Sex Trafficking in South Carolina – A Report Card
The Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) is an organization dedicated to ending sex trafficking in the United States, providing law enforcement and criminal justice systems with their expertise and strategies. As part of their annual federal trafficking reports, HTI also provides state-by-state data on active criminal human trafficking cases. Along with South Carolina’s new lead prosecutor…
Read MoreCoach of Riverside High School Accused of Sexually Assaulting 40+ Student Athletes
More than 40 survivors are coming forward to hold Greenville County School District and others accountable years of sexual assault, abuse, and harassment they suffered at the hands of track coach Eric Jay Cummings. Cummings, who coached at RHS until he was placed on administrative leave in early September, later hung himself just days before…
Read MoreBlack Veterans, Mental Health Care, and Racial Bias
A recent study revealing the presence of implicit racial bias in VA mental health care shows that Black patients can pick up on non-verbal cues from their doctors, leading them to experience disparities in quality of care. When patients perceive bias in health care, they may be less likely to seek necessary treatment, preventative medical…
Read MoreCongratulations to Johnny Felder & Steve Welch on Their Membership to ABOTA!
McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips is pleased to announce attorneys Johnny Felder and Steve Welch have been invited for membership into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ABOTA was founded in 1958 and is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges. Membership into the organization is by invitation-only. About the American Board…
Read MoreSeven Former Paperboys Sue Newspaper for Sexual Abuse
Two former paperboys for a Gannett-owned newspaper in Rochester, NY have filed lawsuits alleging the paper and its parent company failed to protect them against a sexual predator on staff. This brings the total number of complaints against the publication (so far) to seven. The lawsuits, filed in September by two Rochester-area men, claim that…
Read MoreKambrell Garvin Discusses His Journey on International Stuttering Awareness Day
When he was five years old, Kambrell Garvin was diagnosed with a speech impediment. It was then that his mom changed the trajectory of her career, and pursued a career as a speech therapist to assist him in overcoming that challenge. As a result of her willingness to go above and beyond to assist him,…
Read MoreWhat Are My Rights as an Uber or Lyft Passenger?
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are increasingly prevalent in South Carolina and across the country. Ease of use, on-demand availability, and convenience have made these services explode in popularity ever since Uber was founded in 2009. The rapid growth of this industry has also caused a slew of legal issues, as courts and legislators…
Read MoreSickle Cell Disease, Cystic Fibrosis & Disparities in Federal Funding
Sickle cell disease is an inherited red blood cell disorder in which there aren’t enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Typical red blood cells are round, and move easily through the blood vessels. However, with sickle cell disease, the cells are crescent-shaped (like sickles), and can get stuck in the blood…
Read MoreBlack Patients and Pain – How Old Myths Still Hurt Today
Long-standing myths about black people are pervasive in healthcare. False notions and flat-out racism stemming all the way back to days of slavery still affect the black healthcare experience today. Do black patients have thicker skin? Less nerve endings? Does their blood coagulate more quickly? The answer to these questions is no. And the research…
Read MoreRandy Hood on the Sidebar Podcast, Ep. 8 – Personal Injury & Litigation
The Sidebar podcast, a series focused on top South Carolina trial lawyers, recently invited Attorney Randy Hood to chat about his experiences with medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, and trial litigation. Randy talked with host and attorney Mark Bringardner about his background, his values as an attorney, and why it’s so important to get to know…
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