Title 15, Civil Remedies and Procedures

In all actions in claim and delivery when the purpose is to collect a debt the undertaking required of the defendant shall in no case be in excess of double the amount of the debt claimed by the plaintiff to be due. But if there is an appeal the court from which the appeal is tak…

The defendant's sureties, upon a notice to the plaintiff of not less than two nor more than six days, shall justify before a judge, clerk of court or magistrate in the same manner as upon bail on arrest. Upon such justification the sheriff shall deliver the property to the defend…

The qualifications of sureties and their justification shall be as are prescribed by SECTIONS 15-17-230 and 15-17-270 in respect to bail upon an order of arrest.

If the property or any part thereof be concealed in a building or enclosure the sheriff shall publicly demand its delivery. If it be not delivered he shall cause the building or enclosure to be broken open and take the property into his possession and, if necessary, he may call t…

When the sheriff shall have taken property, as in this chapter provided, he shall keep it in a secure place and deliver it to the party entitled thereto upon receiving his lawful fees for taking and his necessary expenses for keeping the property.

Any one or more of several joint owners of personal property who can establish such partial ownership in such property shall have the right to institute an action in claim and delivery to recover possession of the property from any wrongful holder thereof. In such an action the c…

If the property taken be claimed by any other person than the defendant or his agent and such person shall make affidavit of his title thereto and right to the possession thereof, stating the grounds of such right and title, and serve the affidavit upon the sheriff, the sheriff s…

In an action to recover the possession of personal property judgment for the plaintiff may be for the possession, for the recovery of possession or for the value thereof in case a delivery cannot be had and for damages, both punitive and actual, for the detention. If the property…

When a delivery is claimed an affidavit must be made by the plaintiff or by someone on his behalf showing: (1) That the plaintiff is the owner of the property claimed, particularly describing it, or is lawfully entitled to the possession thereof by virtue of a special property th…

The plaintiff shall attach to the affidavit a notice of a right to a preseizure hearing which shall notify the defendant that within five days from service thereof, he may demand such hearing by notifying the clerk of court in writing and present such evidence touching upon the p…

Upon the receipt of the affidavit and notice, with a written undertaking executed by one or more sufficient sureties, approved by the sheriff, to the effect that they are bound in double the value of the property, as stated in the affidavit for the prosecution of the action, for …

The sheriff shall without delay serve on the defendant a copy of the affidavit, notice and undertaking, by delivering it to him personally, if he can be found, or to his agent, from whose possession the property is taken, or, if neither can be found, by leaving them at the usual …

The purpose of the preseizure hearing is to protect the defendant's use and possession of property from arbitrary encroachment, and to prevent unfair or mistaken deprivations of property. If the judge shall, after conducting the hearing, find that the plaintiff's claim for immedi…

No property shall be seized under the provisions of this chapter unless five days' notice and an opportunity to be heard have been afforded the party in possession as herein provided; provided, however, any person in possession of the personal property may waive the right to a pr…

The judge may issue an order which shall be concurrently served on the defendant that restrains the defendant from damaging, concealing or removing the subject property, when immediate possession of such property is not being taken. Upon proper showing that such order has been vi…

Subject to the provisions of Section 62-5-433 the circuit court has: (1) exclusive jurisdiction to approve the settlement of any claim that exceeds ten thousand dollars in favor of or against any minor or incapacitated person; and (2) concurrent jurisdiction with the probate cour…

(1) One who sells any product in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer or to his property is subject to liability for physical harm caused to the ultimate user or consumer, or to his property, if (a) The seller is engaged in the business of selling …

If the user or consumer discovers the defect and is aware of the danger, and nevertheless proceeds unreasonably to make use of the product and is injured by it, he is barred from recovery.

Comments to SECTION 402A of the Restatement of Torts, Second, are incorporated herein by reference thereto as the legislative intent of this chapter.

(A) In a products liability action involving firearms or ammunition, whether a firearm or ammunition shell is defective in design must not be based on a comparison or weighing of the benefits of the product against the risk of injury, damage, or death posed by its potential to ca…

For the purposes of this chapter, "distressed food" means canned or packaged foods and prepared foods which are foods prepared by restaurants and other establishments and donors in excess amounts which do not affect the edibility of the food or other considerations and perishable…

The donor, in good faith, of distressed food apparently fit for human consumption, to a bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization or food bank or prepared and perishable food program for free distribution, is not subject to criminal penalty or civil damages arising from the …

A bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization or food bank or prepared and perishable food program which in good faith receives distressed food apparently fit for human consumption is not subject to criminal penalty or civil damages arising from the condition of the food unles…

The provisions of this act shall not be deemed to in any manner restrict the authority of the Department of Health and Environmental Control to regulate or ban the use or consumption of distressed food donated, collected or received for charitable purposes but deemed unfit for hu…

If any person shall utter and publish, either by writing or verbally, any words of and concerning any female imputing to her a want of chastity, the person so uttering and publishing such words shall be liable for damages in a civil action brought by the female of whom the words …

Any person may maintain an action for damages arising from an intentional or tortious violation of the right to the companionship, aid, society and services of his or her spouse. Provided, that such action shall not include any damages recovered prior thereto by the injured spous…

(A) As used in this section: (1) "Shoplifting" means an act punishable under Section 16-13-110 and also includes the theft of cash or merchandise by employees of a mercantile establishment; (2) "Store or other retail mercantile establishment" means an establishment as defined in …

(A) No person may use a machine that electronically transmits facsimiles through connection with a telephone network to transmit unsolicited advertising material which offers to sell goods or services except as follows: (1) where a prior or current business relationship exists be…

The penalty provided by Section 15-75-50, including injunctive relief, may not be imposed unless the person who is alleged to have violated that section does so after being instructed, (1) in writing, (2) by telephone, or (3) by a machine that electronically transmits facsimiles …

A person who is injured by a sham legal process involving a violation of Section 16-17-735 has the following civil remedies against the person who committed the violation or who caused the violation to be committed: (1) actual damages; (2) punitive damages; (3) costs; and (4) rea…

Every person authorized and appointed by the United States for the purpose, in its name and in its behalf, may commence and prosecute to final decree, judgment and execution any action for the recovery from individuals of debts due and effects belonging to the United States. Ever…

No suit shall be filed nor shall any pending suit be prosecuted in any court of this State affecting the issuance or sale of any state security, certificate of indebtedness or bond the intent or effect of which is to prevent, delay or affect the sale or other disposition thereof …

In any action or suit at law affecting the title to real estate when it appears that the State has or claims a judgment lien upon such real estate the State may be made a party defendant in such action or suit at law, provided no money demand is made in such suit or action at law…

(A) In any civil action brought by the State, any political subdivision of the State or any party who is contesting state action, unless the prevailing party is the State or any political subdivision of the State, the court may allow the prevailing party to recover reasonable att…

The party shall petition for the attorney's fees within thirty days following final disposition of the case. The petition must be supported by an affidavit setting forth the basis for the request.

Nothing in this article grants permission to bring an action against an agency otherwise immune from suit or gives a right to bring an action to a party who otherwise lacks standing to bring the action.

Any attorney's fees assessed against an agency under this article shall be paid from the agency's funds to the extent the funds are available and from the state's or political subdivision's general fund if the agency has no available funds; provided, that such money shall only be…

In any civil action in which the paternal or maternal relationship of one person to another is sought to be proved by use of blood tests, the costs of such tests shall be paid by that party upon whom the blood test is to be performed, except that the plaintiff shall pay the cost …

Whenever by the provisions of law any property, real or personal, shall be forfeited to the State or to any officer for its use an action for the recovery of such property, alleging the ground of the forfeiture, may be brought by the proper officer in the circuit court.

The circuit courts of this State are hereby vested with jurisdiction to hear and determine all questions, actions and controversies, other than those involving rates of public service companies for which specific procedures for review are provided in Title 58, affecting boards, c…

This chapter may be cited as the "South Carolina Tort Claims Act".

(a) Except as provided for in Section 15-3-40, an action for damages under this chapter may be instituted at any time within two years after the loss was or should have been discovered. Provided, that if a claim for damages was filed and disallowed or rejected an action for damag…

Except as provided for in Section 15-3-40, any action brought pursuant to this chapter is forever barred unless an action is commenced within two years after the date the loss was or should have been discovered; provided, that if the claimant first filed a claim pursuant to this …

(a) For any action or claim for damages brought under the provisions of this chapter, the liability shall not exceed the following limits: (1) Except as provided in Section 15-78-120(a)(3), no person shall recover in any action or claim brought hereunder a sum exceeding three hun…

The defense for a political subdivision against an action brought pursuant to this chapter, when the political subdivision does not purchase insurance through the State Fiscal Accountability Authority, must be provided by the political subdivision or its designee.

(A) The political subdivisions of this State, in regard to tort and automobile liability, property, and casualty insurance shall procure insurance to cover these risks for which immunity has been waived by: (1) the purchase of liability insurance pursuant to Section 1-11-140; or …