News

Bruner Powell Attorneys Go Whole Hog to Help Children

On May 14th and 15th, Bruner Powell's "In Like a Pig" barbeque team participated in the 23rd Annual BBQ Cook-off Festival to benefit the Carolina Children's Home.  This whole-hog competition brings together cookers and BBQ enthusiasts from across the state, and it has become one of the primary fundraisers for the Children's Home.  Last year's competition raised more than $60,000. 

Despite placing 14th overall in the judge's competition, Bruner Powell placed 2nd out of 44 teams in the People's Choice category, which ranks teams based solely on votes from the general public.

For more information on the event, click here.

Bruner Powell Attorneys Attend Wrestling Tournament
On January 16, 2010, the attorneys of Bruner Powell served lunch to volunteers, coaches and wrestlers at Heathwood Duals, a high school wrestling tournament hosted by Heathwood Hall Episcopal School at the Carolina Coliseum.  In only the second year since its inception, the tournament impressively drew 22 schools from South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.  Hank Wall, a partner at Bruner Powell, is the head wrestling coach at Heathwood Hall and was the tournament's chief organizer.


Bruner Powell Attorneys Participate in Barbeque Competition
The attorneys of Bruner Powell fired up the firm's BBQ cooker once again as part of the Cocky 'n' Tiger Tailgate Barbeque competition on November 20-21, 2009.  The event was held at the National Guard Armory in Columbia with all proceeds going to benefit the Family Connection of South Carolina, an organization that provides information, support and hope for families who have children with disabilities or special health care needs.  The Bruner Powell Team cooked chicken wings for the "anything butt pork" competition on Friday, and smoked Boston butts, ribs and sausage throughout the night until Saturday morning.  It was a great competition for a worthy cause, and we hope to do it again next year.


Bruner Powell's Hank Wall is Featured in The State
A recent article in The State newspaper featured Heathwood Hall Episcopal School Wrestling Coach Hank Wall and his wrestling program.  Read the article.  Hank Wall founded the wrestling program at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School and returns in 2009-2010 for his 5th season as head coach.  Last season the team produced 3 all state wrestlers, and Coach Wall is optimistic about this season.  "We are returning two state champs, and we have 7 sophomores in our lineup, so I am really excited about the youth and talent on our team."  Wall, a former NCAA wrestler, is a volunteer coach.  He started the program at Heathwood Hall to promote both the sport of wrestling and what he calls "a culture of self discipline and sacrifice." 


Bruner Powell Welcomes Ben Bruner as New Associate
Bruner Powell is proud to announce that Ben Bruner has joined the firm as an associate. Ben, who earned his JD from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2008, is a native of Columbia. Before law school, he spent two years serving the South Carolina Attorney General's Office as the Deputy Clerk of Court for the South Carolina State Grand Jury.  Prior to joining Bruner Powell, Ben served as law clerk to the Honorable G. Thomas Cooper, Jr. of Camden, South Carolina. Ben will be practicing in the areas of Professional Malpractice, Construction Law, Commercial Debt Collections, and Business & General Litigation.


Bruner Powell's Hank Wall Files Tax Suit Against Richland County
A case of significant public interest has been filed in the Richland County Court of Common Pleas by Bruner Powell attorney Hank Wall. The class action suit alleges that the County expanded the scope and coverage of a hospitality tax, intended for meals and non-alcoholic beverages served in restaurants and places of public accommodation, to a de-facto tax on certain consumable foods and refreshments sold in grocery stores, specialty stores and other retail establishments. The suit also alleges that the County has enforced the statute so as to impermissably impose a double tax on alcoholic beverages. The suit, which involves a potential over-taxation of more than five million dollars in Richland County alone, has ramifications for many other counties and municipalities across South Carolina which have followed the Richland County pattern of enforcement and tax collection. The State newspaper recently published an article on the tax suit which can be found here.


Bruner Powell Attorneys Cook Over 100 Steaks for Scoutmasters
Wesley Peel and Joey Floyd took the Bruner Powell cooker to R.L. Bryan and Company on November 20, 2008, to cook steak for the Scoutmasters of the Indian Waters Council. R.L. Bryan sponsored the event to promote the upcoming camp season at beautiful Camp Barstow. The Bruner Powell team cooked over 100 steaks for the hungry Scoutmasters that came to sign their scouts up for summer camp.


Bruner Powell Hires New Associate
Bruner Powell is proud to announce that Leah Garland has joined the firm as an associate. Leah, who earned her JD from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 2007, is a native of Indiantown, South Carolina, and a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Wofford College. Previously, Leah clerked for South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman. A member of both the South Carolina and Georgia bars, Leah will be practicing in the areas of Construction Law and Business & General Litigation.
 

Bruner Powell's Joey Floyd Speaks at 2008 Master in Equity Bench / Bar Seminar
In October 2008, Joey R. Floyd sat on a panel of distinguished judges and jurists for the 2008 Master In Equity Bench/Bar Seminar (Continuing Legal Education), held at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Joey drew upon his extensive courtroom experience before the Masters in Equity of South Carolina and spoke to the congregants about the tools available to lawyers for the collection of commercial debts through supplemental proceedings. Attendees of the seminar included both practicing attorneys and judges.