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!

It is brag time again! Several weeks ago, my son Patrick received the Best Local Actor Award at the Free Times Celebration for the Best of Columbia! Patrick caught the theatre bug in middle school and still has it to this very day. After getting his undergraduate degree in Theatre at the University of South Carolina, Patrick traveled to perform in Chicago and then New York where he was selected to be in the Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. He has starred in numerous plays in Chicago, New York, Columbia, Norfolk, and other locales. He is well known on the Columbia stage at USC and at the Workshop and Trustus Theatres. To say I am proud of him is an understatement! He also teaches theatre as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of South Carolina Department of Theatre and Dance in addition to his full-time job and being an excellent parent to his beloved daughter Helena.

Some current projects that Patrick is working on include directing Sweeney Todd at Trustus Theatre, which is running from September 29th through October 28th. He is also producing The Laramie Project which is being performed at the University of South Carolina School of Law (my alma mater) on October 17th and 18th.

Sometimes early in the mornings when I sit back and reflect on the highs and lows of my life, I am thankful to God for all my blessings! Patrick along with my baby boy Mac are at the top of my list!

We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

 

Recently, I received the resignation of one South Carolina’s finest public servants and my friend Chris Eversmann who is leaving his dual duties with Richland County as Airport General Manager and Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works to take a job as the Program Manager for the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission. Chris is an engineer by trade after a stint in the Marine Corps. He has worked various jobs in his field of expertise and spent seventeen years with Richland County. We are losing a valuable member of the airport staff and I can sincerely tell you that every interaction I have had with Chris was a positive experience. He and I flat out work well together, and I will miss him dearly!

I am happy for him personally and this is a step up for him professionally. The Aeronautics Commission is getting a good soldier! Chris’s last day will be September 15th and I have enjoyed collaborating with him on hiring his successor. I wish nothing but the best for Chris moving forward in his new endeavor.

We’re here for the people of South Carolina!

 

Gladys is our beloved receptionist at the Columbia office of the Mike Kelly Law Group. She was born in Eastover, SC and has lived substantially all her life in the Lower Richland community. She is a proud graduate of Benedict College and like me, she has two sons that both now live in Florida. She has been married for 43 years to Edward Harris. Her career spans three professions with 14 years as a banker, 21 years as a realtor and now as our receptionist with the Mike Kelly Law Group for the last 12 years. She has six grandchildren, only one of which is a girl! She enjoys bowling for fun and is very dedicated to the Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Hopkins, SC. She also finds time to do volunteer work for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department with Project Hope and the Youth Arbitration Program.

Gladys, thank you for all you do for us, your family, your church, and our community. We are here for the people of South Carolina.

 

I am humbled, honored and pleased that I, along with my partners Brad Hewett and Janet Rhodes were selected in our respective practice categories for the 2024 Best Lawyers in America Catalog. The Best Lawyers in America is a national database and the preeminent source for recommended lawyers across the nation. It is a system which can customize one’s desired region and practice area. This year Brad Hewett was selected for Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation on the plaintiff’s side. While our other partner, Janet Rhodes was selected for Employment Law including Individuals and Litigation, as well as Labor and Employment. I was selected for Administrative/Regulatory Law and Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants. This is so exciting for the Mike Kelly Law Group as the Best Lawyers in America is a peer reviewed source that highlights some of the best in the legal profession.

The legal profession is not all about awards and accolades, but it surely motivates us to do an even better job for our clients and to be the best lawyers we can be. Thanks to my fellow attorneys in South Carolina who bestowed these honors on us. All three of us will do our best to live up to this recognition. We are so proud to be here for the people of South Carolina.

 

For a long time, I have had a law office in Winnsboro, South Carolina. However, I finally made the exceedingly difficult but prudent decision to close our Winnsboro office and transfer these clients to Columbia. In addition to losing a longtime and dedicated employee, Greta Edwards, I am a big fan of small towns. I grew up in small town in southern Virginia and Winnsboro has always and will continue to be dear to me. However, when the offices are only 40 minutes apart and so many Fairfield County residents are used to driving to Columbia for professional services whether it be doctors, lawyers or the similar, it just made sense. With the tremendous growth in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, my primary focus needs to be on these offices and not spreading myself too thin. I will always have a special place in my heart for Fairfield County and plan to continue to be active in the area with the Chamber of Commerce and other community activities. It is a beautiful county with lots of beautiful people!