@mortongettys.

5 rock Hill York Indian Land Disclaimer Morton & Gettys offers this publication for general information about our firm. None of the content should be considered or relied upon as legal advice. This is not a solicitation for legal services or an invitation to establish an attorney-client relationship. Such a relationship with our firm and its lawyers is established only after a specific engagement has been expressly agreed to through direct communication. Prospective clients should not provide any confidential information to our firm before an attorney-client relationship is established and confirmed in writing by both parties. Attorney-client privilege may not be established until we have expressly undertaken a particular client engagement. Our firm includes attorneys licensed to practice in the states of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. We offer legal services only in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations and rules of professional conduct in those states. Nothing contained in this publication should be construed as engaging in any activities in any jurisdiction where such activities would constitute the unauthorized practice of law or would otherwise be unlawful or improper. IRS CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE: Any federal tax advice contained on any page of this publication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending any transaction or matter addressed on any page of this publication. James M. Morton, 334 Oakland Avenue, Rock Hill, SC, is responsible for the content of this publication. 334 Oakland Avenue Rock Hill, SC PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Charlotte, NC Permit #8

Such a relationship with our firm and its lawyers is established only after a specific engagement has been expressly agreed to through direct communication.

6 Traditional standards with a progressive attitude Morton & Gettys is uncompromising in our drive to deliver outstanding legal counsel that is thorough, responsive and effective. We re a diversified general legal practice with offices in Rock Hill, Indian Land and York, SC. Founded in 2001, the firm today has eight attorneys and 12 support staff and paralegals. Practice areas Business & Corporate Civil Litigation Commercial Real Estate Creditor s Rights Criminal Defense Family Law Finance & Lending Homeowners Association Representation Land Use & Zoning Mediation: Family & Civil Personal Injury/Worker s Compensation Probate, Wills & Estates Residential Real Estate Title Insurance Rock Hill York Indian Land 334 Oakland Avenue 616 E Liberty Street 7580 Highway 521 PO Box 707 PO Box 176 suite 700 Rock Hill, SC York, SC Fort Mill, SC

Practice areas Business & Corporate Civil Litigation Commercial Real Estate Creditor s Rights Criminal Defense Family Law Finance & Lending Homeowners Association Representation Land Use & Zoning

Greetings to our Clients, Colleagues and Friends:

W i n d o w s SPRING 2011 Greetings to our Clients, Colleagues and Friends: The attorneys and staff of Morton & Gettys are pleased to present Windows, the first in a series of periodic views about our