Hammered

An attorney named Hammer has been suspended for a year by the South Carolina Supreme Court.

On June 25, 2012, respondent was charged with first degree assault and battery, malicious injury to personal property, hit and run or leaving the scene with property damage, and unlawful conduct towards a child. The charges resulted from an incident involving a process server who was attempting to serve documents on respondent in connection with a family court proceeding. During the incident, respondent, who was with his two sons, twice made contact with the process server’s vehicle while backing his car out of a parking space. Respondent left the scene, but later returned.

On December 15, 2014, respondent pled guilty pursuant to North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 91 S.Ct. 160, 27 L.Ed.2d 162 (1970) to leaving the scene with property damage. He was sentenced to 364 days in prison, suspended upon six months’ probation. The remaining charges were dismissed.

The sanction was imposed by consent.

Chief Justice Pleicones would run the suspension from the date of an interim suspension. (Mike Frisch)