STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TECSC`S MEMORANDUM IN
Transcription
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TECSC`S MEMORANDUM IN
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF DORCHESTER IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FOR THE FIRST ruDICIAL CIRCUIT ) ) ) ) ) THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, ET AL., Plaintiffs, v THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ET AL., Defendants. Case ) No.: 2013-CP-1 8-00013 ) ) ) ) TECSC'S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO JOIN ADDITIONAL PARTIES ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Defendant The Episcopal Church in South Carolina ("TECSC") hereby submits this memorandum in support of its motion to join additional parties. I. Introduction The instant motion to join additional parties is timely and was explicitþ invited by the Court in its order denying a prior motion for joinder. As the Court anticipated, discovery (which is in its early stages, with written discovery still ongoing and depositions yet to be taken) has allowed TECSC to begin to investigate the corporate records and other relevant facts to make new and more specifrc allegations against a narrowly tailored list of additional parties - four individuals who were the leaders of the scheme to take away the Diocese's assets and actually carried out the fraudulent, wrongful, and ultra vires corporate acts upon which the named Plaintiffs in this litigation so persistently rely. This is not another attempt to join all the current purported directors and officers of the party corporations in their corporate capacities. As detailed in the proposed pleading attached to the instant motion, the four named individuals breached personal promises and fiduciary duties, acted under false corporate titles I without being duly elected, made numerous fraudulent representations, and manipulated the Diocese's corporations and property interests outside the bounds of their authority, for example, by improperþ amending the corporate charter, adopting new self serving bylaws, purporting to quitclaim away the Diocese's property interests, filing false trademark applications, filing this action in the name of the Diocese's corporations, and taking many other ultra vires acts. Based on those allegations, the proposed pleading asserts numerous intentional torts and personal causes of action for which there is clearly no corporate immunity. The proposed pleading supports joinder under Rules 13(h), 19, and 20, SCRCP. Under Rule 20, SCRCP, joinder is required to resolve this controversy as a whole and avoid the expense and complication of multiple lawsuits. The ultra vires acts alleged in the proposed pleading completely undermine the validity and effect of the purported corporate acts that the Plaintiffs rely upon to support their claims, and in like manner, they form the basis of TECSC's defenses and counterclaims. The allegations against the proposed additional parties are therefore common and inextricably related to this litigation. Under Rule 19, SCRCP, joinder is mandatory because the proposed additional parties are necessary and indispensable. It will be necessary in this litigation for the Court to make determinations as to whether various corporate acts carried out by the proposed additional parties were indeedulnavires. Such determinations will impair and impede the rights of TECSC and the proposed additional parties, if made in their absence. If the Court finds the corporate acts of the additional parties to be null and void because they were fraudulent, wrongful, and ultra vires, TECSC would have to bring a separate action against them to obtain liability - an obvious duplicative waste a judgment of personal ofjudicial time and resources. Furthermore, such determinations by this Court could estop the additional parties' from fully defending themselves 2 in that separate action. On the other hand, if the Court confirms the validity and effect of their purported corporate acts, TECSC might be estopped from prosecuting its claims against them in a separate action, despite having been prejudiced by their non-joinder as parties here. Under either scenario taken or ultra vires - i.e., whether this Court finds those corporate acts to be lawfully - there is a distinct possibility that, in a separate action, another court could find otherwise and award relief that contradicts this Court's intent, such as removing the proposed individual additional parties from corporate control. Alternatively, if the Court avoids making determinations as to whether such acts were ultravires, it will have failed to fully and finally resolve one of the core issues in this case - who should control the Diocese's corporations and assets. That core issue would live on in a separate action by TECSC against the additional parties to invalidate and nullifr their fraudulent, wrongful, and ultra vires corporate acts, as well as to judicially remove them from corporate control. In such a separate action, the corporations would have to indispensable parties, just as the additional parties are here. be joined as necessary and In effect, the same parties will continue to litigate the same essential dispute and this Court's efforts to resolve the situation would have been in vain. Indeed, the relief sought by TECSC in this litigation is co-dependent on the presence of both the Diocese's corporations and the proposed additional parties. A judgment for money damages against the Plaintiffs would be tantamount to contends that a judgment against itself, as TECSC it is, in fact, the Diocese and the rightful controller of the corporate entities that have been improperly named as Plaintiffs in this litigation. Likewise, declaratory or injunctive relief must be rendered against the corporations andthe proposed additional parties - personally - as TECSC contends they are not true agents of the party corporations. 3 In sum, TECSC's dispute is not with itself, but rather with the individuals that have misappropriated its identity, purported to carry away its property, and filed this action in its name. il. The Instant Motion Is Timelv. Proner. And In Accord With The Court's Prior Orders At a hearing held on September 27,2013, and as reflected in the Order entered on October I , 2013 , the Court denied a motionr to j oin a list of additional parties, but also ruled that the defendants would be given another opportunity to move to join additional parties as discovery progresses. Transcript of Record, September 27 ,2013 ("I have, however, and you see will it in the order - and that's based on the allegations that are contained in the counterclaim at this point. I have certainly left the door open that, as discovery progresses, if at that point the defendant counter-claimants believe it is appropriate, I have left the door open at that point for you to move yet again, but under the allegations as they appear at this point I do not believe it is appropriate."); Order entered October 1,2013 at 6 ("Based on upon the information before the Court at this time, joinder is improper."). Indeed, the Order explicitly stated that it was based on the allegations in the pleadings before the Court "at that time." Id. TECSC's pleading *atthattime" did not specifically name any additional parties or make pafücularized allegations against them - because first, the Court had not yet approved their I Notably, in Plaintiffs' Opposition to TECSC's Motion for Reconsideration of the Court's Order denying the motion to join additional counterclaim defendants, Plaintiffs asserted: "...this motion is premised on a motion TECSC did not make or join in. Therefore, TECSC has no standing to make it." To the extent Plaintiffs may now choose to flip-flop and object to the instant motion based on that Order's application to TECSC, the Court should take careful note of the inconsistency of such an argument. To be clear, however, TECSC did indicate that it was joining the motion in the body of the brief supporting the motion and the Court's Order denying the motion was issued against "Defendants" (plural). TECSC therefore believes that it had the right to file a motion for reconsideration. 4 joinder, and second, TECSC had not yet received the documents in discovery that revealed many of their unlawful acts. As the Court anticipated, discovery has allowed TECSC to develop the proposed pleading attached to the instant motion, which is distinguishable from the pleadings considered by the Court *atthattime." The list of proposed additional parties to be added in the instant motion is shorter and different in nature than the prior motion, which included a long list of purported currenl directors and officers of the Diocese's corporations. TECSC's instant motion proposes to include only four individuals who were the leaders of the unlawful scheme to take away the Diocese's assets and individually carried out specific ultra vires corporate acts to accomplish their unlawful objective; it is not another attempt to join all the current officers and directors of the corporations. The proposed pleading also explicitþ and specifically alleges personal, fraudulent, wrongful, aîd ultravires and committed in bad acts that were willful, wanton, intentional, reckless, grossly negligent, faith. The instant motion, therefore, cannot be dismissed on the ground that immunþ renders joinder of the additional parties S.E.2d 155, 160-1, 362 S.C. futile. See BlS,Iqc-y. V/o¡thy, 608 319 (Ct. App. 2005) ("Nothing in the law shields Worthy from direct liability in tort for his own actions practices that he personally committed . . . . . Additionally, Worthy is liable for unfair trade Similarþ, the corporate veil does not protect V/orthy from liability for his own actions."). In further accord with the Court's prior orders, the instant motion was filed without undue delay. TECSC has diligently been reviewing tens of thousands of documents produced by the Plaintiffs. TECSC prepared the instant motion and proposed pleading against the four 5 additional parties as soon as it practically could. In fact, discovery is still ongoing under the Court's Scheduling Order, which specified that all oral depositions be completed by February 7, 2014. Moreover, as the Court assured the parties when the Scheduling Order was initially set, those dates would be extended if necessary. Based on the facts it has discovered from Plaintiffs' production thus far, TECSC plans to depose upwards deposition testimony develops, which will of 100 people depending on how the necessitate an extension of the February 7, 2014 deadline. In sum, as anticipated by the Court, the instant motion was timely filed early in the discovery process and should not be denied based on any alleged delay that the Plaintiffs may suggest in opposition. See Ea11qslqr y. Smith & St99!ç Ëuldqlg Inc., 369 S.E.2d 156,159,295 S.C. 504, 50S (Ct. App. 1988) ("Delay in seeking leave to amend pleadings, regardless of the length of the delay, will not ordinarily be held to bar an amendment in the absence of a finding of prejudice . . . . In addition to Forrester's delay in making application to amend, the City also claims prejudice because it will be required to frle additional pleadings, engage in additional discovery, and incur additional costs. It also argues the amendment will prolong the litigation . . . . The fact the City will be 'obliged to go to some additional time and expense in order to answer the amended complaint does not constitute such prejudice as will preclude the amendment."'). III. Th,e I]NtaatÀ4qtio¡ Aud lrqpased Pteadrqg luppa4Ja!4dqr Under Rules 13(h). 19, and 20. SCRCP Ð. Lesal Standard For Rules t3thl- I 9- and 20. SCRCP Rule 13(h), SCRCP, explicitly incorporates Rules 19 and 20, SCRCP, to allow defendant to join additional counterclaim defendants as parties to an action where at least a one counterclaim is common to at least one of the plaintiffs and each of the additional counterclaim defendants. "Courts are to interpret Rule 13 liberally consistent with the general objectives of 6 the Rule in order to 'avoid multiplicity of litigation, minimize the circuity of actions and foster judicial economy." See Hoffman v- Wisner Classic Mfg. Çq- l!c., 927 F.Supp. 67, 74 (E.D.N.Y. 1996) (quoting 6 Charles Alan V/right, Arthur R. Miller & Mary Kay Kane, Federal Practics aqdÈqççdure Civil 2d $ 1a3a); AllTech Communications. LLC v- Brqlhe!!, 601 F.Supp.2d 1255,1260 (N.D. Okla. 2008) (quoting Federal Practice $ 1435) ("Rule l3(h) only authorizes the court to join additional parties in order to adjudicate a counterclaim or cross claim that already is before the court or one that is being asserted at the same time the addition of a non-party is sought."); Rule 13(h), SCRCP, Comment ("Rules 13(a) through (Ð are the same as the Federal Rules on counterclaims and cross-claims."). Rule 20, SCRCP, for purposes of avoiding multiple lawsuits, liberally encourages the permissive joinder of parties when claims against them involve one or more common questions of law and fact. McGann v. Mungo, 340 S.E.2d 154,287 S.C. 561 (S.C.App. 1986) ("The new rule allows several persons to join as plaintiffs in a single action 'if they assert any right to relief jointly, severally, or in the alternative in respect of or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences and if any question of law or fact common to all these persons will arise in the action. S.C.R.CIV.P. 20(a)."); Rule 20, SCRCP, Note ("This Rule 20(a) is substantially the same as the Federal Rule. This rule liberalizes joinder in State practice. It ovemrles cases like Hellaaqs y-Srailzq,24 5.C.39 (1885) which denied joinder to upstream farmers damaged by defendant's dam, because their interests were not identical as to damages required."); Saval v- lt-!!d. , 710 F .2d 1027 , 103 I (4th Cir. I 983) ("Further, the rule should be construed in light of its purpose, which is to promote trial convenience and expedite the final determination of disputes, thereby preventing multiple lawsuits."); qe€ e.g.. Çhq¡1 v, Thprnpsqr!, 395 S.E.2d 731,735,302 S.C. 285, 291 (CL App. 1990) ("There is some evidence 7 these companies were set up by the Chans and utilized to channel sales away from Lisa Floral in such a way as to deprive the Thompsons of sales commissions. Permissive joinder of these companies was proper. Rule 20, SCRCP."). Additionally, under Rule 20, SCRCP, "a plaintiff need not be interested in obtaining all the relief demanded and judgment may be given for one or more of the plaintiffs according to their respective rights to relief." McGann, 340 S.E.2d at 158, 287 S.C. at 570 (internal citation omitted). Rule 19, SCRCP, mandates the joinder of parties who are "necessary." Ex Govemment necessary party 's Ins. Co 644 S.E.2d 699, 701,373 S.C. 132, 136-7 (2007). "A is one whose rights must be ascertained and settled before the rights of the parties to the action can be determined." Id. (quoting SLAtqa S.E.2d 248,249 Parte (1986). "It is mandatory that a necessary Necessary parties become "indispensable" r-lþEaa, 289 S.C. 128,130,345 party be brought into the action." Id. - meaning that the Court should not proceed in their absence - if the Court cannot afford complete relief among those already parties, or their interests might be impeded or impaired, or if the parties already in the suit are subjected to substantial risk of incurring multiple or inconsistent obligations by reason of the absent party not being joined. Rule 19, SCRCP; Stewart v. StatelQrop Pest Com'n, 414 S.E.2d l2l, 125,307 S.C. 133, 139 (1992) ("In order to be an indispensable party, the action must (1) not afford complete relief among those already parties, or (2) impair or impede the absent parties' ability to protect its interest, or (3) leave parties already in the suit subject to substantial risk of incurring multiple or inconsistent obligations by reason of the absent party not being joined."). 8 b. Applþatiql af Ruþr 13(h), 19, ald 20, $ÇRÇP. To Thqlnstant l{oliaa aad Prqpasad lþ4-di4g Here, the proposed pleading includes causes of action against four additional parties for breach offiduciary duty, breach ofcontract, breach ofcontract accompanied by a fraudulent act, negligent misrepresentation, promissory estoppel, fraud, constructive fraud, conversion, fraudulent transfers under S.C. Code Ann. $ 27-3-10, et seq. and $ 27-23-70,judicial removal of directors under S.C. Code Ann. $ 33-31-810, judicial dissolution under S.C. Code Ann. $$ 3331-1430 and 1431, ultravires relief under S.C. Code Ar¡r. $ 33-31-304, piercing the corporate veil, trademark infringement and false advertising under state and federal law, violation of $ 3331-180, civil conspiracy, and a declaratory judgment. Several of these claims have also been asserted against at least one of the Plaintiffs as counterclaims, thereby satisffing the simple requirement of Rule l3(h), SCRCP. As to the application of Rule 20, SCRCP, the ulna vires acts alleged in the proposed pleading completely undermine the validity and effect of the purported corporate acts that the Plaintiffs rely upon to support their claims, and in like manner, they form the basis of TECSC's defenses and counterclaims. The allegations against the proposed additional parties are therefore common and inextricably related to this litigation. Seç Rule 20, SCRCP and Comment; MqG¿!¡r,340 S.E.2d at 158,287 S.C. at570; Saval, 7l0F.2d at 1031; Çb4q,395 S.E.2d at735, 302 S.C. at29l. The proposed additional parties are also necessary and indispensable under Rule 19, SCRCP. It will be necessary in this litigation for the Court to make determinations as to whether various corporate acts carried out by the proposed additional parties were indee d ultra vires . The Plaintiffs' pleading alleges those corporate acts are valid, while TECSC's pleading alleges they 9 are null and void. Both sides seek declaratory judgments in their favor related to those corporate acts, and many of the other claims and counterclaims are dependent thereon. See Rule 19, SCRCP; Ex Parte Govemment Emlloyee's Ins. Çg-,644 S.E.2d at70I,373 S.C. at 136-7; Slatton,289 S.C. at 130,345 S.E.2d at249; S1qwa4, 4145.8.2dat125,307 S.C. Such determinations will impair and impede the rights atl39. of TECSC and the proposed additional parties, if made in the proposed parties' absence. See Stewart, 474 S.E.2d at 125,307 S.C. at 139 ("In order to be an indispensable party, the action must . . . or (2) impair or impede the absent parties' ability to protect its interest..."). If the Court finds the corporate acts of the additional parties to be null and void because they were fraudulent, wrongful, andultravires, TECSC would have to bring a separate action against them to obtain a judgment of personal liability - an obvious duplicative waste ofjudicial time and resources. Furthermore, such determinations by this Court could estop the additional parties' from fully defending themselves in that separate action. See Kunst y, Loree, 746 S.E.2d 360,362,404 S.C. 649,653 (Ct. App. 2013); Slayqly v. AMISUB qf Sqq& telaL4a-Iqq.,665 S.E.2d 222,228,379 S.C. 386, 398 (Ct. App. 2008). On the other hand, if the Court confirms the validity and effect of their purported corporate acts, TECSC might be estopped from fully prosecuting its claims against them in a separate action, despite having been prejudiced by their non-joinder as parties and thus impaired and impeded in presenting its case against them before this Court. See Kunst, 746 S.E.2d at 362, 404 S.C. at 653 ("Under South Carolina law, collateral estoppel, also known as issue preclusion, prevents a pary from relitigating an issue that was decided in a previous action, regardless of whether the claims in the first and subsequent lawsuits are the same . . . While the traditional use of collateral estoppel required mutuality of parties to bar relitigation, modem courts recognize l0 the mutuality requirement is not necessary for the application of collateral estoppel where the party against whom estoppel is asserted had a full and fair opportunity to previously litigate the issues.") (citations omitted); Sngyçly, 665 S.E.2d at 228, 379 S.C. at 398 ("[N]on-mutual collateral estoppel was coffectly applied, and Snavely was properly barred from relitigating these same issues against Dr. Zellner."). Under either scenario taken or ultravires - i.e., whether or not this Court finds those acts to be lawfully - there is a distinct possibility that, in a separate action, another court could find otherwise and award relief that contradicts this Court's intent, such as removing the proposed individual additional parties from corporate control. Spç Stewart, 414 S.E.2d at 125, 307 S.C. at 139 ("In order to be an indispensable parly, the action must . . . or (3) leave parties already in the suit subject to substantial risk of incurring multiple or inconsistent obligations by reason of the absent party not being joined."). Alternatively, if the Court avoids making determinations as to whether such acts were ultra vires, it will have failed to fully and finally resolve one of the core issues in this case - who should control the Diocese's corporations and assets. See SteWa¡!,414 S.E.2d at 125,307 S.C. at 139 ("In order to be an indispensable party, the action must . . . (1) not afford complete relief among those already parties, or . . ."). That core issue would live on in a separate action by TECSC against the additional parties to invalidate and nulliff their fraudulent, wrongful, and ultra vires corporate acts, as well as to retake control of the corporations by judicial order that would award corporate authority to individuals duly elected by TECSC. In such a separate action, the corporations would have to be joined as necessary and indispensable parties, just as the additional parties are here. Sçç S.C. Code Ann. $ 33-31-810 (Judicial Removal of Directors) ("...the corporation must be made aparty defendant"); S.C. l1 Code Ann. $$ 33-31-1430 and Vires Relief). Hotz l43l (Judicial Dissolution); S.C. Code Ann. $ 33-31-304 (Ultra v. lvlinyad, 403 S.E.2d 634, 638, 304 S.C. 225, 231 (S.C. 1991) ("...corporate defendant may be named in a shareholder's derivative suit as aparty defendant even where no wrongdoing by the corporate entity is alleged"); Stewa_Ít, 414 S.E.2d at 125,307 S.C. at 139; see also Fairchild v. Keyes, 448 So.2d 292,294 (Miss. 1984) ("If the corporation ts an indispensable party to a suit brought to protect its interest, then certainly indispensable party to a suit brought to dissolve it. it must be an Although Keyes has termed his suit one for specific performance, it was in effect a shareholders derivative action charging the directors of the corporation with an ultrq vires faihre to comply with decisions of the board of directors."); WË]aqþLv. Qua¡lqrman,5l S.E. 426, 123 Ga.3l2 (Ga. 1905) ("Unfaithful ofhcials of corporation are primarily liable to a it for their misconduct. But where they are in control, and minority stockholders are unable to secure relief within the corporation, such stockholders may usually maintain an equitable proceeding, and thus call the managing ofhcials to account for fraud or acts which are ultra vires. To such a proceeding the corporation is a necessary party defendant, in order that the result may bind it, and bar any future action which it might bring for the same cause."). In effect, if the Court avoids making determinations as to whether the corporate acts were ultra vires, the same parties would continue to litigate the same essential dispute in a separate action and this Court's efforts to resolve the core conflict would have been in vain. See Stewart, 414 S.E.zd at 125,307 S.C. at 139 ("In order to be an indispensable party, the action must . . (l) . not afford complete relief among those already parties, or . . ."). Indeed, the relief sought by TECSC is co-dependent on the presence Diocese's corporations and the proposed additional t2 of both parties. A judgment for money the damages against the Plaintiffs would be tantamount to a judgment against itself, as TECSC contends that it is, in fact, the Diocese and the rightful controller of the corporate entities that have been improperly named as Plaintiffs in this litigation. Likewise, in addition to the party corporations, declaratory or injunctive relief must be rendered against the proposed additional parties personally - as TECSC contends they are not true agents of the parly corporations. - Rule 65(d), SCRCP ("[Injunction] binding only upon the parties to the action, their off,rcers, agents, servants, employees, ffid attomeys, and upon those persons in active concert or participation with them..."). In sum, TECSC's dispute is not with itselt but rather with the individuals that misappropriated its identity and purported to carry away its property. See Stewart, 414 S.E.2d at 725,307 S.C. at 139 ("In order to be an indispensable party, the action must . . . (1) not afford complete relief among those already parties, or . . ."). For these reasons, the additional parties are necessary and indispensable, and moreover, their joinder is strongly favored on grounds ofjudicial eff,rcacy, pursuant to Rules l3(h), 19, and 20, SCRCP. WHEREFORE, the Court respectfully should grant TECSC's motion to join the additional parties and serve its proposed pleading upon them. [Signature page to follow] l3 Dated: December 27,2073 Re spectfully submitted, l14"44rrt .4/ f/-r.f -L/ Thomas S. Tisdale (S.C. Bar #: 005584) Jason S. Smith (S.C. Bar #: 80700) HELLMAN YATES & TISDALE, PA King & Queen Building 145 King Street, Suite 102 Charleston, South Carolina 29407 Telephone: (843) 266-9099 Facsimile: (843) 266-91 88 tst@hellmanyates.com js@hellmanyates.com Counselfor Defendant The Episcopal Church in South Carolina t4 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF DORCHESTER THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, ET AL., Plaintiffs, v THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ET AL., ) ) ) ) ) IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FOR THE FIRST ruDICIAL CIRCUIT Case No.: 2013-CP-18-00013 ) ) ) ) ) CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ) ) ) ) Defendants ) ) This is to certiff that a copy of the foregoing, The Episcopal Church in South Carolina's ("TECSC") Memorandum in Support of its Motion to Join Additional Panies has been served upon the following counsel of record by U.S. first-class mail and electronic mail as shown below this the 27th day of December 2013. AMANDA BAILEY, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, THE PANSH OF SAINT MICHAEL, IN CHARLESTON, IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA V/omble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP Post Office Box 999 Charleston, S.C.29402 (843)722-3400 SAUNDERS M. BRIDGES, JR., ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF FLORENCE, S.C. Aiken Bridges Elliott Tyler & Saleby Post Office Drawer 1931 Florence, S.C. 29503 (843) 66e-8787 WILLIAM A BRYAN, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION, SURFSIDE Bryan &}Jazr Post Office Box 14860 Surfside Beach, S.C. 29587 (843)238-3461 C. PIERCE CAMPBELL, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS ALL SAINTS PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, INC.; CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS; AND ST. BARTHOLOMEWS EPISCOPAL CHURCH Turner, Padget, Graham &Laney Post Office Box 5478 Florence, S.C. 29501 (843) 662-e008 DAVID SPENCE COX, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE TRUSTEES OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, LLP Post Offrce Box 999 Charleston, S.C. 29402 (843)722-3400 THOMAS CHRISTIAN DAVIS, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF CHRIST ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Harvey & Battey, PA 1001 Craven Street Beaufort, S.C.29901 (843) s24-3109 DAVID L. DEVANE, ESQ. ATTORNEY FORPLAINTIFF THE CHURCH OF ST. LUKE AND ST., PAUL, RADCLIFFBORO N. Main Street Summerville, S.C.29483 (843) 28s-7r00 110 BESS JONES DURANT, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF CHURCH OF THE HOLY COMFORTER Sowell Gray Stepp &Laffftte,LLC Post Office Box 11449 Columbia, S.C.292ll (803) e2e-1400 HARRY R. EASTERLING, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS ST. DAVID'S CHURCH BENNETTSVILLE, INC. Post Ofhce Drawer 655 Bennettsville, S.C. 29512-0655 (843) 47e-2878 2 AND ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF JOHN G. FRAMPTON, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF THE VESTRY AND WARDENS OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, SUMMERI4LLE Chellis & Frampton Post Office Box 430 Summerville, S.C.29483 (843) 871-776s W. FOSTER GAILLARD, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, OF THE PANSH OF SAINT PHILIP, IN CHARLESTON, IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP Post Office Box 999 Charleston, S.C.29402 (843) 722-3400 EMILY R. GIFFORD, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF THE VESTRY AND CHURCH WARDENS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE PARISH OF ST. MATTHETI. Richardson, Plowden & Robinson, P.A. 1900 Bamwell Street Columbia, 5.C.29201 (803) s76-3717 HENRIETTA U. GOLDING, ESQ. IN THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA; SAINT LUKE'S CHURCH, HILTON HEAD; AND THE TRUSTEES OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH McNair Law Firm Post Office Box 336 Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29578 (843) 444-t107 HENRY E. GRIMBALL, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, THE PANSH OF SAINT MICHAEL, IN CHARLESTON, IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP Post Office Box 999 Charleston, S.C.29402 (843) 722-3400 EDV/ARD P. GUERARD, JR., ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF VESTRY AND CHURCH-WARDENS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE PANSH OF CHNST CHURCH Post Oflrce Box3l924 Charleston, S.C.29477 (843) 8s2-4s30 a J ROBERT R. HORGER, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER Horger, Barnwell & Reid, LLP P.O. Drawer 329 Orangeburg, S.C.29116 (803) s31-3000 OANA D. JOHNSON, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF ST. ANDREWS CHURCH-MT. PLEASANT AND THE ST. ANDREWS CHURCHMT. PLEASANT LAND TRUST George J. Kefalos, P.A. 464 State Street Charleston, S.C.29401 (843) 722-66t2 GEORGE J. KEFALOS, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF ST. ANDREWS CHURCH-MT PLEASANT AND THE ST. ANDKETTS CHURCHMT. PLEASANT LAND TRUST George J. Kefalos, P.A. 464 State Street Charleston, S.C.29401 (843) 722-6612 ALBERT A. LACOUR, III, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR OLD SAINT ANDREWS PARISH CHURCH Clawson & Staubes 126 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 200 Charleston, S.C.29492 JAMES KENT LEHMAN, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF TNNITY CHURCH OF MYRTLE BEACH Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Post Office Box 11070 Columbia, S.C.292ll (803) 7ee-2000 E. HOPE LUMPKIN, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF THE VESTRY AND WARDENS OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, SUMMERVILLE Shelbourne Law Firm 131 East Richardson Avenue Summerville, S.C.29483 (843) 871-2210 4 SUSAN PARDUE MACDONALD, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF TNNITY CHURCH OF MYRTLE BEACH Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Post Office Box 3939 Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29578 (843) 448-3s00 FRANCIS MARION MACK, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF THE VESTRY AND CHURCH WARDENS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE PANSH OF ST. MATTHEIY Richardson, Plowden & Robinson, P.A. 1900 Bamwell Street Columbia, 5.C.29201 (803) s76-3717 DAVID B. MARVEL, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PI-AINTIFF THE CHURCH OF ST. LUKE AND ST., PAUL, RADCLIFFBORO Prenner Marvel, P.A. 636 King Street Charleston, S.C.29403 (843) 722-72s0 I. KEITH MCCARTY, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF CHNST ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH McCarty Law Firm, LLC Post Office Box 30055 Charleston, S.C.29417 (843) 7e3-1272 STEVEN SMITH MCKENZIE, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS THE CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY (EPISCOPAL) AND ST. MATTHIAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, INC. Coffey, Chandler & Kent, P.A. 2 North Brook Street Manning, 5.C.29102 (803) 43s-8847 LAWRENCE B. ORR, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS MATTHEWS CHURCH ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF FLORENCE, S.C. AND SAINT Orr Elmore & Ervin, LLC Post Oflrce Box2527 Florence, S.C. 29503 (843) 667-6613 5 HARRY A. OXNIER, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS CHRIST THE KING, WACCAMAW AND THE VESTRY AND CHURCH WARDENS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE PARISH OF PNNCE GEORGE WINYAH Oxner & Stacy 235 Church Street Georgetown, S.C.29940 (843) s27-8020 G. MARK PHILLPS, ESQ. ATTORNEY FORPLAINTIFF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, THE PARISH OF SAINT PHILIP,IN CHARLESTON, IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Post Office Box 1806 Charleston, S.C.29402 ANDREW S. PLATTE, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS THE CHURCH OF OURSAVIOUR OF THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA; CHURCH OF THE CROSS, INC. AND CHURCH OF THE CROSS DECLARATION OF TRUST; THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, THE PANSH OF SAINT MICHAEL, IN CHARLESTON, IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND SAINT MICHAEL,S CHURCH DECLARATION OF TRUST; THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, THE PANSH OF SAINT PHILIP, IN CHARLESTON, IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA; THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA; ST. DAVID,S CHURCH; THE VESTRY AND CHURCH WARDENS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE PARISH OF ST. HELENA AND THE PANSH CHURCH OF ST. HELENA TRUST; THE I/ESTRY AND CHURCH WAKDENS OF ST. JUDE'S CHURCH OF WALTERBORO; TNNIW EPISCOPAL CHURCH, EDISTO ISLAND; AND VESTRY AND CHURCH WARDENS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE PARISH OF ST. JOHN'S CHARLESTON COUNTY Speights & Runyan 2015 Boundary Street, Suite 239 Beaufort, 5.C.29902 (803) 943-4444 C. ALAN RUNYAN, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTTFFS THE CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOUR OF THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA; THE CHURCH OF ST. LUKE AND ST., PAUL, RADCLIFFBORO; CHURCH OF THE CROSS, INC. AND CHURCH OF THE CROSS DECLARATION OF TRUST; THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, THE PANSH OF SAINT MICHAEL, IN CHARLESTON, IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND SAINT MICHAEL'S CHURCH DECLARATION OF TRUST; THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, THE PANSH OF SAINT PHILIP, IN CHARLESTON,IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA; THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA; ST. DAVID,S CHURCH; TNNIW EPISCOPAL CHURCH, EDISTO ISLAND; THE VESTRY AND CHURCH WARDENS OF ST. JUDE,S CHURCH OF WALTERBORO; THE VESTRYAND CHURCH WARDENS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE PARISH OF ST. HELENA AND THE PANSH CHURCH OF ST. HELENA TRUST; AND VESTRY AND CHURCH WARDENS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE PARISH OF ST. JOHN'S CHARLESTON COUNTY Speights & Runyan 2015 Boundary Street, Suite 239 Beaufort, 5.C.29902 (803) 943-4444 6 V/ILLIAM A. SCOTT, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH Rogers, Townsend & Thomas, PC 775 St. Andrews Boulevard Charleston, S.C.29407 (843) ss6-s6s6 PETER BRANDT SHELBOURNE, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF THE VESTRY AND WARDENS OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, SUMMERVILLE Shelbourne Law Firm l3l East Richardson Avenue Summerville, S.C. 29483 (843) 87t-2210 ROBERT S. SHELTON, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF CONT4.AY The Bellamy Law Firm Post Office Box 357 Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29578 (843) 448-2400 ALLAN POE SLOAN, III, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF VESTRY AND CHURCH-WARDE¡TS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE PANSH OF CHNST CHURCH Pierce, Herns, Sloan & V/ilson, LLC Post Office 8ox22437 Charleston, S.C.29413 (843) 722-7733 THORNWELL F. SOWELL, III, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF CHURCH OF THE HOLY COMFORTER Sowell Gray Stepp &Laffttte,LLC Post Office Box 11449 Columbia, S.C.292ll (803) e2e-7400 DANE J. SOWINSKI, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH Rogers, Townsend & Thomas, PC 775 St. Andrews Blvd. Charleston, S.C.29407 (843) ss6-s6s6 7 A. SPITZ, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF ST. ANDREWS CHURCH-MT. PLEASANT AND THE MT. PLEASANT LAND TRUST ST. ANDREWS CHURCH- 1134 Clearspring Drive Charleston, S.C.29412 JOHN FURMAN WALL, ilI, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD 140 V/ando Reach Court Mt. Pleasant, S.C. 29464 CHARLES H. \MLLIAMS, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE TRUSTEES OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN SOUTH CAROLINA, A SOUTH CAROLINA CORPORATE BODY Williams & Williams Post Office Box 1084 Orangeburg, S.C. 29116-1084 (803) s34-s218 JOHN B. WILLIAMS, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF TNNITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, PINOPOLIS Williams & Hulst, LLC Post Office Box 1288 Moncks Corner, S.C. 29461 (843) 761-8232 JOSEPH C. $/ILSON IV, ESQ. ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF VESTRY AND CHURCH.WARD¿'¡'IS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE PARISH OF CHNST CHURCH Pierce, Herns, Sloan & V/ilson, LLC Post Office 8ox22437 Charleston, S.C.29413 (843) 722-7733 Ann Skipper Paralegal to Thomas S. Tisdale, Jr., Esq., and Jason S. Smith, Esq. HELLMAN YATES & TISDALE, PA 145 King Street, Suite 102 Charleston, South Carolina 29401 Telephone: (843) 266-9099 Facsimile: (843) 266-9188 asb @hellan¡ayate s. c gm 8