This month we are saluting Linda Willis, who is our hard-working paralegal in the Myrtle Beach office. Linda was born and raised in Loris, South Carolina and continues to live there today. She is the mother of two grown children and a grandmother of six, of which three she is raising. They all provide her with tremendous joy and keep her quite busy when she is not working for MKLG.

Linda received her Paralegal Studies Associate Degree at Horry Georgetown Technical College and later continued on to put herself through college to receive her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Law from Coastal Carolina University. She has over twenty years of experience working in the legal field, and we are glad to have her handling our Myrtle Beach operation. Thank you for all you do, Linda!

We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

Even though the weather hasn’t felt like it lately, the Thanksgiving holidays are closely approaching us. There is no doubt that I have more to be thankful for this year than ever before. In a sense it is all cumulative and when I posted a picture on Facebook that I had taken this past week of a sunrise over my neighborhood in Columbia, I fully realized the awesomeness God has created in this world. He sometimes gives us a small glimpse into his true glory. I am so blessed to call the cities of Columbia and Myrtle Beach my homes and I wake up day after day thankful to have another day on this earth! I believe as my friend Greg Pierce commented on my post, the older we get the more we appreciate life’s blessings. This is the season to be truly grateful for our friends and family.

I hope you hold your family close this Thanksgiving and thank the good Lord for what life has given each of us. Have an amazing and happy Thanksgiving Holiday!

We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

I recently became aware through my friend Marsha Griffin of Horry County’s Early College High School program. I have since been fascinated by this triumph of educational excellence right here in our state! The Mike Kelly Law Group recently participated in a fundraising event where over $100,000 was raised for this program. It involved a Putt-Putt competition where 43 teams participated. There were many sponsors of the event including the Mike Kelly Law Group. It was held within walking distance from our Myrtle Beach office at the Mt. Atlanticus Miniature Golf Course which has been a landmark in Downtown Myrtle Beach for 25 years. We had a great time, met lots of folks and most importantly, putted for a worthy cause! Although our team did not win, we did receive a super cool trophy from the Brighton building manager and a close personal friend, Marc Drake.

Two days after the event I was talking to a longtime friend in Myrtle Beach whose son at the age of 14 is enrolled in the program and loves it. I am thrilled to see innovation in education and the Early College High School is one of them!

We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

Several weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the groundbreaking of the permanent home of the Midlands Stem Institute, which is a charter school in Winnsboro, South Carolina. Even though I no longer have an office in the Town of Winnsboro, I have a soft spot in my heart for the good people of Fairfield County. During my years of maintaining an office there I tried to do my best to help the community grow and improve the quality of life for the residents.

Nine years ago, I was asked to serve as the General Counsel for the Midlands Stem Institute and have watched it grow and flourish into having a permanent state-of-the-art facility. After the groundbreaking ceremony we had five speakers including Co-Founder and Board Chair Kevin Thomas. He along with our former School Head Dr. Marie Milam were the driving forces behind making the dream of a Charter school alternative in Fairfield County a reality. The second and current School Head Dr. Cynthia Prince has done an amazing job juggling resources, improving the curriculum and expectations of the teaching staff and the results are truly showing. I know the best is yet to come for MSI and its new facility will greatly enhance the educational experience. Congratulations to the Midlands Stem Board, Dr. Prince, and her staff. I am excited to watch the future unfold for MSI and its students!

We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

Abby Lang is one of our personal injury paralegals working almost exclusively hand and glove for our vibrant and hardworking attorney Konstantine “Dean” Diamaduros.

Abby is originally from Illinois and moved to South Carolina to be closer to her family. She attended schools in the Irmo area and graduated from Irmo High School. She went on to attend THE University of South Carolina and after one year she transferred to Midlands Technical College where she earned her associate degree in business in the Paralegal Studies Program. Abby came to our firm as an intern and now is in her 5th year here at the Mike Kelly Law Group. Abby does a fantastic job for us with a smile on her face. She is kind and helpful with anyone she encounters. She is one of the many assets that we are blessed to have in our firm. When Abby is not working, she enjoys spending time with her four siblings, going to the gym, traveling to the South Carolina coast, something that is dear to my heart, and she loves watching football! We could not be happier to have Abby as part of our team.

We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

As I have grown older, I am more conscious of my surroundings as my ambulation is not what it once was. I can no longer jog the 30 to 45 miles a week on the streets of Columbia and Myrtle Beach like I did for years. Premises liability laws are a way in which the people of this state can be compensated once they have suffered an injury due to the lack of care of another. I have seen lives changed forever by an unintended fall on city sidewalks, roads, parking lots, in retail establishments, restaurants, grocery stores and the list can go on. Bad injures usually occur to the head, neck, back, knees, and shoulders and if a subdural hematoma develops then the injured party may be facing death.

A simplified version of the law is that the property landowner must be negligent either through omission or commission. In other words, this means they knew or should have known of the dangerous situation and failed to correct it or they created a condition that caused the injury. A considerable number of falls are the fault solely by the person walking, climbing stairs and so forth, but a surprising number of falls occur because of third-party negligence. If you are injured due to the fault of someone other than yourself, please do not hesitate to give us a call to see if we can be of assistance in your matter. Be safe out there!

We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

Recently I was honored to be selected as one of the recipients for the 2023 Leadership in Law Awards. This program is sponsored by a weekly publication called the South Carolina Lawyers Weekly. These awards recognize attorneys across the state who have made contributions to society, impacted the legal profession and been successful in their own law practices. I received a similar honor around ten years ago and I am equally grateful for this latest recognition!

I started my law career in 1977 and while I had a law degree, I was woefully lacking in experience. I now have the background and experience in the fields of personal injury, workers compensation and disability. I am humbled to be recognized as someone who contributes to the fantastic legal profession in South Carolina. Although awards are nice, the greatest award for me is a satisfied and happy client. I will continue to enjoy practicing law and helping the great people of this state!

We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time of year that is devoted to educating not only women but all people about breast cancer. This month should teach everyone just how important it is to undergo regular breast cancer screenings. This disease has affected more lives than any other physical problem that human beings can experience. Breast Cancer will be diagnosed in one in eight women in their lifetime. There is one person diagnosed every two minutes in the United States. It is important to know your family history, get screened and know your body. If something does not look or feel right, then seeking a doctor’s opinion is so important for early detection. We in South Carolina and indeed across the nation pay rightful homage to that dreaded disease, its consequences for the patient, their families, and friends. Please take a moment to reflect on the many who have experienced this in their lives, pray for a cure, and consider supporting the cause. So, wear your PINK in the month of October to raise awareness in the fight to end breast cancer.

We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

Katina Tyler is one of our amazing staff members who deals exclusively with social security. She is a native of Richland County, South Carolina, a graduate from Eau Claire High School and is a proud Shamrock! She has one son, Deon Tyler, who is thirty years old and lives in Jacksonville, Florida. Katina is a very dedicated employee here at the Mike Kelly Law Group. The thing she enjoys most about her job is helping others improve their lives. Katina understands, as do I, that helping others is paramount in what we do. She also understands that most clients who come through our doors are not always having their best day and are in need of genuine help. When she is not working, she spends time with her family and enjoys playing with her dog Shadow.

We are all extremely glad that Katina chose to work here at the Mike Kelly Law Group and our clients are better off with her being here to help and serve them.

We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

Monday, I had the pleasure of co-chairing the SC Philharmonic Fundraiser Golf Tournament along with my long-time friend Tommy Fortson who is THE “Terminix of the Carolinas.” He is an incredible philanthropic individual and so is his company. It is always a pleasure to collaborate with him on this worthwhile event.

Columbia is blessed to have one of the most fantastic symphony orchestras in the country led by Maestro Morihiko Nakahara. It was a truly beautiful day and proof that South Carolina is one of the best places to live. In addition to the wonderful weather, we had a great time with plenty of food, libations, and golf, all for a charitable cause. I am glad that people flock back to our tournament every year because it has a reputation for being one of the finest charity golf tournaments in the Midlands. Here’s to the continuing success of the SC Philharmonic under the leadership of Music Director Maestro Nakahara and its wonderful team and musicians!

We’re here for the people of South Carolina!